If you travel for CIRES, this is a must-read post for you!
Travelers are responsible for ensuring that all travel costs incurred are reasonable, allowable, allocable and appropriate. The CIRES Travel team helps to inform travelers on applicable rules for conducting travel and help travelers ensure that the airfare they intend to book for international travel will be compliant with the Fly America Act, per the funding source supporting the travel costs.
Travelers can book international airfare either in Concur or by working directly with a Christopherson Business Travel (CBT) agent. If you are working with a CBT agent, please clearly communicate that your travel is being supported by federal funds and that every leg of your trip must be conducted on a US Air Carrier, to the greatest extent possible. [The vast majority of travel conducted at CIRES is supported by federal funds. All travel supported by Task II is supported by federal funds!]
If you are unable to book on an itinerary that uses all US Air carriers, please include these details as part of your travel request to inform the CIRES Travel team of the circumstance and why your quote does not have you flying on an itinerary with all US Air Carriers. The CIRES Travel Team will assist in documenting any exception to the Fly America Act that may be required. Please note for those who travel on the CIESRDS Cooperative Agreement (Task ll) or any NOAA Award, any exception to the Fly America Act requires prior approval from the sponsor.
Unfortunately, you may hear from a CBT agent that ‘only flights over the water are subject to compliance with the Fly America Act’. This is not accurate. Again, please be clear in stating the above.
Please see the full Fly America Act policy on InsideCIRES and our Fly America Act FAQ page (scroll to the bottom)!
Please email CIRESTravel@colorado.edu with any travel questions.
