LIGO P-Card Holders: 

• You should book your own travel in CardQuest. 

• Per LIGO Management, it is mandatory that travel is preapproved by submitting a travel request.

  • No travel request is needed if the meeting is hosted at your site. Still submit a travel expense report for any paid registration fees after the event. 

  • Combining personal and business travel: 

    • If you are combining personal travel with your trip, a detailed cost comparison of the business dates is required. 

    • This comparison must be generated in CardQuest on the same day you book your travel. The lower of the two costs will serve as the maximum amount LIGO will reimburse. 

    • Be sure to save a screenshot of the comparison—it is required for processing any reimbursement requests involving mixed personal and business travel. 

Caltech/LIGO Employees who are Non-P-Card Holders:  

• All travel should be booked by the LIGO Travel Coordinator including conference registration. Reach out to Eadie Balint for assistance.

Eadie Balint, LIGO Travel Coordinator

ebalint@caltech.edu | ligo-travel@caltech.edu

(509) 372-8127

International Travel

• Due to recent policy shifts on international travel to the U.S., travelers should stay informed and carefully read the information at the links below for guidance and vetting procedures at ports of entry:

  • Caltech issued guidance (including how to interact with border officials and electronic device info): https://international.caltech.edu/guidance/travel-advice

  • U.S. Department of State guidance: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html/

  • In line with current U.S. Immigration wait times, we recommend booking flights with layovers of 5 hours minimum for international flights into the U.S.

ID Documents

• Domestic passengers should have a Real ID card or another allowable document listed on the government website that can e used to board domestic flights: https://www.dhs.gov/real-id.  

• International passengers must have their passport. 

• The name on the ID must match exactly the name on the air ticket or you will be denied at security checkpoints and boarding the plane.

Tri-Cities Airport (PSC) 

• There is only one airport option for flying into Pasco (Tri-Cities). 

• It is located at 3601 N 20th Ave, Pasco, WA 99301 

• Terminal Hours of Operation: 3:30 am to 1:00 am

• The airport is served by Delta, Alaska Air, United, American Airlines, and Avelo.

• To familiarize yourself with the airport layout and amenities, including restaurants, bars, coffee shop and more, explore their interactive map: https://www.flytricities.com/interact/airport-map.

• Visit the airport website at: https://www.flytricities.com/  

• Taxi and rideshare (Uber, Lyft) pickup spots are separate. 

  • Taxis can pick up on the north end of airport.

  • Uber and Lyft pickup is on the curb on the south end of the terminal building just pass the pedestrian crossing.

Rental Cars

• The airport is served by Enterprise, National, Alamo, Hertz, Dollar, AVIS, and Budget.  

Taxi/Rideshare 

• Uber - use the app

• Lyft - https://www.lyft.com/

• Taxi Services

  • Rad Cab, 509-585-2944, www.radauto.biz, open 24 hours.

  • Tri-City Cab, 509-222-9208, closes 12:30 am.

• Carpooling....do you know someone local who can pick you up or do you know other attendees you can carpool with from the airport?

• LIGO has secured room blocks for attendees at the Courtyard Richland Columbia Point and Hampton Inn Richland/Tri-Cities. 

• Reservations are open for the GSA room block rate of $130/night.

Both hotels are located alongside the Columbia River. There is a scenic 23-mile paved walking and biking trail located directly outside the hotels. 

GSA Hotel Per Diem Rate for Richland: $130/night

GSA per diem meal rates for Richland, WA 

• Full day per diem =  $86.00   |  First & last day of travel per diem = $64.50

• Breakdown of meals: Breakfast ($22), Lunch ($23), Dinner ($36), Incidentals ($5)

• Meals receipts are not needed.