When booking airfare for official university travel, please be aware that airlines may change flight class naming conventions as well as the amenities associated with each class. 

Per university procedures, first class airfare is not an allowable reimbursement or expenditure based on the amenities the traveler receives. For example, American Airlines recently created the Flagship Business class for international flights, which offers amenities resembling those typically associated with first-class seating. Based on the amenities provided with this class, this airfare expenditure would not be a reimbursable expense, nor would it be an allowable expense using the departmental P-Card. If questions arise when scheduling official university travel regarding allowable flight classes, departments can contact the Travel Helpline via email travelvt@vt.edu. 

The Fly America Act is a federal regulation that requires use of U.S. flag air carrier service (an airline owned by an American company) for travel funded by the federal government, regardless of the cost, convivence, or traveler's personal preference.

When booking flights through any of the Virginia Tech contracted travel agencies, it is required that a PO be created in HokieMart using the Travel Agency Authorization form (university funded transaction) or a Travel Service Authorization (TA) be completed (foundation funded transaction) by the department as soon as the related invoice is received from the travel agency. Each booking is paid up front with a university credit card and the POs/TAs is then used to allocate the charge to the appropriate university department fund. It is extremely important for these documents to be processed timely. We have experienced a significant increase in travel agency charges with no related PO/TA. This increases processing time as we have to research each transaction and request departments process the appropriate forms after the fact. We greatly appreciate your attention to ensuring the appropriate form is completed timely. For questions, contact Heidi Bucher at hleeson@vt.edu