SOUTHLAKE, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–May 1, 2006–Travelocity Business(SM) today announced a program designed to help those who travel on government business more easily comply with the Fly America Act and get reimbursed for their trips.
The Fly America Act, enacted in 1958, requires that international air travel paid for by the U.S. government be flown on U.S. flag carriers in order for travelers to be reimbursed. The rule applies both to government workers and government contractors whenever travel is financed by federal government funds. The legislation does provide for special exceptions, such as allowing use of a foreign carrier when it is determined to be necessary. But the exceptions can be complicated and are often difficult for travelers to understand in order to make a compliant booking.
Now, companies that use Travelocity Business can have their employees contact a Travelocity Business agent to handle all the complexities of researching, analyzing, and booking government-related travel. The agent takes the time to confirm that each segment of the trip meets government standards and documents the details of each segment within the traveler’s itinerary for easier reconciliation and reimbursement.
“Travelocity Business’s personalized and detailed approach to government travel is so much better than the generic ‘rubber stamp’ of approval that used to be the norm,” said Mary Bleakley, director of Travel Services at the American Bar Association. “Having the compliance information so professionally documented makes it easier for the ABA to speed up payment for trips we’ve taken to fulfill government contracts and grants.”
Further enhancements to the program are expected in July, when the Travelocity Business mid-office system will be able to automatically document all segments of a compliant booking and document those details on the traveler’s itinerary without the help of an agent. The system will also be designed to recognize potentially non- compliant segments and automatically issue an email to travelers, advising them to call an agent to finalize the booking.
“We know that planning trips for government-related travel can often be complicated and time consuming – and that the traveler runs the risk of not being reimbursed if it’s not handled correctly,” said Joel Bailey, director of Product Marketing for Travelocity Business. “This program is just another example of how Travelocity Business continues to evolve its technology and services to meet the specific needs of our customers and their travelers.”
About Travelocity Business
Travelocity Business is a full-service corporate travel agency that helps companies easily manage travel and reduce costs, while providing more choices to travelers. Travelocity Business combines the savings and convenience of online with the full service of dedicated agents available 24/7 who typically answer the phone in 20 seconds, and within 60 seconds guaranteed (see site for guarantee details).
Travelocity Business combines the expertise, service and travel choices of Travelocity(R) with corporate experience gained from serving more than half of the Fortune 200 companies. For more information, companies can visit www.travelocitybusiness.com.
Sabre Holdings Corporation (NYSE:TSG) is a world leader in travel commerce, retailing travel products and providing distribution and technology solutions for the travel industry. More information about Sabre Holdings is available at http://www.sabre-holdings.com.
CONTACT: Travelocity Business
Noel Bilodeau, 415-932-1292
noel.bilodeau@travelocity.com
or
VOLLMER
Mary Kate Smither, 972-488-4790
marykate@vollmerpr.com
SOURCE: Travelocity Business
