I have bought gov't fares with my own credit card many times, it doesn't seem to matter to the airlines.

Gov't fares are great if you are not sure if your meeting is a happening thing or if there is a reason that your travel may change (field ops). They can be fully changeable or flexible, but not always, you still need to check.

However, when I know/knew (using state fares now), that my meeting was done deal, I would use my own credit card to book the fare that was the cheapest and would get me there when I needed to be there.

Trust me, the gov't contracted travel agencies are not known for their ticketing prowess, their ability to understand geography (alaska as a foreign country ) and needs and desires of their constituents. If I want to get something done, I book it and then write a justification for why I used my own credit card and bought my own ticket.

Besides, I save something like 28 bucks a pop for issuing me an electronic ticket.

As for personal travel, that is a big no no.

As for hotels, I have only once had a hotel ask for my gov't issued ID or travel orders and that was in DC on a really busy week.

lala