Each jurisdiction and state will make its own decisions. About 8 or 9 years ago I think, Congress enacted legislation allowing federal employees to keep frequent flyer benefits for personal use. They saw it as a perk that would cost nothing. Prior to that, miles earned as a result of government travel were the property of the government. Tracking that and enforcing it was a pain in the bureaucratic backside. Usually people who got dinged were people who opened their mouths about doing it.

I can recall using my miles to go to DC on one occasion and to Boston on another work trip. We tried using miles for a Europe trip, but given availablity, in order to use the "free ticket" we would eat up the savings. We would have had to wait an extra two days, and get a ticket from FRA to LHR (one way full Y) in order to take advantage. It was just easier to pay for the damn thing..and cheaper. I can only speak for some of the travel in my office and say it is often last minute, or changes at the last minute, so using free tickets is a hassle or downright impossible.

That said, my agency has a program in place that if you use your own FF miles for an official trip, you can be reimbursed for half of what the ticket would have cost. So a domestic fare of $866 plus taxes to CVG would net me $433 plus, if I wanted to raise some cash...and do all of the paper work to collect it, of course.


and before I forget, here's one for duck
http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/200...politico/25073

this one is great for the simple hypocrisy. Good luck if he seeks re-election