Originally Posted by
zombietooth
"Most expensive way" are my words not his and applied to this specific situation only--they wouldn't let him make his own deal with UA.
This happened last year, so maybe times have changed. However,
government widely touts the savings they are making across the budget to keep the taxpayers happy, count me as a skeptic who has seen enough both inside and outside to make me believe that this is not true.
Sorry, after seeing as much as I have, I just don't have the rosy view of government that you do.
Hey Zombie, I had some down time, so found this for ya, straight from the FY 2011 final version of the city pair contract:
"B.20 PRICE REDUCTION
If, after award, the Contract carrier offers an unrestricted coach fare available to the general public that is lower than the contract fare, the contract carrier shall provide the lower fare to Government travelers in lieu of the contract fare.
If, after award, the contract carrier offers a commercial fare, other than an unrestricted coach fare, that is lower than the contract fare, the traveler can request, and the contract carrier shall provide, the lower fare in lieu of the contract fare, if the traveler qualifies for the lower fare and space is available at the time of booking. "
" AUDITS BY GSA’S TRANSPORTATION AUDIT DIVISION
1. Contract fares. The Government reserves the right to issue overcharges whenever the lowest fully refundable coach fare charged is greater than the contract fare, provided payment was made through a GTR, contractor-issued travel card, or centrally billed account.
2. The Government reserves the right to issue overcharges whenever the fare charged is greater than any unrestricted lowest fully refundable coach fare offered by the contract carrier to the general public that is lower than the contract fare. In such cases, audits will be limited to the effective date(s) of any such lower fares."
Kinda what I said earlier. Had he qualified (not made a deal) but qualified for a lower fare, he could have used it. That would mean advance purchase, ticketing, booking class, roundtrip if necessary...Even though this language is being quoted for the FY 2011 contract, the same language is/has been standard for years.