Hmm....maybe things have changed since I left the military. Most of my travel went through the Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO). Perhaps they have farmed this out or perhaps different government agencies use different resources. I never had any hassle with reservations or the travel itself, but then again I had a position that allowed for some perks.

The process certainly beats how it was in the 70's when you had to go in person to the travel office to get a voucher or re-imbursement for commercial flight. That was when my disdain for SOME civil servants (not the fine folks on FT) began.