Guidelines for International Travel funded by Federal Government
International Travel funded by Federal Government
If international travel is supported by a federal grant, please be mindful that all air travel funded by the federal government are required to use a “U.S. flag” air carrier service (an airline owned by an American company), regardless of cost or convenience, with the exceptions below (see more information via this Fly America Act link):
• When a U.S. air carrier is not available.
• When using a U.S. carrier service would extend the travel time by 24 hours or more.
• When a U.S. carrier does not offer a nonstop or direct flight between origin and destination and using a U.S. carrier:
- Increases the number of aircraft changes outside the United States by two or more;
- Extends travel time by six hours or more; or
- Requires a connecting time of four hours or more at an overseas interchange point.
• When the flight time from origin to destination is less than three hours and using a U.S. flag carrier doubles the flight time.
• When there is an applicable Open Skies Agreement in effect that meets the requirements of the Fly America Act.
More information on the Open Skies Agreement:
European Union (see list of countries here)
When traveling to a destination serviced by a European Union airline, Rice travelers flying on a Federal grant can fly on either a US carrier or an EU (European Union) carrier.
Australia
Rice travelers using federal dollars can use an Australian airline only if a point of origin is either the US or Australia.
Switzerland
Rice travelers using federal dollars can use a Swiss airline only if a point of origin is either the US or Switzerland
Rice travelers using federal dollars can use an Australian airline only if a point of origin is either the US or Australia.
Switzerland
Rice travelers using federal dollars can use a Swiss airline only if a point of origin is either the US or Switzerland
A U.S. airline may sell a seat on the plane of a foreign air carrier; this seat is considered the
same as one on a plane operated by a U.S. flag carrier. Compliance with the Fly America Act
is satisfied when the U.S. flag air carrier’s designator code is present in the area next to the
flight numbers on the airline ticket, boarding pass, or on the documentation for an electronic
ticket (passenger receipt) – see the example below, where Delta Airlines (DL) has a codeshare
agreement with Air France (AF) to Paris, France.
same as one on a plane operated by a U.S. flag carrier. Compliance with the Fly America Act
is satisfied when the U.S. flag air carrier’s designator code is present in the area next to the
flight numbers on the airline ticket, boarding pass, or on the documentation for an electronic
ticket (passenger receipt) – see the example below, where Delta Airlines (DL) has a codeshare
agreement with Air France (AF) to Paris, France.
US Flag Air Carriers – U.S. flag carriers and their codes are below to assist you. In order for a flight to be in compliance with the Fly America Act, the code of a U.S. flag air carrier must be noted as part of the flight number on the airline ticket, flight coupon (boarding pass*), or passenger receipt.
Each airline has a two-letter alpha code. From this list, you will be able to compare airline codes on the ticket with those on the list and thereby be able to ascertain whether or not the flight is on a US Flag air carrier. U.S. flag air carriers:
• Airtran Airways (FL)
• Alaska Airlines (AS)
• American Airlines (AA)
• Continental Airlines (CO)
• Delta Airlines (DL)
• Frontier Airlines (F9)
• Hawaiian Airlines (HA)
• JetBlue Airways (B6)
• Midwest Express (YX)
• Southwest Airlines (WN)
• Spirit Airlines (NK)
• United Airlines (UA)