Foreign airfare must be purchased through our travel agent and be on a US airline.  “Code share” purchases are allowable (a code share is when you buy the ticket through one airline, but you actually fly on a different airline)–ONLY when the purchase is made through the US airline.

If no US airline flies to your destination (and no code share is available), the flight still has to comply with the the Fly America Act–and it needs prior approval from central NOAA’s Grants Management Division. This prior approval can take several weeks.  Please contact Nomie or Fred to request this prior approval.

CICOES must purchase all tickets for travelling to foreign countries; we can not reimburse foreign airfare that did not get prior approval from CICOES.

Highlights of the Fly America Act

• No U.S. air carrier provides service on a particular leg of your route.
• Use of a U.S. carrier extends travel time by 6 or more hours.
• Use of a U.S. carrier increases the number of aircraft changes outside the U.S. by two or more.
• Use of a U.S. carrier requires a connecting time of four hours or more at an overseas interchange point.
• Use of foreign air carrier is necessary for medical reasons.
• Use of foreign air carrier is required to avoid unreasonable risk.
• Seat on U.S. air carrier in coach class service is unavailable, seat on foreign air carrier in coach is available.

Lower cost, in and of itself, is not an acceptable reason to use a foreign air carrier.

Travel Registration and Emergenices

You must register your business travel to foreign countries through the International Travel Registry  You should also contact them if there is an emergency when in a foreign country.

If you have any question about these rules please contact Nomie Torres.