Premium Class Travel Policy and Guidance

1.  PURPOSE.  TO PROVIDE POLICY, GUIDANCE AND 
REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING PREMIUM CLASS TRAVEL, FOR ALL
MARINE CORPS PERSONNEL, EMPLOYEES AND THEIR FAMILIES, EXECUTING
MARINE CORPS FUNDED TRAVEL.
2.  BACKGROUND.  THE REFERENCES REQUIRE THAT ALL OFFICIAL TRAVEL BY
PREMIUM CLASS (FIRST CLASS AND BUSINESS CLASS) TRANSPORTATION BE
APPROVED BY DESIGNATED SENIOR OFFICIALS, AND SET FORTH THE
CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH SUCH TRAVEL MAY BE APPROVED.  REFERENCES A
AND B PROVIDE DETAILED POLICY, GUIDANCE AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. 
TO MAINTAIN EFFECTIVE OVERSIGHT, AUTHORIZING/APPROVING OFFICIALS ARE
REQUIRED TO SUBMIT SEMIANNUAL REPORTS TO DOD ON THE USE OF PREMIUM
CLASS TRAVEL.  REFERENCE C DELEGATED AUTHORITY TO APPROVE PREMIUM
CLASS TRAVEL TO THE SERVICE SECRETARIES AND DIRECTED REPORTING OF
SUCH TRAVEL.  REFERENCE D FURTHER DELEGATED AUTHORITY TO APPROVE
PREMIUM CLASS TRAVEL TO THE COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS AND
AUTHORIZED FURTHER DELEGATION CONSISTENT WITH REFERENCES A, B, AND
C.  REFERENCE E DELEGATED AUTHORITY TO AUTHORIZE/APPROVE ALL PREMIUM
CLASS TRAVEL TO THE ASSISTANT COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.  THE
DC M&RA IS RESPONSIBILE FOR POLICY, MANAGEMENT AND REPORTING OF SUCH
TRAVEL.
3.  POLICIES
A.  THE MARINE CORPS WILL STRICTLY ADHERE TO THE REQUIREMENTS AND
LIMITATIONS IN THE REFERENCES.  
B.  IT IS GOVERNMENT POLICY THAT COACH (ECONOMY) CLASS
ACCOMMODATIONS SHALL BE USED FOR ALL TRANSPORTATION MODES FOR ALL
OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT TRAVEL (INCLUDING PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION,
TEMPORARY ASSIGNED DUTY (TAD), CONSECUTIVE OVERSEAS TOUR (COT)
LEAVE, EMERGENCY LEAVE, REST AND RECUPERATION (R&R) LEAVE, FUNDED
ENVIRONMENTAL AND MORALE LEAVE (FEML), PERSONNEL EVACUATIONS,
FLIGHTS OVER 14 HOURS).  PREMIUM CLASS (FIRST CLASS AND BUSINESS
CLASS) TRAVEL ACCOMMODATIONS ARE THE EXCEPTION, REPEAT, THE
EXCEPTION AND WILL ONLY BE AUTHORIZED FOR THOSE SITUATIONS SET FORTH
IN REFERENCES A AND B, ONLY WHEN FULLY JUSTIFIED AND PROPERLY
DOCUMENTED, AND ONLY WHEN AUTHORIZED BY THE APPROPRIATE PREMIUM
CLASS TRAVEL APPROVAL AUTHORITY.
C.  ALL PREMIUM CLASS ACCOMMODATIONS MUST BE MADE AND AUTHORIZED IN
ADVANCE OF THE ACTUAL TRAVEL, UNLESS EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES OR
EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES MAKE ADVANCE AUTHORIZATIONS IMPOSSIBLE. 
FAILURE TO ADHERE TO THE ADVANCE NOTIFICATION OR PROPER
DOCUMENTATION PROCEDURES MAY RESULT IN THE TRAVELER BEING PERSONALLY
RESPONSONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THE TRAVEL IN EXCESS OF THE COACH
CLASS FARE.  
D.  BLANKET JUSTIFICATIONS AND AUTHORIZATIONS FOR THE USE OF PREMIUM
CLASS TRAVEL ARE PROHIBITED.
E.  THESE POLICIES APPLY TO ALL MARINE CORPS PERSONNEL, CIVILIAN
EMPLOYEES AND THEIR FAMILIES, REGARDLESS OF GRADE, BILLET OR
CIRCUMSTANCES, INCLUDING WHETHER THE USE OF PREMIUM CLASS TRAVEL
RESULTS IN A COST SAVINGS.   
F.  TAD TRAVEL ON FLIGHTS IN EXCESS OF 14 HOURS, IN AND OF ITSELF,
IS NOT SUFFICIENT JUSTIFICATION FOR APPROVAL OF PREMIUM CLASS
TRAVEL.  THESE FLIGHTS DO NOT AUTOMATICALLY QUALIFY FOR USE OF
PREMIUM CLASS TRAVEL; PREMIUM CLASS TRAVEL IS THE EXCEPTION, NOT THE
RULE, FOR FLIGHTS OVER 14 HOURS.  SUCH FLIGHTS MAY BE AUTHORIZED
PREMIUM CLASS TRAVEL ONLY IF FULLY JUSTIFIED AND PROPERLY
DOCUMENTED.  THE TAD PURPOSE MUST BE SO UNEXPECTED AND URGENT IT
CANNOT BE DELAYED OR POSTPONED, AND A REST PERIOD CANNOT BE
SCHEDULED EN ROUTE OR AT THE TAD SITE BEFORE BEGINNING WORK.  THE
14-HOUR FLIGHT TIME CRITERION IS RESTRICTED TO TAD TRAVEL ONLY AND
MAY NOT BE USED TO JUSTIFY PREMIMUM CLASS ACCOMMODATIONS FOR PCS,
COT LEAVE, EMERGENCY LEAVE, R&R, FEML, PERSONNEL EVACUATION, OR ANY
OTHER TRANSPORTATION  
G.  IF AN AIRLINE HAS ONLY TWO CLASSES OF SERVICE, THE HIGHER CLASS
OF SERVICE, REGARDLESS OF THE TERM USED, IS FIRST CLASS, AND
THEREFORE MUST BE APPROVED BY THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITY.
H.  THE ACMC, AND IN HIS ABSENCE, THE CMC, ARE THE APPROVAL
AUTHORITIES FOR ALL PREMIUM CLASS TRAVEL FUNDED BY THE MARINE CORPS.
I.  APPROVING OFFICIALS MAY NOT APPROVE THEIR OWN PREMIUM CLASS
TRAVEL; APPROVAL MUST BE OBTAINED FROM A PREMIUM CLASS TRAVEL
APPROVAL AUTHORITY SENIOR TO, OR INDEPENDENT OF, THE TRAVELER (E.G.,
AN AIDE MAY NOT AUTHORIZE/APPROVE PREMIUM CLASS ACCOMMODATIONS FOR A
FLAG OFFICER).
J.  WHEN MULTIPLE TRAVELERS TRAVEL TOGETHER, PREMIUM CLASS TRAVEL
FOR EACH TRAVELER MUST BE JUSTIFIED AND AUTHORIZED SEPARATELY.  THE
AUTHORIZATION OF ONE TRAVELER TO TRAVEL VIA PREMIUM CLASS
ACCOMMODATIONS DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY AUTHORIZE PREMIUM CLASS TRAVEL
FOR ANY OTHER TRAVELER ACCOMPANYING THEM.  INSTEAD, THE TRAVELERS
MAY BE AUTHORIZED DIFFERENT ACCOMMODATIONS ON THE SAME FLIGHT OR
EVEN BE REQUIRED TO TRAVEL VIA DIFFERENT FLIGHTS.  
K.  FOR ROUND-TRIP TRAVEL, PREMIUM CLASS TRAVEL FOR EACH PORTION OF
THE TRAVEL (I.E., TRAVEL TO AND TRAVEL FROM THE DESTINATION), MUST
BE JUSTIFIED AND AUTHORIZED SEPARATELY.  IN OTHER WORDS,
AUTHORIZATION OF PREMIUM CLASS TRAVEL TO A DESTINATION DOES NOT
AUTOMATICALLY AUTHORIZE PREMIUM CLASS TRAVEL ON THE RETURN TRIP.  TO
MAINTAIN EFFECTIVE OVERSIGHT, APPROVING OFFICIALS ARE REQUIRED TO
SUBMIT SEMIANNUAL REPORTS ON THE USE OF PREMIUM CLASS TRAVEL. 
NEGATIVE REPORTS ARE REQUIRED.     
L.  THE REASON/JUSTIFICATION FOR PREMIUM CLASS TRAVEL OF "MISSION"
ONLY 
APPLIES TO TRAVEL IN CONNECTION WITH PRESIDENTIAL, CONGRESSIONAL OR
SECRETARIAL DESIGNATED BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, OR TASK FORCES. 
THEREFORE THE TERM "MISSON" FOR PREMIUM CLASS TRAVEL PURPOSES IS
SEPARATE AND DISTINCT FROM THE USE OF THE TERM FOR ANY OTHER
PURPOSE.  FURTHER FOR DOD, THE ONLY APPROVAL AUTHORITY FOR SUCH
TRAVEL IN REGARDS TO MISSION IS THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, OFFICE OF
THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE.
M.  PREMIUM CLASS ACCOMMODATIONS MAY BE AUTHORIZED/APPROVED BY THE
PREMIUM 
CLASS AUTHORIZING OFFICIAL DUE TO MEDICAL REASONS ONLY IF COMPETENT
MEDICAL AUTHORITY CERTIFIES SUFFICIENT JUSTIFICATION OF DISABILITY
OR OTHER SPECIAL MEDICAL NEED EXISTS AND THAT MEDICAL CONDITION
NECESSITATES (FOR A SPECIFIC TIME PERIOD) THE ACCOMMODATIONS
UPGRADE.  THE PREMIUM CLASS AUTHORIZING OFFICIAL MUST BE ABLE TO
DETERMINE THAT, AT THE TIME OF TRAVEL, PREMIUM CLASS ACCOMMODATIONS
ARE/WERE NECESSARY BECAUSE THE MEMBER OR DEPENDENT IS/WAS SO
DISABLED OR LIMITED BY OTHER SPECIAL MEDICAL NEEDS THAT OTHER
LOWER-COST ECONOMY ACCOMMODATIONS (E.G., 'BULK-HEAD' SEATING, AISLE
SEATING, OR PROVIDING TWO ECONOMY SEATS) CAN NOT/COULD NOT BE USED
TO MEET THE TRAVELER'S/DEPENDENT'S REQUIREMENTS.  
4.  GUIDANCE FOR REQUESTS
A.  COMMANDS SHALL SUBMIT REQUESTS FOR PREMIUM CLASS TRAVEL IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE GUIDANCE IN REFERENCES A AND B AND THIS
MARADMIN.  FORMAT FOR A REQUEST AND THE REQUIRED REQUEST DATA
ELEMENTS MAY BE FOUND AT HTTP:--WWW.DTIC.MIL-PERDIEM-, UNDER THE
PREMIUM CLASS TRAVEL INFORMATION, REPORT DATA ELEMENTS AND
INSTRUCTIONS (PDF FORMAT).  DETAILED PROCEDURES, DECISION SUPPORT
TOOLS-CHECKLISTS, ETC. MAY BE FOUND IN APPENDIX H OF REFERENCE A. 
B.  ALL REQUESTS FOR PREMIUM CLASS TRAVEL, ALONG WITH THE REQUIRED
DOCUMENTATION, WILL BE SUBMITTED TO CMC (MPO) IN A TIMELY FASHION. 
CMC (MPO) WILL FORWARD REQUESTS TO THE ACMC VIA THE DIR MP, DC M&RA
AND THE OFFICE OF COUNSEL FOR THE COMMANDANT.  RECOMMEND REQUESTS BE
SUBMITTED SO AS TO ARRIVE AT CMC (MPO) AT LEAST THREE WEEKS IN
ADVANCE OF THE PROPOSED TRAVEL, TO ALLOW SUFFICIENT TIME TO STAFF
AND REPLY TO THE REQUEST AND FOR THE TRAVELER TO MAKE FINAL TRAVEL
ARRANGEMENTS.     
C.  DOCUMENTATION FOR REQUESTS WILL INCLUDE: THE BASIC REQUEST WITH
ALL REQUIRED DATA ELEMENTS, A COMPLETED DECISION SUPPORT
TOOL/CHECKLIST, A COPY OF THE TRAVELER'S PROPOSED FLIGHT ITINERARY,
A COPY OF THE TRAVELER'S WORK SCHEDULE (IF APPLICABLE), AND ANY
DOCUMENTATION OR INFORMATION TO SUPPORT THE REQUEST.  
D.  REQUESTS WILL BE FOR ONLY THOSE PORTIONS OF THE TRAVEL IN WHICH
PREMIUM CLASS TRAVEL IS BEING REQUESTED.  REQUESTS SHALL INCLUDE THE
COST OF THE FARE FOR COACH CLASS AND FOR THE PREMIUM CLASS
ACCOMMODATIONS.  
E.  REQUESTS FOR ROUND-TRIP PREMIUM CLASS TRAVEL MUST BE JUSTIFIED
AND AUTHORIZED SEPARATELY FOR THE TO AND RETURN PORTIONS OF THE
TRIP.  THEREFORE, SUCH REQUESTS WILL INCLUDE COPIES OF THE PROPOSED
FLIGHT ITINERARIES TO AND FROM THE DESTINATION AND COPIES OF THE
TRAVELER'S WORK SCHEDULE AT THE DESTINATION AND UPON THEIR RETURN. 
FURTHER, SUCH REQUESTS SHALL INCLUDE SEPARATE COSTS OF THE FARES FOR
COACH CLASS AND FOR THE PREMIUM CLASS ACCOMMODATIONS, BOTH TO AND
FROM THE DESTINATION. 
F.  REQUESTS MAY INCLUDE MORE THAN ONE TRAVELER WHEN IT IS REQUIRED
OR REQUESTED THAT PERSONNEL TRAVEL TOGETHER.  SUCH REQUESTS FOR
MULTIPLE TRAVELERS SHALL LIST EACH TRAVELER SEPARATELY, PROVIDE
COSTS OF THE FARES PER INDIVIDUAL, ETC. 
5.  GUIDANCE FOR REPORTS
A.  REFERENCES A AND B PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE DATA COLLECTION,
RETENTION, AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.  THE MARINE CORPS IS REQUIRED
TO SUBMIT SEMIANNUAL REPORTS, VIA DON, TO DOD ON THE USE OF PREMIUM
CLASS TRAVEL.  NEGATIVE REPORTS ARE REQUIRED.  REPORTS TO DOD ARE
DUE NLT 15 APRIL AND 15 OCTOBER.
B.  MARINE CORPS COMMERICAL TRAVEL OFFICES (CTO'S) WILL SUBMIT
ELECTRONIC SEMIANNUAL REPORTS TO CMC (MPO) FOR CONSOLIDATION,
RECONCILIATION AND SUBMISSION TO THE DIRECTOR, NAVY STAFF AND THE
NAVY SECRETARIAT.
C.  REPORTS WILL BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GUIDANCE IN REFERENCES A
AND B.  
DETAILED REPORTING GUIDANCE IS AT HTTP:--WWW.DTIC.MIL-PERDIEM-,
UNDER THE PREMIUM CLASS TRAVEL INFORMATION, REPORT DATA ELEMENTS AND
INSTRUCTIONS (PDF FORMAT).  FURTHER, THE REPORTS WILL BE SUBMITTED
IN THE SKELETONIZED REPORT FORMAT AT THIS SAME SITE, APPROVAL REPORT
(MS EXCEL FORMAT).  
D.  CTO'S WILL LABEL THEIR ELECTRONIC REPORTS-FILES USING THE
FOLLOWING 
SYSTEM.  THE FILE NAME WILL INCLUDE THREE DATA ELEMENTS, SEPARATED
BY COMMAS; THE OFFICE NAME, REPORT NAME AND DATE FOR THE REPORT. 
EXAMPLE: "MPO, PREM TVL RPT, OCT 04.XLS".  "PREM TVL RPT" WILL
REMAIN THE SAME FOR ALL REPORTS AND OFFICES.  THE DATE WILL EITHER
BE "OCT XX" OR "JUL XX", TO CORRESPOND TO THE SEMIANNUAL PERIOD THE
REPORT IS FOR.  "XX" IS THE CALENDAR YEAR FOR THE REPORT.
E.  REPORTS WILL INCLUDE ONLY THAT PREMIUM CLASS TRAVEL EXECUTED
DURING THAT SEMIANNUAL PERIOD. 
6.  ACTION
A.  COMMANDERS WILL ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE POLICY AND GUIDANCE
IN REFERENCES A AND B AND THIS MARADMIN.
B.  COMMANDS SHALL SUBMIT REQUESTS FOR PREMIUM CLASS TRAVEL IAW THE
GUIDANCE IN REFERENCES A AND B AND THIS MARADMIN.
C.  MARINE CORPS CTO'S WILL SUBMIT ELECTRONIC SEMIANNUAL PREMIUM
CLASS TRAVEL REPORTS TO CMC (MPO), IAW THIS GUIDANCE, AND NLT 7 JULY
AND 7 OCTOBER.  
7.  THE STAFF IN CMC (MPO) ARE AVAILABLE TO CLARIFY THESE POLICIES,
PROCEDURES AND GUIDANCE.