Service members and Defense Department civilian employees who must use commercial airlines to travel overseas are advised to travel only on U.S-certified carriers. "In the last year, numerous Marines have arrived in Okinawa having been incorrectly authorized to purchase their own airfare incident to official travel," the Marine Corps stated in a formal administrative announcement. "As a result, travelers were purchasing tickets on foreign flag carriers, which led to no reimbursement for the cost of the tickets they purchased." The travel in question usually involved circuitous travel to overseas destinations, which requires specific authorization. Base travel information offices can provide specific guidance on which carriers are certified, and when circuitous travel can be authorized.
