Frequent Flier Benefits to Become Personal Property

Federal employees will be able to keep for their personal use any “frequent flier” and similar travel affinity program benefits they accrue through official travel, under a bill (S-1438) awaiting signature at the White House. The provision, part of the fiscal 2002 Defense Department authorization bill agreed to by the House and Senate, will apply to civil service, foreign service and military personnel. The change is a reaction to dissatisfaction with the current system in which such benefits must be turned over to the government even if it can’t use them, and which imposes a record-keeping burden on employees who must maintain separate accounts for benefits earned through personal versus official travel.