Board of Contract Appeals

                 General Services Administration

                      Washington, D.C. 20405









                         ________________



                         January 21, 2004

                         ________________





                         GSBCA 16237-TRAV





                 In the Matter of LANA J. REAVES





     Lana J. Reaves, APO Area Pacific, Claimant.



     Rick Miller, Civilian Travel and Allowances, Personnel Resources, Legislation and

Entitlements Division, Office of the Chief of Staff, Department of the Air Force,

Washington, DC, appearing for Department of the Air Force.



DeGRAFF, Board Judge.



     Lana J. Reaves is a civilian employee of the Department of Defense (DoD) and her

permanent duty station is in Korea.  In April 2003, DoD issued travel orders to Ms. Reaves

so she and her husband could attend the funeral of a family member in the United States. 

When Ms. Reaves presented the orders to a DoD transportation office in order to obtain two

airline tickets for the trip, the transportation office told her it did not issue tickets to civilian

employees and suggested she contact a DoD international tour and travel office, which she

did.  An employee in the international tour and travel office told Ms. Reaves to purchase

airline tickets using her government-issued charge card, and also told her she would be

reimbursed for the cost of the tickets.  Ms. Reaves purchased two tickets and traveled with

her husband to the United States and back to Korea.  Subsequently, she submitted a voucher

for the cost of the tickets, lodging, dry cleaning, and transportation while in the United States. 

DoD decided not to reimburse Ms. Reaves for the cost of her trip, and she asked us to review

DoD's decision.  



     DoD correctly decided to deny Ms. Reaves's claim.  Civilian employees can be

reimbursed for travel expenses if they travel "on official business."  5 U.S.C.   5702(a)

(2000); Joint Travel Regulations C1050-B.1.a, C3300-D.  Civilian employees cannot be

reimbursed, however, for the expenses of personal travel.  The trip Ms. Reaves made was

personal and was not made in connection with the performance of her official duties.  Thus,

DoD cannot reimburse her for the cost of her trip.  Although it is unfortunate that someone

in a DoD travel office provided Ms. Reaves with incorrect information regarding the

reimbursement of her expenses, erroneous advice does not permit DoD to expend public

funds contrary to statute and regulation.  Masood Badizadegan, GSBCA 14393-RELO, 98-2

BCA   29,789.









                                   __________________________________

                                   MARTHA H. DeGRAFF

                                   Board Judge