Posted on Aug 3, 2023
Why does CW SATO Travel only ticket flights 3 days out?
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With so much revolving around ticketing (seat assignments, loyalty upgrades, schedule changes, and delays), why does the govt's travel agency wait until the last minute to issue tickets?
Travel
TDY
DTS
Operations (S3)
Posted 9 mo ago
Responses: 3
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The real reason is to put the charge to your GTC or the CBA as close as possible to your start travel date. For 90% of travel, (27 out of 30 days) that means it will be on the billing cycle that comes due during or after the trip, as opposed to the billing cycle that comes due prior to your departure.
The goal is for that traveler to have Scheduled Partial Payments, or submit a timely voucher and pay off that ticket charge on the GTC or CBA (which is just a gov Citibank Visa managed by someone else) before it suspends or cancels.
The goal is for that traveler to have Scheduled Partial Payments, or submit a timely voucher and pay off that ticket charge on the GTC or CBA (which is just a gov Citibank Visa managed by someone else) before it suspends or cancels.
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CPT (Join to see)
SGM (Join to see), aha! This makes sense. What would make more sense woudl be for CITI to extend the billing cycle for govt accounts. Interesting. Thanks for the insight, SGM!
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SGM (Join to see)
CPT (Join to see) - Citibank is in the business of making money, not losing money just to win a gov't contract.
That, and well over 90% of all TDY, (at least everywhere I worked) is under 30 days anyway.
That, and well over 90% of all TDY, (at least everywhere I worked) is under 30 days anyway.
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Because the default ticketing date is usually 3 business days before the travel date and most organizations don't adjust this date. However, the issuance of the ticket shouldn't impact any of the items you mentioned.
2.2 Ticketing Date
The tickets-are-waiting (TAW) date – a.k.a., the ticketing date – is the day the TMC is allowed to issue tickets on booked reservations. The TAW date is usually three business days before travel is due to start. Of course, the organization can request early ticketing, if required by the mission.
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* https://media.defense.gov/2022/Jul/18/ [login to see] /-1/-1/0/DTS_Reservation_Process_Guide.PDF
2.2 Ticketing Date
The tickets-are-waiting (TAW) date – a.k.a., the ticketing date – is the day the TMC is allowed to issue tickets on booked reservations. The TAW date is usually three business days before travel is due to start. Of course, the organization can request early ticketing, if required by the mission.
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* https://media.defense.gov/2022/Jul/18/ [login to see] /-1/-1/0/DTS_Reservation_Process_Guide.PDF
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CPT (Join to see)
COL Randall C. always amazes me that you can find those resources so quickly! Skimmed through on my phone, but still don’t understand their rationale.
Unfortunately, we’ve got some recent issues with travelers in our unit that were tied back to them not being ticketed before a schedule change. As a result, they weren’t rebooked with other passengers and it’s created a nightmare before AT.
Unfortunately, we’ve got some recent issues with travelers in our unit that were tied back to them not being ticketed before a schedule change. As a result, they weren’t rebooked with other passengers and it’s created a nightmare before AT.
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CPT (Join to see) , not going to rehash what SGM (Join to see) pointed out, it is the most comprehensive answer, but food for thought:
Ticketing 3 days out does not change your loyalty status or seat assignments for most airlines.
As long as the flight is in "booked" status with CWSATO, airlines treat you as a "ticketed passenger" and allow you to utilize loyalty status for upgrade consideration and the same prioritization for rescheduled or canceled flights. You are "holding" a seat. I have confirmed this on a couple occasions for traveling Soldiers. The airlines has verified that they are on a flight, but they won't check them in until they are ticketed. If you don't get ticketed on the day of the flight (or as late at 45 min before departure -long story), they give your seat to someone on standby.
Some airlines don't even take loyalty upgrades it into account until about an hour before the flight anyway. (upgrade standby list). For the rest (Spirit, JetBlue, Avelo, Breeze, etc) don't even show up on most DTS searches so it's a non issue. Even the airlines that don't issue seat assignments show that you are on the manifest for the flight.
I am curious as to how you see 3 day ticketing impacting seat assignments and loyalty upgrades.
Ticketing 3 days out does not change your loyalty status or seat assignments for most airlines.
As long as the flight is in "booked" status with CWSATO, airlines treat you as a "ticketed passenger" and allow you to utilize loyalty status for upgrade consideration and the same prioritization for rescheduled or canceled flights. You are "holding" a seat. I have confirmed this on a couple occasions for traveling Soldiers. The airlines has verified that they are on a flight, but they won't check them in until they are ticketed. If you don't get ticketed on the day of the flight (or as late at 45 min before departure -long story), they give your seat to someone on standby.
Some airlines don't even take loyalty upgrades it into account until about an hour before the flight anyway. (upgrade standby list). For the rest (Spirit, JetBlue, Avelo, Breeze, etc) don't even show up on most DTS searches so it's a non issue. Even the airlines that don't issue seat assignments show that you are on the manifest for the flight.
I am curious as to how you see 3 day ticketing impacting seat assignments and loyalty upgrades.
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CSM William Everroad
CPT (Join to see) - interesting experiences! As a fellow DM I have never had an issue getting an upgrade and I check in the day before the flight, mostly when I get the app notification and I have never been bumped on any flight.
Not sure if originating airport has anything to do with it. Where do you normally fly out of?
Not sure if originating airport has anything to do with it. Where do you normally fly out of?
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CPT (Join to see)
CSM William Everroad ah wow. Small world! I usually depart out of VLD (Delta Connection) by way of ATL for mainline. It would happen most often on my ATL / DCA - ATL / IAD city pairings since those were super elite-heavy routes.
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CSM William Everroad
CPT (Join to see) - I wonder if that has something to do with it. Most of the time when I lose out on upgrades is when I fly Friday, Saturday or Monday. I am guessing most of the business travelers are departing on those days.
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CPT (Join to see)
CSM William Everroad - quite possible! These days, I try to make my business travel T-Th...much better odds and I get more time with the familia.
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