Why does CW SATO Travel only ticket flights 3 days out?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Aug 2023 18:20:07 -0400

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?

Response by COL Randall C. made Aug 3 at 2023 7:09 PM

COL Randall C. — Thu, 03 Aug 2023 19:09:06 -0400

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

DTS_Reservation_Process_Guide.PDF

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 4 at 2023 7:29 AM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 07:29:45 -0400

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.

Response by CSM William Everroad made Aug 7 at 2023 2:44 PM

CSM William Everroad — Mon, 07 Aug 2023 14:44:53 -0400

CPT Private RallyPoint Member , not going to rehash what SGM Private RallyPoint Member 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.