State Travel Office News - Alaska

[Pages:2]Department of Administration, Division of Finance

Volume V, Issue 1 January, 2009

State Travel Office News

In the Spotlight

State of Alaska Signs New Contract With Alaska Airlines

Inside this Issue ---------------------------------- ?In the Spotlight

State of Alaska Signs New Contract with Alaska Airlines

?AAM 60.080 Changes to

Traveler Deviation

?Test Your STO Knowledge ?IRS Changes to 2009

Business Mileage Rates

?TSA Secure Flight Program ?New Year Resolutions

Test your STO Knowledge $25 Starbucks Card December Winner Bejean Page Labor--Anchorage

The State of Alaska has en- same ticket.

Office said, "We are excited

tered into a new contract with

about the new contract and

Alaska Airlines effective Janu-

believe the terms are a huge

ary 1, 2009 through Decem- Vern Jones, the Chief Procure- step forward in terms of sav-

ber 31, 2010.

ment Officer for the State, ings and convenience."

and Mark Eliason, president

and owner of USTravel, the

The State will no longer book State's contracted travel The new contract terms pro-

fares through EasyBiz, but management company, nego- vide savings across the board

instead will receive up-front tiated the contract with for eligible State travelers

discounts for eligible State Alaska Airlines. Jones said, booking travel through the

travel on all coach class pub- "We are very pleased with the State Travel Office, including

lished fares, which account terms of this contract and the Medicaid beneficiaries. The

for approximately 95% of mar- savings the State will receive. State will no longer earn mile-

kets. Under the previous con- The up-front savings are a age on purchases, but retains

tract, the State received real boon for the State."

its previously accrued mileage

$5.85 worth of mileage on a

for future use. Also individual

$350 ticket purchase. Under Kim Garnero, Director of the travelers will still earn per-

the new contract the State Division of Finance in the De- sonal mileage when they

will receive at least $7.00 off partment of Administration, travel for the State.

the purchase price of the that manages the State Travel

Upcoming Travel Desk Training

Date: January 22, 2009 From: 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm

For Juneau Sign up when posted at: dof/training/index.jsp

To call-in: Conference line available,

but limited. Email:

kathy.adair@

AAM 60.080 Changes to Traveler Deviation

AAM 60.080 #8 Interruption department believes the fare lesser amount of the ticket or

or Deviation of Travel for Trav- difference can be recovered STO fare quote.

eler Convenience has been from the traveler's reimburse-

amended as of January 1, ment after travel is complete. 5. New airfare contract rates

2009. The important facts

are not allowable on personal

are:

4. If air travel with personal deviation flights that include

deviation cannot be booked routing changes.

1. The STO will no longer ac- through the STO, the depart-

cept personal credit cards for ment is required to obtain a 6. Hotels and cars will be

personal deviation.

fare quote from the STO for booked through the STO for

the State authorized dates, State authorized dates and

2. Personal deviations that times, and destinations prior times.

include routing changes or to travel that includes per-

companion coupons will not sonal deviation. The traveler The booking request form has

be handled by the STO.

will book their transportation been modified so that travel-

themselves and submit a ers and travel desks can re-

3. Extensions of dates on copy of the ticket or itinerary quest a fare quote only as

either end that increase the showing the purchase price well as hotel and car reserva-

fare may be purchased by a once travel is complete. The tions.

State form of payment if the State will reimburse the

ARTICLES WRITTEN BY SUNNY ISRAELSON, DEBBIE WILLIAMS AND KATHY ADAIR / NEWSLETTER DESIGN AND LAYOUT BY KATHY ADAIR

Page 2 Volume V, Issue 1

IRS Changes to 2009 Business Mileage Rates

STATE TRAVEL OFFICE

---------------------------------- Department of Administration

Division of Finance 400 Willoughby Avenue, 3rd floor

PO Box 110232 Juneau, AK 99811-0232

STO USTravel agents (907) 465-8208 in Juneau 1-866-762-8728 outside of Juneau

FAX: (907) 465-8288

Sunny Israelson, State Travel Manager

(907) 465-8281 FAX: (907) 465-6057

Email: doa.dof.statetraveloffice@

See us on the Web!

sto/index.jsp

To subscribe sign up at: RemoteListSummary/travelofficeinfo

When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and

all your money. Then take half your clothes and

twice the money! Susan Heller

Test Your STO Knowledge

--------------------------------There will be a random drawing for a prize from the answers submitted by

January 15, 2009 to:

The Internal Revenue Ser- adjustment due to the spike When an employee receives

vice (IRS) has decreased its in gas prices.

payment for business re-

optional standard mileage

lated travel that exceeds an

rates for 2009.

Beginning January 1, 2009 IRS allowable rate, the ex-

the new IRS standard mile- cess amount is taxable.

The change takes into ac- age rates will be as follows:

count the recent decrease in

The State pays 55 cents per

gas prices. The new rates ? 55 cents per mile for busi- mile for moving purposes.

are higher than last year, but ness miles driven

Since the State pays mileage

slightly lower than the 58.5 ? 24 cents per mile for for moving above the IRS

cents per mile that was im- medical or moving pur- allowable rate, 31 cents per

plemented for the second poses

mile is reported as taxable

half of 2008 as a special

income.

TSA Secure Flight Program

The TSA's Secure Flight Pro- Last Name as shown on their have triggered "false posi-

gram will be phased in sev- government issued identifi- tive" matches to watch lists

eral stages over the coming cation

in the past.

year. Selected airlines have

volunteered to implement First Name as shown on Passengers who decline to

the program beginning in their government issued provide this information to

mid-January 2009. Other identification

the airlines in advance of

domestic carriers will be re-

their travel plans will face

quired to participate in May Middle Name as shown on additional screening and

and June, with international their government issued delays at the airport, and

carriers joining in late 2009. Identification

could possibly face denied

boarding.

Under Secure Flight, passen- Date of Birth

gers must be prepared to

More information will be

present the following data to Gender

forthcoming in the near fu-

travel agents or airlines

ture to help the traveling

when making flight reserva- Passport Information when public understand how to

tions:

needed for travel

comply with the Secure

Flight program's require-

Specific information given to ments.

passengers whose names

New Year Resolutions

doa.dof.statetraveloffice@

1. What is the effective date of the new contract with Alaska Airlines?

2. Can the contract rate be used for personal deviation flights that include routing changes?

3. What is the new mileage rate for business travel?

4. What amount of mileage paid by the State for moving is taxable to the traveler?

5. What are five pieces of information required under the TSA's new Secure Flight Program?

Special point of interest: Prize winnings from the contest are considered non-cash compensation, and will be included as W2 earnings.

It's the New Year! Time, once to accomplish that goal:

? Focus on staying positive

again, to start the New Year

out right! It's time to make ? Limit the number of reso-

those new year resolutions lutions

to lose weight, save money, ? Analyze the resolutions to

find a new job, have a better identify what is truly realistic

marriage, find Mr./Mrs. at this point in time

The New Year has 365 days

Right, be more organized, be ? Identify challenging road- in it, so it is NEVER too late

more positive, and spend blocks that could prevent the to make that change! The

more time with the family, change

calendar is only full of days

etc. These are all realistic ? Take it one day at a time and numbers; a life is full of

resolutions, aren't they? Then, why do they reappear on the list every year?

? Find a support system ? Replace the word "TRY" with "I WILL," for a stronger

memories, love, peace and joy, so make each moment count. Make TODAY be the

How can it be different this year? Here are some ways

and more positive approach ? Keep a journal

start of what you truly want your life to look and feel like. You CAN do it!

STATE OF ALASKA, DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION, DIVISION OF FINANCE

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