eNEWS - 19 JUL 2008

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Nora Watson, BC-AWA
07/19/08

eNEWS - 19 JUL 2008

Airline Checked Baggage Fee and Airline Fuel Surcharge (ACLOAST 333/08)

For those who travel on TONO:

Numerous commercial airlines are assessing a fee for checked baggage. Some airlines may exempt government travelers from paying the fee, however, they may require the traveler to present a government ID and/or copy of official travel orders at time of check in. Coast Guard travelers should be prepared to present a military or government ID and copy of official travel orders at the time bags are checked in.

Regulations classify any baggage that is not transported free by the carrier as part of the transportation ticket cost as excess baggage. Therefore travel orders must specifically authorize excess baggage in order to be authorized reimbursement for a checked baggage fee.

Checked baggage fees cannot be charged to the coast guard centrally billed account (CBA), aka charged to order, TONO, or GTA.

Travelers who have their airline ticket charged to a Coast Guard CBA must be prepared to pay any assessed baggage fee at the time the bags are checked in with the airline. Checked baggage fees can be charged to the travelers individually billed government travel charge card.

Due to the volatility in fuel costs many airlines are assessing a fuel surcharge to government and public airfares. The surcharge is assessed at the time the ticket is purchased and is in addition to the base airfare price. The amount of the fuel surcharge could substantially increase the overall cost of a ticket. The surcharge appears on a transportation itinerary invoice as a tax and shall be included as part of the overall transportation cost for reimbursement purposes.

For questions contact Mr. Scott Arndt at e-mail scott.r.arndt (at)uscg.mil or Mr. Les Weisbeck at e-mail les.r.weisbeck(at) uscg.mil.

Radm Jody a. Breckenridge, Assistant Commandant for human resources, sends

NACON Registration Deadline Fast Approaching

The NACON 2008 deadline for hotel and early conference reservations is July 17th, just 2 days away. There is also a PDF version of the registration form available if you do not wish to register online. The regular registration fee will apply to all registrations not received by July 17th. Mail in registration must be completed by August 1st. Online registration ends on August 10th. Act now to make your reservations.

http://www.cgauxa.org/nacon2008/

http://www.cgauxa.org/nacon2008/2008%20NACON%20Registration%20Form.pdf (PDF: 1 page / 125 KB)

New AuxData Mission Added

There is a new mission added to member training, 06C - AUXSCE. Reporting it is now functional in AuxData. Please advise all Instructors who are teaching this course to use mission 06C effective immediately. A reminder: Do not show the students on the 7030, their time should be reported on their monthly 7029 form. The following change will be added to the 7030 as of 1 October 2008 when the quarterly forms update is made: 06C AUXSCE Reporting - A class taught by a certified SCETT (Instructor who completed AUXSCE Train-the-Trainer course and is certified as either a Boat Crew Coxswain or a pilot in one of the AIR Competencies.)

Orion Becomes an RBS Partner

Orion Safety Products, in conjunction with the Auxiliary, has developed a Safety Awareness program for Auxiliary Vessel Examiners. On-line visual distress signal (VDS) training is available through the ShopAuxiliary.com, member's only website. (Click on the Orion link after signing in.) By viewing the training, each vessel examiner is eligible to receive a free VE kit. The kit includes Vessel Safety Check (VSC) event posters, brochures, a VDS training card, and discount coupons for each VSC customer, and vessel examiners can earn points to obtain additional Orion VDS products. Be sure to complete your contact info on the quiz form.

www.shopauxiliary.com