BNUMBER:  B-266169
DATE:  October 16, 1995
TITLE:  [Letter]

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B-266169

October 16, 1995

The Honorable Christopher Cox
Member, United States
  House of Representatives
4000 MacArthur Boulevard
East Tower, Suite 430
Newport Beach, CA  92660

Dear Mr. Cox:

We are in receipt of your August 31, 1995, letter regarding the 
suggestion of Ms. Ann Dulaney to permit federal employees to donate 
frequent flyer miles to charity.  

Our decisions state that frequent flyer mileage credits earned for 
official travel belong to the federal government and may not be 
retained by the government employee.  In the Federal Travel 
Regulation, 41 C.F.R.  301-1.103(b) (1994), the Administrator of 
General Services has issued regulations providing that promotional 
materials (including frequent traveler benefits) which cannot be used 
by the receiving agency shall be transferred to a federal hospital or 
similar institution under 41 C.F.R.  101-25.103-4 (1994).  See, Gifts 
or Prizes Acquired in the Course of Official Travel Assignments, 
B-199656, July 15, 1981, and Michael Farbman, et al., 67 Comp. Gen. 79 
(1987). 

We suggest that the question of amending the regulations to permit the 
transfer of frequent flyer mileage credits to a specific charity be 
made directly to the Administrator of General Services.     

Sincerely yours,

Robert P. Murphy
General Counsel
B-266169

DIGEST

Frequent flyer mileage credits earned for official travel belong to 
the federal government and may not be retained by the government 
employee.  The Administrator of General Services has issued 
regulations pertaining to the disposal of promotional material 
(including frequent flyer benefits).  41 C.F.R.  101-25.103-4 (1994).  
In response to a constituent request, we suggest that the question of 
amending the regulations to permit the transfer of frequent flyer 
mileage credits to a specific charity be made directly to the 
Administrator of General Services.