Frequent flier miles rule finalized

The General Services Administration published final rules for the new frequent flier mile benefit in the Federal Register Friday.

The fiscal 2002 Defense Authorization bill, signed into law in December, included a provision allowing civil service, military and Foreign Service employees to use frequent flier miles obtained on government travel for personal use. Prior to the law's passage, federal employees were not allowed to use their frequent flier miles because the 1994 Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act (Public Law 103-355) prohibited them from accepting promotional items, including frequent flier miles, they received while traveling at the government's expense.

The provision drew overwhelming support from Congress, where legislators argued that allowing federal workers to keep their frequent flier miles would help federal retention and recruitment efforts.

In the months since the bill's passage, GSA has revised and amended the Federal Travel Regulation to reflect the change in law.

In January, GSA issued a travel advisory explaining the new benefit, including how to establish accounts and how to use and retain miles already earned.