Use of Contract Carriers:
The State reserves the right to allow travel on an alternate carrier only if:
a). space or scheduled flights are not available to accomplish the purpose of the travel, or use of available contract service would require the traveler to incur unnecessary overnight lodging costs which would increase the total cost of the trip; or
b). a non-contract carrier offers a lower fare available to the general public, the use of which will result in a lower total trip cost to the State of Colorado, to included the combined costs of transportation, lodging, meals and related expenses; or (NOTE: This except does not apply if the contract carrier(s) offers a a comparable fare and has seats available at that fare.)
c). traveler is inconveniences more than three (3) hours by using the awarded airline; or
d). if service is discontinued by awarded airline; or
e). a flight is cancelled.

Definition of Fares:
a). Unrestricted Fare: A full coach contract airfare--for example a YCACO fare-- is understood as a fare with no capacity controls that is fully refundable, requires no advance purchase, no overnight stay requirements, no flight specific limits and must have last seat availability-- a fare without restrictions. Fare is fully refundable and changeable. If there is a difference in fare on the change (i.e. city pair change) the difference will be collected.

b). Capacity Controlled Fare: A full coach contract airfare--for example a WCACO fare--is understood as a fare with capacity controls that is fully refundable, requires no advance purchase, no overnight stay requirements, no flight specific limits - a fare without restrictions. These fares shall be any available seat above the bottom 1/3 of the airline's seating hierarchy in coach class of the carrier's commercial fare classification code schedule. Fare is fully refundable and changeable. If there is a difference in fare (i.e. city pair change or the capacity controlled class of service is not available on the flight they chose to change to) the difference in fare will be collected.

Limited Payment Vehicle —State Travel Card System: Charges for contract fares will be made only through US Bank centrally billed airfare accounts established by the Division of Central Services through the State Travel Management Program. The State of Colorado will not alter its method of charging airfares without consulting its contracting airlines prior to any such change. Only official State of Colorado government business is allowed to be charged on State-issued US Bank VISA cards.

Exceptions to Payment Vehicle Policy for Contract Fares: The only two allowable exceptions to this policy of charging contract fares through State US Bank VISA centrally billed airfare accounts are:

a). A State of Colorado traveler on official government business must make an emergency change in plans while en route and is unable to reach the travel agency originally issuing his or her ticket;
b). A State of Colorado traveler on official government business must make an emergency trip and cannot contact a travel agency serving his or her State agency prior to his or her departure.

In these two instances only, contract fares may be charged to a US Bank VISA individual card or event card authorized by the State of Colorado.

Use of Contract Carriers: By the authority of the State Controller and the State's fiscal officers, the State of Colorado will require its travelers to obtain service first from the contractor for any city-pair under contract. The contract carrier is to be used except under one or more of the following conditions:

a). space or scheduled flights are not available to accomplish the purpose of the travel, or use of available contract service would require the traveler to incur unnecessary overnight lodging costs which would increase the total cost of the trip; or
b). a non-contract carrier offers a lower fare available to the general public, including Internet fares, the use of which will result in a lower total trip cost to the State of Colorado, to include the combined costs of transportation, lodging, meals and related expenses, or (Note: This exception does not apply if the contract carrier(s) offers a comparable fare and has seats available at that fare.)
c). traveler is inconvenienced more than three (3) hours by using the awarded airline; or
d). service is discontinued by awarded airline.
e). a flight is cancelled.

When federal funds are used, travelers must comply with the provisions of the Fly America Act (Federal Travel Regulations §301-10.131 – §301-10.143).

Paper Ticket Charges: There is a $35 USD charge for a paper ticket for both Unrestricted and Capacity Controlled fares. This applies to both domestic and international intineraries.

Dates of Travel Availability: Contract airfares allow for dates of travel availability for thirty (30) days after the termination of the price agreement. (July 30, 2011)

Political Subdivisions Use of Fares: Carrier will make contract airfares available to State of Colorado political subdivisions according to the provisions of the Invitation for Bid and the State Travel Management Program. The Program will offer political subdivisions access to the Air Travel Program and use of all price agreement provisions relating to travel established by the State of Colorado Division of Purchasing and the State Travel Management Program provided that the political subdivisions conform to the requirements established by the State of Colorado Travel Program. Details available at www.colorado.gov/travel.

Prohibited Use of Any Government Airfares Offered to Other States: The State Travel Management Program prohibits its authorized travel agencies to sell any other state government airfares to State of Colorado travelers. Travel agencies that sell government airfares offered to other states will lose their State authorizations and their US Bank VISA ghost card accounts will be canceled. The use of fares from other states' contracts is strictly prohibited.