Controller Home at The University of West Georgia

UWG Logo

Prepaid Airfare for Employees

Module:   Accounts Payable

Business Process #: AP - 3

Purpose of Process: To request a purchase and prepayment of an employee airline ticket that has been ticketed through a travel agency.

 Step  Individual  Activity
 1 Traveler Employee has an approved travel authorization.
 2 Traveler Employee contacts travel agency to begin process of selecting appropriate flight.
 3 Traveler Once appropriate flight is determined, traveling employee faxes approved travel authorization to local travel agency.
 4 Travel Agency Once approved travel authorization is received by the travel agency, the ticket is issued.
 5 Travel Agency Sends any necessary itinerary and receipts to employee directly once ticket is issued.
 6 Traveler Employee should make note of invoice/prepayment amount.  This amount will need to be entered on expense report as a prepaid amount at the completion of the travel.
 7 Travel Agency Sends to Accounts Payable invoice and copy of travel authorization as proof of authorization for ticket.
 8 Accounts Payable Receives invoice and copy of travel authorization.
(NOTE:  Travel Authorizations will be reviewed for appropriateness and approval authority.  The Office of the Controller may seek additional clarification as required and take corrective action as necessary.)
 9 Accounts Payable Enters voucher to issue check to vendor for airline tickets.
 10 Traveler Must enter an expense type for a prepaid airline ticket on Expense Report when report is submitted for payment of other expenses.  Employee should record actual amount as invoiced on airfare itinerary/invoice.  Employee should submit a copy of this itinerary/invoice with expense report documentation.

The travel authorization must contain the following information in order for the travel agency to issue a ticket:

• Date – this is the date the form is completed and should not exceed the date of the travel.
• Division/Department – the UWG department for which the traveler resides or department that will provide funding for the travel.
• Full Traveler Name – name of the traveler to whom the ticket should be issued.
• Employee/Student ID – Identification number of the individual travelling. 
• Depart Date – Date the individual is on travel status for the university.
• Return Date – Date the individual is to return is no longer on travel status.
• City – destination for the purpose of the travel authorization.
• State - destination for the purpose of the travel authorization.
• Country – Required for foreign travel - destination for the purpose of the travel authorization.
• Travel Purpose – Reason to incur the travel expense.
• Estimated Cost Airfare or other common carrier – Represents a maximum price to be allowed for the cost of the transportation.
• Fund/Dept Id/ Program/Class/Project – account for UWG from which will charge will reside.
• Approving Official – The name and signature of the individual approving the use of funds.  The traveler and the approving official can not be the same individual.
• Director, Sponsored Projects – Required in the event the PROJECT field is completed.