{"id":20112,"date":"2026-03-30T13:43:20","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T18:43:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/travel\/?page_id=20112"},"modified":"2026-04-13T13:49:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T18:49:09","slug":"fly-america-act-and-open-skies-agreements","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/travel\/planning\/international\/fly-america-act-and-open-skies-agreements\/","title":{"rendered":"Fly America Act and Open Skies Agreements"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"cfct-build-20112\" class=\"cfct-build grid\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\"><div class=\"col-md-3 cfct-block\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"cfct-module cfct-supplemental\">\n\t\t\t\t    <div class=\"cfct-mod-content\">\n<h3 class=\"cfct-mod-title\" id=\"title-cfct-module-149c0451882c76e3f7946e80cbcedeef\"\">UW International Resources<\/h3>    <nav class=\"widget widget_meta\" aria-labelledby=\"title-cfct-module-149c0451882c76e3f7946e80cbcedeef\">\n\n        <div class=\"menu-cfct-module-149c0451882c76e3f7946e80cbcedeef-container\"><ul id = \"menu-uw-international-resources\" class = \"menu nav\"><li id=\"menu-item-20118\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children menu-item-20118\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/travel\/planning\/international\/fly-america-act-and-open-skies-agreements\/\">Fly America Act and Open Skies Agreements<\/a>\n<ul class=\"sub-menu\">\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-20133\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-20133\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/travel\/download\/special_topics(2)\/international_travel\/Foreign-Flag-Carrier-Approval-Form-(2).pdf\">Foreign Flag Carrier Exception Form<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-14286\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-14286\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/travel\/2022\/09\/07\/new-uw-system-international-receipt-form\/\">International Receipt Form<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-10398\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-10398\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/international-education-engagement\/\">International Education Offices<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-10402\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-10402\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/travel\/planning\/arriving-early-extending-your-stay-or-combining-business-and-personal-travel\/\">Combining Business and Personal Travel<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-10404\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-10404\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/travel\/reimbursement\/receipt-requirements\/\">Receipt Requirements<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>    <\/nav>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><div class=\"col-md-9 cfct-block\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"cfct-module uwsa-rich-text\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cfct-mod-content copy\"><h2 class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Fly America Act<\/h2>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">The\u00a0<a title=\"Original URL: https:\/\/www.gsa.gov\/policy-regulations\/policy\/travel-management-policy-overview\/fly-america-act. Click or tap if you trust this link.\" href=\"https:\/\/nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gsa.gov%2Fpolicy-regulations%2Fpolicy%2Ftravel-management-policy-overview%2Ffly-america-act&amp;data=05%7C02%7Calyssa.totoraitis%40wisconsin.edu%7C614bd7bfb65a4274b4c708de8e8aad03%7C18b1f8672df046a08ad305c86000c301%7C0%7C0%7C639104923833513203%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=UIW5dJnYZoGNuozZzQGQarFKTlG6UTWvbwTJFoQvZ80%3D&amp;reserved=0\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"3\">Fly America Act, 49 U.S.C. App. 1517<\/a>\u00a0requires federal employees and their dependents, consultants, contractors, grantees, and others performing United States government-financed foreign air travel to use U.S. flag air carriers, such as American, United, Delta, etc., when available unless using a foreign air carrier is necessary.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\"><b>Airfare reimbursements are not permitted on federal funds\u00a0<\/b>if Fly America Act regulations are not followed.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">At UW, if you are traveling on federal funds, you must use U.S. Flag carriers \u2013 even when foreign carriers are cheaper or provide preferred routing, are more convenient, or are part of frequent\u2010flyer agreements such as Star Alliance, which do not infer U.S. carrier status on their members without using a Code Shared flight with a U.S. designator.<\/p>\n<p><strong>US Flag Carriers:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Alaska Airlines<\/li>\n<li>American Airlines<\/li>\n<li>Avelo Airlines<\/li>\n<li>Breeze Airways<\/li>\n<li>Delta Airlines<\/li>\n<li>Frontier Airlines<\/li>\n<li>Hawaiian Airlines<\/li>\n<li>JetBlue Airways<\/li>\n<li>Silver Airways<\/li>\n<li>Southwest Airlines<\/li>\n<li>Spirit Airlines<\/li>\n<li>Sun Country Airlines<\/li>\n<li>United Airlines<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\"><b>\u201cCode Sharing,\u201d<\/b>\u00a0a process by which a ticket may be issued by one airline but flown by another, requires that the ticketing airline be the U.S. carrier. The\u00a0<b>\u201ccarrier\u201d<\/b>\u00a0is defined by the airline designator noted on the ticket. Examples:<\/p>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\">American flight 4332, shown as AA 4332 on the ticket, flown by British Airways, is considered a U.S. carrier.<\/li>\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Korean Airways 324, shown on the ticket as KE 324, flown by American Airlines, is not considered a U.S. carrier.<\/li>\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\">American flight 467, shown on the ticket as AA467, which happens to be the same plane as KE 324 above, is a U.S. carrier.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4 class=\"x_MsoNormal\"><b>Exceptions<\/b><\/h4>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">When traveling\u00a0<b>to and from the U.S.<\/b>, a non\u2010U.S. carrier is allowed under\u00a0<b>any<\/b>\u00a0of the following circumstances. Lower cost is not an acceptable criterion for exception.<\/p>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\">The airport abroad is\u00a0<b>the origin or destination airport,<\/b>\u00a0and using a U.S. carrier would extend the total travel time\u00a0<b>by 24 hours or more<\/b>\u00a0than using a non\u2010U.S. carrier.<\/li>\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\">The airport abroad is\u00a0<b>an interchange point,<\/b>\u00a0and using a U.S. carrier would require you to wait\u00a0<b>4 hours or more<\/b>\u00a0to make an overseas connection or extend the total travel time\u00a0<b>by 6 hours or more<\/b>\u00a0than would using a non\u2010U.S. carrier.\n<ul type=\"circle\">\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\">When you must use a foreign airline, consider what is an appropriate interchange point or gateway city. Generally, an interchange point will not be in the United States (i.e., not JFK, EWR, LAX), but will likely be the capital or a large city near the destination. Examples of improper gateway cities:\n<ul type=\"square\">\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Baltimore was indicated as the gateway city for flying to Oslo, Norway, and the traveler flew on SAS, a non\u2010U.S. carrier. However, Oslo is served by several U.S. carriers from New York airports. This flight would not be eligible for federal grant reimbursement.<\/li>\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\">New York was indicated as the interchange point for a flight to Johannesburg, South Africa, with a plane change there for Lusaka, Zambia. However, several U.S. carriers serve Johannesburg and should have been used. This flight would not be eligible for federal grant reimbursement.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">When traveling\u00a0<b>between\u00a0points<\/b>\u00a0<b>outside the U.S.<\/b>, a non\u2010U.S. carrier is allowed under any of the following circumstances:<\/p>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Using a non\u2010U.S. carrier would\u00a0<b>eliminate two or more aircraft changes<\/b>\u00a0en route.<\/li>\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Using a U.S. carrier would\u00a0<b>extend the total travel time<\/b>\u00a0<b>by 6 hours or more<\/b>\u00a0than using a non\u2010U.S. carrier.\n<ul type=\"circle\">\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\"><b>For all short-distance travel<\/b>, regardless of origin and destination, using a non\u2010U.S. carrier is allowed if the elapsed travel time on a scheduled flight from the origin to the destination airport using a non\u2010U.S. carrier is\u00a0<b>3 hours or less,<\/b>\u00a0and using a U.S. carrier would double the travel time.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\"><b>In the Code of Federal Regulations<\/b>, the following additional exceptions apply:<\/p>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">When the\u00a0<b>U.S. air carrier only has seats in first and\/or business class<\/b>, and economy class service is available from a non\u2010U.S. air carrier.<\/p>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">When a non\u2010U.S. air carrier service is deemed\u00a0<b>a matter of necessity<\/b>\u00a0under any of the following circumstances:<\/p>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\">When the agency determines that using a non\u2010U.S. air carrier is\u00a0<b>necessary for medical reasons<\/b>, including using a non\u2010U.S. air carrier service to reduce the number of connections and possible delays in transporting people who need medical treatment.<\/li>\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\">When using a non\u2010U.S. air carrier is required\u00a0<b>to avoid an unreasonable risk to your safety<\/b>\u00a0<b>and is approved by your agency<\/b>\u00a0(e.g., terrorist threats). The agency must provide written approval of their determination on a case-by-case basis, supported by a travel advisory notice issued by the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of State. Such a determination and approval based on a threat against U.S. Government employees or other travelers must also be supported by evidence of the threat(s).<\/li>\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\">When you\u00a0<b>cannot purchase a ticket in your authorized class of service<\/b>\u00a0on a U.S. flag air carrier, and a seat is available in your authorized class of service on a non\u2010U.S. air carrier.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>OPEN SKIES AGREEMENTS<\/h4>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">International treaties referred to as\u00a0<a title=\"Original URL: https:\/\/www.gsa.gov\/policy-regulations\/policy\/travel-management-policy-overview\/fly-america-act#:~:text=%22Open%20Skies%20Agreements%22%20are%20bilateral,for%20government-funded%20international%20travel.. Click or tap if you trust this link.\" href=\"https:\/\/nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gsa.gov%2Fpolicy-regulations%2Fpolicy%2Ftravel-management-policy-overview%2Ffly-america-act%23%3A~%3Atext%3D%2522Open%2520Skies%2520Agreements%2522%2520are%2520bilateral%2Cfor%2520government-funded%2520international%2520travel.&amp;data=05%7C02%7Calyssa.totoraitis%40wisconsin.edu%7C614bd7bfb65a4274b4c708de8e8aad03%7C18b1f8672df046a08ad305c86000c301%7C0%7C0%7C639104923833567578%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=N5Pxpk5IfU420dsy%2BLJ1cfXAFwQwTJ88kov%2FiTcygAc%3D&amp;reserved=0\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"4\">Open Skies Agreements<\/a>\u00a0provide a limited exception to the Fly America Act. Except when the travel is funded by the U.S. Department of Defense, where an open skies agreement exists, you may use the foreign airline in the situations described in the treaty (generally between the U.S. and the airline\u2019s country).<\/p>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Open Skies Agreements that apply exist with:<\/p>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\"><a title=\"Original URL: https:\/\/european-union.europa.eu\/principles-countries-history\/country-profiles_en. Click or tap if you trust this link.\" href=\"https:\/\/nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Feuropean-union.europa.eu%2Fprinciples-countries-history%2Fcountry-profiles_en&amp;data=05%7C02%7Calyssa.totoraitis%40wisconsin.edu%7C614bd7bfb65a4274b4c708de8e8aad03%7C18b1f8672df046a08ad305c86000c301%7C0%7C0%7C639104923833613373%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=PGa82whBW1z2XssZp2nbRFf5XTvasuquPnI9ThCkv5w%3D&amp;reserved=0\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"5\">European Union<\/a>\u00a0(as well as Norway and Iceland, but now excluding the UK)<\/li>\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Australia<\/li>\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Switzerland<\/li>\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Japan<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\"><i>Open Skies Agreement compliant flights require the exception form be completed.<\/i><\/p>\n<h4>EXEMPTION PROCEDURES<\/h4>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">For federally funded international travel that is not Fly America compliant,\u00a0<b>(including Open Skies Agreements<\/b>,) you must do the following:<\/p>\n<ol start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Retain documentation supporting the specific exception claimed, which may include:\n<ol start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Travel site data indicating the absence of US\u2010based carriers.<\/li>\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\">The specific amount of time that using a U.S. carrier would require.<\/li>\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Any safety information such as State Department travel advisories that recommend not using United States carriers.<\/li>\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Documentation of an ADA accommodation that requires you to use a foreign carrier, and for what reason (e.g., shorter elapsed time, wider seats, etc.).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Complete the <span class=\"doc-icon\"><a class=\"doc-type pdf\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/travel\/download\/special_topics(2)\/international_travel\/Foreign-Flag-Carrier-Approval-Form-(2).pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Foreign Flag Carrier Exception Form<span class=\"sr-only\"> pdf<\/span><\/a><\/span>\r\nstating the exemption and include it with the payment mechanism (reimbursement request or UW card reconciliation).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":3346,"featured_media":0,"parent":3344,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-20112","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","cfct-can-haz-build"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/20112","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3346"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20112"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/20112\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20135,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/20112\/revisions\/20135"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3344"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20112"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}