§ 301-7.8 - Computation rules for travel of more than 24 hours.

The applicable maximum per diem rate for each calendar day of travel shall be determined by the travel status and location of the employee at 12:00 midnight and whether lodging is required at such location. When lodging is required, the applicable maximum per diem rate shall be the maximum rate prescribed for the temporary duty location, or a stopover point where lodging is obtained while en route to, from, or between temporary duty locations (see §§ 301-7.9 and 301-7.6(a)(3) for regulations on lodging location and maximum per diem rates applicable to change of official station travel, respectively). Only one maximum rate will be applicable to a calendar day or fraction thereof. Per diem for travel of more than 24 hours shall be calculated as provided in paragraphs (a) through (e) of this section.

(a) Day travel begins—(1) Lodging required. When lodging is required on the day travel begins (day of departure from the home, office, or other authorized point), the per diem allowable shall be the actual cost of lodging incurred by the traveler, limited to the applicable maximum lodging allowance prescribed for the location of the lodging, plus three-fourths of the applicable M&IE rate prescribed for the lodging location.

(2) Lodging not required. When lodging is not required on the day travel begins, (day of departure from the home, office, or other authorized point), the per diem allowable shall be three-fourths of the destination M&IE rate.

(b) Full calendar days of travel—(1) Lodging required. For each full calendar day that the employee is in a travel status and lodging is required (whether en route or at a temporary duty location), the per diem allowable shall be the actual cost of lodging incurred by the traveler, limited to the applicable maximum lodging allowance prescribed for the location of the lodging, plus the applicable M&IE rate.

(2) Lodging not required. For each full calendar day that the traveler is in a travel status and lodging is not required (such as when the traveler is en route overnight to the next temporary duty location), the per diem allowance shall be the destination M&IE rate.

(c) Returning from travel—(1) Lodging required. For each full calendar day of travel when lodging is required at an en route location while the employee is returning to the official station, home, or other authorized point, the per diem allowable shall be the actual cost of lodging incurred by the traveler, limited to the applicable maximum lodging allowance prescribed for the location of the lodging, plus the applicable M&IE rate.

(2) Lodging not required. For any full calendar day of travel when lodging is not required while the traveler is en route overnight returning to the official station, home, or other authorized point, the per diem allowable shall be the M&IE rate applicable to the preceding calendar day.

(3) Day travel ends—(i) No lodging required. For the day travel ends (day traveler returns to the official station, home, or other authorized point) the per diem allowable shall be three-fourths of the M&IE rate applicable to the preceding calendar day.

(ii) Lodging required on the day travel ends. When an employee must perform official business at a temporary duty site en route to the official station, home, or other authorized point on the day travel ends and the agency authorizes the employee to obtain lodging, the per diem allowable shall be the actual cost of lodging incurred by the traveler, limited to the applicable maximum lodging allowance prescribed for the en route temporary duty site, plus three-fourths of the M&IE rate applicable to the en route temporary duty site.

(d) Lodging obtained after midnight. Although per diem generally is based on the employee's location at midnight, there will be instances in which he/she is en route and does not arrive at the lodging location (either temporary duty location or en route stopover point) until after midnight. In such cases, the lodging shall be claimed for the preceding calendar day and the applicable maximum per diem for the preceding day will be determined as if the employee had been at the lodging location at 12:00 midnight of that day.

(e) Commercial vessel. For vessel travel, except for the day of arrival on board (day of embarkation) and the day of departure from the vessel (day of debarkation), the allowable per diem rate will be $6 per day. When the $6 rate is not sufficient to meet the traveler's per diem expenses, a per diem rate equal to the anticipated expenses, not to exceed $9 per day, may be authorized or approved; except that the rate for travel by the Alaska Ferry System shall not exceed the standard M&IE rate for CONUS. Per diem will be computed under the lodgings-plus system on the days of embarkation and debarkation.