ProTrav
Procurement Card & Travel Expense Voucher
Did You Know?
February 2008

On February 7, 2008 the Board of Regents, State of Iowa approved a change for out-of-state meal rates that now ties these rates to the per diems set by the federal Department of General Services.  These changes are effective for travel occurring on or after February 7, 2008.    

Maximum daily meal allowances will now vary by destination for out-of-state travel.  These rates are available on the Travel Web page and in ProTrav.   

Most of the meal policy remains unchanged.

• Actual meal expenses should be claimed.
• Claims up to the full maximum are allowed on full days of travel.
• On dates of departure and return, based upon depart and return times, allowances are prorated, allowing 20% of the maximum for breakfast, 30% for lunch, 50% for dinner.  Individual meal claims do not have to fall within these specific meal parameters.   Actual costs can be distributed among the meals in any manner as long as the total claim for each day does not exceed the maximum allowance for that day.
• Meal costs over the maximum allowance are at the traveler’s expense.
• In state allowances remain 31.00/day.

If you have a Travel Expense Voucher (TEV) in progress at this time for travel occurring on or after February 7, 2008, with your department’s approval, you may edit your meal claims up to these new maximums.  If you have already submitted a TEV for meal expenses incurred on or after February 7, 2008 and have been paid, with your department’s approval, you may submit a supplemental voucher for the same trip and claim the additional amount.   

The Travel Office announces a new option for booking domestic United Airlines tickets directly online with the benefit of the University’s discount. 

The access to United online is available through the University’s Self Service Portal.

The two options for booking United Airlines tickets are:

• Online:  directly with United Airlines for domestic travel
  For more information, instructions, or to make a United reservation, click here

• Traditional agent reservations through the University’s Preferred Agencies.
  • Meacham Travel - 319-351-1360 or www.meachamtravel.com/
  • Winebrenner Red Carpet Travel - 319- 384-7100 or www.winebrenner.com/

For those travelers booking online with tools such as Orbitz or Expedia, it is recommended that you now book directly with United instead.  This option allows you to book at your convenience and receive the University’s discount avoiding service fees associated with other online booking tools.   

Continued benefits the University’s Preferred Agencies  offer for bookings include assistance with:  complicated itineraries, international travel and/or any ticket which may need to be exchanged or canceled for any reason.  

The Procurement card can be used when doing business with other departments within the University.