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Booking Flights

University personnel may book flights from any website for reimbursement. Send your itinerary to travel@astro.as.utexas.edu when purchased. Concur or a contracted UT travel agency may still be used and direct billed.

Baggage Fees

The State Comptroller's Office has stated that checked bag fees are now being charged by some airlines. See Expenses & Reimbursements.

Mileage

Employees can be reimbursed for travel at the rate listed on the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts' Travel Reimbursement Rates Web page. Official mileage is calculated using the addresses of origin and destination on mapquest. Approximate (unoffical) mileage for common trips is listed at Distances.

Car Rental Agencies

Use direct bill with Avis, Enterprise or National, but swipe a credit card at Budget and Hertz. Insurance is included on all domestic rentals. Foreign travel needs additional insurance. Ask for assistance from the Travel Office.

Billing for Hotels

Staying in Texas? Get a state-tax-exemption form from us (pdf), or you must pay tax yourself (non-reimbursable).

In or out of state at any hotel, ask for the State Government Rate, if available, for considerable savings.

Mandatory Seat Belts

Rules concerning using safety belts while traveling in university vehicles are now in effect.

Mandatory Safety Belt Usage in College Vehicles (pdf)

International Fares & REGISTRY

Contract Airline Fares now includes some international rates. See the last category of the Contract Air Fares link at left.

There is a requirement to register your international trip in the International Travel Registry (ITR) before departing. See https://global.utexas.edu/risk/travel/register. ITR registration is the crucial step in the travel process that alerts On Call International (24/7 medical and security assistance provider) that you are abroad. This is a UT System and UT Austin policy requirement for all employees and students.

McDonald Observatory

Directions to McDonald, maps and other information.

Travel Office:

PMA 13.116
travel@astro.as.utexas.edu
(512) 471-1319

Mailing Address:

The University of Texas at Austin
MCDONALD OBSERVATORY
2515 SPEEDWAY, Stop C1402
AUSTIN, TX 78712-1206


Policy and Resources

UT Travel Policy

Office of Travel Management

UT International Office - Safety Updates