FAQ 11 — LTC Rules
Original Rule Text
11 | P a g e
<table><tr><td>12 | P a g e employees who do not have any official accounts? administrative office sends their details depicting their names, employee code no., private email lDs and mobile numbers, etc. to the travel agents for the purpose of booking the air tickets in respect of LTC journey. [O.M. No. 31011/11/2023-Estt.A-IV dated 20.10.2023] 47 Authorized Travel Agencies (ATA) for booking tickets.
(i) 'M/s Balmer Lawrie & Company Limited', BLCL (https://govemp.balmerlawrietravelapp.com),
(ii) 'M/s Ashok Travels & Tours', 'ATT' (https://www.attitdc.in) and
(iii) Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd., 'IRCTC' (https://www.air.irctc.co.in). [O.M. No. 31011/11/2023-Estt.A-IV dated 20.10.2023] NB: While booking the air-tickets through ATAs, employees must ensure that ticket
(s) is/are booked under the category of “LTC” only and not “Corporate”. 48 Is LTC-80 fare still applicable to Central Government employees? No. LTC 80 was a scheme offered by Air India for booking Air Tickets when Central Government Officers avail LTC. As Air India is no longer a PSU of Government of India, LTC 80 scheme offered by erstwhile Air India is no more in existence. [O.M. No. 31011/12/2022-Estt. (A-IV), dated 29.08.2022] 49 Whether Government employees have to pay cancellation charges levied by the airlines? Yes, as per the respective airline policy. However, all the three authorized travel agents viz. M/s Balmer Lawrie & Company Limited (BLCL), M/s Ashok Travels & Tours (ATT) and Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd. (IRCTC) do not have to change any cancellation charges for utilization of their services. [O.M. No. 31011/17/2023-Estt.A-IV dated 10.08.2023 50 Whether Government employees can travel by Helicopter ? No. [OM No. 31011/4/2007-Estt.A-IV dated 14.05.2008]</td></tr></table>
<table><tr><td>51 Whether the Government employees have to book air tickets at the cheapest fare on the intended date of journey ? The employees are required to book air tickets at the cheapest price or at the fare 10% higher than the cheapest price available in the intended slot of 3 hours each like 3 – 6 hrs, 6 – 9 hrs, …..). [O.M. No. 31011/12/2022-Estt. (A-IV), dated 29.08.2022] 52 Is break-journey by air allowed ? No. Break-journey refers to staying at the place other than the place of destination except for the purpose of taking the connecting flight or for halt/lay-over of the direct flight. 53 How can the reimbursement be made if the journey is performed in different class of entitlement ? The reimbursement of claim will be settled as per the entitled class. However, if journey is performed by the higher-class reimbursement shall be restricted to entitled class. In case, the journey is performed by the lower-class, reimbursement shall be allowed as per actual. 54 Are cancellation charges allowed while booking air tickets through authorized travel agents? Cancellation charges levied by the three authorized travel agents for utilization of their portals/platforms, if any, shall be reimbursed on the ground of official exigencies only. [O.M. No. 31011/17/2023-Estt.A-IV dated 10.08.2023] (F) SPECIAL DISPENSATION SCHEME 55 What is its validity period of the Special Dispensation Scheme ? In relaxation of CCS(LTC) Rules, 1988, the scheme allowing Government employees to travel by air to North East Region (NER), Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), Union Territory of Ladakh and Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands (A&N) is extended for a further period of two years, w.e.f. 26 September, 2024 till 25th September, 2026. [DOPT OM No. 31011/15/2022-Estt.A-IV dated 17.09.2024] 56 While availing Special Dispensation Scheme, can the outward journey be started just before the midnight of 25th September, 2026? Yes.</td></tr></table>
What This Means
This section covers procedures for booking air tickets for LTC and several key restrictions. Air tickets for LTC must be booked only through the three Authorized Travel Agencies (ATAs) — Balmer Lawrie & Company (BLCL), Ashok Travels & Tours (ATT), and IRCTC Air. Tickets must be booked under the 'LTC' category, not 'Corporate.' The old LTC-80 scheme (Air India's discounted government fare) no longer exists since Air India's privatization.
Employees must book at the cheapest fare or at a fare up to 10% above the cheapest available in any 3-hour slot on the intended travel day. Break-journey by air (stopping midway at a non-connecting city) is not allowed. Reimbursement is settled at the entitled class — travelling in a higher class is reimbursed only at the entitled class; travelling in a lower class is reimbursed at the actual lower fare. The Special Dispensation Scheme for air travel to NER, J&K, Ladakh, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands has been extended to 25 September 2026.
This explanation was generated with AI assistance for educational purposes. Always refer to the official gazette notification for authoritative text.
Key Points
- 1Air tickets must be booked through ATAs only: BLCL, ATT, or IRCTC. Book under 'LTC' category, not 'Corporate.'
- 2LTC-80 Air India scheme is defunct since Air India's privatization.
- 3Employees must book at cheapest fare or up to 10% higher within a 3-hour slot.
- 4Break-journey by air (stopping at intermediate city) is not allowed.
- 5Travel in higher class: reimbursed only at entitled class. Travel in lower class: reimbursed at actual.
- 6ATAs do not charge cancellation fees for use of their portals; airline cancellation charges apply as per airline policy.
- 7Special Dispensation Scheme (air travel to NER/J&K/Ladakh/A&N) extended till 25 September 2026.
Practical Example
Govind, an Under Secretary entitled to travel in Business Class by air, books an economy ticket on the DoPT LTC portal through Balmer Lawrie for Rs 8,000. Since he traveled in a lower class than his entitlement, he is reimbursed Rs 8,000 (actual). Had he booked a Business Class ticket for Rs 20,000, he would be reimbursed only up to the Business Class entitled fare — not Rs 20,000 if that exceeded his entitlement.
Sarita, a Section Officer not entitled to fly, wants to visit Imphal under the Special Dispensation Scheme. She can fly in Economy Class and claim reimbursement at the economy airfare for the direct route (or her entitled rail fare, whichever is less) since NER travel is covered under the scheme.
This explanation was generated with AI assistance for educational purposes. Always refer to the official gazette notification for authoritative text.
Frequently Asked Questions
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This explanation was generated with AI assistance for educational purposes. Always refer to the official gazette notification for authoritative text.