MSU Travel Department- Samples of Airline Allowable Class of Service

Manual of Business Procedures Section 70 – Travel Policy & Procedures requires airfare to be purchased at the lowest logical available fare, which is defined as standard coach or economy class. In today’s environment, each airline has multiple fare options that exist within the same cabin category, often with varying levels of added benefits, flexibility, or amenities.

For a fare to be considered allowable under MSU policy, it must reflect the standard economy offering without added benefits. Fare options that include features such as priority boarding, increased mileage earnings, or other premium benefits are considered upgrades and are not eligible for reimbursement.

In limited circumstances, such as when an individual flight segment exceeds five hours or when a documented medical need exists, purchase of one fare class above economy is allowable. In these cases, the allowable exception is based on the need for an improved seating experience (i.e., additional legroom), not the added premium benefits included with certain fare types.

This page is intended to help travelers identify which fare options align with MSU policy by highlighting examples across commonly used airlines. Each section below outlines the standard allowable fare and identifies additional benefits within other fare options that are not permitted.

Delta Airlines

1. Presented with 3 options after clicking on “Delta Main”:
   • Delta Main, Delta Comfort, Delta First.
2. Clicking on Delta Main presents 3 additional options
   • Main Basic, Main Classic, Main Extra
3. Main Classic – MSU Policy Compliant
4. Book “Main Classic”.

For Delta Airlines, the allowable fare under MSU policy is the Delta Main Classic fare option, which represents the standard economy experience.

The Main Basic fare represents a more restrictive version of economy, typically including limitations such as delayed seat assignment and reduced flexibility. While reimbursement is allowable if purchased out of pocket, it is not available for purchases through Concur or MSU’s Preferred Travel Agencies because it is not recommended for MSU business travel.

Fare options labeled “Extra” (e.g., Main Extra) include added benefits like increased mileage earnings, higher boarding priority, and greater refundability. These are considered upgrades and are not allowable under MSU policy.

Higher cabin options, such as Delta Comfort, offer an upgraded in-flight experience, including features like additional legroom and improved seating. These options are considered upgrades, but Delta Comfort Classic is allowable when an individual flight segment exceeds five hours or when a documented medical need exists. Enhanced versions of upgraded cabins (e.g., Comfort “Extra”) exceed allowable exceptions and are not permitted. Delta First is also not allowable because it is more than one fare class above economy.

American Airlines

1. Presented with 4 options, after clicking on “Main”:
   • Basic Economy, Main, Main Plus, Main Select.
2. Main – MSU Policy Compliant
3. Book “Main”.

United Airlines

1. Presented with 5 options:
   • Basic Economyjavascript:void(0);, Economy (fully refundable), Economy Plus, Business/First
2. Economy – MSU Policy Compliant
3. Book “Economy”.