U.S. General Services Administration
Government airfare types
City Pair Program contract fares
| Fare type | Fare code | Refundable | Fare description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contract economy fares | _CA | Yes | Deeply discounted fare with capacity controls |
| YCA | Yes | Last seat availability | |
| _CN | No | Non-refundable fare with capacity controls. There are no _CN awards for fiscal year 2027. | |
| Other contract fares1 | _CP | Yes | International premium economy fare |
| _CB | Yes | Business class fare |
1 Agency approval required to book
Comparing _CA and YCA fares
_CA fares have a limited number of seats based on the supply and demand of the flight, but no other restrictions. _CA seat availability on a particular flight varies carrier-by-carrier and market-by-market, as you can see in the table below. The _CA airfares allow you to save the most money possible, while still enjoying the same top quality service available with YCA fares.
Use of the _CA fares is encouraged by the Federal Travel Regulation and Joint Travel Regulations.
| Feature | Capacity-controlled fare, or _CA | Last-seat availability fare, or YCA |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Maximizing agency cost savings; typically booked in advance. | Last-minute or high-demand travel |
| Cost | Lowest available contract price (varies by market, but often much cheaper) | Standard negotiated contract rate |
| Regulation rule | Mandatory to book if available and mission appropriate | Fallback option when _CA is sold out |
| Booking availability | Limited. Controlled by airline inventory and market demand. | Guaranteed as long as any economy seat remains on the flight |
| Service and perks | Full economy service | Same as _CA |
Federal travelers:
Under FTR 301–10.110 — and JTR for DoD personnel — you must select the lower-cost _CA fare when it is available and meets your mission requirements.
Tips to maximize agency savings
- Book as soon as travel is confirmed. _CA inventory is strictly limited. The earlier you book your reservation in your agency’s travel system (for example, GO.gov), the more likely a _CA fare will be available.
- Don’t wait for final authorization to reserve. We recommend holding your reservation as soon as the travel need is identified to lock in the _CA inventory.
- Check route pricing beforehand. Use the CPP fare finder to see the price difference between _CA and YCA fares on your expected route before booking.
Non-contract government airfares
As a mandatory use program, the FTR/JTR require you to fly on the awarded carrier for each City Pair market. Taking the same or higher-priced discounted government — DG — fare undermines compliance to the government contract, and drives business away from the awarded carrier.
DG fare characteristics:
- The City Pair Program cannot prevent DG fares from entering a market.
- DG fares can be useful if there is no City Pair fare available or awarded.
- The same program benefits are not guaranteed.
- DG fares may be higher priced.