Typically, you receive the full meal allowance that is listed in the per diem schedules rather than what you actually spend for food. Meal receipts are not required unless you expect to be reimbursed the actual cost of a meal.
For example, you must be traveling at least eleven hours if you work the standard full-time eight hour day or you must be traveling at least seven hours if you work the standard part-time four hour day in order to meet this rule. You may not stop for a meal just to meet the three hour rule. In addition, your destination must also be more than fifty miles one way (most direct route) of either your official residence or official station, whichever is closer in order to be considered in travel status. This three hour rule applies regardless of whether or not you are traveling on your normal work day.
You may go into travel status up to three hours before a domestic flight and up to four hours before an international flight. Whether you fly or drive, you should depart in time to observe the start time of the UW business while taking into consideration that you must select travel options that is most economical.
Whether you fly or drive, you should return as soon as possible to either your official station or official residence when the UW business is completed on the normal return night while taking into consideration you must select travel options that is most economical.
You should also consider the following when determining whether to depart on the normal return night:
If you anticipate you will not arrive at a reasonable time if you depart on the normal return night, you must return to either your official station or official residence the next day as soon as possible.
