Which statement is not true about the GSA City Pair program?

The correct statement regarding the GSA City Pair program is that an Approving Official (AO) cannot authorize non-contract City Pair flights. This program is designed specifically to provide government travelers with cost-effective and efficient travel options by offering contract flights between specific city pairs at predetermined rates.

The essence of the program lies in encouraging travelers to use these designated contract flights, which typically come with discounted rates, rather than selecting non-contract options that may not align with the program’s objectives or cost-effectiveness. Therefore, the restrictions regarding non-contract flights ensure that the goals of saving taxpayer dollars and optimizing travel arrangements are met.

In contrast, travelers are required to choose from the available City Pair contract flights to take advantage of the discounts and adhere to the program's guidelines. Additionally, eligibility criteria are established to govern who can use these flights, thereby ensuring organized and regulated use of government travel resources. Overall, the GSA City Pair program aims to maximize efficiency and minimize costs for government travel, making the accurate selection of authorized flights crucial.