The Department of Veterans Affairs e Travel System

The Department of Veteran Affairs' new e-travel system will allow travelers to electronically prepare and submit travel information using a web-based system.  Users begin by logging on to the e-travel system through the Intranet or Internet from a PC, laptop, or hand held device to create an online travel request.  Through the e-travel system, all VA travelers or travel managers will access an on-line booking engine for trip planning purposes, including access to information on available transportation and lodging options.  VA reservations will be placed on hold through the booking engine, awaiting supervisory approval.

Once preliminary travel plans are made, the travel request is electronically routed to the supervisor for authorization and to approving officials for final approval.  The electronic routing process includes electronic signature approval, and electronic e-mail notification of the request throughout the process.  When travel is approved, travel authority data will be sent from the e-travel system to VA’s Financial Management System (FMS), and in the future, to the VA’s new core financial system (coreFLS) to be obligated, as well as to the booking engine for confirmation and ticketing of held reservations.  Upon completion of the trip, the traveler can easily and immediately submit their travel voucher. 

The VA eTravel System will:

- reduce the time and costs for preparing travel documents;

- reduce VA travel procurement and management costs;

- centralize travel and budget information online;

- reduce paper with an end to end process;

- be a department wide VA electronic travel system;

- be web enabled and internet based;

- reduce delinquency rates through electronic split-payment processing, and

- increase VA rebates from prompt payment of travel card bills.