10 Travel will take place in economy class, on the least expensive route available, provided that the total additional time of the whole journey does not exceed the most direct route by 4 hours. For return or multi-destination trips, each leg of the journey will be considered separately for the calculation of the additional travel time versus the most direct route. The lowest restrictive economy class fare (including non-refundable fares) will be purchased, unless specific circumstances require the use of flexible fares.
20 For staff members, Junior Professional Officers, Loans, Interpreters and Conference staff, (duty travel only), for non-stop flights of 9 hours or more, and for connecting flights of 11 hours or more, including a maximum of 2 hours of connection time, travel may be authorized on the least expensive route in business class. In such cases, the cheapest refundable business class ticket will be provided.
21 In order to facilitate achievement of programme objectives with limited resources, when considering provision of business class, managers must consider availability of funds, and alternatives such as travelling earlier and availing of rest time on arrival, in lieu of business class.
22 When Business class does not exist on a particular flight, the cabin class immediately above Economy class may be provided.
23 For late Travel Requests (not fully approved 14 calendar days or more before the date of departure) for non-emergency international duty travel by air, that normally qualify for business class, the class of travel shall be downgraded to economy class.
24 On the Geneva-Washington DC/Washington DC-Geneva and Geneva-New York/New York-Geneva routes, all travel will be in economy class, irrespective of the actual travel time or selected carrier/route.
30 For WHO Director General and Regional Directors, business class may be provided for travel on official business, irrespective of the duration of the flight.
31 When a staff member (maximum one) should accompany WHO Senior Management (mentioned in para 30 above) on Duty Travel, the same class of Travel may be provided.
40 Since business class tickets incur a high cost to the Organization, non-staff travellers will not be provided business class tickets, irrespective of the travel duration
50 When travel qualifies for Business Class, travellers are encouraged to purchase Premium Economy class tickets whenever available.
60 Each portion of a trip (outbound, return, or flights between two destinations on a multiple destination journey) shall be considered separately in order to determine the class of travel. When this results in splitting a travel into separate economy and business class tickets for different portions/legs of a trip, this will only be done if it reduces the overall ticket cost.
70 In case of transit, when no suitable connection is available on same day to final destination, an overnight stopover will be provided by the Organization unless already provided by airline. In such case, journey time calculation restarts after the stopover location.
80 In exceptional circumstances, the Assistant Director General BOS at Headquarters or the Directors of Administration and Finance in Regions may authorize exceptions to the class of travel set out in paragraphs 10-70 above, to allow business class travel to be provided, as follows:
81 When on medical grounds a request to travel business class is endorsed by the Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (or the relevant equivalent medical service in regional offices). Such request must be supported by a medical report indicating what specific medical outcome will be prevented by travel in the higher class. The supporting medical report should also include the reasons why the conditions of travel in the normally authorised class of travel cannot be medically tolerated, as compared to the conditions of a normal working day.
82 When the traveller is an eminent person such as a former head of state, or prominent personality who is donating his or her services free of charge to the Organization, such persons may be accorded business class travel.
83 When for Temporary Advisers, Experts, Members of Expert Committees and Consultants, appropriate justification is provided, and the travel duration exceeds 11 hours, including a maximum of 2 hours connecting time.
84 For travel that has been downgraded from business class due to the travel request being approved late (see para 23 above), and written justification clearly demonstrates that (i) the reason for non-compliance was outside the control of the Organization (ii) and/or economy class is clearly not suitable given the circumstances.
85 All other exceptions outside those defined in paras 81-84 above require the approval of the Assistant Director General BOS.
