AF lodging officials announce new payment procedures Published May 9, 2011 By Erin Tindell Air Force Personnel, Services and Manpower Public Affairs SAN ANTONIO (AFNS) -- As part of the Air Force's recent implementation of the new Citibank controlled spend account travel cards, funding for lodging costs will be pre-loaded on the card once authorization is approved in the Defense Travel System. As a result of the CSA travel card implementation, Air Force Inns guests paying with the new CSA travel card will be charged the total room charges up to a long-term stay of 30 days upon check-in. Guests staying longer than 30 days will have their credit card charged on day 31 to cover previous miscellaneous charges and room charges to cover up to another 30 day stay. According to Capt. Bruce Staufer, the chief of lodging at the Air Force Services Agency, the new payment procedure will help avoid card declines for insufficient funds and ensure lodging officials capture the funds authorized for the traveler's lodging stay. "Previously, all travelers were charged for their stay upon checkout or every 15 days for long-term guests, whichever came first," Captain Staufer said. "There always was the opportunity to pay up front at the guests' discretion, but no requirement. With the change to the new CSA card for official travelers, only funds for authorized travel expenses are loaded on a traveler's card." An added benefit to this new procedure is speedier check-out times. The elimination of the need to preauthorize charges means guests don't have to return at the end of their stay to pay the bill, Captain Staufer said. For more information about Air Force lodging and other quality of life programs, visit www.usafservices.com.