Google and the Department of Defense signed a weird deal in 2007: the former would let the latter use a federal airfield and buy government jet fuel at half the normal price—for scientific and official purposes. However, Google's top brass used tons of this fuel to travel to these hot playgrounds.
- Fort-de-France, Martinique, Caribbean
- San Juan, Puerto Rico, Caribbean
- Fa'a'ā, Tahiti, South Pacific
- Fiji, South Pacific
- Agana, Guam, Western Pacific
- Nantucket, Massachusetts
- Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Nadi, Fiji, South Pacific
- Saint Maarten, Caribbean
- Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, Caribbean
- Cabo San Lucas, Baja California, Mexico, East Pacific
- Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico, Caribbean
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- Kailua/Kona, Hawaii
- Kahului, Hawaii
- Majuro, Marshall Islands, South Pacific
- Nice, France, Mediterranean
- Beef Island, British Virgin Island, Caribbean
- Arno Vale, Saint Vincent and the Granadines, Caribbean
- Scarborough, Tobago, Caribbean
- Cockburn Town, San Salvador Island, Caribbean
- Exuma, Bahamas, Caribbean
- Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Pacific
- Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles, Caribbean
- Belize, Caribbean
- Kiritimati / Christmas Island, South Pacific
- Canouan, Grenadines, Caribbean
- Nassau, Caribbean
- Olbia, Sardinia, Mediterranean
- Figari, Corsica, Mediterranean
It's hard to imagine which kind of scientific experiments or official business Google execs had to attend to in such vacation paradises. This is perhaps why the government hasn't renewed the agreement. Republican Senator Chuck Grassley appears to think that something smells bad here (fraud anyone?) and has asked the Pentagon's inspector general to audit the deal.
Google's execs used their many private jets for the trips, including a Gulfstream V, a Boeing 757 and a Boeing 767. Reportedly, the last one was bought to Australian airline Qantas for $15 million, and then retrofitted with a luxurious interior for $10 million made by Gore Design Completions, of San Antonio, Texas. The new interior included rooms with king-sized beds, full bathrooms and $600,000 worth of exotic woods.
Certainly, not the best platform to conduct scientific experiments.