What IATA accreditation can give travel businesses? If you want to do a deeper dive into IATA’s history and how it works today, watch our video. On top of that, IATA processes all sales reports between an airline and an agency through its Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP) – a system created to streamline selling, reporting, and transferring operations for IATA-accredited agents. If a distributor is IATA-accredited, it’s a reliable partner. In this case, an airline won’t have to check an agency over again every time an agent connects to the carrier’s reservation system. So, in order to get access to airline inventories, a travel agency is supposed to undergo verification by IATA. It exists to safeguard airlines and monitor the revenue flow.

That is how IATA accreditation was introduced. When IATA emerged in 1945, it took over these processes and became a mediator between travel agencies and airlines. In addition to spreading vouchers, travel agencies were responsible for smooth money transactions. These codes are even relevant to those airlines that haven’t signed an agreement with IATA.īack in the 1920s when the mushrooming travel agencies started distributing flight tickets, they acted as clearinghouses or a middleman between travelers and airlines. Think airline designator codes for reservations, ticketing, scheduling, and documentation a prefix code to classify passengers and cargo a baggage tag issuer code to simplify baggage handling and a location code for easier package handling. For instance, IATA codes are used everywhere traveling and aviation intersect. It supervises travel businesses by suggesting standards. Today, IATA decides who should distribute air travel products and how they should go about it.

These activities include fare calculations, revenue allocation, and baggage rules.īut how are IATA and travel agencies connected? Why do travel businesses that issue airline tickets have to be IATA-accredited? What are the options for businesses of different sizes and how is IATA-accreditation accomplished? Let’s explore the possibilities. Its main goal is to regulate distribution-related activities for airlines and commercial aviation. IATA stands for International Air Transport Association.

Consider other niches Reading time: 12 minutesĮvery industry has its own regulator – an authority that sets standards and improves cooperation inside.

IATA accreditation challenges to watch out for.

NewGen ISS - the updated BSP for flexible simplified accreditation.

IATAN – full package for US-based travel businesses only.

Travel industry designator services (TIDS) – booking without flight ticketing.

What IATA accreditation can give travel businesses?.

Iata travel agent codes