The IATA Passenger Agency Program provides a system for the accreditation of travel agents that meet specific industry standards and financial and security criteria. Currently there are over 59,000 IATA Travel Agents operating in more than 200 countries selling over US$240 billion of airline tickets on behalf of approximately 230 IATA member airlines.
The Passenger Agency Program and associated products and services simplify the business relationship between the agents and the airlines and other industry principals. It also provides a standard method for agents to be recognized by both the travel industry and consumers.
The benefits of the program are as follows:
IATA Airline Members
- Access to a global distribution network of IATA travel agents who have signed a standard Sales Agency Agreement with IATA
- Outsourced agent verification services including legal and financial evaluation and monitoring
- Reliable credit management with a collection rate of 99.96%
- Access to IATA’s Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP), and BSPlink that together provide a single standard interface for invoicing and payment between the agents and the airline
- Protects the IATA member in case of violation of the Passenger Sales Agency Agreement or fraudulent practices
Further information: Airline Membership
IATA Travel Agents
- Access to approximately 230 IATA airline members using a standard Sales Agency Agreement.
- Authorization to sell international and/or domestic tickets on behalf of the airlines.
- Access to IATA’s Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP), and BSPlink that together provide a single standard interface for invoicing and payment between the agent and multiple airlines and transport providers.
- Global travel industry recognition through an “IATA Numeric Code” that provides a unique identifier for the agent.
- Global consumer confidence due to IATA travel agents meeting industry standards identifiable by the IATA logo and branding displayed on travel agents premises and websites.
- Provides standard procedures which ensure fair and uniform standards in all dealings with the airlines
Further information: Accreditation Travel & Tourism
Consumer Benefits
- Confidence that IATA travel agents meet industry standards and set financial and security criteria
- Unbiased advice and the option to purchase tickets on a wide range of airlines
Other Services for Travel Agents
TIDS Program
- The Travel Industry Designator Service (TIDS) code is a unique numeric code, allocated by IATA to globally identify sales intermediaries, including non-IATA travel agents, event organizers, hotel booking services, etc.
- It ensures that the sales intermediary is properly identified in electronic reservation systems as the originator of hotel, car-hire and flight reservations.
- Major travel industry suppliers now require a valid IATA or TIDS numeric code from their sales agents making bookings for their services.
- Currently 16,000 sales intermediaries have joined the program.
Further information: Travel Industry Designator Service (TIDS)
IATA Travel Agent Identity (ID) Card
- The IATA ID Card provides over 200,000 travel agency staff and sales agents with a photo identity card that is an industry credential accepted by airlines and major travel and tourism suppliers
- It entitles the ID Card holder to many industry discounts and privileges
Further information: IATA/IATAN ID Card
Updated: November 2009