The Ticketing Handbook (THB) is the official guide to worldwide airline passenger ticketing. Prepared by an international group of ticketing experts, it explains the whats, whys, and hows of airline ticketing. It is completed with many easy-to-understand ET and EMD examples.

The THB thoroughly details what entries to make on tickets and EMDs. It includes coverage on additional/optional services, involuntary rerouting, Fare Selection Criteria, Baggage rules, Changes to passenger's tickets (Reissue / Exchange / Refund procedures) and more. It also clarifies ticketing entries for fare calculation principles in easy-to-understand language and examples.

Bundle Options

Save up to 10% when purchasing bundles.

  1. Global PAX COMBO (PSCRM + PTCCM + AIRIMP + SSIM + RAM + THB + RHB). Order the bundle online
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Key Benefits

  • The most comprehensive ticketing guide available
  • Quick reference for fare calculation and ticketing entries
  • Up-to-date ticketing and electronic miscellaneous documents guidelines
  • Written in easy-to-understand language with relevant examples
  • Beneficial to GDSs, carriers and agents

The book is accompanied by a Web download application to facilitate searching by use of key words and training with blank ticket facsimiles.

Still not sure if the Ticketing Handbook is for you? Download the full table of contents:

Stay-up-to-date

Significant Changes and Amendments to the 58th edition (2026) of the IATA Ticketing Handbook (THB) include:

  • Introduction - A new section has been added to explain to travel agents the value of IATA’s Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP) and the different levels of accreditation schemes that are available. Abbreviations used in this handbook have been updated. All facsimiles throughout the book have been updated to reflect new dates.
  • Chapter 2 Section 2.2.6 - Makes it clear the fare basis codes to be used for the ZED/MIBA rebate travel scheme.
  • Chapter 2 Section 2.2.9.2 - References to the ability to extend the validity of tickets beyond their standard validity date due to the corona virus pandemic (COVID-19) is deleted since the provision is no longer applicable.
  • Chapter 2 Section 2.2.16.2.3 - Has been amended to clarify the form of payment to be used for IATA EasyPay is changed from IEP to ‘IATA EASY PAY’
  • Chapter 2 Section 2.2.26.13 - Clarifies the rules for the issuance of tickets for the removal of inadmissible passengers and the responsibilities for the airlines participating in the inbound and outbound carriage.
  • Chapter 3 EMD Section 3.1 - Clarification has been added to emphasize that interline EMDs are designed to work in exactly the same way as interline ETs and the Validating Carrier of the EMD remains the owner of the EMD and as such should receive all the status changes related to it. 
  • Chapter 3 EMD Section 3.4.2 - Clarification has been added regarding the coupon numbering of multiple EMDs issued in conjunction.
  • Chapter 3 EMD Section 3.4.4 - Clarification has been added related to the validity of the EMD and an exception for the US DOT regulations.
  • Chapter 3 EMD Section 3.4.10 - Clarifies that the Banker’s Selling Rate in effect at the time of payment shall be used to convert the filed currency amount when different.
  • Chapter 6 Changes to Passenger Tickets section 6.1 - References to the ability to extend the ability to exchange, reissue or refund beyond their standard validity date due to the corona virus pandemic (COVID-19) is deleted since the provision is no longer applicable. All references to the handling of tickets during the COVID-19 pandemic are deleted.
  • Chapter 6.1.2 - A new section has been added to explain the differences between exchange vs reissue transactions.
  • Chapter 15 Modern Airline Retailing Section 15.1.2: A new section has been added explaining the new concepts used to enable personalization using dynamic offers.
  • Chapter 15 Product Catalogue New Section 15.10.3.5 - A new section has added to clarify the difference between carrier filed fares and offers to be used in Modern Airline Retailing.
  • Appendix F - Updated to reflect the latest taxes, fees and charges and their related codes applicable to tickets. 
  • Appendix G - Ticket and EMD Number Management (Traffic Documents) – A revised table of form code allocations has been added.
  • Appendix H - A new section has been added detailing a complete set of industry definitions and explanations, including definitions used in Modern Airline Retailing.