Approval by conferences or associations for allowing the sale of tickets and other travel services.
Legal Terms
Accreditation
AD (Agent's Discount)
A special discount offered to agents. Abbreviated as AD followed by the amount of the discount. For example, AD75, AD50 or AD100.
Add-On
Additional features and charges, which may consist of additional side trips on a tour package. This is an arbitrary amount to be added to a gateway fare to produce a through fare. For example, an airline that has a New York (gateway) to Madrid fare may have an add-on fare to travel from Philadelphia. You may have to use specific airlines and the add-on fare cannot be used alone. It is also called a proportional fare.
Advertised Tour
A travel package presented in a brochure or other written format, meeting specific airline requirements to obtain an IT (Inclusive Tour) number.
Affinity Group
Members of an organization, club or association that was formed for purposes other than travel.
Agency
A legal relationship whereby one person, the agent, represents another, the principal, in dealing with third persons.
Agency Agreement (per IATAN)
The contract between an appointed travel agency and the Passenger Network Services Corporation doing business as IATAN, defining the rights and obligations of the parties in connection with the sale of international air transportation.
Agency List
Agencies approved by the ARC and/ or IATAN to sell airline tickets and other ARC documents.
Agent
A person authorized to sell the products or services of a supplier.
Agent Eligibility List
List sponsored by IATAN naming those personnel eligible for airline pass benefits. The travel agency managers designate full time and part time employees, outside salespeople, managers and owners for this list.
Agent Reporting Agreement (per ARC)
The contract between an appointed travel agency and the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC), defining the rights and obligations of the parties concerning such matters as personnel and financial qualifications for retention as an appointed agent, reporting and settlement requirements, ticket and airline plate security, use of ARC Central Collection Service, grounds for termination of the agent, and mutual indemnities and waivers.
Agent Sine
An agent's personal identification code (usually two letters).
Air / Sea
Travel programs or air fares that are offered in conjunction with sea transportation.
Airline Plate
A physical plate for printing tickets issued by an airline to the travel agent as a means to create valid tickets.
Air Travel Card or UATP - Universal Air Travel Plan
An airline sponsored credit card plan used for airline ticket purchases and accepted by many of the airlines. Card users do not benefit from protections of U.S. Consumer Credit Protection Act regarding billing disputes or claims or defenses of card holder against card issuers. This credit card program operated by the airlines, primarily for frequent travelers. Initially was used by carriers to bypass the assistance of travel agents and thus save commissions they would not have to pay with direct bookings. When the program was first created, it did not provide for commissions to travel agents. However, use of these cards by customers who use travel agents is now fully commissionable. Since the card is administered by a private corporation and not a bank, it may offer less consumer protection under federal law.
All-inclusive
The price includes the features specified (usually air fare, hotel and most meals).
American Plan
Meal plan that includes three meals daily with the hotel room price. Also called Full Pension Plan (See also Modified American Plan).
APEX
Advance purchase excursion fare.
Appointment
Process of approval by conferences and/or associations for allowing the sale of tickets and other travel services. This certification is granted to a travel agency by individual air carriers or their respective trade associations, currently through ARC for ATA-member air carriers or by the IATA successor corporation, PNSC doing business as, IATAN, for international air carriers, which authorize the agency to sell air tickets on the carriers' behalf for a commission. (See accreditation).
Arbitration
An out-of-court hearing and resolution of a dispute by an independent individual agreed upon by the parties or appointed by a court. This procedure is usually more informal and expeditious and less costly than a court trial.
Area Settlement Plan or Area Bank
Entity or bank authorized to handle the processing and payments of airline tickets and documents as reported by travel agencies and other persons.
Articles of Incorporation
A publicly-filed document that, in most jurisdictions, is the first step in creating a legally-recognized corporation. These documents set forth the activities of a corporation in order for the state to approve of its existence.
Automated Ticket / Boarding Pass ATB
A ticket stock that combines the ticket, boarding pass and baggage check into a single document.
Agent's Discount (AD)
A special discount offered to agents. Abbreviated as AD followed by the amount of the discount. For example, AD75, AD50 or AD100.
All-inclusive package
A package of travel and tourist services sold directly or through a tour operator, whether foreign or domestic, to a consumer for a single price.
Arbiter, Travel Agent
Replaced the Travel Agent Commissioner April 1, 1988, as a result of the settlement of the ARTA v. ARC lawsuit. First Travel Agent Arbiter selected by joint travel agent-air carrier board is Mr. William S. McGee, who has established offices at 1952 Gallows Road, Vienna, Virginia 22180, (703) 847-9427 or (703) 849-9430. The Arbiter has established new rules giving travel agents for the first time the right to initiate a complaint against ARC. The Arbiter is given rights to adjudicate disputes between ARC and an individual travel agent by the Agent Reporting Agreement, the contract between the Travel Agent and ARC.
