Qantas Distribution Platform portal language reference guide
This quick reference guide will provide you with a list of terms and definitions to assist in understanding the meanings of terms used throughout the Qantas Distribution Platform portal.
| Term | Definition |
| Airline Reporting Corporation | The Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) is a company that provides ticket and EMD settlement services to airlines and the travel agencies that sell their products in the United States. Agencies are usually required to be accredited by either ARC (when they are located in the United States), or BSP (when located outside of the United Sates), inorder to issue airline documents. |
| Billing Settlement Plan | The Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP) is a standardized, electronic billing platform that provides ticket and EMD settlement services to airlines and the travel agencies that sell their products in non-US markets. Individual BSP systems are organized on a local basis (usually one per country), although, in some cases, a single BSP will serve more than one country. |
| Agent Debit Memo | An Agency Debit Memo (ADM) serves to notify an agent that unless there is some justification to the contrary, the agent owes the issuing BSP airline the amount shown on the ADM for the reasons indicated. |
| Advance Passenger Information System | Advance passenger information system (APIS) When travelling to or from certain countries, passengers are required to provide advance passenger information (API) before they check in or they will be unable to fly. The information that may be required includes:
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| Address Verification System | Address verification system (AVS) is used verify the address given in conjunction with a credit card number. The billing address provided with the form of payment is checked against the address on file with the credit card vendor. The AVS check is performed when a credit card request is submitted and will verify only the numeric portions of the address, such as house number, street number and zip code. |
| Australian Business Number | Australian Business Number (ABN) is a unique 11 digit number that identifies an Australian business to the government and community. |
| Booking Class | A booking class is an indicator of traveling class presented in a traveller’s fare code. |
| Carrier | Industry term for an airline, further defined as an owner or service provider; each carrier is identified by a two-character alphanumeric code. |
| Conjunctive Ticket | A ticket that serves as a continuation of the itinerary on another ticket. |
| Country Code | The two-letter country codes are based on the ISO 3166-1 standard published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), to represent countries, dependent territories, and special areas of geographical interest |
| Comma Separated Value | In computing, a comma-separated values (CSV) file stores tabular data (numbers and text) in plain text. Each line of the file is a data record. Each record consists of one or more fields, separated by commas. The use of the comma as a field separator is the source of the name for this file format. |
| Document | A validated document that has a value and must be accounted for, such as tickets and EMDs. |
| Electronic Miscellaneous Document | An Electronic Miscellaneous Document (EMD) is the industry standard method for documenting airline related charges and services.
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| Electronic Settlement Authorization Code | When an agent voids an e-ticket, the airlines’ e-ticket database is updated with a status of void and an electronic settlement authorization code (ESAC) assigned by the airline is automatically associated with the void transaction. |
| Fare | The amount a passenger pays and the conditions for travel at this amount (that is, the rules and/or restrictions that must be satisfied in order to qualify for a specific fare). |
| Fare Basis Code | A fare basis code (FBC) specifies the rules of an airline's fare. Fare codes starts with a single letter, called a Booking Code, representing the type of ticket and fare, followed by optional letters and digits, representing a specific set of fare rules, for instance how many days in advance the ticket needs to be booked, corporate discounts, or other specialpromotional elements. |
| Fare Family | A method of identifying multiple fare classes within a single entry. |
| Fare Rule | A rule that states the conditions of travel for specific fare classes. |
| Fare Code Indicator | Fare code indicator (FCI), also known as fare code mode indicator (FCMI), the FCI is a one-character identifier reflecting the method of pricing for a document that is issued. |
| Fare Code Pricing Indicator | Fare code pricing indicator (FCPI) is used by an airline and is not required by agents. |
| Frequent Flyer number | Frequent Flyer number (FFN) is an account number associated with a loyalty program offered by many airlines. |
| Form of Payment | Form of payment (FOP) used to make purchases, such as tickets and optional services, require a method of financial settlement. Also referred to as forms of payment. |
| International Air Transport Association | International Air Transport Association (IATA) is the trade group for the airline industry. |
| Minimum Connect Time | When displaying the order or PNR, there is an minimum connect time (MCT) validation check which verifies that the flights booked satisfy the OAG MCT rules. If any flight connections do not meet the minimum connect time rules, a warning is displayed, and the flight cannot be booked. This warning message is displayed on the PNR to include the MCT required minutes and the actual minutes on the connection that failed the MCT check. The system will not let you book a flight in which the MCT rule has been violated. |
| New Distribution Capability | New Distribution Capability (NDC) is an industry standard for airline connectivity, promoted by IATA, that defines how airlines that choose to provide dynamic and personalised offers to passengers and order management. |
| OB Fees | OB fees, also known as Carrier Ticketing Fees, are defined by IATA as the industry standard for ticketing and for the application of credit card fees. |
| Offer | A proposal to sell a specific set of products or services under specific conditions, for a certain price. Can be the response to a shopping request. |
| Order | An order is a uniquely identified record of the agreement of one party (i.e. the seller or agent) with another to receive products and services under specified terms and conditions. ‘order’ supports the sale of a flexible range of airline products and services. An order is created when an offer has been selected and converted into an order. A ‘PNR’ or ‘record locator’ is always associated with an order. |
| Pseudo City Code or Office ID | Pseudo City Code (PCC) or Office ID (OID) is an alphanumeric identifier for an agency. The codes are four characters long and are unique to a specific office of an agency. Agents will only be able to see other orders or booking created within their agency’s PCC/OID comp Note: Office ID can be used interchangeably with PCC |
| Payment Card Industry Data Industry Standard | The payment card Industry data security standard (PCI DSS), required for organizations transmitting live card data over the open Internet. |
| Passenger Name Record | Passenger name record (PNR) is a record specifying the essential passenger and travel details behind an itinerary. Every PNR is identified with a unique record locator that allows the associated itinerary to be retrieved, reviewed, and modified as needed. It is also associated with an order. |
| Point of Sale | Point of sale (POS) is associated with the country code where a transaction is completed. It is the point at which a customer makes a payment to the carrier in exchange for services. At the point of sale, the carrier calculates the amount owed by the customer and provides options for the customer to make payment. In the airline industry, there is a currency code associated with the point of sale country. |
| Price Guarantee Ticketing Time Limit | Price Guarantee Ticketing Time Limit (PGTTL) is the amount time that the price is guaranteed before a reprice is required. |
| Public Fare | An airline fare that all agencies can access and sell to the general public. Note: Public fares are referred to as 'published’ fares in the qualifier’s options when shopping via the Qantas Distribution Platform portal. |
| Private Fare | An airline fare for specific corporate customers and not the general public. Note: Private fares referred to as ‘contract’ fares in the qualifiers options when shopping via the Qantas Distribution Platform portal. |
| Qantas Corporate Indicator | Qantas Corporate Indicator (QCI) is a unique qualifier for a corporate customer of Qantas. |
| Qantas Business Rewards | Qantas Business Rewards (QBR) is a Qantas rewards program for Australian small to medium businesses. |
| Reservation Booking Designator | Reservation booking designator (RBD) is a one or two letter code that specifies the class of service under which to book a traveller. This designator, also called a booking code, serves an inventory control function. |
| Record Locator | An alphanumeric code, typically six characters in length, used in airline reservation systems to access a specific record. Record locators are unique within a given system at a specific point in time. Note: The record locator for a given PNR is different from the one issued by the airlines. |
| Redress Number | A unique identification number assigned to travellers under the United States Department of Homeland Security Traveller Redress Inquiry Program. Travellers who have been repeatedly identified for additional screening during the check-in process may apply for a redress number to help prevent watch list mis-identifications in the future. |
| Reason For Issuance Code and Sub-Code | Reason for issuance code and subcode (RFIC/RFISC). Parent and child codes that identifies the purpose of an EMD, first by general category, then by specific use. |
| Segment | Each leg of a trip. For example, a flight from Miami to San Francisco via Dallas has two segments. A round-trip for the same route has two segments. |
| Shopping | A process whereby a requester can request offers from the airlines (i.e. flight and ancillaries) based on its desired search criteria and receive offers corresponding to its request. |
| Special Service Request | Special service request (SSR) are codes used by the airlines or requested by agents to indicate special services (such as wheelchair assistance, custom meals, etc.) that may be requested by passengers. |
| Ticketing | The process of issuing any type of an accountable document to fulfil an airline order. |
| Ticketing Time Limit | Ticketing Time Limit (TTL), is the amount of time which the booking maybe held until it must be ticketed or other accountable documents issued (e.g. EMD). |
| Type A Message | Message that involves real-time, direct communications with a carrier (usually via Electronic Data Interchange For Administration, Commerce and Transport [EDIFACT] distribution). |
| Type B Message | A message from the airline in teletype (TTY) format for informational and booking type of messages. |
| Universal Air Travel Plan | Universal Air Travel Plan (UATP) is the airline owned payment network accepted by thousands of merchants for air, rail, hotel and travel agency payments. The UATP AirPlus card is a Corporate program that captures additional information in a set of fields. |
| Code | Definition |
| A | Airline/Airport Control |
| C | Checked in (Passenger has checked-in for the flight) |
| E | Exchanged/Reissued |
| F | Flown/Used |
| G | Converted to FIM (Flight Interruption Manifest manually issued) |
| P | Printed |
| R | Refunded |
| S | Suspended |
| V | Voided/all coupons |
| Passenger Type Code | Description |
| ADT | Adult |
| CNN | Accompanied child |
| GST | State government passenger |
| GVT | Government |
| ITX | Individual inclusive tour |
| INF | Infant |
| INS | Infant occupying a set |
| JCB | Contract bulk adult |
| MIL | Military |
| MIS | Missionary |
| SEA | Seamann |
| SPC | Senior citizen |
| STU | Student |
| UMN | Unaccompanied minor |
| YTH | Youth |
| Flight status codes | Description |
| HK | Holding confirmed |
| UN | Unable, flight does not operate |
| TK | Confirming, advise passenger of new times |
| NO | No action taken |
| HX | Holding cancelled |
| KK | Confirming |
| EMD status codes | Description |
| HN | Holding need confirmation |
| HD | Holding confirmed; EMD required |
| HI | Holding confirmed; EMD issued |
| HK | Confirmed |