Completing the ticketPreparation of the passenger ticket

1. The blank ticket needs to be converted into a ticket of a specific airline using a ticket imprinter (validator – like a credit card imprinter used in shops).

2. The imprinter bears the details of the agency, including; agency name, city, country and IATA numerical code of the approved location.

3. The agency will also carry a range of carrier identification plates (CIPs) made of metal and similar in size to that of a credit card. The appropriate carrier identification plate must be inserted into the imprinter. The plate bears the following details: airline’s name, numerical code and trade mark or insignia.

4. The consultant must ensure that the date wheel on the ticket imprinter is set correctly.

5. Once the ticket is validated, it becomes the property of the airline whose identification plate has been used. The ticket must be validated with the place of the airline with which the reservation has been made. Where the itinerary involves a number of flights with several carriers, it is usual to make reservations with the airline providing the first sector of transport.

Completing the passenger ticketWhen completing tickets, use a ballpoint pen, pressing firmly. All entries must be in block letters. Check all coupons for legibility. A clean, clear and legible ticket is absolutely necessary to ensure proper processing of the ticket. Every ticket is a security document. Erasure and writeovers are not allowed and render a ticket invalid.

Sections of an airline ticketBelow is a copy of a manually issued BSP ticket:

FROM/TO ENDORSEMENT/RESTRICTIONS (CARBON)

23

ORIGIN/DESTINATION 19 AUDIT COUPON

CARR FARE CALC

AIRLINE DATA25

PLACE OF ISSUE – AGENCY 95

24

NAME OF PASSENGER NOT TRANSFERABLE

1

DATE OF ISSUE

26

ISSUED IN EXCHANGE FOR

2113

CONJUNCTION TICKET

20

ORIGINAL AIRLINE FORM SERIAL NO PLACE DATE AGENT’S NUMERIC CODEISSUE

22

X/O NOT GOOD FOR PASSAGE CARRIER FLIGHT/CLASS DATE TIME STATUS FARE BASIS NOT VALID BEFORE NOT VALID AFTER ALLOW BAGGAGE CK/UNCK

FROM PCSWT

TO 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 PCSWT

TO PCSWT

TO PCSWT

TO TOUR CODE 12 PASSENGER TICKET AND BAGGAGE CHECK – ISSUED BY

SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS OF CONTRACT IN THIS TICKET

FORM OF PAYMENT

18TOTAL FARE CALFARE

14

EQUIV. FARE PAID

15

TAX TAX

16

TAX CPN AIRLINE CODE FORM AND SERIAL NUMBER CK

DO NOT MARK OR WRITE IN THE WHITE AREA ABOVE

TOTAL

17

CURRENCY CASH COLLECTION CREDIT BALANCE

27

COMM. RATE TAX AMOUNT

You will note that the ticket has numbers on it. Each number refers to a certain piece of information a ticket must contain. Let’s have a look at each individual piece of information numbered.

1

2

Passenger Details1. Name of passengerThe name of the passenger on the ticket must be exactly the same as the name of the passenger holding the reservation with the airline.

Enter the passenger’s surname (family name) followed by an oblique (/), the given (first) name and, optionally the title. If you do not have the passenger’s given name or there is not enough room, you can use the passenger’s initial.

e.g., COCKS/REBECCA MRS OR COCKS/R MRS

If the passenger has a double surname such as Dr A Pickett-Heap,s then this would be entered on the ticket as follows:

PICKETTHEAPS/A DR

To discourage fraudulent use of tickets issued at children’s discounts/fares, the passenger name shall be followed by the code “CHD” or the word “CHILD”. This will be optionally followed by age.

e.g., COCKS/M MISS CHD (6YRS)

For air travel within Australia, children under the age of 3 travel free if not occupying a seat. If an adult is travelling with an infant, then the name would be entered as follows:

COCKS/D MR + INF

Further on we will see where you could give more specific details about the infant (INF), e.g. his/her name and age.

There are several other codes that can be entered after a passenger name. You can refer to a Passenger Air Tariff – General Rules for a list of codes and a detailed explanation of them.

Reservation Details2. From/To boxesEnter the passenger’s itinerary by spelling out city names. You must not use three letter codes in this section of the ticket. The origin city is entered in the ‘From’ box and each succeeding stopover, connection or destination city in the ‘To’ box. Where no stopover is permitted, enter special purpose code ‘X’ immediately preceding the name of the city in the ‘X/O’ column.

When more than one ticket is issued for a journey (conjunction tickets) show the same city in the first ‘From’ box of the succeeding ticket as it appears in the last box of the preceding ticket.

Example 1:

X/O NOT GOOD FOR PASSAGEFROM SYDNEYTO GOLD COAST

TO BRISBANETO TOWNSVILLETO CAIRNS

If the ticket includes more coupons than required, enter ‘VOID’ in the unused boxes.

Example 2:

X/O NOT GOOD FOR PASSAGEFROM CAIRNSTO DARWINTO ALICE SPRINGSTO VOID

If a city is serviced by more than one airport, the airport’s name must also be specified. The three letter code may be used. For example, in the case of London, which is serviced by both Heathrow and Gatwick airports, the entry might appear as LONDON (LHR) to indicate that the airport in the itinerary that has been booked is Heathrow.

3. CarrierInsert the two letter airline code of the carrier, e.g., QF

On open dated tickets, this may be left blank. Completing this box closes the coupon to the nominated carrier and therefore may necessitate the carrier’s endorsement if the passenger chooses to fly with another carrier.

4. Flight/ClassIn the first box you would write the flight number, e.g., 456. The second box is for Reservation Booking Designator. You must book a fare in the appropriate class and then enter the letter in the “class” box of the ticket.

Examples of booking classes are:

P- First Class PremiumF – First ClassJ – Business Class PremiumC – Business ClassY – Economy ClassM – Economy DiscountedB – Economy DiscountedK – Economy DiscountedV – Economy DiscountedL – Economy Discounted

5. DateEnter the two-digit scheduled boarding date followed by a three-letter abbreviation for the month:

e.g., 05OCT

6. TimeIndicate local flight departure time in 24-hour clock notation.

7. StatusThis box indicates the status of the reservation at time of ticketing.

Codes that could be entered include:

OK – space confirmedRQ – space requested but not confirmed, or space waitlistedNS –infant not occupying a seat

Never issue a ticket for unconfirmed reservations.

When open dated sectors are involved, the word ‘OPEN’ should be written clearly across the flight/class box to status box. When unused coupons are involved, the word ‘VOID’ should be clearly written and the remaining space crossed.

8. Fare basisYou may recall the type of information contained in a fare basis code, e.g., “LL21AN60”

L – booked in L classL – low season fare21 – a 21 day advance purchase period applies. A – advance purchase fareN – non-refundable60 – maximum stay 60 days from date of departure of first flight

You would enter the appropriate fare basis code in this box. If you have a passenger travelling on a normal First (F), Business (J) or Economy (Y) class fare you will see that the Reservation Booking Designator or Class Code is the same as the Fare Basis Code. As a consultant, you will obtain the fare basis codes from the fare rules in the Fares From Australia or Air Tariff Manuals. If you are an automated agent, you can also access the fares and fare basis codes from the CRS.

9 & 10. Not Valid Before and Not Valid After This represents the amount of time for which the ticket is valid.

Normal faresThere is no advance purchase condition on normal fares so the “not valid before” box can remain empty. Domestic airline tickets are valid for 12 months from the date of issue so the “not valid after” box on all coupons would have the date for 12 months after the date of issue.

International airline tickets are valid for 12 months from the date of commencement of travel, so the “not valid after” box on all coupons would have the date 12 months after the date of commencement of travel.

Special fares

Not Valid Before box

Advance PurchaseFor example, a V14ANO fare has an advance purchase period of 14 days; i.e., there must be at least 14 days between the date the ticket is purchased/issued and the first date of travel

If a ticket is issued on 02 May, the first permissible date of forward travel is 16 May, i.e., 02 May + 14 days = 16 May.

The ticket is not valid for travel before 16 May, regardless of what date of travel is booked. The passenger may change their reservation at any time, subject to the conditions of the fare, but they may not travel before 26 May. 16 May is entered in the “not valid before” box on the first coupon.

Minimum StayAt present, all domestic fares are based on one way fares. Therefore, there is no minimum stay requirement. There is no need to put any dates in the “not valid before” boxes as passengers can make a return trip on the same day.

Not Valid After boxIf the passenger is travelling on a special fare without a maximum stay condition, then the ticket is valid for 12 months from the date of issue. The date is entered in the “not valid after” box on all coupons.

If the fare has a maximum stay away condition, e.g. a special Christmas fare where all travel must be completed by 10th January, in the “not valid after” box of all flight coupons you would put 10th January.

Some of the special fares that are offered domestically are now instant purchase fares that allow no changes and are non-refundable. If the fare prohibits voluntary reservation changes, or where such changes are only permissible against additional payment, the dates to be entered in these boxes shall be the same as the reservation dates entered on the same coupons.

11. AllowanceThe free baggage allowance is applicable to each segment of the journey. For domestic travel within Australia, the piece system applies. You would enter the number of pieces allowable and the letters PC.

Class of Travel Baggage Allowance

Business 3 PCEEconomy 1 PCEStandard 1 PCEChild Full allowanceInfant (not occupying a seat)

1 PCE

The section to the right of ALLOWANCE on the ticket is the BAGGAGE CK/UNCK. This relates to the amount of checked / unchecked pieces the passenger has and is for check-in purposes only. This section is not filled in by the travel agent writing the ticket.

12. Tour codeThis box would be applicable when the ticket is part of an organised, pre-paid package tour. It is not completed by a retail travel agent.

13. Fare calculation boxThis box is used to let the airline know how you have calculated the fare. There are three columns to complete. The first column represents the client’s itinerary using three letter city codes. The second column indicates the carrier with whom the passenger is flying the sector, and the third column shows the value of the fare in Australian Dollars

Fare calculation box:

The fare level in the third column must be the fare less GST. As you have already learned in Domestic Fares, many fare displays show the fares published including GST, so you must do a small calculation to get the fares less GST. To get the GST amount, divide the published fare amount by 11. Then subtract the GST Amount from the published fare and calculate the fare level, less GST

PUBLISHED GST FARE LESS FARE AMOUNT GST

SYD

MEL $320.10 $29.10 $291.00

ADL $303.60 $27.60 $276.00

SYD $435.60 $39.60 $396.00

$1059.30 $ 96.30 $963.00

Noise levyTax, Sydney .34 $ 3.40

Therefore, the total fare less GST would be $963.00. The noise levy tax would be $3.40. The total GST amount would be $96.64. Following is an example of how the fare calculation box would be completed. This example also shows the completed tax/service/charge boxes and remittance boxes.

Example 3.

FROM/TOSYD CARRIER FARE CALMEL QF 291.00ADL QF 276.00SYD QF 396.00

TOTAL FARE CAL 963.00FARE

AUD963.00EQUIV FARE PAID

TAX96.64UO

TAX3.40 QK

TAX

TOTALAUD1063.04

CURRENCYAUD

CASH COLLECTION963.00

CURRENT BALANCE

5

COMM RATE100.04

When issuing conjunction tickets, the fare construction box must be completed for the entire itinerary on each ticket.

14. FareThis box must always be completed to show the total airfare paid excluding Tax/Fees/Charges (TFCs). The currency code AUD is to be entered in the ‘Fare’ box immediately preceding the amount of the total fare.

15. Equivalent fare paidThis box is not used for domestic air ticketing. Use this box when writing international airline tickets. You would enter the amount of fare preceded by the currency code in which it is collected when payment is in a currency other than that shown in the fare box or other than that of the country of sale. If you move onto international airfares and ticketing, you will become more familiar with this box.

16. Tax/fee/chargeThere are numerous taxes, fees and charges (TFCs) that now must be entered on both domestic and international airline tickets. The TFCs that apply to domestic air travel within Australia are as follows:

Goods and Services TaxThe amount of 10% is applicable to the total value of the tickets, MCOs (miscellaneous charges order) PTAs for wholly domestic travel, i.e. including any additional ticket taxes appearing on the ticket. The code used on the ticket is UO. There are two exceptions to this rule:

a) Domestic sectors that are part of an international fare.

b) Domestic fares sold in conjunction with an international fare. The International ticket number must be cross-referenced and printed on the domestic ticket and the domestic ticket must be issued prior to the commencement of the international travel.

c) International Travel – is GST free.

d) Ticket Taxes – are taxable if the travel is taxable.

The airlines have advised that their fare audit procedures will now include an audit of GST compliance.

The GST amount collected from the customer must be recorded on the ticket/MCO at the time of issue.

For manually issued documents, the GST amount is entered in the tax box in the same currency as shown in the fare box.

The GST amount is entered into the tax box preceded or followed by the tax code. The GST tax code is UO. E.g., AUD 79.14UO

Noise Levy TaxAn AUD3.40 tax is charged for each international and domestic arrival at Sydney airport. Passengers must have Sydney as a ticketed point to be liable for the tax (i.e., passengers on through flight numbers are exempt). The code used on the ticket is QK. The major exemptions of this tax for domestic travellers are:

Infants under 3 years not occupying a seat

Emergency/disrupted passengers

Passengers arriving at Sydney Airport on propeller driven aircraft

Passengers arriving from Canberra.

Domestic Head Tax

The domestic head tax applies to the more regional domestic terminals within Australia. The Qantas Fares From Australia describes the tax, its code, what airports it applies to for Qantas destinations and any exemptions that may be applicable.

If there is not enough Tax/Fee/Charge boxes on the ticket to accommodate all tax entries, combine as many amounts as necessary into one amount. Enter the amount in one Tax/Fee/Charge box followed by the code “XT” (Tax Total). You would then provide a breakdown of the tax total amount at the bottom of the fare calculation box.

17. TotalEnter the applicable currency code and the sum of amount shown in ‘Fare’ and ‘Tax/Fee/Charge’ boxes.

18. Form of paymentThis box must be filled in with one of the following entries:

for payment by cash or by travellers cheque, enter the word CASH

for payment by credit card, you must enter the complete number as it appears on the card. The account number must be preceded by the two character credit card code.

Some of the major credit card codes are as follows:

AX – American ExpressAB – Australian BankcardDC – Diners ClubCA – Master CardVI – Visa International

for payment by personal cheque, write the word CHEQUE

for payment by Government Warrant, enter the code GR followed by the form and serial number of the document.

If you know that a refund on a ticket needs to be restricted such as credit sales/invoices, enter NONREF in the form of payment box.

19. Origin/destinationIt is mandatory that the “Origin/Destination’ box be completed with origination/destination information when conjunction tickets are issued or when a ticket is reissued. Three letter city codes are used. For example, if the itinerary was Sydney / Melbourne / Adelaide / Perth / Broome / Darwin / Cairns you would enter SYD/CNS in the origin/destination box.

20. Conjunction ticketsIt is mandatory that these boxes be completed when more than one ticket is issued to cover a passenger itinerary. The box must be completed on all tickets issued for the itinerary. You must enter the document number of the first ticket issued followed by the last 2 digits of all tickets issued to provide flight coupons covering the passenger’s itinerary.

#See exemptionsNotes:1. Infants under 3 and occupying a seat pay the applicable child level.2. Tax will apply to both wholly domestic travel and domestic legs of an international journey.3. CNS – Transfers from International to International.4. KGI – Passengers travelling between ADL and PER via KGI will only be charges once for any same day connection.

CODE: QREXEMPTIONS: Infants under 3 years not occupying a seat, involuntary reroutings, airline staff on duty

NOTE: Certain ports are serviced by ground transportation, e.g. launch/bus such services are exempt.

Source: QF FFA July 2000 Issue 92

21. Issued in exchange forIf you are issuing a new ticket in exchange for an original ticket, the document number of the original ticket, including the 3 digit airline code, must be entered on the new ticket.

22. Original issueWhen a ticket is issued against another ticket, the following entries must be made:

when there is nothing entered in the ‘ORIGINAL ISSUE’ box of the ticket being accepted, insert the ticket number, the date and place of issue, and agent’s numeric code of the original ticket against which the new document is being issued

when there is already something written in the ‘ORIGINAL ISSUE’ box on the ticket you are exchanging, re-write this information on the new ticket being issued.

23. Endorsements/restrictionsThis box is used to enter special information relating to the use of the particular ticket or any coupon of the ticket. If you use a special promotional fare as an example, as per the fare rule you would have to write in this box “Special Condition apply/Non-refundable”.

You could also use this box to provide information about an infant travelling with an adult.

e.g., MSTR PATRICK (16 MONTHS)

24. Place of issue - agencyThe details of the agency issuing the ticket appear in this section of the ticket. The details include the agency name, city, country and IATA number. This section of the ticket is imprinted by the validator and not written by the consultant.

25. Airline dataThis box normally contains the Booking Reference Number issued by the airline. The other terms commonly used instead of the Booking Reference Number are the Record Locator or Passenger Name Record (PNR).

26. Date of issueThe date of issue is also imprinted on the ticket by the validator.

27. Remittance boxes. The remittance boxes are only visible on the audit and agent coupon of the ticket.

The boxes are completed as follows:-

CURRENCY – enter the three letter code for the Australian Dollar = AUD

CASH COLLECTION – if the client is paying by cash, travellers cheque or cheque then you would enter the amount of the fare in this box. If they are paying by credit card then you would put a line through this box.

CREDIT BALANCE – when a passenger is paying by credit card you would enter the total amount of the fare in this box. If the passenger is paying by cash you would put a line through this box.

TAX – Enter the total amount of tax payable on the ticket in this box

Remittance (BSP) AreaThese boxes appear on the Audit and Agency Coupons, which are pulled from the ticket before delivery to the passenger and are necessary for recording the Agent’s sales including commission on the IATA BSP Billing.

a. All payment EXCEPT credit card payments go into cash collection:

CURRENCY

ICASH COLLECTION

2999.00CREDIT BALANCE COMM. RATE

9TAX AMOUNT

30.00

b. Payment is made by credit card:

CURRENCY

ICASH COLLECTION CREDIT BALANCE

2999.00COMM. RATE

9TAX AMOUNT

30.00

Nett remittence of B.S.P ticketsAn agent can issue NETT tickets. The ticket will show a full fare construction. In the B.S.P remittence boxes ONLY the nett amount payable to the airline is placed and ‘O’ is put in the commission box.

Net fares are usually based on promotional fares. This is for information only

CURRENCY

ICASH COLLECTION

1999.00CREDIT BALANCE COMM. RATE

0TAX AMOUNT

30.00

When issuing a conjunction ticket, the Remittance Boxes on the first ticket are completed. The remittance boxes on all consecutive tickets have the words “CONJUNCTION’ written across them.