September has always felt like a fresh start. As students head back to the classroom, it’s also a great time to think about what we can learn to strengthen our own businesses.
In travel, there is always something new to learn. Our industry changes constantly, and the more knowledgeable our clients become, the more they expect from us. It is worth asking yourself where the gaps in your own knowledge may be. Is there a part of the booking process you tend to avoid? A type of travel you would like to sell more confidently? A destination clients are asking about that you wish you knew better?
The Travel Institute has recently launched, or will soon be launching, new courses and programs in three very different areas that can help: Air, Cruise, and Tokyo.
Today, Let’s Get More Comfortable With Air
For many travel advisors, air may be one of those gaps.
Fare types, connections, ticketing, baggage rules and changing airline policies can make it tempting to let clients handle flights themselves. In fact, many advisors choose not to touch air at all.
But completely removing yourself from the air portion of a trip can mean missing an opportunity to provide a more complete level of service. Air impacts transfers, hotel nights, cruise departures, tours and the overall client experience.
You don’t need to become an air expert overnight. But understanding the fundamentals can help you ask better questions, recognize potential issues and have more confident conversations with your clients.
And sometimes, getting more comfortable with air starts with simply understanding who does what.
Alphabet Soup — ARC vs. BSP vs. IATAN: What’s in a Name?
If you’ve ever felt like the travel industry’s acronyms are designed to confuse, you aren’t alone. Understanding who does what isn’t about trivia; it’s about knowledge.
ARC — Airlines Reporting Corporation: Think of ARC as the U.S. air ticketing settlement system. ARC facilitates the settlement of transactions between airlines and travel agencies and provides important reporting and financial services to the U.S. travel industry.
BSP — Billing and Settlement Plan: BSP is the global settlement system created by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) for travel agencies and airlines in participating markets outside the U.S. It simplifies the process of reporting sales, making payments and settling transactions between travel agencies and airlines.
IATAN — International Airlines Travel Agent Network: IATAN is about agency accreditation and professional identification in the U.S. It provides recognized industry credentials that identify qualified travel agencies and travel professionals to suppliers.
The Takeaway
ARC handles airline sales settlement in the U.S. BSP provides the same type of settlement framework in participating international markets. IATAN is about professional identification and accreditation.
Why does knowing the difference matter? Even if you never personally issue an airline ticket through a GDS or work directly with ARC or BSP, understanding how these pieces fit into the air travel ecosystem gives you important industry context. It helps you better understand how airlines, agencies, and air partners work together and makes conversations with consolidators, host agencies, and other air-ticketing partners easier to navigate.
And if you found yourself reading this and thinking, “Okay… I probably should know more about this,” that’s exactly the point.
The Travel Institute’s Air Travel Immersion is designed to help advisors build practical air knowledge and become more comfortable with the terminology, concepts, and decisions that come with air travel. Through expert-led sessions, an air learning module, job aids and worksheets, terminology resources and expert tips, the immersion gives you a stronger foundation you can put to work with clients.
You don’t have to know everything about air. But knowing more means you can ask better questions, make better recommendations and provide greater value throughout the client’s entire journey.
So, as everyone heads back to school this September, consider it a good reminder: there’s always another piece of knowledge that can make you a better travel professional.
And sometimes, the smartest place to start is with the alphabet soup.
