Billing and Settlement(BSP)

Billing and Settlement Plan(BSP)

• BSP is a system designed to facilitate and simplify the selling, reporting and remitting procedures of IATA Accredited Passenger Sales Agents
• A key feature of the IATA Billing and Settlement Plan is the Neutral Standard Traffic Document (STD), which is used by Agents on behalf of all BSP participating Airlines.

Advantages of BSP

• Simplifies and reduces agents’ work through the use of STDs for automated or manual ticket issuance on behalf of all BSP Airlines.
• Provides one supply source of these traffic documents and automates their distribution to Agent locations.
• Simplifies paperwork and reduces overhead costs by replacing multiple sales reports with a single Agency Sales Transmittal (AST), submitted to the BSP Data Processing Center (DPC) electronically by the CRS (Computer Reservation System) or GDS.
• Uses a simple set of standard administrative forms to be used on behalf of all BSP Airlines.
• Enhances security - a single stock of traffic documents facilitates safekeeping for Agents, i.e. less space is needed for storage and inventory control becomes simpler and more secure.
• Establishes one central point to which reports are sent.
• Simplifies remittance procedures by establishing one point for Agents' payments.
• Encourages the use of the most modern automated ticketing systems and electronic ticketing, thereby economizing on time and money. 
• Simplifies staff training. Courses specific to BSP procedures are organized locally by ISS Management.

How Does the BSP Work?

Stage 1
Upon joining the BSP, the Agent: 

• Receives stocks of STDs to cover an initial three months of business. These documents are supplied by a Traffic Document Distributor, and as tickets are issued stocks are replenished on a progressive basis. 
• Obtains Carrier Identification Plates (CIPs) and/or Ticketing Authorities of BSP Airlines on whose behalf the Agent issues STDs.
• Purchases a ticket imprinter and an Agent Validation Plate (AVP).

Stage 2

• After obtaining the necessary equipment and STD stock, the Agent can issue tickets. 
• All Agents will have access to Computer Reservations Systems (CRS), Global Distribution Systems (GDS), or other IATA approved Ticketing Systems. 
• Agents will issue automated tickets using an IATA approved Ticketing System. Agents are also able to issue Electronic Tickets in our BSP. 
• By the 1st of June, 2008 at the latest, all Travel Agents will issue only Electronic Tickets (E-Tickets). 

Stage 3

• Agents ticket sales will be captured by CRS/GDS and forwarded electronically to the DPC on daily basis. 

Stage 4 
Once the sales report is received, the DPC: 

• Processes all relevant data and produces an "Agents Billing Analysis" for each Agent. This analysis is compiled from the information of one or more reporting periods.
• Forwards to each BSP Airline an analysis of sales made by Agents on its behalf. 
• Monitors STD stock levels and provides replenishment information as necessary. 

Stage 5 

• The Agent makes a single net periodic remittance covering all its BSP transactions, made on behalf of all BSP Airlines. The ISS preferred method of payment is by direct debit or money (wire) transfer.

Stage 6 

• The accounts department of each BSP Airline audits incoming data and addresses accounting memoranda (credits/debits) to Agents as necessary.

Excessive Void Charges
The agent will not be charged for void tickets caused by a system   error. As for void tickets caused by the agent’s actions, the following applies:


Up to 3%  void tickets  -
          
    â Agent will not be charged.

More than 3% void tickets -
   
    â Agent will be charged USD 2.00 per void ticket.