Introduction to the BSP System and BSP Language
Glossary:
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ACM
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Agency Credit Memo (used when the airline owes the travel agency money). |
| ADM | Agency Debit Memo (used when a travel agency owes the airline money). |
| Billing Date | The date on which the DPC must produce billing reports to travel agencies according to the data reported daily by GDSs. |
| BSP | Abbreviation for the IATA Billing and Settlement Plan. |
| BSP Manager (also known as IATA Country Manager) | The official designated by the BSP to manage a BSP in a particular country or region. |
| BSPlink | The web-based application that enables travel agencies to access BSP billing reports, issue virtual refund applications and query ticketing authorities. |
| Clearing Bank | An organisation appointed by the BSP to settle transactions between travel agencies and BSP airlines. |
| DPC | Data Processing Centre. The central point to which travel agent-issued ticket data is reported by GDSs, who in turn produce BSP billing reports. |
| Email Alert | Travel agencies receive email notifications within from airlines called "email alerts" in BSPlink. |
| GDS | Global Distribution System. A computerized reservations system used by agencies to book and issue tickets for airline travel, hotel accommodations, car rental and other travel products. |
| IATA | International Air Transport Association. |
| IDFS | Industry Distribution and Financial Services — the division of IATA that manages the BSP. |
| ISO Country Code | ISO: International Standards Organization. The ISO maintains a list of codes for each country of the world. |
| MPD | An MPD or Multi-Purpose Document is a document that contains the necessary data to provide information at several different points during the flow of a process. The document is normally divided into sections, and may also feature coded areas that are scanned for faster processing. In the airline industry, The MPD is used in a number of different business applications, including the different processes associated with travelling by air, such as excess baggage, tour order and special services. (see also Virtual MPD) |
| PAC | Passenger Agency Conference |
| Principal User (also known as Main User) | The principal user of BSPlink is the main user within a travel agency. The main user can assign access rights to other staff members of the agency, called "sub-users" in BSPlink. (See Sub-user below) |
| PSAA | Passenger Sales Agency Agreement — the agreement between the airlines and travel agencies setting out the rules and obligations of operating a travel agency. |
| Remittance Date | The latest date by which travel agency remittance of payment must reach the settlement bank. In some cases there is also a "value" date by which the clearing bank debits the travel agency's bank account. This date is specified in a reporting calendar that is issued for each country. |
| Reporting Date | The last date of the period when agencies must have included all refunds in the GDS for inclusion in the billing period. |
| Submission Date | The date by which the DPC must have received the ASTFs by travel agencies (usually 3 days after the Reporting Date) |
| Sub-user | The sub-user is a user of BSPLink who has been assigned access by the principal user (see above) |
| TAH | IATA Travel Agent's Handbook |
| Ticketing Authority | The authorization granted by BSP airlines to travel agencies to sell tickets on their behalf to the public. |
| Travel Agency Commissioner | An independent officer who conducts reviews to resolve disputes stemming from the operation of the IATA Agency Programme and BSPs. |
| Virtual MCO | Virtual Miscellaneous Charges Order. Used for a number of business reasons, including payment for excess baggage, tour orders and any special services. |
| Virtual MPD | Virtual Multi-Purpose Document. Like the Virtual MCO, used for a number of business reasons, including payment for excess baggage, tour orders and any special services. (see also MPD) |