Skip to main content

Glossary for the airline industry

From A-Z, this glossary covers definitions and explanations for common airline industry terminology.

Record S5

The record that contains Optional Services Sub Code Services data, including Baggage, at ATPCO.

Record S6

The record that contains Optional Services Concurrence data at ATPCO.

Record S7

The record that contains Optional Services Provisions, including Baggage, data at ATPCO.

Record S8

The record that contains Branded Fares data at ATPCO.

Record X1

The record that contains Tax Rules data at ATPCO.

Record X2

The record that contains Tax Reporting data at ATPCO.

recurring segment

A portion of a record that may be repeated. The recurring segment is preceded by a counter indicating how many times the recurring portion occurs. The use of recurring segments results in a variable length depending on the number of the recurring segments that are included in the record.

reissue

According to IATA Resolution 017f, a reissue is a change other than a change to the carrier, flight, date, class of service or sector of the first flight coupon. The fares to be used will be based on the fares in effect on the date of original issue and applicable at the time of commencement of transportation (that is, using historical fares). See also exchange.

relational indicator

The first field to be completed in any category, it indicates the relationship between data tables. The relational indicator for the initial table in any category is THEN. Other relational indicators are AND, OR, IF, ELSE.

release

A batch action type that creates a batch, sends the results through the validation process, applies the transactions to the database, and makes the batch available for filing (International) or distribution (US/CA).

remittance amount

The amount received by the airline for the ticket through ARC/BSP.

reservation booking designator

The prime one- or two-letter code that is used in a CRS/GDS to identify the class of service in which to book a passenger or the fare in an availability display. Also called booking code.

reservations

An airline IT system that processes the itinerary information, adds passenger and payment information, and issues the ticket. This system also stores the itinerary, processes any changes/refunds, and sends the information to the carrier's Departure Control System before the passenger flies.

resulting fare

The final fare amount and supporting fare class information produced from all steps in the Category 25 or in Categories 19-22.

Retailer

In dynamic offers, another name for the marketing carrier who is selling the offer to the passenger.

retailing

Umbrella term for the entire life cycle of a fare or offer, from pre-sale that starts with an airline’s creation of the offer, to point of sale, when a traveler purchases a ticket and the funds are settled, to post-sale, if and when the traveler requires servicing or support. 

revenue accounting

1. The quadrant of the life cycle of the fare where airlines process, audit, and collect sales from thousands of tickets.

2. (industry term) An airline IT application that examines past ticket sales in order to allocate revenue to appropriate carriers. Sales data is supplied to airlines by the GDSs and other sources via ATPCO's Sales Data Exchange, as well as internal airline systems. The tickets are then prorated based on existing agreements, and the results are sent to the ACH or IATA for settlement.

revenue management

The practice of matching a passenger's specific demand for a product with an equivalent price. Developed by the airline industry in the 1970s, this practice demands highly complex and comprehensive data systems that allow businesses to vary price and availability to different market segments, and adjust these as necessary to capture or increase market share and revenue. In the airline industry, these actions are carried out by yield management in the case of inventory changes, and fare management in the case of pricing changes.

RFIC

Reason for Issuance Codes. They are included on the EMD document and determine the generic reason for issuance of the document, as defined in IATA JPSC Resolution 722f Attachment A.

RI

Relational indicator.