You may have seen alphabetic or alphanumeric codes on your airline tickets. This code is assigned to each ticket by the airline to identify the ticket's fare provisions. These codes are called rate default codes. Airline or travel agents use this code to determine how many bags you can check for free, what the cancellation fee is, whether your ticket is refundable, and your class type.
Fare base codes, which can be alphabetical or alphanumeric, are used by airlines to distinguish between different fare types. This code makes it easy for both airline and travel agents to find out what rules apply to that fare. An airline creates 'n' number of reservations or fare categories, to which different prices and booking conditions may apply. Additionally, fare categories are complex and vary from airline to airline.
The fare code begins with the letters your booking class. These characters usually match your reservation code. The code may also contain other letters or numbers. Rate codes are typically 3 to 7 characters long, but can extend to 8 characters.
What the various fare base codes mean
If the traveler is enrolled in an airline loyalty program or if the traveler has redeemable miles and points, the fare base code may determine the travel type. For example, if you book a flight, the fare you select determines how many redeemable miles and points you have or can earn.
Your rental type also determines whether upgrades are available. If you use redeemable points and miles, you can find award seats when special rate codes are available.
Airlines use different codes for different flights, but usually at least three of them are the same.
- F – Full fare first class on airlines with different business class and first class
- J – Full Fare Business Class
- W – Full Fare Premium Economy
- Y – Full fare economy class
booking class
The rate base code always starts with a letter and usually corresponds to the reservation category. Reservation codes help airlines manage the number of seats they can sell at a specific price. For example, if there are 25 economy seats left on an aircraft, the airline may list them as Y7 K5 M4 T6 E3 in the reservation system. This shows the number of seats available for each booking class. Some codes cannot be sold by agents because they are used separately for international transfers, loyalty programs, or airline employee transfers.
Initially, reservation codes were set by IATA. However, airlines have deviated from the IATA standard and booking codes now vary from airline to airline. Additionally, the meaning of each code varies depending on the airline. For example, the same code may have different meanings for tickets issued by different airlines.
Airline-specific code
Code representing the airline name for the fare. For example, an airline could call a fare Super-Saver and use SPRSVR as the fare base or full code.
The code limits rates to specific companies. For example, an airline may agree on fares with XYZ company and include these codes in its fare basis. Typically, only agents who are contracted to sell these rates can view them. These rates are not publicly displayed.
This code is for military or federal employees only. This is mainly used in the United States and usually means you can change or refund the rate without issue.
Industry Discounts (ID) and Agency Discounts (AD) are discounts for airline and travel agents. You may see numbers like AD75, which means 75% off the regular price.
Rate details
Each fare base code corresponds to a fare applicable to travel between two cities on a specific airline with certain restrictions. Some of these limitations include:
- What special flights are or are not available at this fare.
- Can I use the fare for one-way/round-trip travel?
- Exchangeability and Refund Eligibility.
- There are no minimum or maximum stay requirements. Applies to round-trip fares only.
- Whether open jaw is allowed. Open Jaw is a round-trip ticket where the destination or origin is not the same in both directions.
- Flammability with other fares.
- ADVANCED PURCHASE LIMITED.
Multi-rate basis
Multi-segment fare tickets usually have more than one fare basis, especially if they are carried by more than one airline or in different classes of travel. The issuing airline often has a transfer agreement that allows another airline to be included on the ticket. But there is one drawback. If a reservation is changed, the most restrictive or highest value change fee will apply to the entire ticket.
conclusion
The fare base code, consisting of 1 to 8 alphanumeric characters, is used by airlines to help airline employees and travel agents identify the rules that apply to the fare. This code allows gate agents or travel agents to easily determine whether a ticket is one-way or refundable, how many stops, and whether the ticket is refundable.