Ticketing authority

Ticketing authority is a written authority given to an agent by a Member or airline participating in a BSP. It authorises one or more of the agent's locations to issue Standard Traffic Documents (electronic tickets and EMDs), refunds or other electronic transactions, and to request Offers and confirm Orders for billing through the BSP. A copy or parallel advice must be sent to IATA 6.

The airline grants it, and the airline can take it away. A Member or airline may issue electronic ticketing authority to a head or branch office location, and may cancel it for the agent or any location, either in writing or by updating BSPlink. If the update is not made on BSPlink, the airline must tell the BSP at the same time, and IATA instructs the system to block issuance on that airline's behalf 2. IATA also removes the agent's ticketing authority immediately when it issues a Termination Notice, unless the rules say otherwise 7.

In practice, the agency should keep these points in mind:

• Issue only at an Approved Location, and only with authority the airline has deposited for that location 1.
• Do not issue a document in an airline's name for transportation solely on another carrier unless the airline whose document is used has authorised it 1.
• An agent that issues no Standard Traffic Documents for more than twelve months has its authority removed by the Agency Administrator. Reinstatement is at the individual discretion of the BSP airlines 1.
• If an airline withdraws its authority and the agent's business is put in jeopardy, the agent may ask for the airline's reasons and, if unresolved after 30 days from written notice, seek a review by the Travel Agency Commissioner 3.