Application
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to create flight itineraries and construct promotional or ‘special’ international airfares. It requires the ability to interpret flight information and conditions applicable to specific fares and to construct airfares that meet customer needs according to International Air Transport Association (IATA) regulations.
The unit applies to tourism or travel industry organisations that sell international airfares such as travel agencies, tour wholesalers, airlines and consolidators.
It applies to frontline sales and operations personnel who operate with some level of independence and under limited supervision. This includes travel consultants and managers, ticketing consultants, airline and consolidator ticketing officers, and reservations and operations consultants.
No occupational licensing, certification or specific legislative requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENTS | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Interpret promotional international airfare information. | 1.1.Identify and access sources of fare information. 1.2.Interpret information on international flights, fares, fare rules and conditions applicable to specific fares. |
2. Create promotional international flight itineraries and airfares. | 2.1.Configure flight itineraries for direct and connecting international flights. 2.2.Calculate and check promotional international fares according to IATA regulations. 2.3.Calculate sector fares and those with intermediate points. 2.4.Calculate concession fares. 2.5.Calculate taxes, fees and surcharges. 2.6.Create the optimum airfare that meets customer needs. 2.7.Check the airfare calculations for accuracy and compliance with applicable conditions. |
3. Document and maintain records of calculations. | 3.1.Record full details of the calculated airfare. 3.2.Minimise use of printed materials and maximise electronic record keeping to reduce waste. |
Evidence of Performance
Evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit in the context of the job role, and:
create practical air itineraries and construct promotional international airfares to meet the requirements of eight different customers, including:
at least one adult and one child airfare
at least one airfare for travel to each of the following destinations:
New Zealand
USA/Canada
Europe
Asia
Africa
South West Pacific
South America
source information for the above itineraries and airfares using each of the following at least once across the eight customers:
computerised reservations system (CRS)
global distribution system (GDS)
information from airlines and consolidators
the internet
demonstrate correct application of the following types of calculations and checks in constructing each of the above airfares:
global indicators (GI)
local currency fares (LCF)
mileage system:
maximum permitted mileages (MPMs)
ticketed point mileages (TPMs)
extra mileage allowance (EMA)
excess mileage surcharges (EMS)
neutral units of construction or currency (NUC) conversion
interpret and document for each of the above customers:
information on international fares, fare rules, conditions applicable to specific fares, and International Air Transport Association (IATA) regulations
complete activities within commercial time constraints and deadlines determined by the customer or the organisation.
Evidence of Knowledge
Demonstrated knowledge required to complete the tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit:
sources of information for:
international flights:
route maps
direct and connecting services
minimum connecting times (MCT)
airline codes
airport codes
international fares:
published fare types and classes
concession fares
promotional fares currently available
carrier fares with carrier-based routings
fare conditions
fare rules
global indicators
IATA areas
IATA regulations
IATA terminology and definitions
international airline terminology
payment and ticketing deadline
taxes, fees and surcharges
international fare conditions:
amendment fees
availability of:
any type of change to the air itinerary
changes to class of travel
change to name on ticket
refunds or credit notes in the event of cancellation
baggage allowance
cancellation charges
excess baggage charges
extensions to ticketing deadline
payment deadline
restricted articles in baggage
ticketing deadline
content and format of information provided by airlines and consolidators:
fare schedules
flight schedules
published fares
special bulletins
websites
key elements of and procedures for advanced fare calculations and checks involving:
compliance with indirect travel limitations rule
GI
identifying fare basis code and fare type code
journeys commencing outside the country of sale
LCF
mileage system:
EMS
EMA
MPMs
TPMs
NUC conversion
re-routing
formats used to calculate and record promotional international airfares:
the ladder and linear fare calculation methods.
Assessment Conditions
Skills must be demonstrated in a tourism or travel business operation or activity that sells international airfares. This can be:
an industry workplace
a simulated industry environment set up for the purposes of assessment.
Assessment must ensure access to:
computers, software programs, printers, and CRS currently used in the tourism or travel industry to facilitate promotional international airfare calculations
current airline, consolidator and IATA documentation or computer data, such as published fares, schedules and bulletins outlining fares, rules, conditions and regulations
internet and email
storage for computer data
telephone
customers with whom the individual can interact; these can be:
customers in an industry workplace who are assisted by the individual during the assessment process; or
individuals who participate in role plays or simulated activities, set up for the purpose of assessment, in a simulated industry environment operated within a training organisation.
Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations’ requirements for assessors; and:
have worked in industry for at least three years where they have applied the skills and knowledge of this unit of competency.
Foundation Skills
Foundation skills essential to performance in this unit, but not explicit in the performance criteria are listed here, along with a brief context statement. | |
SKILLS | DESCRIPTION |
Reading skills to: | interpret complex flight schedules, airline and consolidator fare schedules, applicable conditions and IATA regulations research and sort relevant airfare information. |
Writing skills to: | record accurate and legible fare calculations. |
Numeracy skills to: | enter data from a number of sources and complete complex calculations and checks with that data identify and resolve mistakes in calculations and non-compliance with fare rules. |
Planning and organising skills to: | prepare fare quotations in correct customer file sequence according to the earliest departure dates for customers. |
Technology skills to: | use appropriate technological devices to interpret the outcomes and cost optimum airfares for customers use calculators, computers, software programs and printers when preparing airfare calculations. |
Sectors
Tourism
Competency Field
Tourism Sales and Operations