Application
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to administer a billing and settlement plan (BSP) for any tourism or travel organisation involved in the sale, ticketing, reporting and remittance of airfares through International Air Transport Association (IATA) BSP. It requires the ability to use the BSPlink portal functionality to interface with airlines, verify the accuracy of reports, and submit disputes to correct errors.
The unit applies to tourism and travel industry organisations that sell and ticket airfares.
It applies to frontline sales and back office 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, reservations and operations consultants, and finance and accounting personnel.
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. Prepare for BSP reporting. | 1.1.Analyse basic standard traffic documents and reports, including common terms and abbreviations. 1.2.Set up user access and logins. |
2. Perform BSP general transactions. | 2.1.Undertake general transactions in line with BSP documentation procedures and agency timeframes. 2.2.Access and use BSPlink portal functionality in line with established procedures. |
3. Review and reconcile billing and settlement reports. | 3.1.Download agency billing analysis report and review report data. 3.2.Identify discrepancies between billing analysis report and agency back office sales report for the reporting period. 3.3.Action any discrepancies according to BSP procedures. 3.4.Reconcile agency billing analysis report with agency sales reports within BSP reporting calendar deadlines. |
4. Manage the remittance process. | 4.1.Lodge reports according to BSP procedures and deadlines. 4.2.Retain agency document copies while minimising use of printed materials and reducing waste. 4.3.Secure funds, process credit card payments and pay remittance amount as reported. |
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:
download, interpret and reconcile the agency billing analysis report in electronic or printed format over three reporting periods for each of the following:
domestic travel
international travel
cover the full range of billing and settlement plan (BSP) reporting procedures and requirements for above BSP activities
complete BSP activities within agency time constraints and required reporting deadlines determined by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Evidence of Knowledge
Demonstrated knowledge required to complete the tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit:
role of IATA in billing and settlement plan
IATA agency accreditation requirements
IATA agency program and resolutions
benefits of the BSP for IATA-accredited agents
sources of BSP information and documents:
BSPlink
IATA newsletter communiqués and memorandums
basic standard traffic documents and reports:
BSP process documentation
associated IATA resolutions
BSP reporting calendar
BSPlink portal functionality:
managing user access
establishing agency groups
verifying ticketing authority
retrieving agency credit and debit memorandums
contents and procedures for using BSP for:
agency billing analysis and sales reports
billing statements
agency debit and credit memos
credit card charge forms
refund applications and notices
BSP process flow
BSP procedures for actioning discrepancies in billing and settlement reports
sales and transaction reporting procedures and requirements for the IATA data processing centre
BSP reporting timeframes
airfare pricing and ticketing procedures.
Assessment Conditions
Skills must be demonstrated in a tourism or travel business operation or activity that is IATA accredited to sell and ticket airfares and undertakes BSP reporting. This can be:
an industry workplace
a simulated industry environment set up for the purpose of assessment.
Assessment must ensure access to:
computers and software programs currently used in the tourism or travel industry to control the administration of billing and settlement plans
current actual or training facsimile IATA BSP documentation, and agency billing analysis reports
internet and email
printers and scanners
storage for computer data.
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 BSP reports. |
Numeracy skills to: | interpret and reconcile data in downloaded billing and settlement reports to: calculate gross and net ticket sales calculate IATA payments and refunds interpret complex reports. |
Technology skills to: | use calculators, computers, accounting software programs and printers when preparing BSP reports. |
Sectors
Tourism
Competency Field
Tourism Sales and Operations