SITTTSL309
Source airfares for domestic flights

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to create flight itineraries and source airfares for domestic air travel. It requires the ability to interpret flight information and conditions applicable to specific fares and to quote on airfares that meet customer needs.

Application

This unit applies to tourism industry organisations that sell domestic airfares; mainly retail travel agencies, tour wholesalers and consolidators.

The unit applies to frontline sales and operations personnel who operate with some level of independence and under limited supervision. This includes retail travel consultants and managers, corporate consultants, ticketing consultants, consolidator ticketing officers, reservations and operations consultants.


Prerequisites

Not applicable.


Elements and Performance Criteria

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

1. Interpret domestic airfare information.

1.1 Identify and access sources of fare information.

1.2 Interpret information on domestic flights, fares and conditions applicable to specific fares.

2. Create domestic flight itineraries and source airfares.

2.1 Identify domestic flight options to meet customer needs.

2.2 Create itineraries and source airfares for direct and connecting domestic flights.

2.3 Source costs for promotional and sector fares.

2.4 Identify costs of concession fares.

2.5 Calculate taxes and fees and surcharges.

2.6 Check calculations for accuracy.

2.7 Compare domestic airfares and quote optimum airfare that meets customer needs.

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.

Required Skills

Required skills

literacy skills to:

read and interpret complex flight schedules, airline and consolidator fare schedules and applicable conditions

research and sort relevant airfare information

write records of fare calculations

numeracy skills to:

interpret airfare details

calculate taxes, fees, surcharges and the total airfare cost

compare costs to select the optimum airfare for customers

planning and organising skills to prepare fare quotations in correct customer file sequence according to the earliest departure dates for customers

problem-solving skills to identify and resolve mistakes in calculations

technology skills to use calculators, computers, software programs and printers for the preparation of airfare calculations.

Required knowledge

sources of information on domestic flights and fares including information on:

airline codes

airport codes

concession fares

direct and connecting services

fare conditions

Minimum Connecting Times (MCT)

normal fares

payment and ticketing deadline

promotional fares currently available

published fare types and classes

taxes, fees and surcharges

the content and format of information provided by airlines and consolidators including:

fare schedules

flight schedules

published fares

special bulletins

websites

encoding and decoding of domestic airport and airline codes

a range of formats to calculate and record airfares.

Evidence Required

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of the ability to:

source multiple and diverse airfares for domestic air travel to meet to meet varying customer requirements

interpret information on domestic flights, fares and conditions applicable to specific fares

demonstrate knowledge of:

adlines sources of information on domestic flights and fares

the content and format of information provided by airlines and consolidators

encoding and decoding of domestic airport and airline codes

provide domestic airfare quotes within commercial time constraints and deadlines determined by the customer or the organisation.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure use of:

a real or simulated tourism business operation or activity which sells domestic airfares

a real or simulated tourism industry environment; for example:

a reservations area or call centre

a retail shopfront or mobile sales situation for the retail travel sector

an office environment as defined in the Assessment Guidelines

computers, software programs, printers, and reservations and operations programs currently used in the tourism industry to facilitate domestic airfare quotes

current airline, and consolidator documentation or computer data such as published fares, schedules and bulletins outlining fares and, conditions.

Method of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

activities that allow assessment of the individual’s ability to source and quote on domestic airfares for different routes and to meet varying customer requirements

review of fare calculation worksheets completed by the individual

written or oral questioning to assess knowledge of:

sources of information on domestic flights and fares

the content and format of information provided by airlines and consolidators

encoding and decoding of domestic airport and airline codes

review of portfolios of evidence and thirdparty workplace reports of onthejob performance by the individual.

Guidance information for assessment

The assessor should design integrated assessment activities to holistically assess this unit with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role, for example:

SITTTSL303 Sell tourism products and services

SITTTSL304 Prepare quotations

SITTTSL307 Process travelrelated documentation.


Range Statement

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Sources of fare information may include:

computerised reservations system (CRS)

information from airlines and consolidators:

fare references

fare sheets

fare schedules

flight schedules

published fares

special bulletins

tariffs

websites

global distribution system (GDS)

the Internet.

Information on domestic flights, fares includes:

airline codes

airport codes

concession fares

direct and connecting services

MCT

normal fares

payment and ticketing deadline

promotional fares

published fare types and classes

taxes, fees and surcharges.

Conditions may include:

amendment fees

availability of:

any type of change to the air itinerary

changes to class of travel

baggage allowance

cancellation charges

excess baggage charges

extensions to ticketing deadline

payment deadline

restricted articles in baggage

ticketing deadline

time limits for Passenger Name Records (PNRs).

Concession fares may include those for:

carers

children

groups

infants

military personnel

pensioners

seamen

students.

Taxes may include:

airport tax

fuel surcharge

GST

head tax

noise tax.

Fees and surcharges may include:

air itinerary preparation fee

communication fee

courier fee

credit card fee

flight fuel emissions offset fee ("flying carbon neutral")

loyalty program (e.g. frequent flyer) redemption fee

prepaid baggage charges

prepaid in-flight meals

service fee

transaction fee.


Sectors

Tourism


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.