IATA Course FAQs

1) Is it a possibility to pay by instalments?

Fees for IATA courses must be paid in full at the time of enrolment

2) Which IATA course would be useful to get into travel industry?

The most effective course study for those wishing to join any segment of the travel industry is the IATA Foundation Course. This course does not require formal prerequisites other than the ability to read and write basic English.
The Foundation Course will take the learner from no industry knowledge to operational functionality in a travel agency, travel call center, tour operator, a hotel or cruise line or an airline passenger reservations office.
This is a three-in-one diploma course ideally suited for those who are inexperienced or new to the travel industry. The 13 modules in the Foundation course provide an understanding of the travel and tourism industry, describe the travel professional's role in the travel industry, the role of technology in the travel industry and the importance of exceeding customer expectations. In addition, the Foundation Course teaches fundamental skills and competencies linked to industry regulations, standard coding, world geography, quoting air fares and interpreting fare rules, electronic ticketing, GDS functionality, passenger travel documents such as passports, visas and health certificates and reservations procedures. This course also introduces the complete spectrum of travel products and services sold by travel professionals, including hotels, car hire, cruises, rail and tour products. The IATA Foundation Course offers a blended approach to learning how to integrate into the travel industry and incorporates textbook as well as computer-based approaches to learning.

The Foundation Course is now optionally bundled together with the Harvard ManageMentor Program.
The extra benefit is that graduates of the IATA Foundation Course also benefit from professional management training delivered by a well-recognized business school. Graduates holding the IATA Foundation Course Diploma plus Harvard ManageMentor Certificates increase their employability in the world's largest industry.

3) Do you provide with the Licenses for travel business or do you provide with information about how to open your own business?

IATA is a travel industry association and administers resolutions that govern the airline industry and travel agency accreditation.

Procuring a business license to operate a travel agency is a function of the local government. As the laws for operating a travel agency business are vastly different in countries worldwide, IATA cannot provide such training. IATA does provide training on what the IATA Agency Accreditation Program is and general requirements for IATA Agent Accreditation. At the heart of the IATA Agent Accreditation Program is IATA's Billing and Settlement Program (BSP) which brings great value to travel agencies worldwide. IATA offers a full suite of technical training solutions to promote the best use of the BSP system.

4) Does the GDS course in the IATA foundation course cover all the information? Is it the same as expert course or is it just basics of GDS? Do they get any material with GDS courses?

Through 20 lessons of simulated GDS functionality training delivered on CD-Rom, learners perform basic entries and commands to retrieve general information, create reservations, price journeys, issue e-tickets and interpret GDS screen displays for one of four global distribution systems used by travel professionals. By enrolling in the Foundation Course, learners have the option to learn one, two, three or four global distributions used by the majority of travel agencies worldwide. The course objective is to develop full GDS functional usage. Click here to see course outline that describes exactly what is taught in this module.

5) Does IATA foundation course only cover a basic overview about fares? Or is it comprehensive course?

The Air Fares and Ticketing module of the IATA Foundation Course teaches common mileage fare construction principles. Students work with all journey types and apply the IATA fare formula in determining the lowest applicable adult or child air fare for each journey. This module effectively teaches how to interpret and communicate fare rules and electronic ticket displays . Additionally, this module teaches fare related key topics such as net fares, service fees, credit card fraud and BSP. The theory learned in this module is practiced through synchronized workbook activities.

6) How long it takes to finish IATA foundation course, we know that deadline is one year, but proximally if they study every day few hour, how long it can take?

The average self-study time to complete the Foundation Course is estimated at 170 dedicated hours.

7) How much the exam will cost?

Newly enrolled students are automatically registered to sit an examination in the first eligible examination session in the country from which they enrol. An Examination Confirmation Letter is included in each study kit. This letter specifies exactly which exam session and which country has been registered. It also identifies the IATA Local Co-ordinator responsible for organising the examination session.
IATA learners are able to change their registered exam session to a later one within their enrolment period. This is done by writing to IATA's Distance Learning Examinations Centre at examstraining@iata.org All exam registration changes must be made before the exam registration deadline posted on IATA's website.
 Already registered students requiring a second exam attempt must register for the exam of their choice by remitting the exam voucher received with their first attempt exam results.

Change of Country
IATA will accept a change of country for a student under the following conditions:

(a) the student forwards all necessary information to IATA Training Development Institute concerning the change of address, including full name, Client ID, Previous address, New address, New telephone number, E-mail address (if applicable).

(b) If the Training Programme is not offered in the new country of residence, the student accepts the responsibility for travelling to a country where the programme is offered for his/her examinations.

(c) The student is aware of the visa and residency requirements to enable sitting the examination in the new country of residence. IATA Training Development Institute requires that an administrative fee of USD $100.00 be paid to process the change. Payment of this fee must be forwarded with the request for change. Changes in country do not influence the enrolment period. The student's enrolment period will be based on his/her initial enrolment and not on the date of the change of country. If the student wishes to sit the upcoming examination in the new country, the request for a change of country and payment must be processed by the exam registration deadline.

8) What material will I get with the course and in what format?

The GDS Fares and Ticketing Course is a computer based course accompanied by a workbook.
The course is delivered via the Internet and e-workbook format or via CD-ROM and printed workbook format.
The Foundation, Consultant and Stepping into Management Course (with Harvard manageMentor) are blended learning solutions, incorporating printed or e-book content together with CD-Rom or online based learning. There are other reference manuals and maps that accompany these courses study kits.
The aviation distance learning courses are delivered in textbook based format, again in e-book or printed version.

9) What is a procedure after I purchase the course? When IATA contacts me, how long takes until I get the course?

Once OTT submits an order to IATA (traveltraining@iata.org with copy to candidoa@iata.org and besth@iata.org) IATA will acknowledge receipt within 24 hours and communicate to the OTT customer. The enrolment is processed and created the same day. If course content must be shipped, then IATA advises to expect receipt within ten workdays.

10) Does students have to do some exams, quizzes, etc. before the final IATA exam?

- There are no requirements preceding final exam writing.
- Every course includes study check questions at the end of every module and unit.
- There are review questions at the end of every module.
- There is a model examination paper included in the course guide as well.
- For the Foundation Course, there is an online practice exam which students can benefit from.

11) How many attempts do I get if I not pass in the first attempt? How much cost to retake exam?

Every course enrolmententitles the student to two free exam attempts.
The exam attemptsmust be taken within the curse enrolment period.
A link is provided above with access to theIATA distance learning exam calendar.
Only for the Foundation Course, enrolled students may purchase a third exam exam attempt should they not be successful on their two complimentary exam attempts. For any other course, once the two exam attempts have been consumed, the student would have to enrol in the course again to benefit from another exam attempt.

12) When will the exams take place and where will it be? Is the exam center base in London?

The IATA training website posts the IATA Distance Learning exam calendar.
The student's enrolment letter received together with course material advises the location of the exam venue as well as the name and contact information for the appointed IATA Local Coordinator who must organize the examination. The IATA Local Coordinator is always accessible to answer questions about the exam date and venue.

13) What is certificate procedure, if it is for free?

IATA course qualifications are sent to successful exam candidates soon after the examination session.
There is no feecollected for the issuance of IATA course diplomas and certificates.