IATA accreditation for agencies: GoLite, GoStandard and BSP
What does IATA accreditation bring to the agency, how does the BSP work and which model to choose? A guide through payment methods, regional differences and the possibilities of multi-IATA business.
IATA accreditation confirms that the travel agency meets the requirements to participate in the IATA travel agency program. It receives its own IATA number, a common contractual framework for cooperation with airlines, and the ability to independently issue tickets subject to the necessary approvals from the carriers. The accreditation also opens access to the BSP.
BSP, or Billing and Settlement Plan, The system is used by IATA to consolidate the reporting, billing and settlement of sales between the accredited agencies and the airlines that participate in it. In sales that are charged by the agency and subsequently settled through the BSP, a consolidated calculation is used instead of separate payments to each carrier. IATA then allocates the corresponding funds to the airlines.
Accreditation is therefore the status of the agency and the basis for participation, and the BSP system through which the sales are calculated. However, neither an agency’s own IATA number nor access to the BSP automatically grants the right to issue tickets for all carriers. Additional conditions depend on the market and each airline’s rules.
GoLite and GoStandard: which is better for an agency's business?
GoLite and GoStandard both allow for self-accreditation and participation in the BSP. The main difference is not in the size of the agency, but in the ways of paying for tickets and the associated financial obligations. GoLite does not have the option of BSP cash sales, whereas GoStandard does.
The term „cash” here It does not mean exclusively cash. The agency charges the client, for example by depositing the money into an account, and settles the obligation towards the airline through BSP within the prescribed deadline. With the customer card as a BSP payment method, the charge is received by the airline, not by the agency through its POS device.
| The area of comparison | GoLite | GoStandard |
|---|---|---|
| Basic payment methods | IATA EasyPay and accepted customer cards. | BSP cash, IATA EasyPay and customer's accepted cards. |
| Financial insurance | As a rule, there is no minimum guarantee for issuing tickets, but there are exceptions. | Financial assurance and verification of finances according to applicable criteria. |
| Liquidity | For EasyPay, funds must be secured before issuance. The airline receives the charge on the client's card. | Cash sales are settled according to the BSP calendar. The agency must secure funds by the maturity date. |
| Advantages for the agency | Simpler financial requirements, a separate IATA number and self-issued without BSP cash obligations for that sale. | More payment methods and more flexible linking of customer billing to ticket payment. |
| Disadvantages for business operations | There is no subsequent cash settlement. Pre-financing with EasyPay can burden the business when clients pay later. | More demanding financial management, possible costs of the guarantee and monitoring of available cash capacity. |
| When to consider it | When client cards and pre-funded EasyPay meet the needs of sales. | When the agency needs BSP cash and can properly manage receivables, insurance and collection. |
The comparison is based on IATA's descriptions of the models and payment methods; the business advantages depend on the customer and sales structure.
GoLite is still not a model without financial responsibility. Charges to agencies, known as ADMs, and other cash obligations may trigger a requirement for financial security. With GoStandard, agencies must monitor the RHC, which is the maximum permitted amount of outstanding BSP cash sales. This capacity is not unlimited.
For business purposes, therefore, compare when you charge the client and when you need to settle the bill. The payment deferral you approved for the client is not a reason to postpone the BSP due date.
Conditions and costs vary by market
The application is submitted through the IATA Customer Portal, along with the requirements of the selected model and market. Local financial criteria determine the necessary reports, the method of assessing business performance, and financial security. Therefore, the agency should not adopt conditions from a neighboring country and assume that they apply to it as well.
The differences are already evident with the initial financial security for new agencies with the BSP cash option. In the currently published IATA manual, the minimum for the first two years amounts to 30,000 euros in Slovenia, 40,000 euros in Serbia and Montenegro, and 25,000 euros in Croatia. For the „Western Balkans” group, which includes Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and North Macedonia, the minimum is set at 20,000 euros.
These are not the prices of accreditation, but the minimum amounts of financial security, Most often, bank guarantees are required. The actual requirement may be higher, and these thresholds are not automatically transferred to GoLite. Before applying, you should check the latest changes and individual terms.
Currencies also differ. For example, the manual for Serbia states that the BSP calculates in dinars, while for Montenegro it is calculated in euros. This can affect the number of conversions and the planning of cash flows for agencies operating across borders.
The annual fee is a separate obligation. Its amount depends on the category of gross sales through the BSP and the type of location. The total calculation should include technology, any bank fees, and the labor costs of employees. Therefore, compare the total cost of doing business, not just the accreditation fee.
One BSP does not open access to all airlines
The airline can participate in one BSP, but not in another. In addition, the agency must have the approval of the particular airline to issue tickets, i.e. ticketing authority. The participation of carriers in the local BSP and the authorization of a specific agency are two separate checks.
Before accreditation, therefore, check the carriers that are important to your clients. You may be able to handle some of the sales yourself, while others will require a partner or a different distribution channel.
The NDC itself does not remove these limitations. BSP supports NDC distribution as well, but technological connectivity does not replace the verification of the seller's status, the permitted payment methods, and the airline's terms and conditions.
When does multi-IATA business make sense?
Some agencies use multiple accredited locations and access to different markets. Such multi-IATA operations can expand the availability of carriers and fares, and allow for comparison of options by currency and place of issuance. There are also technological solutions that simultaneously search for offers through multiple IATA access points.
This makes it possible to resolve the limitation of a particular BSP, provided that the carrier participates in the other system and that the agency has the necessary authority there. Simply adding another IATA number within the same BSP does not automatically expand the list of available airlines.
Another possible reason is a reduction in currency conversions. Business logic requires that the currency used to charge the client matches the currency used to settle the obligation. However, a cheaper offer expressed in a different currency does not guarantee savings. The actual bank exchange rates, fees, and costs of transferring money must be compared. IATA warns that currency exposure also depends on the place of issuance, collection of funds, and the method of settlement.
IATA offers GoGlobal for agencies operating across multiple markets and GoEurozone for operations in several euro-area countries. These models provide consolidated financial criteria and financial security, but do not remove the need for individual carriers’ approvals.
Before expanding, compare your own structure with a consolidator’s offer. Include administration, ticket changes, refunds and support outside business hours. The business optimum is not the largest number of accreditations, but reliable ticket issuance and servicing at an acceptable total cost.
