Seamen Fares: a guide for travel agencies and seafarers
Special airline tickets for seafarers are designed for journeys that often change due to ship schedules. We explain who they are intended for, how to find them in Travelport, Amadeus and NDC, and why not all travel agencies can issue them.
What are maritime airfares and why do they exist?
Imagine a seafarer travelling from Zagreb to board a ship in Singapore. A few days before the flight, the ship changes its plans and sails to a different port. In such a situation, a standard airline ticket may involve a hefty surcharge, the purchase of a new ticket or a complex refund procedure.
Because of such needs, airlines offer special Seamen's fares, often called and Marine fares. They are intended for the official travel of ship's crew members and other authorised personnel in the maritime or offshore industry. Their purpose is to facilitate crew rotations, that is, operations known as crew change.
A maritime fare isn't necessarily the cheapest ticket on offer. Its value often only becomes apparent when plans change: boarding delays, port changes or the need for a new flight.
Who is allowed to use Seamen Fares?
The right to purchase depends on the rules of the specific airline and the purpose of the journey. Most often, it concerns crew members of merchant and passenger ships who are travelling to embark or returning after disembarkation. Some programmes include technicians, engineers, inspectors, offshore personnel and other staff involved in shipping or energy operations.
For example, Cathay Pacific's Marine and Energy Fares programme covers crew members and certain technical, medical and other specialist personnel. Qatar Airways also has a separate Marine and Offshore Fares programme, available through selected sales partners. The mere fact that a passenger is employed in the maritime sector is not enough: they must meet the requirements of the specific fare.
For verification, depending on the carrier, a valid seafarer's identity document, an employer's certificate or another document proving official engagement may be required. The agency should check the conditions before issuing the document and clearly inform the passenger what they must bring to the airport.
Maritime fare or standard ticket: what's the difference?
The most frequently mentioned benefits are flexibility, one-way travel and extra baggage. However, none of these benefits is guaranteed with every marine fare. The terms of the specific offer always apply.
Changes, returns and baggage: where do the differences lie?
A major advantage of some air travel programmes is the absence of a standard fee for changing the date or route. However, if the original booking class is no longer available, the passenger may have to pay the difference in price. Some fares also offer a refund for a completely unused ticket, but the cancellation and no-show policies must be read separately.
For a seafarer who spends several months on board a ship, luggage is also important. You may encounter rules such as 40 kilograms or two pieces of 23 kilograms each, but this is not a universal rule for all airlines. Particular care is needed when planning an itinerary involving multiple carriers, as baggage rules can vary.
One-way marine fares can be practical when the port of discharge differs from the port of embarkation. The agency can then compare two separate one-way tickets with the option of issuing a more complex itinerary on a single ticket. Separate tickets may reduce the cost but increase the risk of missed connections.
Which airlines offer special fares?
Some major international carriers have maritime programmes, but their availability depends on the market, the agency, the contract and the booking channel. Qatar Airways has a Marine and Offshore Fares programme for selected travel agencies and specialised TMCs. Cathay Pacific also offers its Marine and Energy Fares through selected partners. Air France and KLM are an example of carriers whose marine offerings can also be accessed through a supported NDC process on Travelport.
Can all travel agencies issue sea flight tickets?
No. Access to the GDS, the right to issue airline tickets and the right to sell a specific maritime tariff are three different things. The mere ability to search does not mean that the agency is permitted to issue a ticket or to use the carrier's special commercial terms.
An agency that issues tickets directly through the IATA BSP generally requires the appropriate IATA accreditation and authorisation from the airline to issue on its ticketing stock (Ticketing AuthoritySuch authorisation is granted per carrier and can be verified in BSPlink or, depending on system capabilities, in the GDS. IATA accreditation alone does not guarantee the right to issue tickets for every airline.
For special Seamen Fares, an additional step is often required: a separate commercial agreement, access to a private tariff, activation of an agency identifier or approval of a specialised sales programme. That is why even an agency that regularly issues standard airline tickets may not be authorised to issue a particular carrier's marine fares.
Agencies without the ability to issue tickets themselves can still sell sea tickets in collaboration with a specialised marine TMC, an airline consolidator or another authorised partner. In this model, the partner issues the ticket, and the agency must agree in advance who is responsible for documentation, billing, amendments, refunds and emergency support. The IATA TIDS identification number is not the same as IATA accreditation for BSP ticketing.
How to find maritime tariffs in Travelport and Amadeus?
For searching maritime fares in a classic GDS, the most commonly used is Passenger Type Code (PTC) South East Asia. However, the commands are not the same in Travelport and Amadeus. Also, the corresponding PTC is not a guarantee that the agency has contracted access to the fare.
In Travelport's Galileo or Travelport+ system, commands First Quarter, Second Half and First Quarter, Second Half, Year-to-date They are not synonymous. The first can also return the standard adult fare, whereas the second is aimed at SEA fares. Therefore, it is important to check which fare has actually been applied.
In Amadeus, entries such as FXX/RSEA for an indicative calculation without TST FXP/RSEA for settling the creation of the TST. The function is used to display published or contracted tariffs. Foreign Qualified Driver with the necessary filters. Cathay Pacific, for example, displays the FQD format with the SEA designation and contractual qualifier in its instructions. Such additional codes are not generally available to all agencies.
Regardless of the system, it must be checked before issue. fare basis, fare restrictions, baggage allowances, passenger documents and the agency's right to apply a special fare. The quoted price or a successful calculation does not constitute confirmation that issuance is permitted.
What changes when an agency books through the NDC?
The development of NDC distribution has expanded the ways of accessing certain maritime offerings. In Travelport's process for Air France and KLM NDC offerings, the agent selects PTC SEA when searching, the private tariff qualifier. Marine and the appropriate category of private tariffs. For certain departure points, a private tariff or contract code is also required.
The documentation further describes the input of ship information via OSI elements, including labels. Name of the person for the ship's name and Small and Medium-sized Non-Latin American Countries for location. These are data relevant to verifying entitlement to a special tariff; the exact format and mandatory elements should be checked with the carrier.
Even access to the NDC offering does not automatically grant the right to sell all marine fares: the carrier may require the agency's special registration or the activation of a private contract. Also, not every channel has to allow independent processing of all subsequent amendments. Before issuing, it is necessary to check what the specific channel supports regarding changes, refunds and operational disruptions.
Most common mistakes in issuing
Among the most serious mistakes are issuing a special fare to a passenger who is not entitled to it and attempting to issue it through an agency that lacks the necessary authorisations. This can cause problems at check-in, subsequent charging of the fare difference or an ADM, depending on the carrier's rules. It is similarly risky to promise a full refund or two free bags without checking the specific fare.
An additional group of errors is related to the booking data: omitted PTC, missing ship details, incorrect private tariff code or missed ticket-issuance deadline. When travelling on two separate tickets, the agency must also consider the consequences of a delay on the first flight, baggage collection and any transit requirements.
Checklist before issuing a nautical chart
For agencies that regularly organise crew travel, a simple pre-confirmation check is useful. It can prevent costly mistakes, especially when a booking is made at short notice.
When is a maritime tariff a good choice?
For a straightforward journey with a fixed schedule, a standard commercial ticket can sometimes be more cost-effective. However, when there is a greater likelihood of changes to the port, flight or boarding time, the more flexible conditions of the marine fare may justify a higher initial price.
The responsible agency therefore compares the total cost and operational risk, not just the quoted price. For a shipping company, the missed embarkation of a crew member can mean a far greater problem than the difference in price between two airline tickets. That is the real value of a well-chosen shipping tariff and a reliable booking partner.
