Fare basis code

A fare basis code (often just referred to as a fare basis) is an alpha or alpha-numeric code used by airlines to identify a fare type and allow airline staff and travel agents to find the rules applicable to that fare. Fare codes starts with a single letter, called a booking code or class, which matches the letter code that the reservation is booked in. Other letters or numbers may follow, typically a fare basic will be 3 to 7 characters long.^[1]

Booking codes

Booking codes used to be standardized, and were defined by the IATA. However, airlines have deviated from the IATA standard and current booking codes are airline specific. The same code may have quite different meanings for tickets issued by different airlines. Nevertheless, certain booking codes have fairly standardized meanings across nearly all airlines:

• F: first class
• J: business class
• Y: economy class

In addition, R, A, D, I, Z usually refer to special types of premium class tickets, for instance suites (Singapore Airlines), Emirates discounted first and business class, and upgrades. W, T often refer to premium economy class, and B, H, K, L, M, N, Q, T, V, X generally to various types of discounted or restricted economy class tickets.

Booking codes are also sometimes called booking classes or fare classes.

Different levels of frequent flyer miles are often awarded based on booking code. For instance, Y economy class may result in a credit of 100% of miles flown, while first and business class 125%, 150%, or even 200%. Discounted economy class may receive a full credit of 100% of miles flown on that operating carrier's program itself, a fraction such as 70%, 50%, 25% credit or even no credit, especially if credited toward a partner airline's program. The details depend on the frequent flyer program, the operating carrier and applicable partnership agreements.

References

1. Gorham, G, Todd, G., Rice, S (2001). Travel Perspectives: A Guide to Becoming a Travel Professional. Thomson Delmar Learning.