IATA Consultant study plan

Map the structure of the travel and tourism industry by naming the main intermediaries (tour operators, consolidators, agencies, OTAs) and stating what each sells and earns

Distinguish the roles of IATA, ICAO, and national civil aviation authorities, and explain which body sets which rules

Describe the three-letter geography system: IATA areas, sub-areas, and traffic conference areas, and place ten given cities in the correct area

Explain how airline business models (full-service, low-cost, charter, regional) differ in distribution, fare structure, and airport choice

Sequence the passenger journey through an airport from curb to boarding, naming each check-in, security, and gate process

Explain the difference between minimum connecting time and a scheduled connection, and calculate whether a given itinerary is legal

Identify the documents a passenger needs for an international trip and explain the role of Timatic-style entry checks

Describe baggage rules: free baggage allowance concepts, excess baggage, and the difference between checked and cabin baggage limits

Outline irregular operations handling: delay, diversion, denied boarding, and the passenger rights that follow

Decode fare construction terminology: fare basis code, fare type, journey type, and the difference between published and negotiated fares

Explain the mileage system logic: ticketed point mileage, maximum permitted mileage, and how surcharges are applied

Read a fare rule display and extract change, cancellation, and stopover conditions without guessing

Distinguish reservation record elements: PNR, segment, SSR, OSI, and queue

Explain the difference between a booking, a ticket, and an EMD, and when each is issued

Construct a one-way and a round-trip fare for a given itinerary using the correct fare basis and conditions

Calculate taxes, fees, and charges separately from the base fare and explain which are airport versus government levied

Apply reissue and refund logic to three scenarios: voluntary change, involuntary change, and no-show

Identify the ticketing time limit and explain what happens to the PNR when it passes

Build a complete PNR from a written customer request, including SSR and OSI entries

Explain how schedule changes propagate to a PNR and what the agent must do before departure

Describe agency distribution channels: GDS, NDC, direct airline, and consolidator, and state one trade-off of each

Explain the agency's commercial obligations: ticketing authority, IATA accreditation basics, and settlement through BSP

Apply a structured needs-assessment conversation: open questions, listening, and confirming the itinerary back to the client

Handle three difficult situations (overbooking, missed connection, medical emergency) using a step-by-step response script

Explain duty of care and the limits of an agent's liability when acting as intermediary

Describe how to advise on destination risk: health, safety, visa, and travel advisory sources

Explain accessible travel basics: pre-notification, service animals, and mobility assistance requests

Explain the commercial structure of tourism: suppliers, intermediaries, and the economics of commission versus fee-based service

Describe how to build a client profile and match it to a destination, season, and budget

Explain the role of travel insurance and what it typically covers and excludes

Identify ethical and legal issues in selling travel: misrepresentation, data protection, and payment security

Consolidate all four domains by reviewing every earlier self-quiz and re-testing the weakest items

Practice timed mixed-domain questions under exam conditions

Explain the most commonly confused pairs (MCT versus connection, booking versus ticket, published versus negotiated fare) in your own words

List the topics you still cannot explain confidently and mark them for final review