IATA Foundation (Aggregate Prep) study guide
IATA Foundation (Aggregate Prep) · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The IATA Foundation level qualification is an entry point into the travel and tourism industry, designed for people who are new to the sector or who want a recognised grounding before specialising. It suits school leavers, career changers, junior agency or airline staff, and anyone working in a related role who needs to understand how the industry fits together. The IATA Foundation (Aggregate Prep) study guide has 7 sections and about 2,451 words.
01The Travel and Tourism Industry: Structure, Stakeholders and Careers
Travel and tourism is best understood as a value chain rather than a single trade. Suppliers create capacity - airlines, hotels, cruise lines, rail operators, car rental firms and attractions.
290 words, about 1 min02World Geography, Destinations and Travel Time Calculation
Candidates should know the three IATA Traffic Conference Areas - TC1 (the Americas), TC2 (Europe, Africa, Middle East) and TC3 (Asia, Australasia) - plus the sub-areas used in fare construction. Be comfortable with hemispheres, the Equator and Prime Meridian, latitude and longitude, continents and major regions, and the location of key hubs and destinations.
295 words, about 1 min03Air Transport Essentials: Airlines, Routes and Aircraft
Know the difference between full-service/network carriers, low-cost carriers (point-to-point, often a single fleet type, ancillary revenue), charter airlines, regional feeders and cargo operators. Network carriers use hub-and-spoke systems; LCCs prefer point-to-point.
256 words, about 1 min04Airfares, Ticketing and Reservation Procedures
An airfare is not just a price: it is a set of conditions. Know fare basis codes, booking classes (RBDs) and the main restrictions - advance purchase, minimum and maximum stay, change and refund rules, stopovers, transfers and routing.
273 words, about 1 min05Customer Service and Travel Sales
Good travel selling begins with needs analysis: destination, dates, budget, purpose, flexibility, accessibility and travellers' preferences. Use open questions to explore and closed questions to confirm.
260 words, about 1 min06Travel Documentation, Industry Regulations, Safety and Security
Every international journey needs the right documents: passport, visa or e-visa, transit visa, and sometimes an onward ticket or proof of funds. Many countries require a passport valid for six months beyond arrival or return, and some require blank pages.
809 words, about 4 min07Payments, Accounting and Financial Procedures in Travel
Travel businesses handle cash, cards, bank transfers and increasingly digital wallets and virtual cards. IATA agencies settle airline sales through the Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP), with reporting cycles and remittance deadlines; debit notes (ADMs) and credit memos (ACMs) adjust accounts.
268 words, about 1 min