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What Is the Basic Travel Allowance (BTA)?

According to the Embassy of the United States in London, a Basic Travel Allowance refers to a scam under which foreign nationals request money from U.S. citizens for travel to the United States, claiming that a BTA is required under U.S. law. The embassy warns citizens against the scam.

According to the U.S. Embassy, the scam may ask for similar funds for travel allowance or funds. As the BBC details, the scam often targets owners of travel services and accommodations, requesting that owners pay the BTA to travel agencies, who promise to repay the amount when they book rooms for guests. According to the BBC, the scam is also prevalent on dating sites.

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WHERE WILL YOUR JOURNEY TAKE YOU?

Are you a discerning traveler seeking to explore and discover the world’s most incredible destinations? Do you dream of adventure on the African plains or a life-changing expedition through the Arctic? Perhaps you are in a stage of your life where you seek peace, tranquility , and a relaxing escape to your private island where azure waters meet pristine white sand beaches. Boutique Travel Advisors is a luxury travel agency based out of Scottsdale, Arizona specializes in designing once-in-a-lifetime experiences for individuals, families, and teams.

Stop settling for plain uninspired vacations. Instead, discover how bespoke travel experiences explicitly crafted for YOU will transform your travels. Let our luxury Virtuoso travel agency show you the way.

CUSTOM ITINERARIES

If you seek unique travel experiences that capture the essence of a destination, immersing you in the culture and connecting you with local customs and traditions, our itineraries will excite and inspire you. Our goal is to ensure travelers have meaningful and captivating experiences that are as unique as you are.

BENEFITS OF WORKING WITH BTA

Every client is a VIP, and every trip is meant to be remarkable . No matter where in the world you travel, you will be received as an honored guest and provided access to exclusive privileges, complimentary benefits , cutting-edge technology, and unmatched service.

ELEVATED EXPERIENCES

Your preferences and interests are unique, and we believe you deserve to work with a travel company that can guide you through designing and executing extraordinary experiences. When you partner with BTA, you will work directly with our team of expert Virtuoso travel advisors to create fully customized itineraries based on your interests and budget.

EXCEPTIONAL PARTNERS

To provide you with unmatched service and design incredible trips, we work exclusively with highly vetted suppliers worldwide. As a Luxury Virtuoso Travel Agency, our partnerships with the most respected and knowledgeable suppliers worldwide allow our guests access to special amenities, VIP experiences, and exceptional service. We maintain a solid commitment to eco-stewardship and responsible travel experiences. BTA is privileged to be a part of Virtuoso, which gives us access to the world’s most respected hotels, cruise lines, and tour operators.

To provide you with unmatched service and design incredible trips, we work exclusively with highly vetted suppliers worldwide. We maintain a solid commitment to eco-stewardship and responsible travel experiences. BTA is privileged to be a part of the exclusive Virtuoso travel consortium, which gives us access to the world’s most respected hotels, cruise lines, and tour operators.

MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS

We recognize that your travel needs will vary. Therefore, we offer several options for working together. Whether you seek a weekend getaway , a multi-generational adventure , a world cruise , or a month-long European immersion , we have a design package that fits your needs. In addition, we offer a convenient annual membership plan for clients who travel multiple times per year and provide a multi-year travel roadmap.

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Finance Technology

American Express Introduces Enhanced Business Travel Account to Help Companies Manage the Reality of Business Travel

The Updated Platform Helps Simplify Business Travel

The enhanced Business Travel Account also features:

• The flexibility to set usage dates and pre-authorize spending limits at the time of booking, helping reduce fraud and encourage compliance with company travel policies.
• Improved traveler experience by providing options for more types of business travelers, including large groups, employees who do not have corporate cards and non-employees, such as job applicants and consultants.
• A simplified reconciliation process thanks to improved data files that capture reference fields defined by the customer, such as employee identification numbers and cost centers – available at no cost through the American Express @Work® platform. New global data files provide more visibility into both billed and unbilled content.

“We understand that corporate travel is a major expense for many companies and can be a time consuming and difficult process to manage,” said Gint Balodis, Vice President, Global Product Management, American Express Global Commercial Payments. “Our improvements in the enhanced Business Travel Account further centralize control into one account, making the process of purchasing, tracking and reconciling travel expenses easier than in the past.”

The enhanced BTA is now available in the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom. For additional details on enrollment please visit here or contact your American Express representative.

About American Express Global Commercial Payments:

Through its Global Commercial Payments division, American Express offers a suite of payment and lending products that help businesses and organizations of all sizes gain financial savings, control and efficiency. Global Commercial Payments provides solutions for travel and everyday business spending, cross border payments, global currency solutions, and business financing.

About American Express

American Express is a global services company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success.

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American Express ®   Business Travel Account

Air. Hotels. Car Rentals. All on one bill.

Centralise employee business travel expenses into one simple online account.

Paying for business travel doesn’t need to be complicated

The American Express Business Travel Account (BTA) is a centralised billing account that uses Virtual Account Numbers for all travel costs. Your employees can book business travel without physical Cards or complicated reimbursement processes and you can reconcile travel costs through one simple monthly statement.

Make business travel more seamless with a Business Travel Account

Maximise control

Set parameters around time, cost and suppliers for employee air, hotels and car rentals.

Consolidate booking and reconciliation into a single platform with one monthly payment.

Increase security

Help reduce non-compliant spend and minimise the risk of fraud with single-use Virtual Account Numbers.

Help improve cash flow

Get up to 51 cash flow days 1 by centralising all travel bookings into one payment to American Express.

How does the Business Travel Account work?

Book travel

When your employees book travel through your Travel Management Company (TMC) the Business Travel Account automatically applies a unique Virtual Account Number (VAN) to each air booking, hotel reservation and car rental.

The VAN replaces a standard Corporate Card number to secure reservations and confirm payment for each rental or reservation. Program Administrators can set parameters to help maintain compliance with company budgets and policies.

Receive statement

Receive a monthly statement of all BTA travel expenses in one simple PDF or Excel document that's easy to filter and sort, so you can gain accuracy in reporting and discover opportunities to save. Depending on your organisation’s size and needs, you can also receive statements via Online Statements, BTAConnect or eData file.

Reconcile account

Send a single monthly payment to American Express, which can reduce admin time spent reconciling individual payments and processing reimbursements whilst expanding your cash flow up to 51 days 1 .

Case study: a consulting firm streamlines its process and cuts costs

The Challenge:  A top-tier consulting firm was struggling with outdated and cumbersome travel reconciliation processes. For each trip taken by a field rep, Executive Assistants (EAs) had to spend hours entering data such as traveller names, cost centres and trip details into an Excel spreadsheet, then matching them with specific transactions. The Finance team then had to double-check all this data before reconciling. The process took up to three weeks and was often closed out just as the next monthly billing statement was released.

The Solution:  The American Express Business Travel Account allowed the firm to easily capture traveller names, employee IDs and cost centres for each transaction, dramatically cutting down on administration time for both the Finance team and EAs. As an added bonus, the Finance team was able to contain costs and protect against fraudulent transactions by setting controls around when and how much employees could spend on travel—putting both time and money back into the company.

Start your Business Travel Account application

Fill out the form to request a call back from a Specialist, or reach out to us at  1300 729 483 , Monday to Friday 9am-5pm.

Not an American Express Card Member?

Sign up for an American Express Corporate Card program to open up a world of perks, tools and opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a business travel account.

The American Express Business Travel Account (BTA) is a single Account used to combine all your air, hotel and car rental expenses into one statement for simpler reconciliation.

What are the advantages of using an American Express Business Travel Account?

For employees, a BTA can save time and provide peace of mind by eliminating the need to use personal Credit Cards and be reimbursed by the company for business travel. Additionally, flights charged to the Business Travel Account attract complimentary Business Traveller Insurance 2 , accidental death and dismemberment insurance and access to emergency legal and medical support while traveling through the 24/7 Global Assist™ hotline.

How can an American Express BTA help my company save money?

An American Express BTA can improve your company’s cash flow with up to 51 cash flow days 1 , while helping ensure your vendors are paid promptly through single-use Virtual Card numbers so you can take advantage of early-payment incentives.

It also gives you rich data about your travel-related spend that can help:

• Support vendor negotiations.
• Secure savings with preferred suppliers.
• Reduce the risk of fraud by providing single-use Virtual Card numbers instead of Credit or Charge Card numbers.

Can a Business Travel Account be used for international travel?

You can use your American Express BTA in Australia for domestic travel or use it internationally wherever American Express is accepted. Foreign transaction fees may apply.

Find more ways to streamline business spend

Corporate Purchasing Card

Consolidate multiple employee expenses and process them as one easy payment.

Corporate Meeting Card

Streamline your meeting and event management expenses into one account.

Terms & Conditions

1. Extend cash flow by up to 51 days: Depending on when you make a purchase, when your statement is issued and whether or not you are carrying forward a balance on your account from your previous statement period.

2. For full policy details please refer to the PDS available here .

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The BTA is the Official Destination Marketing Organisation of Bermuda and an Accredited Member of Destinations International

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What does BTA stand for in the airline industry?

June 30, 2023

By Caroline Lascom

Introduction to BTA

Business Travel Accounts, commonly known as BTAs, play a significant role in the airline industry. They are specialized travel accounts designed for corporate travelers and business organizations. BTAs aim to simplify the booking and payment process for frequent flyers, making it easier for companies to manage business travel expenses.

Definition of BTA

A BTA is a payment solution that allows companies to manage travel expenses by consolidating purchases made by their employees into one account. The account is typically managed by a travel management company (TMC) or a travel agency, which works with the airline to provide the company with rebates, discounts, and other benefits. The purpose of a BTA is to streamline the payment process, reduce travel expenses, and provide better visibility and control over travel expenses.

History of BTA

The concept of BTAs dates back to the early 1980s when American Airlines introduced the first corporate travel program called AAirpass. The program allowed corporate travelers to purchase unlimited flights for a fixed price. The success of AAirpass led to the development of the first BTA by Delta Air Lines in 1985. Since then, BTAs have become an essential part of the airline industry, with many airlines offering specialized programs and services.

Importance of BTA in the airline industry

BTAs provide several benefits to both airlines and corporate travelers. For airlines, BTAs help to increase loyalty and generate revenue through corporate travel programs. For corporate travelers, BTAs simplify the booking and payment process, provide access to exclusive discounts and benefits, and help to control travel expenses.

BTA guidelines and regulations

BTAs are subject to various guidelines and regulations, including the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Travel Agent’s Handbook, payment card industry (PCI) data security standards, and company travel policies. These regulations help to ensure that BTAs are used appropriately and provide a secure payment environment.

Types of BTAs offered by airlines

Airlines offer different types of BTAs, depending on the needs of corporate travelers. Some of the common types of BTAs include direct billing, central billing, and lodge card programs. Direct billing allows companies to pay for their employees’ travel expenses directly, while central billing involves consolidating travel expenses into one invoice. Lodge card programs provide companies with a dedicated payment card for travel expenses.

How to obtain a BTA

Companies can obtain a BTA by working with a travel management company or a travel agency. These companies provide access to specialized travel accounts and work with airlines to negotiate discounts and benefits. Companies can also apply for a BTA directly with an airline, depending on the airline’s policies and requirements.

Benefits of using a BTA

Using a BTA provides several benefits, including streamlined booking and payment processes, access to exclusive discounts and benefits, and better control over travel expenses. BTAs also provide companies with detailed reporting and analytics to help manage travel expenses effectively.

Common misconceptions about BTAs

There are several misconceptions about BTAs, including the belief that they are only suitable for large companies or that they are more expensive than traditional payment methods. In reality, BTAs can benefit companies of all sizes, and they can be more cost-effective than traditional payment methods due to access to exclusive discounts and rebates.

Future of BTAs in the airline industry

The use of BTAs is expected to grow in the future, with more airlines offering specialized travel accounts and services. Advancements in technology are also expected to improve the booking and payment process for corporate travelers, making BTAs an even more attractive option for companies.

Caroline Lascom

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What Every Business Should Know about Business Travel Accident (BTA) Insurance

Written by Adrienne Schickert on Sep 6, 2022

Most businesses will do anything in their power to keep their employees safe from the expected (e.g., providing health insurance) to the routine (e.g., detailing safety procedures in the employee handbook) to the unimaginable. No one expects accidental injury or death to occur on an ordinary work trip, but it's a real possibility that any business should be prepared for. That's where business travel accident (BTA) insurance comes in.

What is business travel accident insurance?

Business travel accident (BTA) insurance provides financial protection for businesses, employees, and their families in the event of an accident during a business trip. This can include accidents that occur while traveling to and from work-related events, as well as those that happen during short-term or long-term work-related travel.

BTA insurance provides separate and essential insurance not included in other types of commercial lines , such as workers' compensation or life insurance, but it is not intended to replace those policies. Rather, it fills in essential gaps in coverage, functioning as an “umbrella” policy under which various facets of travel benefits and services can be given to employees while traveling on business without integration into other insurance programs.

What does business travel accident insurance cover?

BTA insurance can cover expenses related to medical treatment, lost wages, and death. It can also provide coverage for travel disruptions caused by an accident, as well as emergency evacuation and repatriation costs. Most BTA policies cover long-term travel for up to a year.

One misconception about BTA coverage is that it is intended only for travel over long distances or extreme circumstances. Depending on the type of coverage, your employees can be covered whether they are going down the block for a business lunch or traveling halfway around the world for a conference. Coverage depends on your company's needs, but could include:

• Business-only coverage for local, domestic, or international travel
• 24-hour all risk business & pleasure coverage, for "always-on" employees like the C-suite or those traveling on long-term foreign assignments
• Occupational accident coverage for high-risk fields in which employees could be injured during their work, regardless of whether they are traveling
• Coverage extensions for 1099 contractors, board members, and other non-employees

How can you customize business travel accident insurance to your needs?

BTA insurance can be customized to fit the specific needs of a business. For example, some businesses may want to add coverage for trip cancellations or interruptions due to an accident. Others may want to increase the level of coverage for medical expenses or lost wages.

Industry-specific enhancements are numerous but may include:

• Corporate aircraft coverage
• War risk coverage
• Political evacuation
• Out of country medical coverage

Additionally, most policies come standard with employee resources like assistance with medical evacuation or repatriation.

How do you know if your business needs business travel accident insurance?

A lot of companies think that if they have something like foreign workers' compensation coverage, that is enough to cover the greatest risks during travel. Most accidental death and injury claims come from car accidents. How are your employees covered for something like the ride to and from the airport?

After the outbreak of COVID-19, many businesses cancelled or postponed work-related travel. However, as we saw a rise in remote work, we also saw an uptick in travel by "road warriors" in some fields, especially those in sales and high-contact fields looking to maintain relationships with clients. Plus, flexible "work-from-anywhere" policies at startups and tech companies are blurring the lines between domestic and overseas work, potentially putting companies at risk when business travel accident coverage is not considered.

While some companies will require coverage at substantially larger premiums than others, BTA insurance can be beneficial for nearly any business and will continue to play a role in the future of business as we see world conditions change.

For more information on business travel accident insurance and to find the best policy for your company, contact the experts at B. F. Saul Insurance today.

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Adrienne Schickert is an insurance advisor with over 15 years of experience in the industry. As Vice President and Account Executive in B. F. Saul Insurance’s Commercial Lines practice, she provides clients with guidance on coverage, appropriate limits, risk management, and claims. Adrienne specializes in advising clients with difficult or diverse operations and helping them manage their risk holistically.

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Any advice, information, data, communication, proposal and/or document transmitted to you in or in connection with this blog (including, without limitation, any past or future written or oral communications in connection with this blog or its subject matter, and any replies to or forwarded messages in connection with this blog) (collectively, this “Communication”) shall not be deemed legal advice and are not a substitute for the guidance of your legal, tax, financial or other professional advisors. The information contained in this Communication is based on the information made known to B.F. Saul Insurance, Inc. (“BFSI”), at the time this Communication is transmitted to you. If any of the information provided to or relied on by BFSI is inaccurate or changes before insurance coverage is bound then the terms and conditions, premiums, or even availability of such coverage may be subject to change. This Communication does not constitute a contract for insurance and, the terms and conditions of any current or future policy(ies) of insurance shall supersede and prevail over this Communication. This Communication and any information disclosed to you in connection with this Communication at any time (whether orally or in writing) are provided to you in confidence, are the proprietary and confidential information of BFSI, and shall not be disclosed to any third party (except to legal, tax, financial or other professional advisors for the sole purpose of enabling and only to the extent necessary to enable them to provide their services to you in such capacity(ies)), reproduced or used for any other purpose without the express written consent of BFSI.

All requests to place, change or terminate coverage must be confirmed in writing and are subject to the terms and conditions of your insurance policy(ies). Coverage shall not be considered and cannot be bound, changed or terminated unless you have received written confirmation of such from a licensed agent pursuant to the terms and conditions of your insurance policy(ies).

REQUIREMENT FOR Business Travel Allowance (BTA) (FORM A) Print

Modified on: Thu, 7 Oct, 2021 at 9:54 AM

• Duly completed Form A 
• Letter of request from the corporate body stating the purpose of visit. 
• Certificate of the business registration/incorporation
• Valid International Passport and Visa
• Return Ticket 
• Letter of invitation from the overseas business partner.

Other conditions for travel allowance are as stated below .

• PTA is available to both customers of the bank and non-customers.
• Applicant shall be 18years of age and above.
• Applicants/Beneficiaries shall be holder of Nigerian passport.
• The flight must originate from Nigeria.
• The sales of PTA/BTA shall be for travel to be undertaken not more than fourteen (14) days from the day of purchase.
• Applicants are entitled to US$4,000 and US$5,000 per quarter for PTA and BTA respectively
• Sales of PTA/BTA shall only apply to journeys of not less than five(5) hours flight time

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The Travel Glossary - find the best Terms, Definitions and Acronyms

Travel terms, glossary, definitions and acronyms of the travel industry from A – Z. Click on a letter to see the terms and descriptions in our glossary.

A     B     C     D     E     F     G     H     I     J     K     L     M     N     O     P     Q     R     S     T     U     V     W     X     Y     Z

Add-collect, adjoining room.

Average Daily Rate. A hotel industry term used to calculate average hotel room rate. Equal to room revenue divided by rooms sold.

advance purchase

The advance time before travel that a fare requires a ticket to be issued, normally 3,7,14 or 21 days.

Agent Error. An incorrect entry made by a consultant during the reservation process.

AEA (see “Association of European Airlines”)

A US based travel agency that has entered into an agreement with BCD Travel to use the BCD Travel trademarks and provide travel services to customers in the affiliate’s territory.

Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC)

An independent corporation jointly owned by most of the major United States airlines; ARC collects payments for tickets sold by travel agencies and distributes the monies to the airlines; ARC also governs appointment of travel agencies to sell domestic air transportation.

airport code

The three-letter code used by airlines and the air travel industry to identify airports around the world, e.g. LHR=London Heathrow, JFK=New York John F. Kennedy. http://www.world-airport-codes.com/

airport security check

Airport security checks are procedures and measures for screening passengers and baggage to ensure security against terrorist threats and other dangers.  Find out how to get through quickly

airport tax

Tax levied by certain airports throughout the world. In many cases this can be built into the total ticket price, although some airlines will not co-operate, thus making payable locally by the passenger.

On outbound journey’s, airside includes all those areas of the airport terminal after you have passed through passport control. On inbound journey’s, airside includes all those areas of the terminal before you pass through passport control.

A short-hop aircraft for up to 20 passengers, usually flying unscheduled services with a 200 / 500-mile range.

all-inclusive

A hotel program which usually includes all meals, snacks, beverages and activities.

A joint partnership between specified carriers which may include, but not limited to, interlining, code-sharing, joint frequent flyer program participation, and even equity participation of stock ownership.

The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, a government-subsidized corporation that operates all passenger train service in the United States.

Automatic Number Identification. A contact center term for a telephone network feature that passes that number of the phone the caller is using to the contact center, real-time.

American Plan. A hotel rate that includes breakfast and dinner, sometimes lunch.

Asia Pacific. A geographical term used interchangeably with ASPAC and often used in reference to the entire Asian market.

Advance Purchase Excursion Fare

applicable fare

The fare to be applied.

Accounts Receivable. Money which is owed by a customer to a company for products or services provided on credit.

ARC (see “Airlines Reporting Corporation”)

An eight-digit identification number issued by ARC to travel agencies who have met accreditation standards.

Arrival Unknown. An ARNK is added to a reservation when there is a break in the itinerary and continuity is not recognized; it does count as a segment when ticketing.

Around-the-world

A continuous journey circumnavigating the globe in one general west-to-east or east-to-west direction in which both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans are crossed not more than once each.

ARR (see “Average room rate”)

Asia South Pacific. A geographic term used interchangeably with APAC.

Automated Ticket & Boarding Pass. IATA standard transportation ticket and combined boarding pass which features a magnetic strip containing passenger and journey details.

Average Ticket Price. The average price of all tickets purchased; domestic and international are sometimes calculated separately.

availability

The total number of seats allowed to be sold at a particular rate.

average room rate (ARR)

Ratio of hotel’s sales revenue to the number of occupied rooms.

back-to-back ticketing

An against-the-rules practice whereby a traveler books a return ticket nested inside another return ticket to avoid minimum stay requirements for the purpose of saving money. For example, the traveler uses the first ticket to fly from origin to destination on Monday in week 1, then he uses the second ticket to fly from destination to origin on Friday in week 1 and back to destination on Monday in week 2, and then he uses the first ticket again to fly back to origin on Friday in week 2. The normal Saturday night stay requirement is then avoided. While this will sometimes save money, most airlines do not allow this practice and doing so might result in penalties.

backtracking

Having to return to your original airport of entry in a country to make the return trip home. A time-consuming and costly procedure to overcome by arranging an op-jaw itinerary, which allows you to fly out to one point and return from another.

Carry-on-baggage and checked baggage have many restrictions. Most notable are the number and size of the baggage. Many airlines allow only 1 carry-on bag, plus one personal item (purse, back-pack, computer bag). For checked baggage restrictions and fees, refer to the carrier’s website for details.

banker’s buying rate (BBR)

Exchange rate used to convert from one currency to another; called the ‘buying rate’ because it is the rate used when banks purchase currency from an individual

banker’s selling rate (BSR)

Exchange rate used to convert from one currency to another; called the ‘buying rate’ because it is the rate used when banks sell currency to an individual

Best Available Rate. A hotel industry pricing method for yielding room rates (floating) based on demand while ensuring the best rate is presented for sale to agents, consumers.

A fare without tax.

Measurement of hotel occupency.

blackout dates

Certain dates or periods when travel on specific fares is not permitted (usually holidays).

blocked space

Multiple reservations, often subject to deposit forfeiture, which wholesalers or travel agents make with a supplier in anticipation of resale.

boarding pass

A permit to board a ship, plane, or other form of transportation. In the case of air travel, the card indicates boarding gate and aircraft seat number.

booking code

A letter code used to make an airline reservation at a particular fare level in a computerized reservation system. (CRS/GDS)

Bank Settlement Plan. Outside the USA, a system by which the travel agent community pays carriers for tickets it issues.

Business Travel Account. If a company has a corporate credit card program where certain purchases such as air, rail, and associated transaction fees are centrally billed to one “master” credit card number, this is referred to as the Business Travel Account (BTA). This account allows for the purchase of certain air travel expenses for corporate employees without the need to issue individual credit cards to each traveler for the designated expenses. Because the account has no physical card, it’s often called a “ghost card.”

BTC (see “Business Travel Center”)

Business Travel News. A travel industry publication that delivers news and research to the corporate travel population.

bucket shop

An unlicensed, unbonded travel agency used by some airlines to dispose of excess capacity seats that are available on certain flights.

buffer zone

For taxation purposes, an extension of the US border 225 miles north into Canada and 225 miles south into Mexico border; all cities within this area are assessed the 7.5% US domestic tax when tickets are purchased and sold in the US.

A net fare contract for certain number of seats. Similar to blocked space except that the tour operator, wholesaler, or travel agent usually contracts for airline seats at a low, non-commissioned price without the option of releasing space back to the airline.

A partition (usually a wall) on an airplane separating compartments.

Travel slang for the removal of a passenger from a flight through overbooking; usually applied to those holding concessionary tickets.

bundled pricing

A pricing proposal, always a transaction fee, where elements other than air (e.g. car hire, hotel, rail) are included in the fee with the air transaction.

business class

Level of airline service between First class and Economy class. On European routes business class has now replaced first class as premier service level. Most airlines have their own brand names. (e.g. British Airways – Club World and Club Europe: Air France – Le Club etc.)

Business Travel Center (BTC)

Standard full service and online service in a local call center, undedicated, team environment.

Business Travel Management

Business travel management is the process of planning, organizing, and overseeing business travel for an organization. This includes booking travel arrangements, managing expenses, and developing policies and procedures for business travel.

cancellation policy

The advance time a hotel requires a booking to be canceled by to avoid being billed for the room

carrier (CXR)

Another term for airline.

Credit Card. A system of payment whereby the issuer of the card grants a line of credit to the cardholder, to be used to make payment to a merchant or to withdraw cash.

Collision Damage Waiver. An industry term for optional insurance provided by car rental companies that eliminates all responsibility of the driver in an accident.

centralized billing

System under which a travel supplier, credit card company, agency or other supplier consolidates all costs/charges incurred by different employees or departments into one total invoice.

change of equipment

Also known as “change of gauge”. A single flight number used to represent flights on two different aircraft; usually on international destinations.

Notification to an airline or hotel that a traveler has arrived to take a flight or stay at a hotel; some airlines provide curbside check-in while others only allow check-in at the ticket counter.

Advice to a hotel that a guest is leaving the property and usually includes payment for the stay.

A traveler who has had his/her second birthday, but not yet his/her twelfth birthday (this definition may vary by carrier).

Churning refers to any repeated booking or canceling of the same itinerary in the same class or different classes of service in one or more PNRs or GDS.

circle pacific

Travel from IATA Area 1 (North and/or South America) to IATA Area 3 (Asia, Australia, South Pacific) by way of the North Pacific Ocean in one direction, via the South Pacific Ocean in the opposite direction, and at least one flight within IATA Area 3 that crosses the Equator.

circle trip (CT)

A journey from origin to destination with a return to origin in a continuous, circuitous route using two or more fare components

The orgin (from) and arrival (to) points of a trip, usually by air or train.

city terminal

Airline office, usually city center, where passengers may check-in, receive seating details and board special bus/ taxi/ helicopter/ rail/ shuttle services to the airport.

class of service

The interior of an aircraft is divided into sections, each with a different level of service and amenities; common classes of service are first, business, and economy.

Cruise Lines International Association. An association dedicated to the promotion and growth of the cruise industry.

Section of a hotel offering higher security and special facilities either for a premium payment or as an incentive/ privilege for frequent users.

club ticket

Fully flexible, redeemable business class ticket valid one year from date of issue. Phrase used primarily in the U.K.

Another term for bus.

Close of Business. A term meaning the end of the business day.

A marketing agreement between two airlines (very common amongst airlines that have an alliance) where a seat is purchased on one airline (the selling carrier), but the flight is actually operated by a different airline (the operating carrier).

combination

Two or more fares shown separately in a fare calculation.

Computerized Reservation System

System used to book and process travel reservations, also known as a Global Distribution System (GDS).

A hotel employee who attends to guests’ needs for special information, theater and restaurant reservations, and any other special requests.

connecting flight

A flight which the passenger must change aircraft.

A stop in a given city for less than 4 hours (domestic US); less than 12 hours (domestic US as part of an international journey); less than 24 hours (international); continuing on the next applicable flight to an onward destination; designated by X/ in a linear fare construction line.

conjunction ticket

Two or more tickets concurrently issued to a passenger and which together constitute a single contract of carriage.

connecting rooms

Two rooms that are side-by-side that have a common connecting interior door.

consolidation fare

A group inclusive tour fare available to travel agents and other operators to construct packages to destinations which are inclusive of accomodation. Consolidation fares, although group fares, are for sale to individual passengers.

consolidator

A person or company which forms groups to travel on charter or at group fares on scheduled flights to increase sales, earn override commissions or reduce the chance of tour cancellations.

A group of independent companies that join together to gain greater profits.

construction point

A city through which fares have been combined for the purpose of pricing an itinerary; a destination city or a turnaround point; a fare break shown on the ticket.

A contact center term for an individual who is calling or visiting your company by phone or through the website, and who is requesting an interaction with an agent.

contact center

An umbrella term that generally refers to reservations centers, help desks, information lines or customer service centers, regardless of how they are organized or what types of transactions they handle.

continental breakfast

A light breakfast of such things as coffee, pastry and sometimes juice.

contract fare / contract discount

A discounted fare agreed upon by the client and a carrier; contract fares require a client give the carrier a certain percentage of its business in all markets.

corporate fare

A discounted airfare for business travelers.

corporate rate

A special rate negotiated between a supplier (hotel or car for example) and a company.

corporate hotel rate

Learn how to get corporate hotel rates .

Corporate Travel Department (CTD)

A CTD (Corporate Travel Department) establishes a direct purchasing relationship between the company and its travel suppliers. The accrediting body, ARC (Airline Reporting Corporation) authorizes the company to function as its own “travel agency” and control it’s financial settlement.

co-terminals

A group of cities/airports considered to be the same point; example: JFK/LGA/EWR.

country of commencement (COC)

The country in which a journey begins; the base fare is converted from NUCs into the currency of the Country of Commencement by using the IATA ROE.

country of payment (COP)

The country in which a ticket is being purchased; the base fare is converted from the currency of the Country of Commencement into the currency of the country of payment using the Bank Rate if the countries are not the same.

Cost Per Mile. A calculation of the average price paid per mile.

Cost Per Transaction. A calculation of the total cost a company incurs for generating a customer transaction.

Customer Relationship Management. A term used for a database that is used to house and maintain customer information.

CRS (see “Computerized Reservation System”)

Corporate Social Responsibility . A concept whereby companies consider the impact to society and the environment of their actions.

Central Security Record. A hotel industry term for the name of the Viewership Management Table used to maintain a list of offices authorized to access a client’s negotiated hotel rates.

Central Standard Time. A time zone in the US, also known as Central Time or CT.

Corporate Travel Department. A company’s in-house travel agency that purchases air transportation and related travel services on behalf of its own employees.

Computer Telephony Integration. A contact center term for the software, hardware, and programming necessary to integrate computers and telephones so they can work together seamlessly and intelligently.

A checkpoint at which imported goods are verified for legality and value.

Data Release Authorization (DRA)

Under a DRA, Client instructs, as of the date specified, BCD Travel to receive, process, and/or transfer certain personal travel data from Client’s travelers, including, but not limited to, transactional ticket-level, segment-level, and traveler-level information, which may include, without limitation, traveler name and address, origination and destination, corporate and/or personal credit card number, passport number, drivers license, travel preferences, and other special needs or any other sensitive data as may be provided by or behalf of the travelers (“Travel Data”).

Decision Source (DS)

A BCD Travel product that allows our customers to interact with their reservation data.

delegate rate

An inclusive rate for meetings on a daily basis. Twenty-four hour delegate rate also includes accommodation. Phrase primarily used in the U.K.

denied boarding compensation (DBC)

Commonly called “bumping,” – When more passengers arrive to take a flight than can actually fit on the plane; although legal, the carrier is only responsible for providing compensation to a traveler if he/she has a confirmed reservation and is checked in and has arrived at the departure gate within a pre-determined time period; compensation may be in cash or in a voucher for future travel; passengers who voluntarily relinquish their seats are compensated with a cash payment or voucher towards a future trip and are then accommodated on the next available flight; if an airline delivers a bumped passenger to his/her destination within an hour of the originally-scheduled time, no compensation is required.

deregulation

Originally applied to American air travel: in 1978, federal law phased out the civil Aeronautics Board and stopped government intervention or regulation of airline routes and fares.

destination

The final stopping place as shown on the ticket; the furthest point on a fare component used to price an itinerary.

Destination Management Company

Company, possibly an incoming tour operator, who organizes local ground services at destination.

differential

The difference between the fares for two different classes of service between two cities; this fare construction principle is only used internationally.

direct fare

The fare for one-way or half round-trip travel visa the shortest route operated between two cities.

direct flight

A flight from origin to destination that makes one or more intermediate stops, but passengers do not change planes.

directional fare

Fare valid only in a specified direction of travel.

discount fare

Transportation fare lower than the full published tariff for an airline’s route. A discount fare usually entails certain stipulations regarding purchase or travel (space availbility).

DMC (see “Destination Management Company”)

Domestic travel.

Travel wholly within any one country; typically used to designate intra-US travel.

A hotel room with two double beds and/or accommodating 2-4 people.

double booking

The practice of making reservations for two or more flights, cars or hotels as a type of backup; considered to be unethical.

double occupancy

The way in which almost all cruise fares and tour packages are quoted, that is, based on two people traveling together. Most hotel rooms are quoted based on two adults to a room, as well.

double open jaw (DOJ)

Travel in which the outbound departure point and arrival and the inbound point of departure and arrival are not the same.

To move a passenger to a lower class of service or accommodation.

drop-off charge

A fee charged for dropping a rental car at a different location from where it was picked up.

Being exempt from any import tax.

economy class

The rear area of the aircraft in which passengers having paid one of the lower fare types are seated.

electronic miscellaneous document – Associated (EMD-A)

Document that allows for the fulfillment of all flight related services and fees (such as bags, seats, meals, etc.). An EMD or EMD-A is linked to a specific eticket coupon in the airline’s database.

electronic miscellaneous document – Standalone (EMD-S)

Non-flight related services (such as lounge access or change fee collection) a stand alone EMD, a EMD-S is issued. To issue an EMD-S a manually created service segment must be in the PNR. Specific services that can be charged on an EMD-S is dependent on the airline’s own requirements.

electronic ticket (eticket)

An airline transportation ticket that is entirely in a GDS; no physical ticket is required for travel.

EMD (see “electronic miscellaneous document”)

Endorsement.

Permission from the plating carrier, the ticketed carrier or the carrier losing air space for the traveler to use the flight coupon(s) for travel on another airline at no additional cost; usually only required for international tickets.

end-on-end combination

A special type of combination in which two round trip fares are combined to produce a complete itinerary.

In this example, the passenger buys a round trip ticket from AAA to BBB (Rule 1), and a separate round trip fare from BBB to CCC (Rule 2). The net effect is to travel from AAA to CCC, but breaking the fare at BBB, which may in some cases be less expensive than the round trip (through) fare from AAA to CCC.

equivalent fare paid

An amount converted into the currency of the country of payment when the published fare is in a currency other than that of the country of payment.

ERA (see “European Regions Airline Association”)

Eastern Standard Time. A time zone in the US, also known as Eastern Time or ET.

Electronic System for Travel Authorization. ESTA is a free, automated system that determines the eligibility of visitors to travel to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program. The ESTA application collects the same information collected on Form I-94W. ESTA applications may be submitted at anytime prior to travel, though it is recommended travelers apply when they begin preparing travel plans.

Estimated Time of Arrival. A measure of when an object is expected to arrive at a certain place.

Estimated Time of Departure or Delivery. The expected start time of a particular journey or the expected delivery of a good or service.

e-ticket (see “electronic ticket”)

Electronic Ticket Record.

European Regions Airline Association

Association which aims to identify, protect and promote the interests of regional air transport in Europe. Over 170 memebers including airlines, aircraft manufacturers and airports. www.eraa.org

excess baggage

Baggage in excess of the allowable number, size or weight.

The process of reissuing a ticket due to a change of flight, fare basis, dates or routing.

excursion fare

Round-trip fare with restrictions, such as minimun and maximum stays and the need to purchase well in advance.

executive card

Types of privilege cards available to frequent users of airlines, hotel chains, car rental companies, etc. Most carry benefits and have their own brand names, e.g. British Airways Executive Blue, Executive Silver, Executive Gold and Premier.

executive room

Higher grade than standard room and usually slightly larger, the executive room often has additional facilities for the business traveler such as trouser press, desk etc. and may be located on a separate Executive Club Floor.

Expatriot (or expat)

An expatriate (in abbreviated form, expat) is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person’s upbringing or legal residence.

explant/ outplant/ offsite

Branch office dedicated to serving a single client that is not located on the client’s premises, but rather operates as a separate part of a BTC.

familiarization tour

A complimentary or reduced-rate travel program for travel agents, airline or rail employees, which is designed to acquaint participants with specific destinations. Often known as “Fam-Trips”.

family plan

A hotel rate that allows children to stay free with adults in the same room.

A combination of letters and numbers used to identify a fare type which may also indicate the rules of the fare

fare component

A fare between two points.

fare ladder

A vertically-written fare construction that includes fare components, surcharges and additional amounts collected.

• fee – bundled air transaction fee An air transaction fee that includes the costs associated with servicing air, hotel and car transactions. Therefore, hotel and car only bookings (not to exceed XX% of air bookings) are not charged a transaction fee.
• fee – management fee Fee assessed in addition to direct costs. Covers primarily overhead and profit. Can be assessed as % of sales, per transaction or fixed amount.
• fee – management fee structure (formerly cost plus offering) Client fee arrangement whereby direct expenses are passed through to the client in addition to management fee. Management fee could be % of sales, fixed fee, or per transaction.
• fee – online booking tool fee (PNR fee) Charged per unique reserved PNR. Additional fees may be assessed for transactions booked on a website accessed via the online booking tool.
• fee – online transaction fee (e-fulfillment fee) Charged per online transaction – that excludes any ‘flow through costs’ charged by the online booking tool provider.
• fee – transaction fee structure Client fee arrangement whereby client is billed per transaction for all major program costs including direct expenses and contribution to overhead and profit, usually at POS.
• fee – unbundled (menu) transaction fee Separately charged per each type of transaction, e.g. hotel, car, rail and air. AM and MIS costs might also be charged separately.

final destination

The last point on an itinerary/fare component.

first class

The cabin on an aircraft where there are fewer seats, more elaborate service and amenities.

FIT (see “Fully Independent Traveler”)

Flag carrier.

The airline that internationally represents a given country; sometimes financed or owned by the government.

flight coupon

A section of an airline ticket; one flight coupon is required to take each flight.

flight/time specific

A fare rule that requires a to fly on a specific flight or at a specific time of day.

FOI (see “Form of Indemnity”)

Form of Payment. The method of payment for a transaction.

form of indemnity

A form that needs to be completed by the passenger in order to claim refund in respect of an air ticket that has been misplaced or stolen.

frequent flyer number

Find out what a frequent flyer number is and how to get one

frequent flyer program

An airline loyalty program that provides awards to travelers who use an airline or its partners.

frequent guest program

A hotel loyalty program that provides awards to guests who use a hotel chain.

frequent renter program

A car rental loyalty program that provides services (such as fast pickup) to those who use a car rental vendor.

front office (FO)

An industry term used for products associated with customer-facing activities. The GDS is a front office system.

fuel surcharge

A surcharge assessed for fuel use applicable for travel between specified points and/or for departure from a specified city.

Hotel rate with accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

full economy

This is a fully flexible, fully refundable ticket which is valid for one year from date of issue in economy class.

full exchange

Change an already ticketed reservation, with no flown flight segments.

full to full exchange

Change to a ticketed reservation when no segments are flown and the change is to any segment other than the outbound flights. Or when a segment has been flown and there is a change to a remaining flight segment. In either of these instances, the FULL value of the original ticket must be exchanged for the ‘combined’ FULL value of the new ticket.

fully independent traveler

A traveler / tourist not part of a tour group.

One of the world’s CRSs (GDSs).

Area in an airport where passengers for a flight gather before boarding their flight or deplane on arrival.

gateway city

The last domestic city from which a passenger departs prior to arriving at an international destination; the first point of arrival in a given country (e.g., on the journey SFO-CHI-FRA-MUC, CHI and FRA are gateway cities).

GDS (see “ Global Distribution System “)

Gds operations (gdso).

An industry term for computer reservation systems that book and sell tickets for multiple airlines.

GEBTA (see “Guild of European Business Travel Agents)

In the credit card industry a system used by corporations whereby travel related charges made through designated travel agencies are centrally billed but no plastic card actually exists. Often referred to as “Lodge card” in Europe.

global distribution system

An industry term for computer reservation systems that book and sell tickets for multiple airlines.  Learn more

global indicator

Two-letter code used to identify the direction of travel applicable to a given fare.

governing carrier

The airline whose fares and rules are used on a given itinerary.

Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)

Solar based time in Greenwich, England, from which time in all other time zones in the world is based.

ground time

The time not flying.

A booking solution that allows the booking and managing of all ground transportation services, such as limousines, executive sedans, taxis, vans and parking services.

A fare that offers discounts to groups of varying minimum sizes in selected markets, with various conditions, and usually require round trip travel within a specified time limit.

guaranteed hotel reservations

This means that the hotel will hold the room all night. However if the room is not required, failure to cancel will result in a charge. Where reservations are made on an ad hoc basis, rather than through a regular account arrangement, a credit card number will be required to effect this guaranteed reservation.

Hotel rate for accommodation, breakfast and one other meal.

half round trip fare

Half of a fare designated for use on round-trip journeys.

Fee or tax some countries or cities levy on arriving or departing travelers.

Half of the globe; the North and South hemispheres are divided by the Equator; the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans divide the East and West hemispheres.

higher intermediate point (HIP)

A pair of cities within a one-way or half round-trip fare component that has a direct fare higher than the direct fare between the origin and destination of the fare component; this fare construction principle is only used internationally.

hotel sourcing

Hotel sourcing or procurement is the process of identifying, negotiating and contracting with hotels to secure accommodations for a specific group, event or organization.

An airport at which an airline centers many of its schedules, particularly connecting flights to smaller destinations.

(see “International Air Transport Association”)*

IATA Number (see “ARC Number”)

Iata rate of exchange (roe).

Rates of exchange designated by IATA to convert local currency to NUCs and to convert NUCs into the currency of commencement of travel.

ICAO (see “International Civil Aviation Organization”)

Interline e-ticket. An interline agreement between airlines that allow e-ticketing on each other’s flights. Interline agreement between airlines permitting travel service cooperation in areas such as: baggage transfer services, guaranteed connection times.

IGK (see “International Gatekeeper”)

Immigration.

Area at which a traveler’s documentation (e.g., Passport and Visa) are verified to ensure the traveler may enter the country.

implant (on-site)

Dedication operational team, based within an office of the client.

implementation

Phase of launching a new relationship, including e.g. opening a new location, training staff, installing technical equipment, and informing clients, travelers and travel arrangers.

inbound travelers

Travelers coming into a specified location are considered inbound. Travelers departing from the location are considered outbound.

A traveler who has not yet reached his/her second birthday.

Term used in the U.S. to describe an implant.

international departure taxes

Taxes levied on all travelers departing a country on an international journey that are, typically collected at the airport at the time of departure.

Between two airlines; TUS-HP-DEN-UA-LON is an interline journey.

interline baggage agreement

An agreement between two air carriers that a carrier will transfer baggage to the other carrier.

interline connection

When a passenger changes airlines as well as aircraft during a journey (same as off-line connection).

interline ticketing agreement

An agreement between two air carriers that permits air travel of one carrier to be on a ticket issued and/or ‘plated’ on another carrier.

intermediate point

A ticketed point of an international journey at which there is no fare break; an intermediate point may be a stopover or connection.

intermediate stop

An enroute stop at a city between the origin and destination (see also Direct Flight).

International Air Transport Association

The world trade association of international air carriers; appoints travel agencies to sell tickets; determines rules and regulations for international carriers. www.iata.org

International Civil Aviation Organization

Specialed agency of the United Nations with responsibility for civil aviation action in standardization, technical co-operation and the formulation of international aviation law. www.iaco.int

A chronological plan showing a traveler’s booked arrangement.

A special through fare (usually only internationally) that permits travel on two or more different airlines.

The origin to final destination of a fare construction.

BCD Travel provides support for KDS. KDS provides an online booking platform for the confirmation of air, car, hotel and rail itineraries.

On outbound journeys, landside includes all those areas of the terminal before you arrive at passport control. On inbound journeys, landside includes all those areas of the terminal after you’re through passport control.

last date of purchase

The date by which a ticket must be issued – fares are not guaranteed until tickets are issued.

last room availability (LRA)

A hotel industry term for ensuring a negotiated rate is always available when standard inventory is available or when the room type negotiated is available.

LDW (see “Loss Damage Waiver”)

One flight; one part of an entire journey.

Lowest Fare Routing. The least expensive airfare available to a destination.

local currency fare (LCF)

See Country Of Payment (COP).

locator reference

Unique identifying booking number used within a computer reservations system as part of a booking file.

In the credit card industry a system used by corporations whereby travel related charges made through designated travel agencies are centrally billed but no plastic card actually exists. Often referred to as “Ghost Card” in the U.S.

Loss Damage Waiver

Additional insurance pertaining to car rentals, covering theft and vandalism in addition to accident damage.

low cost carrier (LCC)

An airline that offers generally low fares in exchange for eliminating many traditional passenger services.

lowest combination principle

Construction of a fare using a particular combination of sector fares to provide the lowest fare when there is no published fare between two points.

Marine Travel

Specialized travel services, available 24/7, provides travel arrangements (including helicopters and charter aircraft) for marine personnel.

Market Number (MK)

A code all online booking tools (OBTs) add at the time each reservation is made, as a way to track PNRs for online adoption and fulfillment purposes. It should never be removed once added to the PNR.

Married Segments

Two or more connecting flight segments joined, or “married,” meaning that these segments are inseparable and the subsequent rebooking or cancellation of any one flight segment must, at the same time, be applied to the connecting flight segment.

maximum permitted mileage (MPM)

The number of miles that may be flown on a published direct fare between origin and destination; this fare construction principle is only used internationally.

maximum stay

The maximum amount of time a traveler may stay at a destination before return is required.

MCO (see “Miscellaneous Change Order”)

Meetings, Incentives and Corporate Events. An industry term for a department within a company that offers meeting planning services to customers. BCD Travel’s department is called BCD M&E

midoffice (MO)

An industry term for the management information (MIS) portion of a travel agency’s system.

mileage fare

A fare based on the total miles flown from the origin to destination; this fare construction principle is only used internationally.

mileage surcharge

A percentage of fare increase applied to a fare because the routing exceeds the maximum permitted mileage; the percentage is in 5% increments to a maximum of 25%; this fare construction principle is only used internationally.

minimum connection time

The amount of time required to change planes; varies by airport and often varies by carrier.

minimum stay

The minimum time a travel traveler must stay at a destination (or be gone ‘away from home’ internationally) before return travel can commence.

miscellaneous charge order (MCO)

An accountable document issued by a travel agency or airline as proof of payment for a specific fee (such as pet service fee) or as residual amount of an exchange (higher priced ticket exchanged for a lower priced ticket) to be used on a future purchase.

Mountain Standard Time. A time zone in the US, also known as Mountain Time or MT.

National Business Travel Association

U.S. business travel association which is a member of IBTA. www.nbta.org

NBTA (see “National Business Travel Association”)

New distribution capability. Read more

negotiated fare/rate

This is a term used by travel agents to descibe reduced airfares that have been negotiated by their air fare specialists on behalf of clients.

neutral units of construction (NUC)

An imaginary currency established by IATA that allows fares of different currencies to be added together; this fare construction principle is only used internationally.

Non Last Room Availability. A hotel industry term for restricting availability of a negotiated rate when occupancy levels are high. Negotiated room rate is not guaranteed to be available.

Net Operating Income. A financial term for the amount by which operating revenue exceeds operating expenses in a specific accounting period.

non-endorsable

This expression often appears in the endorsements box of an airline ticket and it means that the flight coupon on which the worlds appear may be used only on the services of the airline indicated.

non-refundable(NR)

A ticket issued on a fare that does not allow for a refund; most non-refundable tickets can be changed for a fee and any difference in fare.

normal fares

The full fare established for first, business, economy or an intermediate class and any other fares published designated as normal fares.

normal open jaw (NOJ)

Travel from a country and return to the same country with a surface sector at either the origin or turnaround point (single open jaw – SOJ) or at both the origin and the turnaround point (double open jaw – DOJ).

An airline passenger or hotel guest who fails to use and/or cancel a reservation.

National Transportation Safety Board. An independent US government agency that investigates accidents including aviation, highway, marine, pipelines and railroads.

OBT and OBLT (see Online Booking Tool”)

Off-airport location.

Usually a car rental office serving an airport but physically located off the airport site (and often picking up renters at the airport in buses or taxis). When the office is located on-site, the term used is on airport location.

A destination that a carrier does not serve; see also Interline.

off-line connections

When a traveler changes airlines as well as aircraft during a journey (may also be referred to as interline connection). Changes of aircraft with the same airline are known as on-line connections.

offline transaction (traditional transaction)

A transaction that initated by an agent following a call/email request by a client.

Time of year or day of the week when travel is less common.

off-line point

Airline term to describe points (areas or cities) they do not serve.

off-loading

This occurs when an airline has over-booked: that is, it has sold more seats on a particular flight than the aircraft has to offer. The passengers to be off-loaded are usually those who have paid the lowest fares. Off-loaded passengers will normally qualify for denied boarding compensation. Passengers may also be off-loaded at the captain’s discretion if they are unfit to travel due to drink, drugs, illness or for bad behavior.

BCD Travel is a re-seller of onesto. On-esto provides an online booking platform for the confirmation of air, car, hotel and rail itineraries.

Online Booking Tool

A web-based platform allowing travelers to make self-service reservations (e.g. Cliqbook, GetThere).

operating carrier

In a codeshare, the airline providing the plane, crew and ground handling services.

online or online point

On the same carrier; TUS-UA-DEN-UA-LON is an online journey.

online adoption

An account’s use of their predetermined online booking tool.

online high touch transaction

A transaction that originates via an online booking tool, but then requires more than one agent intervention (one touch).

online low touch transaction

A transacion that originates via an online booking tool, and then requires agent intervention or manual review/processing that is initated by the customer.

online transaction fee

(E-fulfillment fee) A fulfillment fee canged per online trasaction – that excludes any ‘flow through costs’ charged by the online booking tool provider.

A BCD Travel office located at/on/in a client’s location.

Term used to describe the principle of showing a client the complete cash-flow cycle, including commissions and overrides.

open date sector

Part of a journey for which no firm reservation has been made (usually owing to changeable plans on the part of the traveler) but for which the fare has been paid.

open jaw ticket

Where passengers fly out to one destination and return from another. Open jaw arrangements save backtracking and make a trip more cost effective.

Much-used term for unrestricted air services between several countries.

open ticket

A ticket valid for transportation between two points but has no specific flight reservation.

originating carrier

The first airline of a passenger’s journey and/or portion of a trip.

Other Service Information. A GDS entry that provides information to a carrier that does not require action for traveler action such as contract discount code, record locators of additional family members traveling together (TCP), age information for children/infants, etc.

Travel from the point of origin to the farthest destination.

outplant (off-site)

Dedication operational team, based within a BTC office.

overbooking

Also known as bumping. Airlines and hotels can predict, with some accuracy, how many travelers/guests will show up for previously made reservations; when more people show up than what is expected, travelers/guests are re-accommodated; see also Denied Boarding Compensation.

Abbreviations for ‘passport and visa’ used in the U.K. Some affliates have a specialist team which advises on and acquires passports/visa on behalf of their clients.

Pacific Asia Travel Association

Association which aims to promote travel to Asia Pacific. www.pata.org

PAR (see “Passenger Account Record”)

Passenger account record.

In Galileo, the profile showing passenger information.

passenger facility charges

An airport-designated surcharge to raise funds for airport expansion, renovation, operating costs, etc.

passenger name record

Record held within a CRS/GDS which gives the personal details associated with a particular booking.

An official document issued by a government to its citizens that establishes an individual’s identity and nationality and enables travel abroad.

PATA (see “Pacific Asia Travel Association”)

Abbreviation for passengers.

Payment Card Industry. Security standards set to help protect account data information.

Time of year or day of the week when travel is most common.

A fee charged by a carrier or vendor for changing and/or canceling a reservation or ticket.

Per diem is a daily allowance given to an employee to cover business travel expenses such as lodging, meals and incidentals while traveling for the company. Learn more about per diem .

Penalty excursion fare. Public excursion fare are within minimum stay requirements, but which has no advanced purchase requirements.

PIR (see “Property Irregularity Report”)

Plate / plated.

See Validating Carrier.

PMS (see “Property Management System”)

Pnr (see “passenger name record”).

Purchase Order. A commercial document issued by a buyer to a seller that indicates the quantities and agreed upon prices for products / services.

point-to-point fares

De-regulation has led to a growing number of these on routes throughout the world. They are low fares in first, business, or economy class between two points by direct flights. Stopovers are usually, but not always, prohibited.

Point of Service or Point of Sale. The time and place in which a transaction is made.

prepaid ticket advice (PTA)

A form used when a person is buying a ticket that will be issued at the airport of the same or a different city. Example: A ticket purchased in Chicago to be picked up by the traveler in and for a departure from Buenos Aires.

pre-trip auditing

A product offered by travel management companies that allows for the review of travel itineries before departure to identify savings or prevent unnecessary expenditure.

pricing unit (PU)

A journey, or part of a journey which can be priced and ticketed as a separate entity; a round-trip, circle trip, one-way, normal open jaw or special open jaw; this fare construction principle is only used internationally.

pricing unit concept (PUC)

An alternative method of fare construction for multiple-stopover journeys that uses pricing units; this fare construction principle is only used internationally.

primary carrier

Airline flying the governing sector (prime segment).

prime segment

The first “true” international journey; often called the “over-the-water” segment; see also Gateway.

A computerized file containing company and traveler information.

promotional fare

A fare designed to attract passengers who would not otherwise travel.

proof of citizenship

Documentation that establishes nationality.

property irregularity report

Form submitted by passengers to ground handling agents at airports in the event of loss or damaged baggage.

property management system

Computer-based system for controlling hotel inventory, check-in and -out and billing.

Pacific Standard Time. A time zone in the US, also known as Pacific Time or PT.

PTA (see “Pre-paid Ticket Advice”)

Public fares (air).

Fares that anyone can obtain and is available in a regular fare display.

Quality of Service Index. An index developed by the Civil Aeronautics Board to provide a comparative rating of service offered by individual airlines.

A computer’s electronic filing system. Also a contact center term for the holding point for a number of calls or interactions that are waiting to be answered by an agent. The calls or interactions are usually assigned to available agents in a first-arrived, first-answered basis, but may also be assigned based on a company’s routing strategies.

queue group

A contact center term for a group of virtual queues. Also referred to as a DN Group or Group of Queues.

The official posted rate for each hotel room.

rate desk (see “International Rate Desk”)

Rate of exchange (roe) (see “iata rate of exchange”), rearden commerce.

BCD Travel is a referrer for Rearden. Rearden provides an online booking platform for the confirmation of air, car, hotel and rail itineraries.

reason codes (RC)

An industry term for codes used to document and report on traveler decisions and behavior.

reconfirmation

Particularly on international flights, passengers are required to indicate their intention of using the next leg of their itinerary by contacting the appropriate carrier before departure; internationally, reconfirmation is requested 72 hours prior to departure.

record locator

A computerized number that identifies a Passenger Name Record – PNR or other reservation; when speaking to travelers, usually called a confirmation number.

red-eye flight

Usually an overnight flight that arrives early in the morning – great when you don’t want to lose precious sightseeing time at your destination.

If necessary for a passenger to change journey en route, the ticket must be reissued. The value of the original ticket will be offset against the new fare and any extra or refund, calculated. Settlement can be direct with airline or with referral to the issuing agent.

BCD Travel is a re-seller for ResX. ResX provides an online booking platform for the confirmation of air, car, hotel and rail itineraries.

return journey

A journey for which the fare is assessed as a single pricing unit using half round-trip fares.

revalidation

If the passenger’s travel date or flight needs to be changed, without affecting the route, there is not always a need to reissue the ticket. The relevant flight coupon is simply revalidated by means of a revalidation sticker.

Revenue Per Available Room. A hotel industry measure that calculates room revenue divided by rooms available (occupancy times average room rate will closely approximate RevPAR.)

Rate Loading Instructions. A hotel industry term for the instructions provided to hotel properties for loading client-specific or TMC-specific rate codes as displayed in the GDS.

room with facilities

Describes a hotel room which has a bathroom en-suite. In some smaller two-star or three-star hotels facilities may refer to toilet and washbasin only.

round-the-world (RTW) (see “Around-the-World”)

A trip that begins and ends in the same city with no un-flown portions; internationally, with the same dollar amount on both portions .

route deal / route incentive

An agreement between a corporate customer and an airline. The agreement allows for an incentive payment to be made to the cient by the airline as a reward for loyalty.

The carrier and/or cities and/or class of service and/or aircraft type via which transportation is provided between two points.

routing fare

A fare based on a specified routing.

run-of-the-house (ROH)

A flat rate for which a hotel offers any of its available rooms.

Schengen Visa

A special visa that permits holders to travel to any of the 25 Schengen member countries on a single visa (rather than obtaining a visa for each country. It is only issued to citizens of countries who are required to obtain a visa before entering Europe for leisure, tourism or business travel. Schengen Visa holders are not permitted to live permanently or work in Europe. The following countries are currently active Schengen Visa members: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.

A specific time of year for a fare; High Season is the most popular time of year to travel to a specific destination and fares are more expensive at that time; Low Season is the least popular time of year to travel to a specific destination and fares are less expensive at that time; Fares affected by seasonality are usually indicated as such by fare basis coding and/or seasonality details listed in the fare’s rules.

The distance between aircraft seats, measured in inches and commonly used to show a passenger’s legroom.

security surcharge

Surcharge assessed by a carrier to cover costs of airport and in-flight security.

secondary carrier

Airline(s) flying the sectors preceding and/or succeeding the prime segment.

A journey from one point to another.

A flight; see Leg.

self-service reservations

Situation where the traveler makes his/her own reservations. A reservation generated by the customer using an online booking tool.

selling carrier

In a codeshare, the airline offering the flight for sale, under their vendor code

service fee

A fee charged by a travel agency to a company/individual for travel services.

Service Level Agreement

An agreement stating measurable performance commitments made to our customers.

Regular or schedulable bus/van transportation such as from an airport to a downtown location; regular air service on heavily-traveled routes (e.g., BOS-LGA).

A journey from and/or to an enroute point of a fare component.

Accommodations designed for one person.

SLA (see “Service Level Agreement”)

Designated take-off and landing times allocated to airlines at certain airports.

soft opening

Period when new hotel is open for business although not entirely finished – some services of facilities may not yet operate.

Standard Operating Procedure. A set of instructions that define the official standard for a specific process or situation.

Scope of Services. A document that defines the number, type, and intensity or complixity of services to be provided.

space available

Confirmation of a reservation subject to availability at the last moment.

special needs

Atypical traveler needs such as a special meal or wheelchair service.

split ticket(ing)

Issuance of two or more tickets usually for the purpose of obtaining a lower fare; usually applied to international itineraries to take advantage of fare and/or currency conversion differences.

Spouse fare

This type of are applies to selected destinations on a round-trip only basis and offers a discount of 50% to the spouse of a full first class or business class passenger. Economy passengers also qualify where there is no business fare.

SSR (see “Self Service Reservation”)

Special Service Request. A GDS request for a carrier to provide additional action for a traveler such as special meal, ticket number transmission, wheelchair, etc.

standard room

The normal hotel room type, generally with television, and en-suite bathroom.

A passenger on waitlist or one prepared to travel if space becomes available at the last moment.

Interruption of travel for more than domestic US – 4 hours; domestic US as part of an international journey – 12 hours; international – 24 hours .

stopover charge

An additional fee assessed for making a stopover.

STP (see “Satellite Ticket Printer”)

Any extra literature included with the delivery of travel documents.

sub-journey

A self-contained pricing unit that is combined end-on-end with another self-contained pricing unit on the same ticket; this fare construction principle is only used internationally.

surcharge (Q)

An airline-imposed fee included in fare calculations; see also Excess Mileage Surcharge, Fuel Surcharge, and Security Surcharge.

surface sector

Travel from one point or another not by air (ARNK – which stands for Arrival Not Known).

Travel 24. A BCD Travel department that services customers 24 hours a day when their normal business office is closed.

Ticket Fulfillment Location. An industry term for a virtual ticket printer that is shared by various BCD Travel ARC ticketing locations on the same GDS.

through fare

A fare applicable for transportation via an enroute city(ies) between the origin and destination of the fare that allows for intermediate points of travel.

A contract of carriage for an airline to transport a passenger from one point to another.

ticket on departure

Transportation ticket collected at the point of departure such as an airline ticket counter at an airport.

ticketed point

A city for which a flight coupon has been issued.

time and mileage rate

Car rental rate based on fixed charge for the rental period plus a charge for each kilometer or mile driven during the period of the rental.

TOD (see “Ticket on Departure”)

Tourist card.

A registration form required by certain countries indicating a traveler’s intended stay; used in lieu of a Visa and common in Latin America.

transaction

A Ticket issued; defined as all airline and rail tickets (electronic and paper) issued by BCD Travel or reserved by BCD Travel through a third party, regardless of whether the ticket is subsequently used, refunded, or voided in whole or in part. Cancellation of a reservation before a ticket is issued is not considered a transaction. Optional: Hotel and car booking made, regardless of whether or not the traveler uses the hotel or car reservation.

transaction – domestic air

Domestic – travel between two destinations that are within the same country. e.g. Frankfurt to Berlin

transaction – regional air

Regional – Travel within the same continent. e.g. Madrid to London

transaction – international air

International – Travel between two continents. e.g. New York to London

transaction – offline – traditional

A transaction that is initiated by an agent following a call/email request by a client

transaction – online high touch

Transaction – online low touch.

A transaction that originates via an online booking tool and then requires agent intervention or manual review/processing that is initiated by the customer.

transaction – online no touch

“Touchless E-fulfillment transaction” An electronic transaction entirely processed through an online booking tool and BCD central fulfillment service, without any agent intervention and where invoicing is provided via email.

A point at which the passenger changes aircraft; if the change is to/from the same carrier, it is an online transfer; if the change is to/from different carriers, it is an interline transfer.

transit lounge

An area within an airport for the sole purpose of international flight connections; travelers do not clear immigration or customs to enter the transit lounge as it is considered to be an international point.

transit point

Any stop at an intermediate point which does not fall into the definition of a stopover whether or not a change of planes is involved.

Travel Management Company

A travel management company (TMC) is a company that provides corporate travel services to businesses.

A BCD Travel umbrella brand name for our technology suite, which includes a variety of products listed below. read more

• TripSource:Active Itinerary A single point of access for traveler and travel arrangers for active and historical travel detail, including real time flight status, itinerary details, destination information and invoicing, billing and expense information.
• TripSource:Flight Alert Keeps travelers informed & productive while on the road by providing flight status information, including delays and real-time gate changes, for BCD Travel bookings.
• TripSource:Fulfillment Drive touch-less transactions with as little human intervention as possible while driving traveler contact behavior to minimize touches.
• TripSource:Portal (TSP) A comprehensive global solution to address traveler needs, travel program and corporation objectives. Arming travelers with rich content, productivity tools and critical safeguards for business travel, TripSource:Portal empowers travel programs as a centralized communications vehicle to deliver relevant, timely information and critical alerts to targeted audiences. The Portal expands traveler services while aligning program needs to drive savings, support business objectives and avoid corporate travel program risks.
• TripSource:Profile Manager (TSPM) Drives optimal data management by integrating profile management and online booking, and promoting secure web-based self-service maintenance of traveler-level detail.
• TripSource:Quality Measurement (TSQM) Ensures a means to track and manage supplier & transaction quality in addition to resolution of client concerns.
• TripSource:Rail Search (TSRS) BCD own rail booking tool for Deutsche Bahn only.
• TripSource:Ticket Tracker BCD manages and recovers committed travel dollars. Based on markets and supplier rules, BCD communicates with travelers to prevent loss of committed funds and when to apply unused funds toward future travel.
• TripSource:Trip Authorizer In response to growing concern for compliance, this module enables clients to implement pre-trip authorization requirements as well as post-ticketing compliance reporting.

Transportation Security Administration

twin for sole use

A twin-bedded reserved for sole occupency and charged out at a rate that falls between the single and double room price.

Two Factor Authentication

Also known as 2FA. Method of accessing a secure environment where a person proves their identity with two of three methods

User-Defined Interface Data. UDID remarks are standard and contain predefined reporting information such as lost hotel night reason codes, merchant billing codes or additional traveler data fields.

unlimited mileage rate

Car rental rate that covers all costs, other than insurance and petrol, for the duration of the rental, regardless of the distance driven.

Move to a better class of airline service, larger rental car or more luxurious hotel room.

validating carrier

Airline designated as the “owning” ticketed carrier; the carrier on whose “plate” the ticket is issued. The validating carrier is the carrier to which payment is submitted and is usually the first carrier on the itinerary (domestic) or the carrier on the first international flight (international). If a ticket is issued on multiple carriers or is validated on a carrier not on the itinerary, the validating carrier is responsible for payment to the other airlines on the ticket.

The process of stamping an air ticket or other airline document, at the time of issue, with the issue date, name and location of the issuing office and its IATA code number. Tickets not bearing such a stamp re invalid and will not be accepted by airlines.

value-added tax (VAT)

A general tax that applies, in principle, to all commercial activities involving the production and distribution of goods and the provision of services.

VAT reclaim

Value-added tax, or VAT, is included in hotel, dining and car rental bills and more when travelers go to countries that assess the tax. It can be a significant expense: VAT rates can be as high as 25%. The good news is most T&E-related VAT is eligible for reclaim. The bad news: In the past, it’s been hard to collect. But automation has made VAT reclaim for European Union transactions much easier. BCD Travel has partnered with VAT-recovery firm Taxeo to automate the process.

virtual credit card (VCC)

A VCC isn’t a physical card, but it has many of the same features as plastic corporate cards.

virtual payment

A virtual payment is a terminal-based payment method where the payment is delivered through a virtual card (VCC) instead of by check or cash.

An endorsement or stamp placed into a passport by officials of a foreign government giving a traveler permission to visit; not all countries require visas.

VCC (Virtual Call Center)

A network of call centers where the client calls one phone number, regardless of where they are based, that will be routed through to an available agent. For multi-national accounts this service would be multi-lingual as appropriate.

Virtual Multiple Purpose Document. A document issued by a travel agency or airline, working with BSP, as proof of payment for transactions and services, either related to an eticket already issued (example: rebooking fees) or for services other than flights (for items like surface transportation, transfers, and excess luggage charges).

A traffic document which has been spoiled or canceled.

Documents issued to confirm arrangements or used to be exchanged for services.

A list of people seeking a travel service that is sold out; generally, as other travelers cancel, waitlisted individuals are confirmed in the order in which their waitlist request was received – sometimes prioritized by frequent traveler membership.

When a hotel is sold out and there are no rooms available for a person who has a confirmed reservation, the hotel provide alternate accommodations at a different hotel.

an agreement to pay to use an aircraft with a crew , fuel, and insurance

wide-body aircraft

Aircraft with wide passenger cabins and seating configurations that require more than one aisle. Current models include Boeing 747, 777 or Airbus A380, A350

system that checks hand luggage at an airport, without damaging, for example, light-sensitive film material or laptops.

Yield Management

is a variable pricing strategy, based on understanding, anticipating and influencing consumer behavior in order to maximize revenue or profits from a fixed, time-limited resource (such as airline seats or hotel room reservations).

Zulu Time Zone (Z) has no offset from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Zulu Time Zone is often used in aviation and the military as another name for UTC +0. Zulu time, also known as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), is the time zone used by the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England. It is the basis for all other time zones in the world.

2FA, or two-factor authentication, is an extra layer of security used to protect online accounts. In addition to a password, users are also required to enter a code that is sent to their mobile device. This makes it more difficult for hackers to gain access to an account, as they would need to have both the password and the code.

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Managing Transactional Risk in 2024: A Strategy Guide

International travel: business travel and accident (bta) insurance protects employers.

Business travel accident (BTA) insurance plans are staples in corporate portfolios, minimizing travel risk and protecting employees with medical coverage. However, as business travel plummets, the need for new BTA plans declined and put incumbent plans at risk for renewal. As a result, some employers terminated or did not renew their BTA plans, repurposing the cost of these plans to other needs.

Now is the time for companies to assess how they will protect employees as they face new travel risks and overcome gaps in traditional BTA plans.

Business travel losses have been staggering, resulting in a 79% decline in North America travel from April to December of 2020.

The Good News is That 2021 is Showing a Robust Rebound

Source: Global Business Travel Association

BTA Critical Coverage

Elements Employers are ramping up their due diligence efforts to protect their employees. Whether in the workplace or during business travel, companies remain focused on protecting their employees' health, safety, and welfare.

Where there is peak interest is whether policy limits are sufficient to address potential increased exposures. For example, robust BTA programs cover incidents of COVID 19 virus, which realistically has not changed and still protects employees who contract the virus. However, employers must address gaps where there may be inadequate coverage, especially for employees who travel to foreign countries.

One area of recent interest is whether COVID-19 testing is a covered expense by OOC Medical riders. Our experience suggests that this is not the case, such riders are specific to urgent and emergency illnesses or accidents, not intended to support tests prior to or after business travel. Additionally, the OOC medical coverage only applies once the insured has left their home country. The expectation is that covid testing to certainly be an eligible expense for home country programs or other primary medical plans. Of course, each situation may be different, and each claim should be evaluated by the carrier based on specific circumstances and policy language.

New Considerations for BTA Coverage

BTA policies provide vital protection for an active, multinational workforce. As companies reconfigure how and where their workforce performs their jobs, they must also consider their eligibility for BTA coverage.

In addition to the place of employment, companies must also identify coverage gaps. Of primary concern are OOC medical limits, which are typically capped at $100,000. However, given the COVID-19 virus spread, medical costs will quickly deplete that limit. Consideration of larger limits like $250,000 or $500,000 may be more appropriate.

Finally, corporations may consider the need for travel tracking apps to verify the location and whereabouts of employees. These apps are becoming more popular but do have a policy and legal ramifications to consider.

Developing a Global Standard for Mitigating Travel Accident Exposures

Companies are taking a closer look at corporate travel accident exposures. As uncertainty increases, it is time to migrate to a new paradigm that protects both employers and employees.

Employers can do their part to protect employees by establishing clear guidelines for travel, including pre-trip approval and assessment of travel risk. Scheduling trips through a single travel channel as well as providing information to employees on what to do in a crisis is also helpful, according to Direct Travel . Companies can also use a single travel carrier to arrange travel and provide employee assistance wherever they travel.

BTA carriers can ensure a consistent solution, provide a single point of contact, and offer a full range of business travel insurance coverage and assistance services. In addition, a comprehensive BTA benefit will complement an employer’s primary medical and worker compensation programs, including foreign medical assistance, medical evacuation, and repatriation of remains provisions.

BTAs are Now Creative and Flexible

Standard BTA policies are becoming more flexible and creative, adapting to new scenarios that would not typically come to mind. As business travel increases on domestic and international fronts, assessing new risks and protecting employees have never been more critical.

As we adapt to new post-pandemic environments, Woodruff Sawyer works closely with clients and carriers to understand their risks and get the most from their BTA policies. For more information, reach out to us or subscribe to the Woodruff Sawyer newsletter to get expert insights into benefits, risk, and current trends.

Table of Contents

Looking Ahead: Employee Benefits Funding Strategies for 2024 and Beyond

Agencies Release Final Regulations on Fixed Indemnity Insurance, Refrain from Addressing Level Funded Plans

Compliance Alert: Reminder: RxDC Reporting Due June 1st

Pooled Employer Plan: An Efficient Alternative to a Traditional 401(k)

An Employer’s Guide to Long-Term Care Insurance

Q4 2023 International Benefits Update

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How to Apply for PTA and BTA from Banks in Nigeria

Are you relocating or traveling abroad soon? Then you need to request for a travel allowance from your bank. Here’s why – at the moment, there’s a significant gap between the official rates and black market rates. 

Unfortunately, this means any Nigerian traveler who plans on swapping their Naira for USD, GBP, or EUR before traveling abroad is automatically at a loss because they have to do this exchange using the black market rates. 

Thankfully, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) allocates specific foreign exchange currencies for situations like this. So if you’re eligible for a travel allowance, you can swap your Naira directly from your bank at a lesser rate. In this article, we’ll show you how to do this. 

Types of Travel Allowance

If you’re traveling abroad, you can either apply for a personal travel allowance (PTA) or a business travel allowance (BTA). This is also available in any registered traditional bank in Nigeria.

You can get a PTA if you’re traveling as an international student or going on a vacation. However, you can only purchase up to $4,000 every quarter (90 days). BTAs are for executives traveling solely for business reasons and the limit is $5000 every quarter (90 days).

Eligibility Criteria for PTA from the Central Bank of Nigeria

So if you have personal reasons for traveling abroad and you’re ready to apply for a PTA, here are the requirements 

• An international passport
• A flight ticket originating from Nigeria
• A valid visa
• Admission letter if you’re going as a student
• Return flight tickets
• You have to be older than 18 years
• Not be visiting a blacklisted country
• The travel date should be within the next two weeks

Once you have all of this available, you can now follow the steps to apply.

Steps to Apply for a PTA in Nigeria

Fortunately, the entire application process is now online. Here’s how to go about it;

• Visit the trade portal monitoring system’s website
• Create an account by entering your valid BVN

• An OTP will be sent to the email address linked to your BVN
• Log in and tap on form A

• Fill out your personal information and click on next
• Tap on PTA and fill out the remaining details like how much you need

• Fill out your bank information and the branch you’d want to pick up your cash from
• Upload all the necessary documents and don’t forget to include a letter of authority to debit your account
• Preview your form and submit
• You’ll get a response within 14 days

Also, keep in mind that the cost of this application is N5,000 and it’ll be directly debited from the account you entered in your application. Once you get a response, visit the bank with your international passport to pick up your request.

CBN Requirements for BTA in Nigeria

The requirements for a business travel allowance are a lot more rigid than a personal travel allowance. Here’s what you need to qualify for a BTA;

• Introduction letter from your company explaining the reason for the travel
• A letter of invitation from your business partners abroad
• Copies of the CAC documentation
• The travel and return date should be within the next two weeks
• A credit balance of the amount you want to purchase

Steps to Apply for BTA

If you have all of these documents available, here’s how to apply for a business travel allowance online;

• Enter the type of BTA you’re requesting for along with how much you need
• Fill out your bank information and the bank branch if you’re picking up your cash 
• Upload all the necessary documents and don’t forget to include a letter giving authority to debit your account

You’ll get a response within the next 14 days. Be sure to keep checking your portal within this period.

A lot of travelers get tempted to either upload fake tickets or other documents especially when they don’t meet all the criteria. However, this is a punishable offense by law. So we recommend preparing ahead of time.

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Travelling soon take one thing off your checklist..

Making travel plans is stressful enough already; that’s why we are helping you take one thing off your checklist.

Apply for your Personal or Business Travel Allowance at any of our branches and get your funds in record time.

No matter what your FX travel needs are, we have the perfect solution for you. Walk into any Union Bank branch today to get your Personal or Business Travel Allowance. You can choose to collect in cash or load to your UnionAce card for security and convenience.

Don’t forget, you can also get great rates on your travel insurance policy when you purchase through our partners. Talk to us to find out more.

Click here to locate a branch closest to you or book an appointment on UnionCalenda and visit the banking hall at your convenience.

Who can apply?

You can apply for your PTA/BTA if:

• You are at least 18 years old
• The flight time to your travel destination is 5 hours or more
• The purchase is within 14 days of your departure

Requirements

• Personal Travel Allowance
• Business Travel Allowance
• School Fees Payment
• Medical Bills Payment
• A valid Nigerian passport
• A valid visa of the country of destination
• A return air ticket
• Certificate of Incorporation
• Letter of invitation from the company abroad
• Letter of nomination from the Nigerian company

* Please note that the quarterly limit per person is $4000 or its equivalent in Euro or Pounds for personal travel and $5000 or its equivalent in Euro or Pounds for business travel

• Completed Form A application
• Valid means of ID of the applicant
• International passport data page of the student
• Admission letter from school of choice (this should include fees to be paid)
• First degree certificate (for post-graduates)
• Bank details of the school
• Account funded with Naira equivalent of requested amount
• Written instruction giving authority to debit
• Duly filled letter of indemnity if name differs and guardian is making payment

Please note:

• You must be applying to a university/tertiary institution
• The maximum limit per semester is USD $15,000 or its equivalent in Euro or Pounds
• Fees will be paid directly to the school
• Completed Form A application.
• International passport data page must be submitted for processing
• Applicant must possess valid visa and flight ticket
• Written instruction giving authority to debit. Signature must be verified
• Specialist letter of recommendation for medical treatment abroad

Frequently Asked Questions

What is pta/ bta.

PTA/BTA is a foreign currency product that ensures customers who are travelling out of the country on personal or business trips have access to foreign currency at approved CBN rates.

Do I need to have a Union Bank account to buy PTA or BTA from any of your branches?

No, you do not need to be a Union Bank account holder to access this service.

Can I get the FX in cash if I do not have a domiciliary account with the Bank?

Yes, you can.

Can I get PTA on behalf of someone?

No, you cannot get PTA on behalf of someone.

Can I also get travel insurance cover from the Bank?

Yes, you can get travel insurance from any of our partners when you visit the branch.

Do I need to have a Union Bank account to access PTA for school fees payment?

Yes, you do.

What is the maximum amount I can access for my school fees payment?

The maximum limit per semester is $15,000

We are available 24/7!

Contact us via these channels:

Email – [email protected]

Call – +234 (0) 700 700 7000 or +234 (1) 271 6816.

WhatsApp – +234 (0) 907 007 0001

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• request for and access your Personal Data collected and stored by Union Bank
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• request that Union Bank restricts processing of your Personal Data
• request for information regarding any specific processing of your personal data

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• Entertainment

Bryson Tiller's 'Experimental' Album Comes with a Message: 'Only Way You Can Grow Is by Being Uncomfortable' (Exclusive)

From 'GTA' influences to his eldest daughter being "tapped in" to his music now, the multi-platinum musician details his latest project to PEOPLE

Bryson Tiller needs little introduction, but allow him to make one again.

It’s been a week since the 31-year-old R&B star released his self-titled album, Bryson Tiller , or BTA for short. He’s currently on the road, promoting it in the U.K. And while he has fans to see all over the world, there’s a few locations responsible for his sound that he can’t tour — specifically the fictional cities of Liberty City, Vice City and Los Santos.

The album, Tiller says, is not only a disruption from what his listeners may be used to, but it’s also a nod to the influence of Grand Theft Auto — the video game franchise with in-game radio stations that he now credits as “the reason why I love so many different genres of music.” BTA is certainly an expression of that love. 

“They only loaded up those radio stations with 10, maybe 15 songs. I'd be on the R&B station, the country music station, the hard rock station. That's what opened me up to being able to like so many different genres,” Tiller tells PEOPLE over the phone while on tour.

Like most kids in the early aughts, he “had to sneak and play” Grand Theft Auto 3 to catch a sample of the music that soundtracked the game. But those radio stations left a lasting impression on Tiller, an artist who now channels that same freedom of an open-world video game into his latest effort.

Paras Griffin/Getty

Bryson Tiller is just as much an “experimental” effort as it is a departure from his multi-platinum 2015 debut Trapsoul , Tiller says. Titled to represent his signature blend of hip-hop and R&B, Trapsoul may have been largely responsible for the formation of his fanbase, but this time around (now four albums in), Tiller wanted to “challenge myself” by focusing primarily on his singing.

“I'm barely rapping on this album at all just because I wanted to be uncomfortable,” Tiller admits. “I think that's making some of my fans uncomfortable. Then some of my other fans, they're eating it right up, and I appreciate them for that.”

“For me, just like in the gym, the only way you can grow is by being uncomfortable,” he adds. 

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Tiller’s push to try something new in BTA comes off in its finished product — a 19-track record that pairs him with several acclaimed producers and songwriters (Boi-1da, Leon Thomas, D’Mile, Kaytranada), treats listeners to atmospheric vocal moments in tracks such as “Waterfalls,” and reconnects him with Grammy champ Victoria Monét for their innuendo-filled bop “Persuasion.”

“I've never collaborated on anything before, I've always written every song by myself,” Tiller says of his songwriting process pre- BTA . “[For this album], we was having these kitchen sessions where we would go in there, we'd turn the microphone on, we'd play 100, 200 beats, and then we find the beat that we liked the most and we'd all write to it together and just try different melodies and have some drinks. Those studio sessions were definitely some of the best — no, not even some of — they were the best studio sessions that I've ever had.”

As for his musical connection to Monét — with whom he previously hopped on a remix last year — Tiller says it all started when he first spun her 2020 project Jaguar .

After he realized that Monét’s music was so "soothing" that it actually helped him fall asleep when he needed to, he “called her up” and they got to work. Tiller then asked Monét to send over some music — specifically stuff she's “not used to hearing me on.”

“She played [‘Persuasion’] for me, and right away I loved it just because, not even necessarily for how it sounded right away, but it was more-so the writing. Because nobody writes songs like that,” he says.

“Nobody writes anything that's that clever anymore,” Tiller adds of their collab, which playfully toys with almost using profanity throughout. “For somebody to make you think they're going to say something and they say something completely different. I mean, if there's another song like that, somebody could please just point me in that direction so I could listen to it. But I'm pretty sure that this was one of the first times it's ever been done. I was just super excited to get on it.”

A father of two, Tiller’s eldest daughter is also getting old enough to really understand her dad’s job — and she too is already a fan of the new album. As he explains, his 10-year-old Harley is already gravitating toward tracks “ Undertow ” and “ Assume the Position .” 

“She has Apple Music, and yeah, she's been tapped in, tuning into my album,” he says. “And she texts me and tells me she's so excited. She watches all my performances.”

Performing around the world and recording as frequently as he has in recent years, Tiller admits that he’s still searching for a balance of family life and work. “I haven't really found a good balance for that yet, especially just because I feel like I've been trying to climb back to where I feel like I need to be,” he explains.

“So who knows, maybe it'll be different from here on out now that I have this album out. This was really important for me, because now I feel a bit more free to do whatever the hell I please," he says.

Even a decade in, Tiller is also still adjusting to the downsides that come with his line of work, particularly criticism from listeners. “We do have one life on this earth, man, and I feel like people should do what makes them happy, and music does make me happy for the most part. But I have to be honest, it is pretty draining to record music... for people just to tell me that it sucks. Regardless of whether I believe it's true or not, it's still draining,” he says.

Jeremychanphotography/Getty

Still, Tiller is proud of the risks he's taken on the new album, and is also eyeing a new creative outlet that channels what connected him to so many genres of music in the first place: Gaming. Just last year, the multi-hyphenate announced his company Trapsoul Games , and with his reconnected love of the medium, he promises to channel his love for story-telling into something fresh. 

“I've always had several ideas for video games and, more than anything, I love to tell stories. So that's how I got into music, just because I wanted to tell stories,” he says. “So now, I was like, ‘This is going to be my new form of storytelling through video games.’ So I'm really excited.”

While Tiller didn’t reveal too much about his game design work, he also shares that he loves “the idea of the future” — something that shines through on the sounds and visuals behind his latest effort. And in Tiller's own future, he knows he'll be reflecting fondly on this new album.

“When I’m older and I look back on it, I'm going to be like, ‘Man, I was really being myself on this album, and I really did everything... It's all me,” he says. “I feel like if people don't like that, then they just don't like me, and that's OK with me because the people who do like that stuff or like me for just being myself will show themselves.”

“[When I look at the album before this] I feel like I was limping, just trying to get used to walking again. With this album, the Bryson Tiller album, I'm just full-on sprinting.”

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By 03:03 on 14.04.2024 Today`s news

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