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WestJet Policy Agency Debit Memos

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<strong>WestJet</strong> <strong>Policy</strong><br />

<strong>Agency</strong> <strong>Debit</strong> <strong>Memos</strong><br />

Effective: March 14, 2013<br />

<strong>WestJet</strong> publishes its policy on <strong>Agency</strong> <strong>Debit</strong> <strong>Memos</strong> (ADMs) to Travel Agencies to articulate the<br />

circumstances under which ADMs will be issued and the guidelines that <strong>WestJet</strong> applies. <strong>WestJet</strong> will issue<br />

ADMs through ARC Memo Manager and BSP Link.<br />

See below for full details of <strong>WestJet</strong> ADM policy.<br />

Definitions and Abbreviations<br />

TERM<br />

ADM<br />

ARC Memo Manager<br />

BSP Link<br />

Agencies<br />

GDS<br />

CRS<br />

TIESS<br />

DEFINITION<br />

<strong>Agency</strong> <strong>Debit</strong> <strong>Memos</strong>. An invoice issued to a travel agency to collect additional<br />

monies owed to <strong>WestJet</strong> for ticketing outside the Fare Rules or any other<br />

violation of <strong>WestJet</strong>’s Booking and Ticketing <strong>Policy</strong>.<br />

ARC Memo Manager provides an easy way for ARC participating travel<br />

agencies and carriers to electronically process and settle memos. This<br />

application allows processing of both debit and credit memos, and electronic<br />

payments.<br />

BSP Link is the global interface for travel agencies and airlines to access the<br />

IATA Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP). IATA currently provides services for<br />

the settlement of financial transactions between travel agencies and the<br />

airlines. This service consolidates the amounts owed by each agent and the<br />

amounts due to each airline and enables the settlement to be made through a<br />

single financial transfer for each participant.<br />

A travel agency, including a corporate travel department, approved by ARC,<br />

BSP, or IATA to issue airline traffic documents.<br />

Global Distribution System<br />

Computer Reservation Systems<br />

IATA's Travel Industry Exchange Settlement Solutions (TIESS) facilitates the<br />

billing and settlement between travel industry suppliers and travel agencies and<br />

any other point of sale, providing an efficient platform to distribute, validate,<br />

collect and process sales.


1. Scope<br />

1.1 <strong>WestJet</strong> will issue ADMs to collect amounts or make adjustments to agency transactions related to the<br />

issuance and use of <strong>WestJet</strong> traffic documents, issued by, or at the request of the <strong>Agency</strong>, regardless of<br />

which airlines are included in the itinerary of the <strong>WestJet</strong> traffic document.<br />

1.2 <strong>WestJet</strong> will be auditing all transactions to identify non-compliant practices. <strong>WestJet</strong> reserves the right to<br />

issue a monthly invoice or ADM (<strong>Agency</strong> <strong>Debit</strong> Memo) to recover GDS/CRS booking costs per segment plus<br />

as administrative service fee for any and all non-compliant practice.<br />

2. <strong>WestJet</strong> Practice<br />

2.1 ADMs will be submitted in accordance with the table below except in cases of suspected abuse or fraud.<br />

2.2 <strong>WestJet</strong> provides an <strong>Agency</strong> with a 30 day period of notice, in order to review any ADM and dispute it.<br />

2.3 An ADM will not be issued for a value less than $10.00CAD. However, if there is a persistent practice of<br />

under-payment (multiple occurrences of under payments less than $10.00CAD by the same <strong>Agency</strong> (IATA<br />

location), <strong>WestJet</strong> may raise an ADM to recover the under-payments.<br />

2.4 <strong>WestJet</strong> or representing agents will endeavor to provide as much information as possible on an ADM to<br />

ensure it is specific in its detail about the reason a charge is being made.<br />

2.5 If <strong>WestJet</strong> raises an ADM for non-compliance with fare rules, the general principle applied is to raise the<br />

fare to the highest fare. Any divergence from this principle (e.g. a fixed amount penalty charge) is<br />

communicated to the <strong>Agency</strong> in advance, e.g. through notes in the fare rules, by letter, or any other<br />

communication used in the market in question.<br />

2.6 <strong>WestJet</strong> instructions specify any applicable fees must be collected and linked to the ticket concerned.<br />

Failure to follow this procedure may result in a charge to be collected by ADM for incorrect ticketing<br />

procedures.<br />

2.7 <strong>WestJet</strong> will endeavor to handle rejected or disputed ADMs in a timely manner. Agencies with BSP Link<br />

access must dispute an ADM via their BSP Link dispute facility within the ADM dispute period. If <strong>WestJet</strong><br />

does not agree with the dispute, an explanation will be communicated to the <strong>Agency</strong> prior to rejection of the<br />

dispute on BSP Link. The communication will give the <strong>Agency</strong> a time period within which to respond with<br />

additional information for <strong>WestJet</strong> to reinvestigate the dispute. If no response is received by <strong>WestJet</strong> within<br />

the time period indicated in the communication, the ADM will be submitted for settlement to BSP Link.


Agencies who do not settle through BSP Link must dispute an ADM within the dispute period via e-mail.<br />

<strong>WestJet</strong> will acknowledge receipt of the Agencies’ dispute via e-mail. If <strong>WestJet</strong> rejects the dispute an<br />

explanation for the rejection will be sent to the <strong>Agency</strong>. The communication will give the <strong>Agency</strong> a time<br />

period within which to respond with additional information for <strong>WestJet</strong> to reinvestigate the dispute. If no<br />

response is received by <strong>WestJet</strong> within the time period indicated in the communication, the ADM will be<br />

submitted for settlement.<br />

2.8 If an Agent disputes an ADM after it has been included in the BSP settlement, <strong>WestJet</strong> will:<br />

2.8.1. Within 30 days of the receipt of the dispute acknowledge receipt to the <strong>Agency</strong>.<br />

2.8.2. Investigate and communicate their decision on the dispute within 30 days from the date of<br />

receipt of the dispute. In circumstances where the <strong>Agency</strong> has furnished insufficient information to<br />

support the dispute or the airline decision is subject to further commercial consideration, <strong>WestJet</strong><br />

will communicate their decision no later than 60 days from the date of receipt of the dispute.<br />

2.9 <strong>WestJet</strong> wants to address causes that give rise to ADM issuance and for this reason the airline will<br />

contact an <strong>Agency</strong> if the volume and types of errors of that Agencies’ transactions are deemed to be above<br />

average or are recurrent. <strong>WestJet</strong> will attempt to address these issues bilaterally with the <strong>Agency</strong><br />

concerned.<br />

2.10 ADMs are not commissionable, i.e., an <strong>Agency</strong> may not withhold commission from ADM proceeds<br />

remitted to <strong>WestJet</strong>.<br />

2.11Ticket Refunds policy is applicable when it is cancelled within the following parameters of the fare that is<br />

purchased. Anything outside of these parameters an ADM will be raised.


3. <strong>WestJet</strong> expectations of Travel Agencies:<br />

3.1 to adhere by <strong>WestJet</strong>’s CRS/GDS booking and ticketing policy as published on <strong>WestJet</strong>’s website.<br />

3.2 to adhere to fare rules as they are filed in ATPCO<br />

3.3 to train their staff in ADM procedures; their purpose and the dispute period that exists.<br />

3.4 to ensure that when an ADM is disputed, the response is specific in detail and the relevant supporting<br />

information is sent to <strong>WestJet</strong> via ARC’s Memo Manager online memo distribution system or to the<br />

address/fax indicated on the ADM.<br />

3.5 not to dispute an ADM where the reason is valid and evidence to the contrary is not available.<br />

3.6 to raise all disputes within the BSP/ARC dispute period.<br />

3.7 to ensure that their contact details (phone numbers, fax numbers and email addresses) are up to date in<br />

BSP Link, ARC Memo Manager online system, or TIESS.<br />

3.8 to provide specific contact details when logging a dispute in BSP Link to enable <strong>WestJet</strong> to make contact<br />

concerning the dispute.<br />

4. Commission, Fare, and Tax Violations<br />

4.1 Sales Audit (Published & Contract)<br />

Violation Charge Administrative<br />

Fee<br />

Carrier Identification Plate (CIP)<br />

Incorrect Airline CIP chosen for<br />

issuing tickets<br />

Fare Class Use<br />

Checking to ensure correct ticketing<br />

class is being booked and entered on<br />

the ticket.<br />

Advance Purchase requirements<br />

Checking to ensure that the<br />

documents have been issued in<br />

accordance to the Advance Purchase<br />

requirements of the fare rule.<br />

Weekend Surcharges<br />

Ensuring correct weekend surcharges<br />

Charged the difference in fare to the<br />

“Y” fare + the respective fare taxes<br />

based on the first outbound carrier on<br />

the document.<br />

Any ticket that has been issued on an<br />

RBD which does not match the<br />

permitted class as per the fare basis<br />

will be charged the difference in fare<br />

to the “Y” fare + the respective fare<br />

taxes.<br />

Any fare which has a requirement of<br />

Advance purchase and the same has<br />

not been adhered to will be charged<br />

the difference in fare to the “Y” fare +<br />

the respective fare taxes.<br />

Any fare which has a requirement of<br />

weekend surcharge and the same<br />

has not been collected will be<br />

Audit Time<br />

Limit<br />

$25 CAD + GST 9 months<br />

from final<br />

travel date<br />

$50CAD + GST<br />

9 months<br />

from final<br />

travel date<br />

$50 CAD + GST 9 months<br />

from final<br />

travel date<br />

$25 CAD + GST 9 months<br />

from final


Violation Charge Administrative<br />

Fee<br />

have been collected when flights are<br />

booked on weekend fares with<br />

surcharge.<br />

Routing/Flight requirements<br />

Ensuring the contract permits the<br />

routing and flights used on the ticket.<br />

Missing Discount code on the<br />

Ticket<br />

Ensuring that the correct discount is<br />

mentioned on the ticket as per the<br />

discount claimed.<br />

Discounts should be applied as per<br />

the corporate reference sheet. If any<br />

other discounts are applicable then<br />

the same will be mentioned in the<br />

fares. Ticket will be mention some<br />

reference code for corporate &<br />

government official traveling.<br />

Sale Validity<br />

Ensuring tickets are issued with the<br />

sale validity of the fare in respect to<br />

both start and end dates.<br />

Sector fare logic is applicable<br />

Open Jaws<br />

Ensuring that open jaw fares are<br />

used only when and where allowed<br />

and the fare calculation rule is<br />

correctly applied.<br />

Sector fare logic is applicable.<br />

Stopover checks & transfers<br />

Checking for abuse of<br />

stopover/transfer rules, where<br />

stopovers/transfer are not permitted<br />

or limited. Ensuring stopover/transfer<br />

fees are paid where<br />

stopovers/transfers are permitted at a<br />

surcharge.<br />

charged the difference in fare to the<br />

“Y” fare+ the respective fare taxes.<br />

Any ticket which has no adhered to<br />

the specific routing or flight<br />

requirement as per the fare used will<br />

be charged the difference in fare to<br />

the “Y” fare+ the respective fare<br />

taxes.<br />

Charged the difference in fare to the<br />

next applicable fare + the respective<br />

fare taxes as per itinerary and travel<br />

dates.<br />

Any fare which has validity with<br />

regards to the sale date (start &<br />

termination) and the same have not<br />

been adhered to will be charged the<br />

difference in fare to the “Y” fare + the<br />

respective fare taxes.<br />

Any fare which has open jaw<br />

restriction and the same has not been<br />

adhered to will be charged the<br />

difference in fare to the “Y” fare + the<br />

respective fare taxes.<br />

a. Any fare which has a restriction<br />

on stopover/transfer and the<br />

same has not been adhered to<br />

will be charged the difference in<br />

fare to the “Y” fare+ the<br />

respective fare taxes.<br />

b. Any fare which has a surcharge<br />

on stopover/transfer and the<br />

same has not been collected an<br />

ADM will be raised for collection<br />

of the surcharge.<br />

Audit Time<br />

Limit<br />

travel date<br />

$25 CAD + GST 9 months<br />

from final<br />

travel date<br />

$25 CAD + GST 9 months<br />

from final<br />

travel date<br />

$50 CAD + GST 9 months<br />

from final<br />

travel date<br />

$25 CAD + GST 9 months<br />

from final<br />

travel date<br />

$25 CAD + GST 9 months<br />

from final<br />

travel date<br />

Season Checks<br />

Ensuring correct seasonal fares are<br />

collected wherever applicable.<br />

Travel Restriction/Black out<br />

Ensuring travel restriction is adhered<br />

Any fare which has seasonality<br />

restriction and the same has not been<br />

adhered to will be charged the<br />

difference in fare to the “Y” fare+ the<br />

respective fare taxes.<br />

Any fare which has restriction on<br />

travel dates and the same has not<br />

been adhered to will be charged the<br />

$50 CAD + GST 9 months<br />

from final<br />

travel date<br />

$50 CAD + GST 9 months<br />

from final


Violation Charge Administrative<br />

Fee<br />

to according to the fare collected.<br />

Commission Check<br />

Ensuring correct commission levels<br />

are applied to documents. Particularly<br />

useful where a carrier has a different<br />

commission level on particular routes,<br />

for example, domestic or regional or<br />

has differing commission structure at<br />

country, city, and agent level.<br />

difference in fare to the “Y” fare + the<br />

respective fare taxes.<br />

Any ticket on which the agent has<br />

over-claimed or under-claimed the<br />

applicable commission amount an<br />

ADM will be raised.<br />

Audit Time<br />

Limit<br />

travel date<br />

$50 CAD + GST 9 months<br />

from final<br />

travel date<br />

Tax<br />

Ensuring correct taxes have been<br />

paid for the journey ticketed.<br />

Waiver Codes<br />

Ensuring correct waiver/authority<br />

codes are endorsed on tickets, as per<br />

the waiver /authority list received from<br />

airline.<br />

Day/Time requirements <br />

Checking to ensure that the<br />

documents have been issued in<br />

accordance to the Day and Time<br />

requirements of the fare rule <br />

An ADM will be raised for all undercollected<br />

and missing applicable<br />

taxes.<br />

Charged the difference in fare to the<br />

“Y” fare+ the respective fare taxes for<br />

non-adherence/missing information<br />

on authority.<br />

Any fare which has a requirement of<br />

day or specific time band and the<br />

same has not been adhered to will be<br />

charged the difference in fare to the<br />

“Y” fare + the respective fare taxes. <br />

$50 CAD + GST 9 months<br />

from final<br />

travel date<br />

$25 CAD + GST 9 months<br />

from final<br />

travel date<br />

$50 CAD + GST 9 months<br />

from final<br />

travel date <br />

4.2 Refunds Audit<br />

Refunds computation<br />

Violation Charge Administrative<br />

Fee<br />

Ensuring refund is made based on<br />

applicable rules and regulation of the<br />

fare collected on the ticket.<br />

a. Any fare which does not permit<br />

refund and has been erroneously<br />

claimed by agent – ADM will be<br />

raised to recall this amount.<br />

b. Full refund which has been<br />

claimed on partly utilized ticket –<br />

ADM will be raised to recall the<br />

additional refund claimed over<br />

the partly utilized ticket.<br />

c. Duplicate refund – ADM will be<br />

raised to recall the entire<br />

refunded amount.<br />

d. Any refund which has been<br />

claimed against a reissued ticket<br />

for which the original ticket has<br />

been issued by a different carrier<br />

– ADM will be raised to recall the<br />

entire refunded amount.<br />

Audit Time<br />

Limit<br />

$50 CAD + GST 9 months<br />

from date of<br />

refund


Cancellation fee<br />

Ensuring that the correct cancellation<br />

fee or percentage has been charged<br />

to net and IATA fares.<br />

Commission<br />

Ensuring commission at the correct<br />

rate is repaid on any refund, or<br />

refundable portion, of a fare or on a<br />

cancellation charge.<br />

Any fare which can be refunded with<br />

a cancellation penalty and has not<br />

been correctly included in this refund<br />

calculation an ADM will be raised to<br />

collect this amount.<br />

Any refunded ticket where<br />

commission has not been calculated<br />

as per the originally issued ticket an<br />

ADM will be raised to recall the<br />

additional commission claimed.<br />

$50 CAD + GST 9 months<br />

from date of<br />

refund<br />

$50 CAD + GST 9 months<br />

from date of<br />

refund<br />

Tax refunds<br />

Ensuring that only tax which is<br />

refundable has been refunded, and<br />

any tax applicable to a flown journey,<br />

on a partially refunded document, is<br />

not refunded.<br />

Any refunded ticket where tax has<br />

not been calculated as per the<br />

traveled sector or non-refundable<br />

taxes have been refunded an ADM<br />

will be raised to recall the incorrect<br />

tax claimed.<br />

$50 CAD + GST 9 months<br />

from date of<br />

refund<br />

4.3 Exchange Audit<br />

Fare recalculation<br />

Violation Charge Administrative<br />

Fee<br />

Ensuring the new fare has been<br />

recalculated correctly.<br />

a. Fare will be re-calculated as per<br />

the date of issue of the original<br />

document in case of partial reissue.<br />

b. Fare will be re-calculated as per<br />

the date of issue of the<br />

exchanged document in case of<br />

full re-issue.<br />

Audit Time<br />

Limit<br />

$50 CAD + GST 9 months<br />

from date of<br />

exchange<br />

Tax recalculation<br />

Ensuring correct or additional tax has<br />

been included on the reissued<br />

document.<br />

Change fee<br />

Ensuring that any change fees, both<br />

on net documents and IATA fares<br />

have been applied.<br />

Commission<br />

Ensuring commission at the correct<br />

rate is applied to exchanged tickets.<br />

a. Tax will be re-calculated as per<br />

the date of issue of the<br />

exchanged document for the<br />

untraveled portion in case of<br />

partial re-issue.<br />

b. Tax will be re-calculated as per<br />

the date of issue of the<br />

exchanged document in case of<br />

full re-issue.<br />

Applicable change fee for re-issued<br />

tickets if not collected an ADM will<br />

be raised to collect this amount.<br />

Any exchanged ticket where<br />

commission has not been calculated<br />

as per the originally issued ticket an<br />

ADM will be raised to recall the<br />

$50 CAD + GST 9 months<br />

from date of<br />

exchange<br />

$50 CAD + GST 9 months<br />

from date of<br />

exchange<br />

$50 CAD + GST 9 months<br />

from date of<br />

exchange


additional commission claimed.<br />

5.0 Credit Card Chargebacks<br />

When a travel agent accepts a credit card as form of payment from a guest <strong>WestJet</strong> expects the following;<br />

For Face-To-Face transactions<br />

• Collect an imprint of the card, front and back; ensure card number, cardholder name, expiry and<br />

signature are clear and readable.<br />

• Collect contact information for the cardholder, phone numbers and billing address<br />

• Ensure the signature on the credit card matches the sales contract being signed when completing<br />

the transaction<br />

• Retain all supporting documents about the sale<br />

Non Face-To-Face<br />

• Validate the Card Verification Value (3 digits on the back of Visa and MasterCard and 4 digits on<br />

the front of Amex cards)<br />

• Collect the Cardholder’s billing address<br />

• Collect the Cardholder’s contact phone numbers<br />

• Utilize address verification services where possible<br />

• Retain all supporting documentation about the sale<br />

Violation Charge Administrative<br />

Fee<br />

GDS issued ticket chargeback<br />

Ensuring the credit card taken as<br />

form of payment is valid.<br />

Any ticket which a credit card is used<br />

as the form of payment where the<br />

guest or issuing party on behalf of<br />

the guest informs they did not<br />

authorize the purchase. An ADM will<br />

be raised via BSP or ARC to collect<br />

this amount; payment of ADM is<br />

mandatory through BSP & ARC.<br />

Audit Time<br />

Limit<br />

$50 CAD + GST 9 months<br />

from final<br />

travel date<br />

TA Web issued ticket chargeback<br />

Ensuring the credit card taken as<br />

form of payment is valid.<br />

Any ticket which a credit card is used<br />

as the form of payment where the<br />

guest or issuing party on behalf of<br />

the guest informs they did not<br />

authorize the purchase. An invoice<br />

will be issued to collect this amount<br />

payment by cheque is mandatory.<br />

$50 CAD + GST 9 months<br />

from final<br />

travel date<br />

<strong>WestJet</strong> Vacations issued ticket Any ticket which a credit card is used $50 CAD + GST 9 months


chargeback<br />

Ensuring the credit card taken as<br />

form of payment is valid.<br />

as the form of payment where the<br />

guest or issuing party on behalf of<br />

the guest informs they did not<br />

authorize the purchase. An invoice<br />

will be issued to collect this amount<br />

payment by cheque is mandatory.<br />

from final<br />

travel date

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