What is a Fair Basis Code, Booking Class, and Reference Number?

A Booking class is an indicator of traveling class presented in a traveler's fare code. 

A fare basis or fare code is an alphabetic letter or numbers (numeric codes) through which a fare type is identified by airlines. The fare code also contains rules applicable to different fare types or tickets. 

Usually, fare codes have specific patterns that have been used overtime to differentiate a fare ticket from another. Many airlines have also set standards guiding their fare basis codes (fare codes). 

Through the fare basis codes, travel agents and airline staff are able to know the status or class of booking and rules that apply to the booking class.

How is Fair Basis Code, Booking Class, and Reference Number Used?

All data basis codes begin with booking class. The booking class is basically a letter that reflects the status of an individual's booking.

A typical fare basis will be between 3 to 7 characters, which might be numbers or letters. There are some cases where we can have up to 8. 

 The International Air Transport Association have certain standards that define booking codes but these standards are not strictly adhered to by many airlines. Some airlines set their standards for setting fare basis codes. Although, some booking codes retained the same meaning across all airlines. 

Examples of these codes are; F which means full-fare first class, J means full-fare business class, W means full-fare Premium economy while Y is full-fare economy class.

There are specific codes that airlines use for modern fares. These are not standards, they are called airline-specific codes that airlines use for short-term use. Examples of airline-specific codes are;

• Codes that indicate common name for a fare that an airline uses.
• Airlines use certain alphanumeric codes to indicate the percentage of discount from full fare that airline staff and travel agency staff can enjoy. 
• Industry Discount (ID) and Agent Discount (AD) used for an airline staff or a staff from a travel agency.
• There are codes set aside for military personnel and federal government employees.
• Codes that limit certain fares to a particular company such as negotiated fares.