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Travel Agent ID Cards

I am often asked, "Can I get an IATA or IATAN ID Card?"

The answer is that you can earn an IATA Card with almost any host travel agency. The requirements are set by IATAN and are the same regardless of which travel agency you work with.

But I am getting ahead of myself. The reason a lot of people ask if the can get an IATAN ID Card is they have learned that a lot of the FAM's (Familiarization Tours, Cruises, etc) are only available to agents who have their own IATAN ID Card. The problem is many people who are looking into becoming a travel agent are mislead about what type of card they will receive from the host travel agency.

There are two types of Travel Agent Photo ID Cards:

An Agency ID Card.
A personal IATA (or IATAN) ID Card.

Travel agencies can issue their own ID Cards to anyone they please under any conditions they wish to set. This type of card may or may not be recognized by many suppliers as proof that an individual is a travel agent.

Some people will tell you that they are giving you an IATA card when what they really mean is that the "Agency Card" they give you has their IATA number on it. Confusing? Well, you can see why many prospective travel agents are mislead.

As I said in the beginning, the conditions for a travel agent to earn their own personal IATAN card are set by IATAN and are the same for all agencies who are accredited by IATAN. No one can give you an IATAN card unless you have earned it because the card does not come from the agency, it comes directly from IATAN. Present requirements for an IATAN card are that you must earn at least $5000 a year from selling travel and that you work at selling travel at least 20 hours per week. An IATAN card is recognized by all suppliers as proof that an individual is a professional travel agent.

This does not mean that you will not receive any travel agent benefits until you earn your own IATAN card. Many suppliers will recognize the Agency ID Card and will give travel agents substantial discounts. But you must keep in mind that these perks are entirely at the discreation of the supplier and are not a "right" or privilege that they must extend to travel agents.

Lyn Liming
Independent Travel Agent