IATA Class Codes - Booking Codes

Booking Codes

Booking codes used to be standardized, and were defined by the IATA. However, airlines have deviated from the IATA standard and current booking codes are airline specific. The same code may have quite different meanings for tickets issued by different airlines. Nevertheless, certain booking codes have fairly standardized meanings across nearly all airlines:

• F: first class
• J: business class
• Y: economy class

In addition, R, A, D, I, Z usually refer to special types of premium class tickets, for instance suites (Singapore Airlines), Emirates discounted first and business class, and upgrades. W, T often refer to premium economy class, and B, H, K, L, M, N, Q, T, V, X generally to various types of discounted or restricted economy class tickets.

Booking codes are also sometimes called booking classes or fare classes.

Different levels of frequent flyer miles are often awarded based on booking code. For instance, Y economy class may result in a credit of 100% of miles flown, while first and business class 125%, 150%, or even 200%. Discounted economy class may receive 70%, 50%, 25% credit or even no credit. The details depend on the frequent flyer program and the operating carrier.