Air Canada’s flight firming policy is an automated process applied to all Air Canada flights, to monitor the issuance of tickets according to the ticket time limit of each fare paid.
Un-ticketed PNRs, past their ticketing deadline are queued to the booking source, with an SSR OTHS requesting ticket numbers by 23:59:
- the next business day;
- the following Monday, for message sent on Friday and on a weekend;
- the following Tuesday, if Monday is a holiday;
- the next business day following a holiday that does not fall on a Monday
Note: ticket numbers may be required earlier if the departure time is within the above-mentioned time.
Does Air Canada queue all PNRs to the booking source to request ticket numbers?
Yes. All PNRs that includes fares with a ticket time limit are queued to the booking source, when tickets are not issued and the ticket deadline has passed.
Exception: J, C, Z, Y, and M class PNRs for travel between Canada, or the U.S. - and - Afghanistan, Bahrain, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, South Africa, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, are not queued. Ticket numbers are required:
- 7 days prior to departure; for reservations made 8 days or more prior to departure
- within 72 hours of booking; for reservations made within 7 days of departure
Failure to include ticket number (s) in an OSI field will result in the cancellation of the AC flight(s).
What are the goals of ticket time limit flight firming?
To reduce speculative bookings and to ensure that un-ticketed inventory is available for sale.
To which point of sale does it apply?
It applies to all points of sale.
Do other airlines have similar processes?
Yes, several airlines have a ticket time limit flight firming tool to control their inventory, including UA, LH, AF, BA and AA
Does ticket time limit flight firming apply to codeshare flights?
Yes; however, the operating and interline carrier may also apply their own flight firming.
Does ticket time limit flight firming apply to R class PNRs?
Yes it does. Your clients’ tickets must be issued in the eligible economy booking class, according to the conditions on the certificate, before you can book R class. PNRs that include un-ticketed R class segments, or, when R class was booked outside the time limit specified on the upgrade certificate, will be cancelled and rebooked in the original economy class.
Please also cross-reference ticket numbers when the Upgrade Certificate is used by 2 passengers booked on different PNRs.
Is there a specific format to enter ticket numbers on a PNR?
Yes, to prevent PNR cancellation, please enter the ticket number (s) in an OSI or SSR field as follows:
- OSIAC TKNA 014 1234 567 890 (when ticket number is generated automatically)
- OSIAC TKNO 014 1234 567 890 (when ticket number is manually entered)
What if Air Canada cancels a ticketed booking?
Please contact the agency help desk and they will reinstate the space.
Does ticket time limit flight firming apply to net or consolidator fares?
Ticketing rules for net or consolidator fares apply as per the contract and are identified by the tour code, provided it is entered in an OSI field.
Example: OSIAC DEAL CIC 50/xxxxx ; xxxxx is the tour code.
Does ticket time limit flight firming apply to groups?
No, it only applies to individual bookings.
Does the ticket time limit flight firming apply to PNRs with waitlist segments?
The flight firming applies to confirmed segments. A PNR containing both waitlisted and confirmed space is subject to flight firming.
What happens to itineraries using a VAT to waive a time limit?
When using a VAT, you must enter VAT APUR and the VAT authorization number in an OSI field of the PNR. This will exclude a PNR from our flight firming process.