Q: Which deals am I eligible for?
A: Please refer to the link 'Am I eligible?'on the menu bar on the left.
Q: What is an IATA letter?
A: It is a letter issued in accordance with IATA resolution 788,880 or 881 by your staff travel department , to request and confirm interline concession entitlement.
Q: When should my IATA letter or letter of employment be issued by my employer and sent to Touchdown?
A: Usually no more than one month prior to departure, to ensure current status of employment. However, with airlines that require immediate ticketing, this should be sent as soon as possible after booking. If you are a Touchdown Plus member, this letter can be filed annually and will be kept on file and will be issued by Touchdown, as required on your behalf.
Q: Who can I take with me?
A: In most cases you can take your spouse or companion and your dependent children (aged under 21years). Note that your companion need not be the person/s named in your staff travel's nominated partner scheme, however, the staff member must accompany all companions on every flight sector booked..
Q: Which parts of air traffic control are deemed eligible under 'Air traffic control associations'?
A: Ukatts, Ukatets, IATCA (Ikatts Eire), Iatets, NATS,GATCO and EGATS for staff in UK and Eire, plus overseas ATC staff (many of which have provided staff details to Touchdown).
Q: What is a 'Certified Air operator (passenger)'?
A: This refers to passenger carrying airlines/operators/helicopter companies who hold an Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC), but cannot produce an IATA788 letter.
Q: What is Engineering Support?
A: This refers to engineers involved in working on commercial aircraft only. Airframe,avionics, cabin furnishings etc. Members of FASS are also included in this category.
A: RetiredAIRLINE staff can use many of them, subject to providing an IATA788 letter. There is also a separate category of eligibility for retired staff. Note that a current letter from your previous employer stating that you are a retiree will be required.
Q: I am an unlicensed travel agent, can I still travel?
A: Yes, please refer to the category 'travel agents(unlicensed)'. A letter of employment is still required and extra checks will be carried out to verify agent credentials in the absence of licenses, if Touchdown are not satisfied with these then we reserve the right to refuse applications.
Q: I am a Travel Trust Association (TTA) member, am I eligible?
A: You are eligible if you provide a TTA number and are employed as a travel agent. Please refer to 'travel agents(unlicensed)' eligibilty category. TTA members employed as tour operators should refer to 'Tour operators (unlicensed)' category.
Q: I am a travel industry staff based overseas, am I eligible?
A: Yes, please refer to regular employment categories to check for eligibility. Note that most of our flight inclusive deals originate from the UK. BA and bmi however do permit reverse itineraries to the UK from European airports, please refer to the website for details. If you are based in France please note you MUST book via www.touchdowneurope.com . Note that there are many French originating programmes on offer there.
Tickets and taxes
Q: Are all flight tickets issued on a confirmed basis?
A: Yes, we do not offer subload/space available product.
Q: Are all your seats offered on scheduled services?
A: Yes, however, there are occasions when we offer staff discount for
seats/packages on other tour operator products, for example Golden
Caribbean and Neilson.
Q: Do your flights include taxes?
A: All prepayable taxes are included unless specified. Some local airport taxes are paid in the local currency where applicable and cannot be prepaid. PSC (passenger services charge levy) and fuel sucharge levy have been incorporated into the fares displayed on line. The fares due to the fluctuations in taxes and oil prices are subject to change at any time.
Q: What are fuel surcharges for?
A: These charges have been added by most carriers during the past few months in line with worldwide hikes in the price of oil. Most airlines are adding this charge as a supplement to the YQ security charge. n.b. we do endeavour to keep our web site up to date in respect of these constantly fluctuating charges, but note many increases are not being prewarned by the airlines and only become apparent once making a booking. Although the fuel surcharge levy is an operational cost, the airlines are for the meantime, choosing to add it separately rather than incorporate it into their base fare.
Q: What is PSC?
A: Passenger services charge, a levy implemented by the U.K. government applied to departures or arrivals at UK airports, this varies from airport to airport and has to be prepaid on the ticket. The levy also varies according to season and whether international or domestic flight. The current international PSC for LGW is £11.20, LHR £23.00, MAN £13.30 for example.This charge applies to all passengers including infants!
Q: When will flight tickets be issued?
A: Usually within 14 days of booking, due to ticketing deadlines set by the airlines.
Q: Are transfers included in the price?
A: Only where stated on the applicable brochure.
Q: What is Advance Passenger Information (API, APIS) all about?
A: Very soon it will be mandatory for all passengers to provide certain details to the airlines at check-in or prior to check-in. For data protection reasons this data must be submitted by the passengers or their designated lead traveller. Namely:
Passport number
Country which issued passport
Passport expiry date
Given names (as they appear on passport)
Last name
Gender
Date of birth
Citizenship.
From 04October 2005 the US authorties will require the above info and a destination address within the USA (inc zip code) for all non US citizen passengers. This information must be collected from every passenger travelling to the USA before their flight
departs. The airlines involved are working to permit this facility as part of their website online check-in procedures which can normally be performed 24 hours prior to departure. See our North America webpage for more info. Most airlines require APIS data to be submitted prior to travel this can be done on the airlines' website, or if booking ticketed prior to 14 May 2010 at www.apis.uk.amadeus.com
Q: What is online check-in?
A: Many airlines are introducing and encouraging this facility which can normally be performed 24 hours prior to departure once you have confirmation that e-tickets have been issued. You will need your booking locator (PNR) and a surname to do this. This facility allows you to select seats ,check in and in some cases print your own boarding card from the comfort of your own home! Note that Touchdown cannot do this online on your behalf.
Booking procedures
Eligibility, Tickets & Taxes
Discounts
Staff based outside the UK
Where to find us
Other topics...
Touchdown Plus
