What Is an IATA Number?
An IATA number is a unique 8-digit code that identifies a travel agency or another business that sells travel. In the US, suppliers use the code for reservations, sales activity and commission payments (OpenTravel 2018A schema: AgencyNumber_IATA) (IATAN: Become Accredited).
Last updated: October 2026
How an IATA number works
IATA gives each accredited agent a numeric code as its unique identifier. The code also shows that the agent is accredited and belongs to the Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP) (IATA: Travel Agent Accreditation). BSP operates in more than 180 countries and territories (IATA Fact Sheet: IATA Financial Services (June 2026)).
IATA accredits agencies outside the US and Puerto Rico, and IATAN accredits agencies inside them. The two codes work the same way (Host Agency Reviews: What Is an IATA Number? (2024)). Sellers without accreditation can register with IATA for a TIDS code instead (IATA: TIDS Frequently Asked Questions).
On a hotel reservation, the IATA number is the travel agent's identifier, and it is how the hotel knows which agency to pay (XOTELS glossary: IATA). The OpenTravel XML standard gives the code its own data type, named AgencyNumber_IATA (OpenTravel 2018A schema: AgencyNumber_IATA).
Why an IATA number matters for hotel distribution
Marriott, Hilton and IHG each pay travel agent commission only when an accepted agency number is on the reservation at the time of booking. Their accepted lists differ. Marriott takes ARC, IATA, IATAN, TIDS or CLIA (Marriott Travel Agents: Commission FAQs). Hilton names IATA and TIDS, and also accepts ARC, TSI, CLIA, ERSP, SATO and TRUE (Hilton: Transient Commissions). IHG takes ARC, IATA, TIDS, TRUE or CLIA (IHG: Commission page).
Rates and payment terms then differ by company. Each Hilton hotel pays up to 10% on general public and other commissionable rates, and the chain takes a 3% processing fee from every commission payment (Hilton: Transient Commissions). IHG's global standard rate is 10% of eligible commissionable rates, paid weekly through the processor Onyx CenterSource and generally received about 3 weeks after checkout (IHG: Commission page). Marriott also pays weekly, in a choice of more than 30 currencies, and US agencies need an EIN on file to be paid (Marriott Travel Agents: Commission FAQs). The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas calls the IATA number a TA number and pays verified agents 10% of the suite rate, with taxes and fees left out (The Venetian Resort: IATA Booking Engine FAQs (2025)).
Hotels also rely on TIDS codes to spot bookings from sellers without accreditation and to track and pay their commission (IATA: TIDS for Industry Suppliers). Before paying, hotels and other suppliers can confirm that a code belongs to a real accredited agency through IATA's CheckACode service, which helps them protect revenue from fake codes (IATAN: CheckACode).
IATA number compared with IATAN, TIDS, ARC, CLIA and TRUE numbers
| What it is | Airline tickets | Accepted for hotel commission at the three chains above | |
|---|---|---|---|
| IATA number | The code for accredited agencies outside the US and Puerto Rico | Full IATA accreditation lets a business issue tickets on behalf of airlines | All three |
| IATAN number | The same code for agencies in the US and Puerto Rico | US agencies that ticket air need an ARC number as well | Listed by name at one; the others list IATA |
| TIDS code | IATA's code for travel sellers without accreditation | Cannot be issued through BSP | All three |
| ARC number | A US airline-ticketing accreditation | Needed alongside an IATA number to ticket air in the US | All three |
| CLIA or TRUE number | Memberships of other travel bodies | Not covered by our sources | CLIA at all three, TRUE at two |
Table sources: AltexSoft glossary: IATA number, Host Agency Reviews: What Is an IATA Number? (2024), IATA: TIDS Frequently Asked Questions (linked above); commission columns from the chain policies cited above.
Frequently asked questions
What is an IATA number, and what else is it called?
How do I get an IATA number?
How do I apply for an IATA number in the US?
How much does it cost to get an IATA number?
Can a travel advisor book under a host agency's IATA number?
Related terms
See all termsWhere Jetstream fits
Travel agents are one of many channels a hotel sells through, and each channel brings its own rules for identifying who made the booking and who gets paid. Jetstream builds an AI channel manager that connects a property's systems to the channels where guests book, and keeps rooms, rates and availability accurate on each one, managed from one place.