ARC Accredited Agency FAQ's

Travel Agency Participation

ARC Accredited Agency FAQs

Learn everything you need to know about the ARC Accredited Agency program.

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What are the benefits of joining ARC?

There are several benefits to agents, including:

  • Obtain an ARC number, which communicates to suppliers worldwide that your agency has the authority to book airline tickets, hotels, cruises and more
  • Receive the ability to send/receive money directly to and from airlines (ARC-accredited agencies only)

  • Process travel-related service fees through ARC Pay

  • Inclusion in ARC’s Agency List, which is shared with airlines and shows all ARC-accredited travel agencies

  • Access to ARC working groups and industry conferences, which include airlines, technology partners and industry peers

  • Receive guidance through ARC training and support

What is the difference between IATA and ARC? How are they the same?

  • The International Air Transport Association (IATA) provides similar services to agencies, though they focus on agencies based outside of the U.S. The organization supports many areas of aviation activity and helps to formulate industry policy on critical aviation issues.

  • Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) accredits travel agencies based in the U.S. to easily book airline tickets worldwide on more than 200 airlines. We provide access to financial solutions, revenue opportunities and industry expertise to help agencies better manage their relationships with these global air travel suppliers.

Who can apply to be an ARC-accredited agent?

  • Any interested travel agent based in the United States, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and/or American Samoa may apply to join ARC.

Application

  • What are the agency location requirements?

    • Your agency must be located in and authorized to do business within the United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and/or American Samoa. The agency can be in a commercial office location or based out of your home as long as you have the licenses required by the jurisdiction in which you are located. (California, Florida and Washington have special requirements.)

  • Do I need to provide a business license?

    • Each jurisdiction has different requirements. If a business license is required where your agency is located, then you need to provide a copy of the business license as well as any other licenses required by your jurisdiction (federal, local or state).

  • What business structure do I need to join ARC?

    • We do not require agencies to have a specific business structure to join ARC. The business structure that each agency has depends on their individual circumstances.

  • Do I need to get a Taxpayer Identification (TIN)?

    • A Tax ID number is required if you have employees or your business is a corporation or partnership.

  • How do I send in my application?

  • How long does the application process take?

    • The application process takes approximately 90 days from the receipt of an application. All questions, discrepancies and/or omissions must be resolved before an application is considered complete.

  • Can the 90-day timeframe be reduced/expedited?

    • There is no formal process to expedite an application. To have the application processed as quickly as possible, make sure to have all forms filled out completely and attach all supporting documentation before submission (Page 5 of the ARC Accredited Agent Application includes a checklist for Agents to help them determine when their application is complete).

  • Is there another type of accreditation besides ARC Accredited Agency?

    • Yes, you can apply to become a Verified Travel Consultant (VTC) and receive the same benefits as a fully accredited agency, except the ability to issue air tickets.

    • There is a $195 non-refundable application fee for the VTC application. However, a financial instrument is not required.

    • Visit the VTC FAQ page to learn more. 

Financial

  • How much does it cost to join ARC?

    • Fully Accredited ARC Agency: A $2,300 nonrefundable application fee is required. In addition, the agency must provide a financial instrument in the form of a bond, letter of credit or cash deposit in the minimum amount of $20,000. If the parent entity of the applicant is domiciled outside the United States, the minimum financial instrument shall not be less than $150,000.

    • Verified Travel Consultant: There is a $195 nonrefundable application fee for the VTC application. However, a financial instrument is not required.

  • What is a financial instrument?

    • A financial instrument serves as a guarantee for the financial transactions issued by the independent agency or a Home Office location with subordinate branches. The financial instrument requirement can be met by providing one or a combination of the following: Bond, Letter of Credit (LOC) or Cash Security Deposit (CSD) totaling $20,000 or $150,000 for agents with foreign ownership. The financial instrument is not required at the time the application is submitted; however, the application will not be considered complete until ARC receives a financial instrument in the correct form and amount. After two years of being accredited with ARC, the amount may be reduced to $10,000 unless a higher amount is required by the terms of the ARA (see the Agent Reporting Agreement).

Personnel

  • What are the personnel requirements?

    • Any person involved in the agency's day-to-day operations and has access to monies from services issued on ARC Traffic Documents must be a U.S. citizen or an alien authorized to work in the United States.

    • The agency must have a designated Manager and an ARC Specialist. These positions must be held by U.S. citizens or persons authorized to work in the U.S. These roles may be filled by the same person.

  • What is an ARC Specialist?

    • An ARC Specialist is an individual who has demonstrated the knowledge of ARC’s Area Settlement Plan (ASP) by passing the ARC Specialist Training and Certification Program which includes an examination. All travel agents who successfully pass the examination receive a certificate and the ARC Specialist designation.

  • Why do I need to fill out a Personal History Form?

    • The Personal History Form (PHF) is used to verify that individuals associated with your agency meet the necessary requirements to join ARC.

    • The PHF must be submitted for each of the following positions as they apply to your Agency: owner, officer, director, partner, shareholder, member, LLC manager and agency manager. ARC must ensure that the individual(s) associated with each agency meet the requirements defined in the Agent Reporting Agreement. We do this through the collection and review of the PHFs.

    • For each PHF, be sure to attach

      1. A copy of a valid state ID or driver’s license.

      2. A copy of valid proof of citizenship and/or authority to work in the U.S. (e.g., passport, birth certificate, permanent resident card, work permit).

  • Why do you need personal information for certain employees?

    • ARC needs to ensure that the individual meets the requirements of their specific role or the overall requirements to join ARC as defined in the Agent Reporting Agreement. We do this through the collection and review of the PHF.

What tools/services does ARC offer?

ARC offers a wide range of tools and services to support travel agencies, including:

  1. Settle transactions with IAR and DRS

  2. Process credit card transactions with ARC Pay

  3. Access to our fraud prevention resources, webinars and industry insights

  4. Get assistance with questions or concerns from our Customer Care Center (CCC)

  5. Manage your agency information using our accreditation tool

What type of commission does ARC offer?

The airlines offer available commissions directly. Agencies must contact individual airlines to discuss commissions.