According to Budget's BCCS, what are ARC and IATA, and where are they defined?
Budget Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
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- The BCCS database currently includes some 170,000 airline appointed travel sources, usually designated as either ARC appointed (U.S.) or IATA (International). These are acronyms for Airline Reporting Corporation and International Air Transport Association as defined in the Instruction Package. You may also see reference to TIDS or PSEUDO numbers. These are 8 character ID numbers usually issued on a temporary basis until the travel sources receive their certifications and permanent numbers from either ARC or IATA.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 80–426)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Budget's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, ARC and IATA are acronyms related to travel sources within the Budget Centralized Commission Services Program (BCCS). Specifically, ARC stands for Airline Reporting Corporation (U.S.), while IATA represents the International Air Transport Association (International). These acronyms are defined within the Instruction Package for the BCCS program.
These travel sources, which number around 170,000, are typically designated as either ARC appointed (U.S.) or IATA (International). The BCCS program uses these designations to manage and reconcile reservations generated by travel sources, ensuring that commissions are paid correctly for both local and one-way car rentals. The system also references TIDS or PSEUDO numbers, which are temporary ID numbers issued until travel sources receive their certifications and permanent numbers from ARC or IATA.
For a prospective Budget franchisee, understanding these designations is important because it affects how commissions are handled through the BCCS. Franchisees need to be aware of the Instruction Package and its provisions to properly report reservations to BCCS, categorizing them as commissionable or non-commissionable. Accurate reporting is essential for the correct disbursement of payments to travel sources and for maintaining compliance with Budget's policies.