Travel Agent Communication (TAC) – PED 03/04/07 Dear Travel Professional Below are several important news items from ARC: 1) Fee Increases for Accreditation Applications/Forms and New Version for Applications Processing System (APS 4.0) 2) US Airways and America West Airlines Reservation System Merger 3) Corrected: Kuwait Airways Now Accepts Diners Club International, Mastercard and Visa 4) Aerosvit Airlines Now Accepts UATP 5) US Helicopter Has Joined ARC 6) Tip of the Week – Credit Card Chargeback Policy ******************************************************* 1) Fee Increases for Accreditation Applications/Forms and New Version for Applications Processing System (APS 4.0) The Application Processing System (APS 4.0) has a new form version (8.6). If you are a user of the APS system, you will need to download the new version. The new version was created accommodate the requirement to increase fees for the following application types: - All new branch and satellite ticket printer applications - All miscellaneous change applications requests (except change of agency locations) - All ownership change applications (except ownership change Type II) - All corporate travel department applications Visit our Web site and download Form 353 (www.arccorp.com/forms/aas/form353.pdf) for a total listing of all Accreditation applications and their associated fees. Applications received after March 14, 2007 will be required to include the new fees. ARC’s Web site PDF applications (www.arccorp.com/custservice/cust_forms_catalog.html) have been updated to reflect the fee increases. ******************************************************* 2) US Airways and America West Airlines Reservation System Merger Effective March 4 at midnight Eastern Time, US Airways (037/US) and America West (401/HP) merged their two reservations into one consolidated system, resulting in the following changes:
- No new America West (401/HP) transactions will be generated - Refunds in the GDS will be allowed for old America West (401/HP) transactions - Exchanges for old America West (401/HP) transactions will be allowed for new US Airways (037/US) transactions - Exchanges and refunds for old America West (401/HP) transactions can be processed through your weekly IAR sales report For more information contact: US Airways Agency Help Desk Phone: 1-800-231-3131 US Airways Revenue Accounting Phone: 480-693-6136 e-mail: debitmemos@usairways.com ******************************************************* 3) Corrected: Kuwait Airways Now Accepts Diners Club International, Mastercard and Visa Effective with sales of February 19, 2007 (PED 02/25/07), Kuwait Airways (229/KU) accepts Diners Club International, Mastercard and Visa as a form of payment through ARC. Please review Section 8.4 (Credit Card Acceptance and Chargeback Information) of the Industry Agents’ Handbook at www.arccorp.com/forms/pp/iah/current/iah8_4.pdf for individual carrier acceptance and exception policy. ******************************************************* 4) Aerosvit Airlines Now Accepts UATP Effecitve with sales of March 5, 2007 (PED 03/11/07) Aerosvit Airlines (870/VV) will be accepting UATP as form of payment through ARC. ******************************************************* 5) US Helicopter Has Joined ARC US Helicopter (116/UH) will join the ARC as a participating carrier effective with sales on March 5, 2007 (PED 03/11/07). US Helicopter serves the New York City metro area with scheduled, hourly flights between Manhattan, John F. Kennedy and Newark Liberty Airports, as well as a morning and evening commuter flight to/from Bridgeport, CT. US Helicopter operates eight minute flights aboard state-of-the-art, eight-passenger,
dual-engine Sikorsky S76 helicopters which are always flown with two pilots on board. US Helicopter has elected the General Concurrence method of agent appointment whereby all ARC agents and CTDs are automatically appointed as agents of US Helicopter unless specifically advised to the contrary by the carrier. In addition to cash, US Helicopter will accept the following credit card forms of payment: American Express, Visa, MasterCard, and Diners Club. US Helicopter and its partner Continental Airlines, will activate interline e-ticketing on Wednesday March 7th, allowing passengers to be ticketed through to the Downtown Manhattan Heliport at Wall Street (JRB) or the East 34th Street Heliport (TSS). Passengers clear TSA security at both Manhattan Heliports – through to final destination on airlines that partner with USH. Bags are also thru-checked to final destination. For inquiries, sales and further information, contact the offices listed below: US Helicopter Marketing and Sales Office 150 East 42nd Street, Fl 4 New York, NY 10017 Toll Free Number: 877-262-7676 www.flyush.com ******************************************************* 6) Tip of the Week - Credit Card Chargeback Policy The purpose of the credit card chargeback policy is to provide travel agents with the information they need to relieve themselves of liability from fraud-related credit card chargebacks. The key points to remember are: Follow the instructions and procedures contained in Section 8 of the Industry Agents' Handbook Validate the credit card expiration date and effective date Obtain an approval code Obtain a signed and imprinted Universal Credit Card Charge form For additional information see the Industry Agents' Handbook (IAH) Section
8.4 - Credit Card Acceptance and Chargeback Information at www.arccorp.com/forms/pp/iah/current/iah8_4.pdf . Following proper procedures for all credit card sales, including sales initiated via the internet or telephone, will offer the best protection in the event of a credit card chargeback. Remember: Effective November 2005, only the Automated Credit Card Charge Form (those credit card charge forms printed on ATB stock) was discontinued. Manual Credit Card Charge Forms are still valid and offer the best protection against fraud-related chargebacks. ******************************************************* ARC Customer Support Center (703) 816-8003; fax (703) 816-8039 csc@arccorp.com Corporate Communications Tel. (703) 816-8525; fax (703) 816-8168 corpcom@arccorp.com www.arccorp.com Please distribute the ARC Travel Agency Communication (TAC) among staff and colleagues.