What EMD means
The e-ticket covers the fare and taxes for a journey. Everything else an airline sells, from a paid seat to a lounge pass, needs its own accounting document. The EMD fills that role, replacing older paper documents such as the miscellaneous charges order (MCO).
IATA describes the EMD as working much like an e-ticket: the document is issued, the customer receives a receipt, and value coupons are stored in the airline's database. The standard is set out in IATA Passenger Services Conference resolutions 725f, 725g and 725h.
There are two types. An EMD-A (associated) is linked to a specific flight coupon on an e-ticket and is used together with it, which suits flight-related ancillaries such as seats, meals or bags. An EMD-S (standalone) is not tied to a particular coupon and covers charges like change fees, group deposits or residual value.
Each EMD coupon carries a reason for issuance code (RFIC) and a sub-code (RFISC) that tell the airline what was sold. Travelport notes that all coupons on one EMD must share the same RFIC, while sub-codes can differ.
EMDs matter for agencies because ancillary revenue is growing and airlines expect it to be sold, reported and settled as cleanly as tickets, through BSP or ARC.
How EMD works
An EMD is sold against a booking, issued on the airline's document stock and settled like a ticket.
- Identify the serviceThe agent requests the service in the PNR, for example a seat or baggage SSR, and the airline returns the price and its RFIC and RFISC codes.
- Pick EMD-A or EMD-SFlight-related services that belong to a specific coupon use an EMD-A. Fees and deposits not tied to one flight use an EMD-S.
- Link to the ticketAn EMD-A is associated with the e-ticket coupon automatically. For an EMD-S that relates to a ticket, the agent fills in the issued-in-connection-with ticket number.
- Issue and reportThe EMD is issued with its own document number and reported to BSP or ARC with the agency's other sales.
- Consume or refundThe coupon is used when the service is delivered, or refunded or exchanged according to the airline's rules.
EMD in practice
Verified airline examples from agency guidelines:
- American Airlines gives seat assignment payments and instant upsells as EMD-A uses, and reservation change fees (RFISC 993) and group deposits (RFISC 997) as EMD-S uses.
- Delta allows BSP agencies to use EMD-S for change fees, cancellation fees, group deposits and refundable residual value, and asks agencies to complete the issued-in-connection-with field so the EMD can be matched to the ticket.
- Delta also states that an EMD, whether EMD-A or EMD-S, is valid for one year from the date of issue and cannot be replaced if lost or stolen.
These are single-airline policies. Always check the validating carrier's own EMD rules before issuing.
Who uses it
Advantages and limitations
Advantages
- Gives ancillary sales the same electronic audit trail as tickets.
- Lets agencies sell airline extras through their usual GDS and settlement channels.
- RFIC and RFISC codes make it clear to the airline what service was paid for.
- Replaces paper MCOs, reducing manual processing and fraud risk.
Limitations
- Airline EMD policies differ, so the same fee may be permitted on EMD-S with one carrier and not another.
- Missing or wrong ticket cross-references can lead to the service being refused or to debit memos.
- EMDs have their own validity and refund rules, separate from the ticket they relate to.
- Not every service is available through every GDS or NDC connection.
Frequently asked questions about EMD
When should an agent use EMD-S instead of EMD-A?
Use EMD-A when the service belongs to one flight coupon, such as a seat or extra bag on a given flight, because it is lifted together with that coupon. Use EMD-S for charges that relate to the booking as a whole, such as change fees, group deposits or residual value, and fill in the related ticket number where the airline asks.
What are RFIC and RFISC codes on an EMD?
The reason for issuance code (RFIC) is a broad category for what was sold, and the reason for issuance sub-code (RFISC) identifies the exact service. American Airlines, for example, uses RFISC 993 for reservation change fees and 997 for group deposits. All coupons on one EMD share the same RFIC.
How long is an EMD valid?
Validity is set by each airline. Delta, for example, states that both EMD-A and EMD-S documents are valid for one year from the date of issue and that refundable residual value EMDs left unused after a year expire. Check the validating carrier's own policy before relying on any period.
Did the EMD replace the MCO?
Yes, for most purposes. Travelport describes the EMD as the industry-standard document for travel-related services that replaces paper documents such as MCOs and MPDs. Some settlement systems still use MCO-style processes in specific cases, such as ARC residual value handling by certain airlines.
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