Five IATA Air Cargo Booking Types
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) lists these five examples of booking types for airline cargo capacity. Use this guide to identify the booking type shown on a carrier’s confirmation.
| Booking type | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Allotment | Capacity set aside for a customer on agreed flights, typically on a recurring basis. | A forwarder has an allocation on a weekly flight. |
| Block space | A defined share of cargo capacity reserved under a block space agreement. | A buyer reserves two pallet positions per flight. |
| Free sale | Cargo space booked from the carrier’s available inventory. | A forwarder books an open position on a scheduled flight. |
| Contract | A shipment booking made under an existing rate or service agreement. | A forwarder books at its agreed rate for the route. |
| Spot | A one-off booking at a rate quoted for that shipment. | A forwarder requests a fresh quote for an urgent shipment. |
Booking Confirmation
Check the booking reference and status, booking type, routing, shipment details, rates, surcharges and special conditions. For a full or part aircraft charter, record the agreed aircraft or reserved capacity in the charter confirmation.
