Originally Posted by
bhatnasx
FYI, IATA numbers are basically the TA's ID number & you do need to have the right ID card and would be very suprised if you weren't ID'd. Also, when you put the IATA number in, it's not for the discount...it's so the companies know which travel agent to pay the commission too. To get the travel agency rate, you generally need to get the right rate codes (at least with rental cars & hotels - not sure how airlines interact with the GDS systems).
You'd be surprised how many places DO NOT ask you for the ID card. I have my IATA card and we do book discounted rates for myself personally and rarely am I asked for the card. And when you enter the code on the web sites it is most of the time for you to get the FAM rates, when you book using your GDS then it automatically get's you your commissions. Rarely would you put your code in a web site to get your commissions and to get your bookings and such. Airlines don't do squat for IATA card holders just gives you some bonuses and help and AD75 fares and such.
For the OP: IATA is an organization that travel agents, hotels, air lines etc... join and belong to. It is not easy to get an IATA number and it is your private code. I would be surprised if anyone listed the numbers out but you are welcome to input numbers randomly HAHAHAHA and jsut come up with it. But you also have a personal VER # that you need at times also so you really have two numbers, the IATA number for the company and then your personal VER number.