BSP Data Interchange Specifications Handbook - DISH

DISH is the global data interchange standard implemented by all Billing Settlement Plans (BSPs), to ensure consistency and the exchange of the highest possible quality data between BSPs and GDSs, airlines and other business partners.

The DISH provides the passenger travel industry with a set of standard formats to support the reporting of Passenger sales and ticketing data for settlement purposes.

The DISH Handbook constitutes Attachment "A" to the Passenger Services Conference Resolution 750; BSP Data Interchange Specifications.
Downloads of the Handbook is made available on this webpage.

Key Benefits

The Handbook specifies the formats, specifications and data fields used in BSPs for the following DISH files and business functions.

  • Agent Reporting (RET);  agents reporting via the Global Distribution Systems (GDSs) to the BSP.
  • Airline Accounting/Sales (HOT);  hand off transmission and accounting data file from the BSP.
  • Credit Sales Invoicing (CSI);  transactions produced by the BSP for the credit card company or airline.
  • Ticket Inventory Data (TI);  allocation of STD numbers to BSPs, ticketing systems and airlines.
  • Credit Card Settlement Plan (CSP);  invoice data from BSPs to the credit card company, bank, airline or UATP contractor airline.
  • Market Share Analysis Data (MSA);  reported by the BSP on request from the airline.

DISH describes the status of availability and identifies the functional use of data elements.  It also serves as a development tool for BSP systems and their interfaces with BSP participants.

BSP data interchange standards are jointly agreed, developed and maintained by industry experts (particularly involved in revenue accounting) participating in BSPs and the BSP Data Interchange Specifications Group (BDISG).

The DISH contains set testing procedures used for implementation processes and conforms to provisions of the IATA Passenger Services and Agency Conference Resolutions, Ticketing handbook, ISS Service Provisions Passenger and Airline Coding Directory.

What's New!

  • The BDISG has developed standards to meet the Electronic Miscellaneous Document (EMD) data requirements of BSP reporting. These standards are published as DISH Revision 20.2 which has been declared effective as of 01 January 2008 by the Passenger Services Conference (PSC).

    DISH Revision 20.2 is to be used in conjunction with Revision 20.1 as it is based on the current globally implemented DISH Revision 20.1 and includes new sections that replace corresponding pages of DISH Revision 20.1.
  • DISH Revision 20.3 will include urgent industry requirements with a planned effectiveness of 1 March 2010.
  • An Adhoc Working Group of the BDISG, known as the DISHWG, is currently undertaking a major analysis study of the DISH standards in an effort to
    (a) eliminate data elements and records no longer required for revenue accounting
    (b) streamline DISH procedures, record structures and transactions
    (c) redefine data fields and aligning them to PSC Resolutions
    (d) reflect further ET/EMD requirements
    (e) integrate new IATA guidelines for RET validation processes.
     

DISH Amendment Process

New business requirements and amendments to the DISH are to be submitted to the attention of the BDISG Secretariat at dish@iata.org using the DISH Amendment Form.   This form is also found within the BDISG private website and Appendix D of DISH.  The proposal will be submitted to the next meeting of the BDISG for inclusion in a new revision of the DISH.

Proposed amendments to DISH discussed and agreed at BDISG are endorsed by the PSC for adoption as an IATA standard.

When a new business requirement or an amendment necessitates urgent implementation, eg: a change in government regulation, an electronic procedure known as the PSC mailvote is used to expedite the change.  This only applies to exceptional urgent items.

All agreed amendments become effective on the date recommended and shall be published in the next Revision of the DISH.

Implementation plans are coordinated by IATA and are driven by the testing procedures outlined in DISH section 4.3.5.

Questions?  Email dish@iata.org