If you're setting up a travel agency in the United States and plan to issue airline tickets directly, you'll run into ARC sooner or later. This guide covers what ARC accreditation actually involves, who genuinely needs it, and the much more common alternative most new agents choose instead.
What Is ARC?
The Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) is the organization that settles ticket sales between US travel agencies and airlines. When an accredited agency issues a ticket, ARC is the clearinghouse that collects the fare from the agency and distributes it to the airline, and it's also what allows an agency to issue tickets on its own ARC number in the first place.
Without ARC accreditation (or access to someone else's), a US agency legally cannot issue its own airline tickets — this is the single biggest reason agencies pursue it.
Who Actually Needs Their Own ARC Number?
In practice, very few new agents apply for ARC accreditation directly. It's built for established agencies with real ticketing volume, because it comes with ongoing financial and reporting obligations. Most new and independent agents instead work under a host agency's existing ARC accreditation, which lets them sell and book travel — including issuing tickets — without holding their own number.
ARC Accreditation vs Selling Under a Host Agency
| Path | Who It's For | Ticketing |
|---|---|---|
| Own ARC accreditation | Established agencies with real ticket volume | Issue directly under your own number |
| Host agency's ARC number | New, independent, or home-based agents | Issue under the host's accreditation |
General Requirements for Direct ARC Accreditation
Requirements can change, so always confirm current specifics directly with ARC before applying, but agencies typically need to demonstrate:
- A legally registered business with a physical US location
- Errors & omissions insurance and/or a financial bond
- A qualified manager with verifiable industry experience
- Ongoing financial reporting and settlement compliance once accredited
Most agents starting out get GDS access and ticketing ability through a host agency's ARC number first, then consider applying for their own accreditation later if ticket volume justifies the ongoing overhead.
The Application Process (High Level)
For agencies pursuing direct accreditation, the process generally involves submitting a formal application to ARC, providing proof of the business and insurance requirements above, and passing ARC's review before a number is issued. This can take weeks to a few months, so agencies planning to ticket directly should build that timeline into their launch plan.
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