Fare Rules, In Plain English
Paste any pasted GDS fare rule, baggage, or penalty remark. Get a clear, client-ready explanation of what it actually means — before you advise the client.
Common Fare Rule Abbreviations
A quick reference for the abbreviations this tool recognizes — the same widely-used, ATPCO-style shorthand you'll see across Amadeus, Sabre, Galileo, and Worldspan fare rule displays.
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
NONREF | Non-refundable ticket |
NOCHG / NONEND | No changes permitted |
CHG FEE | Changes allowed for a fee |
PEN | Penalty applies for change/cancellation (usually followed by an amount) |
NO SHOW | Penalty for not taking the flight without cancelling in advance |
ADVRES / ADVPUR | Advance reservation/purchase — must book X days before departure |
TKTL | Ticketing time limit |
MINSTAY | Minimum stay required before the return/onward flight |
MAXSTAY | Maximum stay allowed before the return/onward flight |
STPC | Stopover permitted or not permitted |
EMBARGO | Travel restricted or blocked on this route/date range |
BLACKOUT | Fare cannot be used on certain dates |
1PC / 2PC | Piece-concept baggage allowance (number of checked pieces) |
23K / 32K | Weight-concept baggage allowance in kilograms |
XBAG | Excess baggage fees apply beyond the allowance |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does NONREF mean on a fare rule?
NONREF (or NON-REF) means the ticket is non-refundable — it generally cannot be refunded if the passenger cancels, though exact conditions vary by fare and airline.
What does ADVRES or ADVPUR mean?
ADVRES / ADVPUR stands for advance reservation or advance purchase — the number that follows is how many days before departure the ticket must be booked and issued.
What do MINSTAY and MAXSTAY mean?
MINSTAY is the minimum time that must pass before the return or onward flight (often a Saturday-night-stay requirement on leisure fares). MAXSTAY is the maximum time allowed before the return flight, such as 1M for one month or 1Y for one year.
Is this fare rule decoder accurate for every airline?
It decodes widely used, industry-standard ATPCO-style fare rule abbreviations. Some carriers use non-standard wording or additional conditions, so always confirm the exact rule in your GDS (an FQD/FN-style entry) or directly with the airline before advising a client.