fareattributestxt

Fareattributestxt is a plain text data file used in airline fare management and travel distribution to store attribute records for individual fare offerings. It captures non-price characteristics that supplement the fare’s monetary value, supporting display, validation, and rule enforcement across systems.

A record in fareattributestxt typically includes fields such as fare code or fare basis, currency and amount, validity dates, origin and destination constraints, cabin or booking class, passenger type, refundability, change rules or fees, baggage allowances, and references to fare rules. Field names are often abbreviated (for example FARE_CODE, CURRENCY, AMOUNT, VALID_FROM, VALID_TO, CABIN, BOOKING_CLASS, PASSENGER_TYPE, REFUNDABLE, CHANGE_FEE, BAGGAGE, RULE_ID). The file is plain text, with records stored line by line and fields separated by a delimiter such as a pipe or comma; some implementations use key=value pairs or include a header row.

Usage and relevance: Fareattributestxt serves as a compact source of metadata that pricing engines and distribution platforms consult when quoting fares, displaying restrictions, and applying refunds or changes. It may be generated by revenue management or fare engines and exchanged with GDSs, CRS, or airline reservation systems, sometimes alongside other data files.

Limitations and evolution: As a text-based format, it relies on agreed delimiters and documented schemas; lack of strict validation can lead to parsing errors without proper governance. In modern environments, fare attribute data may be represented in structured formats such as XML or JSON or stored in database-backed services, but legacy systems may still rely on fareattributestxt for interoperability.