What Is a Net Fare?
Definition: A net fare is a non-commissionable fare given to an agency or consolidator, to which the seller adds its own markup.
How net fares work
Airlines sell two broad kinds of fare to the trade. A published fare is the public price; an agency selling it may earn a commission from the airline. A net fare carries no commission: the agency gets a lower price and decides for itself how much to add before selling.
Net fares usually reach smaller agencies through consolidators and B2B platforms, which have contracts with airlines or access to private fares. Many net fares come with rules about how they can be sold, for example not showing the net price to the traveller.
Net fare vs published fare
| Published fare | Net fare | |
|---|---|---|
| Who sees it | Everyone | Contracted agencies and consolidators |
| How the agency earns | Commission (if any) or a service fee | Its own markup |
| Selling price | Usually the public price | Set by the agency |
Why it matters for travel agencies
With a net fare, your margin is the difference between your cost and your price, so you must know your full cost: fare, taxes and any service fees. A markup set on the fare alone can disappear once fees are added.
Example
Hypothetical: an agency's cost for a ticket is USD 300 including taxes and fees. It sells the ticket for USD 340, so its margin is USD 40. A competitor using the published fare earns only a small commission on the same booking.
How QuickOTA shows your cost
In the QuickOTA B2B Panel you see the fare and an itemised service fee before you book, so you know your full cost. You then set your own markup. See Pricing.