About Batches

In the Fares program, batches are groups of fare transactions that are used to update the database. Batches may be created for International fares, US/CA fares, and Add-on fares (these are referred to as scopes). When a batch is created, a carrier and tariff must be specified. All transactions in a batch must belong to the same carrier and tariff.

Generally, batches are used to create new fares or to change or cancel existing fares. They are, however, sometimes used for research and are then deleted. Fares transactions are gathered into batches by the use of criteria sets or by creating a batch using the Create New Batch command. Functions within criteria sets can be used to change or create new transactions.

Transactions in a batch go through a three-step process before they are ready for distribution. Those steps are validate, apply, and release. Following release, most batches are filed in ATPCO’s Government Filing System (GFS). GFS then makes the transactions available to authorized recipients at designated subscription release times. In many cases the process of filing a batch in GFS is manual (users must load the batches themselves). There are some US/CA tariffs, however, for which batches are automatically filed in GFS upon release of the batch in the Fares program.

Fares transactions always go through the same three-step process even if a user chooses to not follow the process while working in a batch. For example, if a user clicks the button, transactions will automatically be validated as well. If a user clicks the button, transactions will automatically be validated and applied as well.