Want to make a career in travel & tourism after Class 12 or graduation?

If you are interested in reservations, air ticketing, travel consultancy, customer service, or travel operations, professional training can help you develop relevant industry skills. But students should not choose a course simply because it has “IATA” in its name or for its short duration.

Before enrolling, understand the course syllabus, training format, certification, practical exposure, and what skills you will get before enrolling.

After your 12th, you can choose IATA Courses After 12th and other travel industry programs to learn about reservations, ticketing, travel documentation, customer service, travel geography, airfares, and Global Distribution System (GDS) processes. Similar training is also available to graduates to develop specialized skills, enhance their profile, or prepare for a career change.

SAACH Academy is an IATA Authorized Training Center (ATC) located in Andheri East, Mumbai. It provides travel and tourism learning, practical GDS exposure, communication development, interview preparation, and career guidance.

What Is IATA Training?

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) provides professional learning programs for those wanting to comprehend airline and travel industry processes. Students may study travel and tourism, reservations and ticketing, customer service, travel documentation, geography, and systems in the industry, depending on the program.

Students have to understand an important point. The IATA program is not always the same as the program of the academy.

An IATA Authorized Training Center may offer IATA-related learning and its own travel, GDS, ticketing, and professional development programs. Hence, students should always check the certification associated with the particular course they choose.

Things Students Should Check Before Enrolling

  • Check whether the course is an IATA program or a SAACH Academy program
  • Who will give the final certificate or diploma?
  • Syllabus in detail
  • The course duration is now
  • The type of training, such as classroom or online learning
  • If hands-on GDS training is included
  • Eligibility, Fees & Timings of Batches
  • Career counseling or placement assistance from the academy

These questions help students compare programs on the basis of real learning value, not just promotional claims.

The Importance of Professional Training in Travel and Tourism

Travel and tourism includes practical processes and systems that students may not have the opportunity to learn about in school or college. Working in travel agencies, airlines, tour operators, reservation departments, and customer service teams. Such training can help students develop practical knowledge and industry-relevant skills that can be useful when starting a career in the travel and tourism industry. 

Depending on the program chosen, students may learn the following:

  • Basic concepts of travel and tourism
  • Reservations and the booking process
  • Basics of ticketing and airfares
  • Passenger requirements and travel documents
  • Travel geography and industry codes
  • Customer service skills 
  • Business communication
  • GDS features
  • Interview Etiquette, Workplace Etiquette

This practical knowledge can help students to be prepared for entry-level career opportunities in reservations, ticketing, travel consultancy, customer support, and travel operations.

Foundation in Travel & Tourism with exposure to GDS

A foundation-level program can be a good entry point for new students to the travel industry. It can help them understand the basics of travel products, airline services, reservations, ticketing, customer service, and travel documentation.

SAACH Academy – Foundation in Travel & Tourism with Amadeus / Saber / Galileo Diploma (FAST) This program provides students with a grounding in travel industry procedures and GDS knowledge.

Possible topics include:

  • Introduction To Travel And Tourism
  • Travel Geography & Industry Codes
  • Travel Documents
  • Customer Service 
  • Airline products and services
  • Basics of airfares and ticketing
  • Reservation procedures
  • GDS functionality.

Students also learn about the use of a Global Distribution System (GDS) for access to travel inventory, reservations, and booking-related processes.

Diploma in Travel and Tourism Consultant

There is also a consultant level for students who wish to further develop their specialist knowledge in travel consultancy, ticketing, fares, and customer requirements.

SAACH Academy offers the Travel & Tourism Consultant Diploma (TACT). for learners who want to understand itinerary planning, fares and ticketing processes, travel products, and customer services.

The program may include areas such as the following:

  • Travel consultancy skills 
  • Sales methods
  • Route planning
  • Fare building
  • Ticket Reissue, Exchange, and Refund
  • Rules for the travel industry
  • Travel products & lodging
  • Customer Support

This learning can be useful for students who want to explore roles in travel consultancy, reservations, ticketing, corporate travel support, customer service, and travel operations.

Completing a course does not guarantee a management position or employment. Your career growth depends on your practical skills, your job performance, your experience, your employer’s expectations, the availability of any open positions, and your performance in interviews.

SAACH Academy GDS & Travel Courses

SAACH Academy provides IATA-related training along with its own travel, GDS, ticketing, and professional development programs.

The course options are

  • Diploma in International Tourism & Travel Operations (DITTO) – 12 months
  • Foundation in Travel & Tourism with Amadeus/Sabre/Galileo Diploma (FAST) – 6 months
  • Travel & Tourism Consultant Diploma (TACT) 5 months
  • GDS Fares & Ticketing Amadeus / Saber Course (GIFT) – 2 months
  • GDS Reservation & Ticketing Program (Advanced) – 50 Hrs.

The SAACH Academy advises students to consult with the SAACH Academy counselor regarding the latest syllabus, certificate issuer, eligibility, fees, batch schedule, and learning format enrollment.

Significance of GDS Training

In the travel industry, the Global Distribution System (GDS) is used to access the travel inventory, make reservations, issue tickets, manage fares, and handle booking-related processes.

Practical GDS learning is important, as it gives students an idea of how reservation and ticketing are done in a professional environment.depending on the chosen program, exposes you to GDS platforms like Sabre, Galileo and Amadeus

Students learn about Passenger Name Record (PNR) creation and management, reservations, fare calculation, ticketing, ticket issuance, reissues, exchanges, and refunds.

Those students who want to learn more specific skills of reservation and ticketing can choose the GDS Fares & Ticketing Amadeus / Saber Course (GIFT) or the Advanced GDS Reservation & Ticketing Program.

IATA Courses After 12th / Graduation

Your best course will depend on your current education, skills, and career goals.

12th Grade After

For students who have completed Class 12, there is a foundation-level travel and tourism program. It can help them learn travel geography, reservation work, customer service, travel documentation, ticketing, and GDS operations.

This is a good starting point for those students who are new to the field and want to get an idea of what work in the travel industry is like before choosing a more specialized path.

Post-Graduation

Graduates can opt for travel and tourism training to gain practical industry skills in addition to their academic qualifications. This can be helpful for those who want to enter the travel industry, upskill, or make a career change.

No single course is appropriate for all students. Select by:

  • Your Career Goal
  • Your present studies
  • the skills you have now
  •  Course syllabus 
  • Opportunities for Practical Training
  • exposure to GDS
  • Duration of the course
  • Learning modality
  • Diploma or certificate awarding
  • Skills to Develop in Students

Technical knowledge is not enough for travel industry roles. Students also need to develop communication skills, patience, confidence, customer service ability, and professional behavior.

Communication Skills

Travel professionals need to clearly explain bookings, airfares, travel requirements, itinerary changes, and documentation. Good communication helps them serve customers with more confidence.

Customer Service and Problem Resolution

Good listening skills, handling customer concerns, resolving booking issues, and maintaining a helpful attitude are all important skills for travel jobs.

Professional Conduct

Business writing, telephone etiquette, professional presentation, workplace behavior, and teamwork can assist students in being more prepared for a professional environment.

Preparing for an interview

Students should be able to introduce themselves professionally, respond to common interview questions, and describe the skills they have acquired through training.

SAACH Academy helps students to develop

communication skills, business writing, public speaking, presentation skills, professional etiquette, and interview preparation.

Career Opportunities Students Can Pursue

Students may pursue entry-level career opportunities in various areas of the travel industry after adequate training based on their skills and the needs of the employers.

These can include:

  • Reservation Salesperson
  • Ticketing Executive
  • Tour Consultant
  • Customer Services Executive
  • Operations Manager – Travel
  • Support Executive (GDS)
  • Corporate Travel Support Executive Tour Operations Executive

Potential employers can include travel agencies, Online Travel Agencies (OTAs), airlines and airline service providers, corporate travel companies, tour operators, and travel support teams.

Training can help students to gain relevant skills, but it does not guarantee them jobs. Selection is determined by vacancies, employer needs, interviews, individual performance, and other hiring considerations.

Training for the travel and tourism industry

  • Hands-on experience on Amadeus, Sabre, and Galileo depending on the program
  • Knowledge of Reservations, Fares, and Ticketing
  • Communication & Customer Service Development
  • Business Writing & Professional Etiquette
  • Interview Preparation
  • Career Counseling and Placement Support

Career guidance and placement assistance should be  viewed as support for students and not as a job guarantee.

How to pick the right course

Ask yourself this before you choose a program:

  • Is this an IATA program or an academy program?
  • Who will my last certificate or diploma ?
  • What am I going to learn in this course?
  • Does the course include practical GDS training? Which GDS will I be trained on?
  • What is the duration of the course?
  • Does the program include interview and communication training?
  • What career guidance or placement assistance is available?

Once these aspects are clarified, you are in a position to choose a program on the basis of quality of learning and career relevance.

Conclusion

Taking up a professional course after Class 12 or graduation is an important decision. If you are a student looking to learn about travel, reservations, ticketing, customer service, or travel consultancy, then you must check the syllabus, certification, practical learning, and career relevance before enrolling in the course.

Students are able to acquire better industry preparation through IATA-related learning, travel industry knowledge, practical GDS exposure, communication skills, and interview preparation.

SAACH Academy is an IATA Authorized Training Center located at Andheri East, Mumbai. The academy offers programs in travel, GDS, ticketing, and professional development for students to acquire skills relevant to careers in travel and tourism.

FAQs

Are IATA courses available after Class 12?

Yes. Students who have completed Class 12 can explore suitable IATA-related and travel industry programs that cover reservations, ticketing, customer service, travel documentation, travel geography, and GDS processes. Students should Always check eligibility before enrolling.

Can graduates join IATA-related courses?

Yes. Graduates can choose relevant training to gain specialized travel industry knowledge, improve practical skills, or prepare for a career transition into the travel and tourism industry. 

What is a GDS?

GDS stands for Global Distribution System. It is used in the travel industry to access travel inventory, create reservations, manage bookings, handle ticketing, and support related travel processes.

Does SAACH Academy provide GDS training?

Depending on the selected program, SAACH Academy provides practical exposure to Amadeus, Sabre, and Galileo.

What courses does SAACH Academy offer?

SAACH Academy offers programs including DITTO, FAST, TACT, GIFT, and the Advanced GDS Reservation & Ticketing Program. Students should confirm the latest course details and certification with the academy before enrolling.

Does completing a course guarantee a job?

No. Training can help students gain relevant knowledge and practical skills, but employment depends on vacancies, employer requirements, interview performance, individual skills, and selection criteria.