Glossary
Business travel glossary
Plain-English definitions of the travel, visa, events and finance terms our clients meet most, with links to the guides that explain them in practice.
Contents
Four groups of terms
Each definition is short on purpose. Where a term needs more context, the guides linked at the end of each section cover it in detail. Rules referred to here can change; the linked guides carry dated checks against official sources.
Group 1
Flights and fares
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Fare basis | The code that sets a fare’s rules: changes, refunds, baggage and minimum stay. |
| PNR | Passenger Name Record: the airline or booking-system record of a reservation, identified by a six-character code. |
| E-ticket | The electronic record that a fare has been paid; its number is different from the PNR. |
| Codeshare | A flight sold by one airline but operated by another. Check-in is with the operating airline. |
| Interline | Separate airlines on one ticket, with bags checked through and protection if a connection is missed. |
| Open-jaw | A return trip that ends at a different city from where the outbound arrived, such as Karachi–Frankfurt, Paris–Karachi. |
| Layover and stopover | A layover is a short connection; a stopover is a planned stay of usually more than 24 hours on the way. |
| No-show | Not turning up for a booked flight. Many airlines cancel the rest of the itinerary after a no-show. |
| Group fare | A fare for, usually, 10 or more people on the same flights, held with a deposit and a name-list deadline. |
Read more: business travel FAQ and corporate travel management.
Group 2
Visas and documents
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Business visa | A visa that allows meetings, negotiations, fairs and training, but not productive work for a host. |
| Schengen C visa | The short-stay visa for the Schengen area, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. |
| E-visa | A visa applied for and issued online; the traveller carries a printout or the record is checked electronically. |
| Electronic travel authorisation (ETA) | A pre-travel permission for visa-exempt or eligible travellers, such as the UK ETA for some nationalities. |
| Biometrics | Fingerprints and a photo taken at a visa centre or consulate as part of the application. |
| Invitation letter | A letter from the host company explaining who is visiting, why, when and who pays. |
| Employer letter (NOC) | A letter from the traveller’s employer confirming role, salary, leave and who pays for the trip. |
| Letter of Guarantee | A formal guarantee by a host company, required by Japan for some business visas. |
| Consular district | The part of a country a consulate covers; residents may have to apply at the consulate for their district. |
| Apostille | A certificate that authenticates a public document for use in another country party to the Apostille Convention. Pakistan joined with effect from 9 March 2023. |
| Attestation | The chain of stamps from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the destination’s mission, used where an apostille does not apply. |
| Note verbale | A formal diplomatic note, used by ministries to request visas for officials on official passports. |
Read more: business visa FAQ, invitation letters and employer letters.
Group 3
Hotels, groups and events
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| MICE | Meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions: the business events industry. |
| DMC | Destination management company: a local firm that runs ground arrangements in a destination. |
| Room block | A set of rooms held at a hotel for a group, at an agreed rate, until a release date. |
| Attrition | The share of a room block a group can release without penalty. Releasing more triggers charges. |
| Release date (cut-off) | The date after which unbooked rooms in a block return to the hotel. |
| Rooming list | The list of who stays in which room, with dates and sharing arrangements. |
| Run of show | The minute-by-minute plan for an event, from doors to close. |
| Force majeure | A contract clause covering events outside both parties’ control, such as natural disasters. |
| FOC | Free of charge: for example, one free room or ticket for every set number booked. |
| Incentive trip | A trip given as a reward to staff, dealers or customers who hit targets. |
| ATA Carnet | An international customs document for taking goods, such as samples or equipment, into a country temporarily without paying duties. |
Read more: MICE and events FAQ and MICE and events.
Group 4
Policy, finance and care
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Travel policy | The company rules on who can travel, how, in what class and with whose approval. |
| Duty of care | An employer’s responsibility for the health, safety and security of staff when they travel. |
| Pre-trip approval | Approval before booking, so policy is applied before money is spent. |
| Per diem | A daily allowance for meals and incidentals, set by the company or donor. |
| Cost centre | The department or project a trip is charged to. |
| TMC | Travel management company: a firm that manages a company’s business travel, such as Go Global. |
| Traveller tracking | Knowing where each traveller is, from bookings, so they can be reached in an emergency. |
| Unused ticket credit | The value of a cancelled ticket that can be used for a later trip under the fare’s rules. |
Read more: travel policy and duty of care.
Check before travel: definitions are general. Visa rules, fees and processing times change without notice. This page was checked on 11 November 2026; the Apostille date is from the Hague Conference status table. Confirm on the official source before you book anything non-refundable.
Keep reading
More guides: policy and products
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