Majeste now sets up AI systems for travel management companies. See a sample week

Check a debit memo before you dispute it.

Pick the reason the airline gives. You get the proof to gather, the airline's window and the last day to file in ARC Memo Manager.

Your memo

The reason on the memo

Pick the closest match to the reason the airline gives.

Each airline sets its own window. ARC suggests 30 calendar days from the day a memo is issued.

The issue date shows on the memo in Memo Manager.

Your memo

Checklist

Proof to gather

    Time to dispute

    Cut the next one

    Read the guide

    Quick reference

    Dispute windows by airline.

    Each airline sets its own window, and ARC suggests 30 days. Check the memo's airline first.

    • ARC's suggestion30 daysto dispute, counted from the memo's issue
    • DeltaOn receiptpayment is due when the memo arrives
    • JetBlue90 daysto dispute, on tickets up to 365 days old
    • Air Canada15 daysbusiness days to answer a dispute, on average
    • Cathay Pacific60 daysto answer a dispute

    Reference

    The proof for each memo reason.

    Answer the memo's own reason, and attach the records that show it.

    Reason on the memoWhat it usually meansProof to gather
    Fare or fare ruleThe airline says the fare on the ticket breaks its fare rules, or sits below the filed fare. Rules like advance purchase or minimum stay fall here.The stored fare quote from the moment of ticketing; The fare rule as filed on the ticketing date; The PNR history with booking and ticketing times
    TaxThe taxes or carrier charges on the ticket differ from what the airline says was due.The tax breakdown the GDS priced at ticketing; Any tax exemption document, cross-referenced on the ticket; GDS access to the memo, if the GDS priced the tax
    Booking practiceThe airline flags how the booking was held: repeated booking and cancelling, duplicate bookings, placeholder names, or inactive and passive segments left in the PNR.The PNR history with every change and its time stamp; The traveler's request that led to each change; The time each inactive segment was removed
    Ticketing time limitThe airline says the ticket was issued after the fare's ticketing deadline, at the older and lower fare.The ticket's issue time stamp; The stored fare with its ticketing deadline; The fare's filing date and time
    CommissionThe commission or incentive on the ticket differs from the contract the airline has on file.The written contract or addendum in force on the ticketing date; The tour code or ticket designator filed with the fare
    RefundThe airline says a refund paid back more than the fare rules allow, or came after the refund window.The record from your automated refund tool; The airline's waiver or authorization code in the PNR; The fare rule that shows what was refundable
    ExchangeThe airline says the fare difference or change fee on a reissue was calculated wrong.The automated exchange record from the GDS; Any residual value document, linked to the exchange in IAR
    Waiver or exceptionYou changed or refunded the ticket under an airline waiver, and the waiver is missing from the ticket the auditor reads.The waiver code in the tour code or ticket designator box; The waiver noted in the PNR
    Name changeThe airline says a name change went further than a spelling correction.The PNR history showing a spelling fix; The airline's authorization, if it approved the change
    Card chargebackThe cardholder disputed the charge with their bank, and the airline passes the amount to your agency.Evidence the cardholder took part in the sale; The booking request and the traveler's confirmation
    Unreported saleThe airline says a ticket was issued and missing from your IAR sales report.The IAR sales report that lists the ticket; The void record, if the ticket was voided

    Step by step

    How a dispute moves in Memo Manager.

    ARC carries the memo between the airline and your agency. The airline reads each dispute and decides it.

    1. The memo arrivesThe airline loads it into Memo Manager with a reason and its own calculation. An alert goes to the email on file.
    2. Your team opens itARC suggests opening each memo within 10 business days and checking it against the PNR.
    3. Pay or disputePay sends it to your IAR sales report. A dispute moves it to Open-Dispute Pending; a comment alone leaves it open.
    4. The airline decidesIt accepts or rejects each dispute and sets how many disputes a memo gets. ARC suggests an answer within 30 days.
    5. It settles when you payA memo you leave alone goes inactive at the airline's age limit, and the airline can still reopen it and collect.

    Checklist

    Before, during and after you file.

    • Before you dispute

      • Match the memo's reason to your own records
      • Pull the PNR history and the stored fare
      • Note the airline's window for this memo

    • When you file

      • Click Dispute, so the status moves to Open-Dispute Pending
      • Answer the memo's own reason in your first line
      • Attach every record that proves it

    • After the airline answers

      • Dispute again with new proof if it's rejected
      • Ask for the evidence that would cancel the memo
      • Pay within 14 days once you agree it's valid

    By the numbers

    Debit memos, in numbers.

    • 1 in 344tickets brings a debit memoARC
    • 14tickets a single memo can listARC
    • 3disputes ARC recommends each memo allowsARC
    • 39 monthsMemo Manager keeps each memoARC

    Sources for this tool.

    Checked on October 26, 2026. Each airline sets its own policy, so check it before you file.

    1. ARC, Best Practices for Effective Debit Memo Resolution and Prevention (2023) ARC
    2. ARC, Memo Manager FAQs ARC
    3. ARC, Memo Manager questions and answers (2018) ARC
    4. ARC, How to dispute a memo in Memo Manager (2025) ARC
    5. ARC, GDS access to memos (2022) ARC
    6. Delta, Debit memo policy Airline policy
    7. Delta, Booking policy definitions Airline policy
    8. JetBlue, Debit memo information for travel agents Airline policy

    Draft each dispute before the window closes.

    Walk us through your last month of memos. Majeste drafts each dispute in Memo Manager, and your team approves it before it's filed.

    Book a walkthrough

    Step 1 of 2Pick a time

    Walk us through your week.

    A 30-minute call on Google Meet. Tell us how your week runs and where your time does the most good, and you'll leave knowing what to take off your plate first.

    • Open times
    • Unavailable
    • Today

    Pick a day

    Rather talk now? Call (949) 424-3009 or email contact@majeste.co.