Overview of rate search types and coloader booking behavior
Rate Search Types
The type of rate search is determined by the relationship between the user’s office country and the shipment routing. This directly impacts rate availability and API bookability.
1. Export
Definition
- Origin airport country = user office country
Behavior
- Rates are sourced directly from airlines
- Live pricing and availability are supported
- API booking is allowed (if IATA CASS is attached to user)
2. Import
Definition
- Destination airport country = user office country
- Origin airport country ≠ user office country
Behavior
- Rates may be provided via a coloader* using an IATA CASS agreement (when available)
- Live results may still be returned depending on market coverage, but may be greatly restricted
- All returned options are marked as non-bookable via API
- Booking remains possible via FlyWINDOW
*Coloader is a partner forwarder who facilitates searches and bookings through their CASS.
3. Cross-Trade
Definition
- Origin and destination airport countries are both different from the user office country
Behavior
- Rates may be provided via a coloader using an IATA CASS agreement (when available)
- Live results may still be returned depending on market coverage, but may be greatly restricted
- All returned options are marked as non-bookable via API
- Booking remains possible via FlyWINDOW
Decision Table — Rate Search Type Resolution
| User Office Country | Origin Airport Country | Destination Airport Country | Search Type | Coloader Used | API Bookable | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Same | Same | Different | Export | ❌ No* | ✅ Yes | Airline-direct rates, live pricing supported |
| Same | Different | Same | Import | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | Coloader-only, FlyWINDOW booking only |
| Same | Different | Different | Cross-trade | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | Coloader-only, FlyWINDOW booking only |
Key Rules
- The user office country is the reference point.
- If neither origin nor destination matches the office country, cross-trade applies.
- If only destination matches the office country, import applies
- If import, cross-trade or *export without IATA CASS, coloader flow applies
- When a coloader is used, API booking is disabled by design and options can be booking only via FlyWINDOW**
**If bookable is allowed via FlyWINDOW availableReason field will contain bookable only via FlyWINDOW in the description.
Coloader Limitations
When a coloader flow is triggered:
- Market coverage is limited
- Returned rates may be fewer than airline-direct searches
- API booking is disabled by design
- FlyWINDOW remains available for manual booking
Coloader Behavior (Applies to Import & Cross-Trade)
When a coloader flow is triggered:
- Rates are sourced via IATA CASS agreements
- Coverage depends on market availability and results may be limited
- Booking remains possible through FlyWINDOW
Recommended Integration Pattern
- Prefer Export (with IATA CASS attached to user) searches where the office country matches one side of the route.
- Avoid Cross-trade, Import or Export without IATA CASS if API booking is required.
Rate Types and Rate Search Flow Matrix
| Rate search flow | Rate type response | Needs own IATA CASS for search | Booking flow | Airline coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Export | Contract | Y | Through own IATA CASS | CASS country determines the origin export country |
| Export | Live | Y | Through own IATA CASS | CASS country determines the origin export country |
| Export | Contract (facilitated by Co-Loader CASS) | N | Payment through CargoMART. Payment flow embedded within FlyWINDOW environment | Depending on Co-Loader availability on the trade lane |
| Export | Live (facilitated by Co-Loader CASS) | N | Payment through CargoMART. Payment flow embedded within FlyWINDOW environment | Depending on Co-Loader availability on the trade lane |
| Export | Market | N | Can't be booked through API or FlyWINDOW Through FlyWINDOW, manual quote request at airline can be initiated | Market rates are returned when no CASS rate (based on own or Co-Loader CASS) can be provided on the trade lane |
| Import | Contract (facilitated by Co-Loader CASS) | N | Payment through CargoMART. Payment flow embedded within FlyWINDOW environment | Depending on Co-Loader availability on the trade lane |
| Import | Live (facilitated by Co-Loader CASS) | N | Payment through CargoMART. Payment flow embedded within FlyWINDOW environment | Depending on Co-Loader availability on the trade lane |
| Import | Market | N | Can't be booked through API or FlyWINDOW Through FlyWINDOW, manual quote request at airline can be initiated | Market rates are returned when no CASS rate (based on own or Co-Loader CASS) can be provided on the trade lane |
| Cross-Trade | Contract (facilitated by Co-Loader CASS) | N | Payment through CargoMART. Payment flow embedded within FlyWINDOW environment | Depending on Co-Loader availability on the trade lane |
| Cross-Trade | Live (facilitated by Co-Loader CASS) | N | Payment through CargoMART. Payment flow embedded within FlyWINDOW environment | Depending on Co-Loader availability on the trade lane |
| Cross-Trade | Market | N | Can't be booked through API or FlyWINDOW Through FlyWINDOW, manual quote request at airline can be initiated | Market rates are returned when no CASS rate (based on own or Co-Loader CASS) can be provided on the trade lane |