SOTO tickets

SOTO ticket definition: A SOTO ticket (Sold Outside, Ticketed Outside) is an airline ticket purchased and issued in a country that does not appear in the traveller's flight itinerary.

Quick Read:

Within air travel, a SOTO ticket means Sold Outside, Ticketed Outside – ie. an airline ticket that has been bought and issued from a country that doesn’t feature in the travel itinerary.

Within air travel, a SOTO ticket means Sold Outside, Ticketed Outside – ie. an airline ticket that has been bought and issued from a country that doesn't feature in the travel itinerary.For example, if a UK traveller buys their ticket in the UK but they're travelling from New York, USA (JFK) to Los Angeles, USA (LAX), that will be a SOTO ticket. With regards to the location of these operations relative to the origin of the traveller, tickets may also be SITI, SITO or SOTI, specifying inside or outside.To learn more about SOTO tickets, check out our FAQ below:

What is the significance of a SOTO airline ticket?

Your airline ticket being a SOTO, SITO, SOTI or SITI ticket will make a big difference when it comes to fares. SOTO tickets are subject to fare construction surcharges under IATA pricing rules, which can make them more expensive than equivalent tickets purchased in the country of origin.These pricing differences stem from IATA's fare construction and ticketing authority guidelines, which govern how airlines calculate fares based on the point of sale and point of ticketing. Understanding these rules helps travel managers make smarter booking decisions.

What are the main differences between SOTO, SITO, SOTI and SITI?

Acronym

Full name

Definition

Example

SITI

Sold Inside, Ticketed Inside

Ticket purchased and issued in the country of origin

You buy your ticket in Berlin, Germany (BER) to fly from Berlin, Germany (BER) to London, UK (LHR)

SITO

Sold Inside, Ticketed Outside

Ticket purchased in the country of origin but issued elsewhere

You pay for your ticket in Germany but it's issued in the UK

SOTI

Sold Outside, Ticketed Inside

Ticket purchased outside the country of origin but issued there

A ticket paid for in Los Angeles, USA (LAX) for a customer in Hong Kong (HKG) that is issued when the customer checks in at Hong Kong (HKG)

SOTO

Sold Outside, Ticketed Outside

Ticket purchased and issued outside the country of origin

An E-Ticket you purchase for someone in another country

Why would someone buy a SOTO ticket?

SOTO tickets are common in work travel when a central travel team books flights for colleagues travelling between countries where the company doesn't have a local office. For example, a UK-based travel manager might book a ticket for an employee flying from Tokyo, Japan (NRT) to Sydney, Australia (SYD). Currency advantages or consolidated billing through a single travel management platform can also make SOTO bookings practical for global teams.

Are SOTO tickets allowed?

Yes, SOTO tickets are permitted under IATA regulations. Airlines and travel agencies can issue SOTO tickets, though they must follow specific fare construction rules that may result in different pricing compared to locally purchased tickets. Always check with your airline or travel management company for any carrier-specific restrictions.

Key takeaways

SOTO (Sold Outside, Ticketed Outside): Ticket purchased and issued in a country not on the travel itinerary — common for centralized work travel bookings
SITI (Sold Inside, Ticketed Inside): The most common ticket type, purchased and issued in the country of origin
SITO (Sold Inside, Ticketed Outside): Purchased locally but issued in another country
SOTI (Sold Outside, Ticketed Inside): Purchased abroad but issued in the country of origin
SOTO tickets follow IATA fare construction rules and may carry additional surcharges
Understanding these distinctions helps travel managers optimize bookings and control costs