MCO (Miscellaneous Charges Order)

Term from Travel Services industry explained for recruiters

An MCO (Miscellaneous Charges Order) is a special document used in the travel industry to charge for services that aren't covered by regular airline tickets or hotel bookings. Think of it as a payment voucher that travel agents and airlines use for things like upgrade fees, extra baggage charges, or travel insurance. It works like a blank check that can be filled in for various travel-related expenses. Travel professionals often need to know how to issue, process, and track these documents as they're an important part of travel accounting and customer service.

Examples in Resumes

Processed over 200 MCO transactions monthly for flight upgrades and excess baggage

Managed customer refunds through MCO and Miscellaneous Charges Order processing

Trained new staff on MCO issuance procedures and documentation requirements

Typical job title: "Travel Agents"

Also try searching for:

Travel Consultant Airline Ticketing Agent Corporate Travel Coordinator Travel Operations Specialist Reservation Agent Travel Service Representative

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you handle a complex MCO refund situation involving multiple vendors?

Expected Answer: A senior agent should explain the process of coordinating with different vendors, understanding refund policies, proper documentation, and ensuring customer satisfaction while maintaining compliance with travel regulations.

Q: Describe your experience in training others on MCO procedures.

Expected Answer: Should demonstrate leadership in creating training materials, explaining complex procedures simply, and ensuring consistent MCO handling across the team.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What are the most common situations where you would issue an MCO?

Expected Answer: Should be able to list various scenarios like upgrade fees, extra baggage charges, change fees, and explain the proper documentation needed for each.

Q: How do you ensure accuracy when processing MCOs?

Expected Answer: Should discuss verification procedures, double-checking amounts, confirming service details, and following company policies for documentation.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What is an MCO and when is it used?

Expected Answer: Should be able to explain that an MCO is a payment document for extra travel services and give basic examples of its use.

Q: What information must be included on an MCO?

Expected Answer: Should know basic required fields like passenger name, service type, amount, date, and authorization details.

Experience Level Indicators

Junior (0-1 years)

  • Basic MCO issuance
  • Simple payment processing
  • Standard documentation procedures
  • Basic GDS knowledge

Mid (2-4 years)

  • Complex MCO transactions
  • Refund processing
  • Problem resolution
  • Multiple vendor coordination

Senior (5+ years)

  • Training and supervision
  • Policy development
  • Complex problem solving
  • Vendor relationship management

Red Flags to Watch For

  • Unfamiliarity with basic travel industry terms
  • No experience with GDS (Global Distribution Systems)
  • Poor attention to detail in financial transactions
  • Lack of customer service experience