A “rent-a-plate” refers to a service in the travel industry where smaller travel agencies or independent travel agents use the accreditation or credentials of a larger, established agency to issue airline tickets. These larger agencies, known as the “plates” because of the IATA (International Air Transport Association) numbers they hold, allow the smaller agencies to access airline reservation systems and issue tickets under their umbrella. This arrangement helps smaller agencies operate without needing to obtain their own IATA accreditation, which can be costly and complex. In exchange, the larger agency typically charges a fee or takes a commission on each ticket issued.