An overview of the development of the major GDS systems like Amadeus, Galileo, Sabre and Worldspan, the airline distribution model and the future of those systems.

1. Global Distribution Systems
(GDS)
Past, present and yet to come….
Magiel Venema
info@edutour.eu
© 2011-2017 Edutour (Netherlands)
Part 2 of 5: The practice
A comprehensive overview of Global Distribution Systems in
the travel industry

2. 2
Global Distribution Systems
(GDS)
1. GDS: The origins
2. GDS: The practice
3. GDS: The playing field
4. GDS: New kids on the block
5. GDS: The future

3. 3
Glossary (Part 2)
• PNR:
– Passenger Name Record: File in a CRS/GDS holding all the relevant
details of a particular reservation
• Record Locator:
– A unique, 6-digit alphanumeric code, assigned to a PNR, with which
it can be located in a CRS/GDS
• TMC:
– Travel Management Company: Travel agency, specialized in Business
Travel. Offering additional specialized services for corporate travel
• Online Travel Agency (OTA):
– Online Travel Agency: a website offering travel planning and
reservation possibilities to consumers (Expedia, Travelocity, Priceline,
Orbitz and many others)
• BSP:
– Billing and Settlement Plan: a system to facilitate and simplify the
selling, reporting and remitting procedures between IATA Accredited
Travel Agencies and IATA-member airlines

4. 4
Functions of a GDS
• After connecting to the CRS of the Airline, the GDS has access to the
information of the airline and can make reservations in that system
– Information about Schedules: Times and Routes
– Checking Availability / Booking Request
• Flights, Accommodation, Cars, Trains, Ferries
• Other Travel Services: Tours, Events, Cruises, Insurance
– Fare Quotes and other Prices
– Making Reservations
– E-Ticketing, Itinerary Management
– Store Passenger information: Seat, Special Requests
– Processing of Payment (BSP)
– Management Information (MIDT = Management Information Data
Tape)
• After completing the reservation, the booking details are stored in a
booking file (PNR) in both the CRS of the airline and in the GDS

5. 5
Connectivity Airline - GDS
• A GDS can be connected to the inventory of an airline in
three ways:
1. Request from agency is sent via GDS to airline CRS, which sends a
message back. Seat is allocated only after the transaction is closed
and a confirmation message is received from the airline involved
2. Request goes from the GDS direct into the system of the airline. Seat is
allocated and guaranteed when the transaction is ended: Last Seat
Availability:
3. Request goes through the GDS direct into the system of the airline and
is allocated and guaranteed direct, during the transaction: Real Last
Seat Availability
• Option (3) is the highest level and therefore the most
secure!
• Option (3) is also the most expensive for the airline

6. 6
How does a GDS work?
• Reservation starts with the request for a flight
• System looks into database for flight availablility
• It checks fare and rules
• A booking is made
• Creation of a PNR (Passenger Name Record):
Itinerary – Passenger Name – Contact Details (Phone) – Date of
Ticketing – Received from – Fare - SSR/OSI – Seat
(In Red = Mandatory Parts of a PNR)
N.B. Each GDS adheres to these rules!
• Issue of Tickets (E-Ticket)

7. 7
Development User Interface
• Start: Dumb Terminals (Workstation)
• Now: Intelligent Terminals (= PC)
– Cryptic or Expert Mode (Like Focalpoint Galileo)
• Need to know a lot of entries (codes) for every action (command
lines)
– Graphical User Interface (GUI), like Galileo Smartpoint,
Amadeus Selling Platform, Sabre Red Workspace
• Just Point and Click
• Preferred Interface:
– Heavy and frequent users: Cryptic mode
– Casual users: Graphical User Interface: Point and Click

8. 8
Cryptic or Expert Mode (Command
Line Mode)
• Example (as used in the Amadeus GDS):
• Requesting an availability disply between two cities
needs the following input to entry:
• <A><Type Code><Date><Origin><Destination>
• When entering the command line
AN25JUNAMSHKG the system will display
availability (A), in a neutral way (N), on (25AUG) for
all flights between Amsterdam (AMS) and Hong
Kong (HKG), ordered by departure time
• Being able to use all the entries for creating a PNR,
staff needs a lot of training (cost and time intensive)

9. 9
Entries for Cryptic Mode
A short sample of entries for the cryptic mode!

10. 10
Cryptic Mode <> Point and Click
• Therefore need for a simpler interface: ‘Point and
Click’
• Advantage: User friendly, Structured Sales Process
• Disadvantage: System becomes somewhat slower
• However: during the booking process, users can
switch at any time between the ‘cryptic mode’
(command lines) and the ‘point and click’ method

11. 11
GDS Display: Galileo Focalpoint
(Cryptic-Mode)

12. 12
GDS Display: Galileo Smartpoint
(GUI-Mode)

13. 13
GDS Display: Amadeus Selling Platform
(GUI-Mode)

14. 14
The Reservation Data
• The reservation data are stored in a booking file,
commonly referred to as Passenger Name Record
(PNR)
• Contains Relevant Booking Data
• Structure is the same with every GDS, so PNR’s are
interchangeable
• Each PNR has an unique, automatically assigned, 6-
digit, alphanumeric code, by which it can be
accessed worldwide
• This code is referred to as record locator

15. 15
Details of a PNR
• Passenger identification: Name, frequent flyer ID,
contact data, etc
• Travel itinerary: Carrier, flight number, date,
leg/sector, origin & destination, etc
• Flight booking details: Special handling requests
(meals, wheelchair), etc
• Non-flight booking details: Car rental, hotel, etc
• Ticketing details: Fare, rules, taxes, surcharges
• Sales related information: Travel agency, form of
payment, booking channel, commission, etc.

16. 16
Elements of a PNR in a GDS
Mandatory (Required) Information:
– Name(s) of the Passenger(s)
– Itinerary: Trip Details
– E-Ticketing Details Information
– Contact Information of Passenger (phone, e-mail)
– Booking Reference: Received from (Who made the booking?)
Additional Information:
– Fare and ancillary services
– API: Advanced Passenger Information like date of birth, passport,
visa
– Special Requests: Meals, Handicaps, V.I.P., …..
– Seat assignment
Record Locator:
– An unique, 6-digit code, assigned automatically by the GDS to a PNR,
with which it can be located in a CRS/GDS

17. Example of a PNR
Mandatory Elements in BLUE
GDS refuses to accept a PNR when not all mandatroy elements
are present
Name
Itinerary
Booking reference
E-Ticketing date
Phone Contacts:
Agent and PSGR
Record Locator
Additional
information*
* VGML = Vegetarian Meal
FQTV = Frequent Flyer Membership

18. 18
Building a PNR (YouTube)
• On the internet entry-guides (for cryptic mode) can be
found for each GDS (no links for copyright reasons, sorry)
• On YouTube there are several videos showing the
building of a PNR in practice
• Following are two examples of how to build a PNR with
Amadeus and Galileo
• You need to be online to follow and view the YouTube
links below:
• Example 1 shows a booking in Amadeus from Atlantic
City to Moscow
• Duration: 18 minutes
• Example 2 shows a booking in Galileo from Sanah to
Dubai
• Duration: 6 minutes

19. 19
Learning to use a GDS
• All systems offer training courses (in general
for travel agencies staff only)
– Classroom
– OnLine
• Also there are simulations available for use in
schools and colleges
• Average duration: 1-2 weeks, 40-70 hours

20. 20
GDS Training from Edutour
• Edutour provides GDS training materials for all
major GDS:
– Amadeus
– Abacus
– Galileo
– Sabre
– Worldspan
• Both Computer Based Training and Simulation
• For classroom or individual use
• Visit Edutour on the web
• Contact Magiel Venema

21. 21
End of Part 2
• Now continue with the next part:
1. GDS: The origins
2. GDS: The practice
3. GDS: The playing field
4. GDS: New kids on the block
5. GDS: The future