Glossary

This glossary contains some of the expressions and abbreviations commonly used in the travel industry.

Airport Check-In
The airline has assumed control of pre-reserved seating. Traveler must obtain seat assignments at airport counter.

ARC
Airlines Reporting Corporation. Provides services to the travel industry primarily related to travel agency accreditation, transactions reporting, financial settlement and ticket assignment and distribution and control.

Assured Reservations
Unique to rooms guaranteed with an American Express Card. If a hotel does not have the room that was guaranteed, it is required to find alternate lodging at its own expense.

Back-to-Back Ticketing
Ticketing method in which the traveler books two overlapping roundtrip reservations that meet discount fare restrictions (such as a Saturday-night stay) in order to lower the overall cost of the trip. This practice violates FAA and airline rules and regulations and is generally prohibited.

Boarding Pass
A permit to board a ship, plane, train, or other form of transportation.

Bumping
The practice of removing a confirmed passenger from a full flight to make room for a passenger with higher priority; a full-fare passenger may bump an industry discount or free passenger.

Concierge
The individual or desk in a hotel that attends to guests' needs, including making theater reservations, portage, general information, etc.

Confirmation
A confirmed reservation exists when a supplier either orally or in writing acknowledges that a booking has been accepted. Most confirmations are subject to certain conditions.

Consolidator
A travel agency that specializes in liquidating airline seats (primarily international) that would normally go unsold. Although there may be significant cost savings, inventory is limited and tickets are highly restricted i.e. non-refundable, non-endorsable and non-changeable.

Connecting
Any two things directly linked to each other. Connecting flights enable a client to change planes to complete a journey. Connecting rooms or cabins enable guests to move from one to another without going outside.

Corporate Hotel Rate
A hotel rate that is set in advance for a full year and is not subject to change. Corporate rates are generally below or in the low end of the rack rate range and often offer upgraded accommodations. Only corporations or travel agencies enrolled in a hotel or chain's corporate rate program are eligible.

CRS
Computer Reservation System. An interactive electronic system linking individual travel agencies to a central, airline-owned computer, allowing agents to make availability inquiries and travel reservations.

Coupon, Flight
A coupon is a ticket issued for transportation, which contains the itinerary of the passenger but is valid only for carriage between the passenger's point of embarkation and debarkation on a single flight as noted on the coupon. It also includes the class of service, stopover code, carrier, date of travel, flight number, and applicable fare.

Coupon, Passenger
That portion of the ticket that is so marked and that ultimately is retained by the passenger.

Denied Boarding Compensation
Compensation paid to a passenger holding confirmed reserved space, who finds the airline cannot accommodate them. The traveler must have complied fully with the airline's requirements as to ticketing, check-in, and reconfirmation procedures and be acceptable for transportation under the carrier's tariff.

Direct/Thru Flight
Flight that makes one or more intermediate stops en route to destination, but no change of planes.

Duplicate Booking
Refers to two reservations made for same traveler for same or similar dates; will be canceled by airline if discovered. Travel counselors are not allowed to make duplicate bookings.

E Ticket
An electronic or 'e' ticket is similar to a hotel reservation. An electronic airline ticket resides on the airline's computer data-base. At the time of booking, the traveler receives a confirmation number. The traveler presents the confirmation number at check-in along with photo ID and receives a boarding pass.

GDS
Global Distribution System. An interactive electronic system linking individual travel agencies to a central, airline-owned computer, allowing agents to make availability inquiries and travel reservations.

Leg
The portion of a journey between two scheduled stops.

Minimum Connection Time
Time established as the minimum required in order to make a connecting flight; can vary with airport and airline.

No-Show
A passenger or hotel guest who fails to use or cancel a reservation.

Nonrefundable
Refers to a ticket that if unused has no value once the flight has departed.

Nontransferable
Refers to a ticket that cannot be changed to another's name once it's been issued.

Nonstop
Flight that does not make any stops enroute to a destination.

Open Ticket
A ticket that is valid for transportation between certain points, but indicates no specific reservation.

Overbooking
The practice of confirming more seats, cabins, or rooms than are actually available to insure against no-shows. Over-booking can be unintentional, too.

Penalty
Refers to a fee imposed by airline to change or cancel flights once ticket has been issued. Generally applies to advance purchase discounted fares.

PNR
Passenger Name Record. A computerized version of the traveler's reservations (air, hotel, car) created by travel counselors.

Promotional Airfares
Discounted airfares offered by carriers on selected routes and flights. Promotional fares may have a variety of restrictions, such as advance purchase or staying over a Saturday night. Many promotional fares are also "capacity controlled; that is, only a certain number of seats on specific flights are available at the discounted fare. In addition, some carriers impose cancellation fees on promotional fares.

Refund Credit
Credit due a traveler or corporation for an airline ticket or portion of a ticket that was not used and returned to the issuing office after it was generated. A cancellation can be considered a void if a ticket was issued and returned within the same day as issued.

Red Eye
A scheduled flight that departs at night and arrives in the morning. Refers to the passenger's eyes on arrival!

Revalidation
The authorized stamping or writing upon the flight coupon showing that it has been officially altered by the carrier.

Segment
A leg or group of legs of essentially continuous travel.

Segment Status Codes
OK Reservation confirmed.
RQ Reservation requested, but not confirmed.
WL Waitlisted. Flight booked and passenger put on a priority standby basis.

Split Ticketing
Ticketing method in which two one-way tickets are issued instead of a roundtrip in order to obtain a lower fare. Most often applies to international itineraries so that travelers can take advantage of currency exchange rates.

Standard Ticket
An air ticket issued by travel agents that is valid for travel on any ARC member airline and other designated airlines.

Standby
A passenger on a waitlist, or one prepared to travel if space becomes available at the last moment.

Stopover
An intentional interruption of a journey, which either prevents a continuous through fare, or is permitted by the carrier in conjunction with a through fare.

Ticket-less Travel
With "ticket-less travel", flights must be reserved by either the travel agency or traveler by contacting the airline directly. Carriers who offer ticket-less travel do not participate in any of the GDS/CRS systems and do not allow filing of their tickets through ARC.

Upgrade
To move a client to a better class of service or accommodations.

VAT
Value Added Tax. A consumer oriented tax charged on a number of European business transactions including hotels, car rentals, restaurants, trade shows and more. VAT rates vary in each country from 3.5% to 25%.

Validate
To imprint a ticket or voucher with the identifying mark of an airline or agency, using a plate with raised lettering and a special machine. Necessary to make a standard ticket legal for travel.

Visa
A permit to enter a country for a specific purpose. Recorded in a passport.

Void
A ticket that is issued and returned to the issuing office within the day it was ticketed, thereby avoiding processing through the ARC accounting system.

Waitlist
A list of clients seeking transportation or accommodations at times when they are unavailable. Waitlisted clients are confirmed as a result of subsequent cancellations.