kiessig@idi.UUCP (Rick Kiessig) (02/07/85)
Does anyone out there have any idea about how to
(legitimately) access airline reservation systems?
I'm thinking of ones like United's Apollo system -
not toys like the Official Airline Guide. Do you
have to be a "real" travel agent? If so, what does
it take to become "real"? Seems to me we have one
or more ex-travel agents out there, who I'm hoping
can shed some light on this for me. Thanks,
--
Rick Kiessig
{decvax, ucbvax}!sun!idi!kiessig
{akgua, allegra, amd, burl, cbosgd, decwrl, dual, ihnp4}!idi!kiessig
Phone: 408-996-2399shaprkg@sdcrdcf.UUCP (Bob Shapiro) (02/08/85)
In article <275@idi.UUCP> kiessig@idi.UUCP (Rick Kiessig) writes: >Does anyone out there have any idea about how to >(legitimately) access airline reservation systems? >I'm thinking of ones like United's Apollo system - >not toys like the Official Airline Guide. Do you >have to be a "real" travel agent? If so, what does >it take to become "real"? Seems to me we have one >or more ex-travel agents out there, who I'm hoping >can shed some light on this for me. Thanks, > >-- >Rick Kiessig >{decvax, ucbvax}!sun!idi!kiessig >{akgua, allegra, amd, burl, cbosgd, decwrl, dual, ihnp4}!idi!kiessig >Phone: 408-996-2399 To my knowledge the only people who get to use airline systems are those with a genuine need-to-know. This encompasses at least the following: 1. Airlines 2. Travel Agents 3. Corporate travel bureaus (Not the same as travel agents) 4. Certain select businesses which have an interest in the system such as A. Car rental companies B. Hotel chains C. Deak-Perera (A money changing firm) D. Cruise lines E. Tour Companies F. Amtrak These businesses use the airline systems and have links to most of the major systems so that the system user can perform almost any travel service on a single system. The problem with giving the general public access to one of these systems is twofold. First of all the typical prices given to travel agents are less than what the real cost would be. This is because there is an inherent advantage for an airline to have its system in a travel agent's office as the travel agent tends to be very biased towards that airline. (This is what those dummies at the CAB didn't understand when they were worrying about bias caused by placement of flights on a screen which is trivial as opposed to the gigantic bias given to the airline which supports the host). Thus it is rather foolish to give away your computing services to someone who has little to give back to you. Airlines usually require even travel agents to have a minimum annual volume in sales before they will put a system in their office. Secondly, there is a great deal of damage that can be done to the airlines by a user with malice. e.g. Booking large numbers of seats on an airline to increase its no-show problem. It is important to cancel space on a flight when you find out it will not be used. There is also poor security in the systems and it is relatively easy to screw up somebody else's reservation. While the systems have an audit trail which permits them to usually nail a bad guy, they have a lot more clout upon a travel agency or supplier then they do with a single individual. As a travel agent, if I am caught doing malicious things on the computer not only can the system be removed from my office, but I also can be fined or in a severe case put out of business. There has been a tendancy recently toward giving the public more access through systems such as Compuserve. TWA has been the leader towards freeing up their inventory but other airlines have been very strong in their objection to this kind of freedom because of the loss of control. I suspect we will see more of a tendancy toward passive information such as schedules and fares, but it may be a while before the public really gets its hands onto a full airline data base. Finally let me add that the typical airline system is not at all "user friendly". They were originally designed in the 60's for printer terminals so they have a lot of the characteristics of a line editor. Only some of the newer features utilize curser control. It takes a great deal of time to become proficient in one of these systems. Typically the airlines offer free schooling to travel agents who purchase or lease one of their systems. I would guess that it takes a minimum of 2 full weeks plus several advanced courses given on week-ends before you complete the training. Then it takes several months of on-the-job training before you really get good. Bob Shapiro
doug@terak.UUCP (Doug Pardee) (02/12/85)
> Does anyone out there have any idea about how to > (legitimately) access airline reservation systems? > I'm thinking of ones like United's Apollo system - > not toys like the Official Airline Guide. Do you > have to be a "real" travel agent? If so, what does > it take to become "real"? Seems to me we have one > or more ex-travel agents out there, who I'm hoping > can shed some light on this for me. Thanks, While Bob Shapiro did a fine job of explaining why the airlines won't "let you in", I'd like to add another little point. You wouldn't gain anything if you were let in. Already through CompuServe you have the ability to check schedules, fares, and availability and to make reservations and seat assignments. The only thing left is to print tickets and boarding passes. You understand, I hope, that tickets and boarding passes are as good as money? The airlines aren't likely to let you "print your own money". Travel agencies have to post a bond to assure that the airlines will indeed get paid for tickets written by the agency. -- Doug Pardee -- Terak Corp. -- !{hao,ihnp4,decvax}!noao!terak!doug
ix191@sdcc6.UUCP (ix191) (02/18/85)
>In article <275@idi.UUCP> kiessig@idi.UUCP (Rick Kiessig) writes: > To my knowledge the only people who get to use airline systems are those >with a genuine need-to-know. This encompasses at least the following: > 1. Airlines > 2. Travel Agents > 3. Corporate travel bureaus (Not the same as travel agents) > 4. Certain select businesses which have an interest in the system such as > A. Car rental companies > B. Hotel chains > C. Deak-Perera (A money changing firm) > D. Cruise lines > E. Tour Companies > F. Amtrak > > Bob Shapiro You can access travel information through a service called the Source. This however costs an initial fee of 100$, and about $7.50 and hour. The Source offers sevices from arline reservations to current stock market rates. If you want more information about it, send me a message. Debi Cohen