Do you have GDS access?

[ozmille]

I have seen a couple of members say that they are travel agents on the side. I thought it might be interesting to know how many of the members actualy do have access to the GDS.

 

[ozmille]

As a side question (if you want to share this) as well is if you would happen to have GDS access is how/why did you get it...

I have been working in the travel industry for 9 years now and I have access through work (am not a travel agent though but know many).

Mille

 

[Keith009]

I'd replied to your post in the other thread:

Not a TA here. I first got Sabre access through a subscription-based agency in the US, got the link off Flyertalk. That wasn't super useful as a lot of bookings these days are SITI (Sold Inside Ticketed Inside - so you'd need to be associated with an Australia-based agency to sell ex-Australia fares for instance). But it was useful for constructing RTWs before handing the PNR to AA for ticketing (so no unreasonable airline-imposed ticketing deadline to put up with) as well as checking up on good deal published premium fares out of Whateverstan. Currently I get access to Sabre through my employer's corporate TA which makes it easier to do ex-Australia bookings.

 

[ozmille]

I'd replied to your post in the other thread:

Not a TA here. I first got Sabre access through a subscription-based agency in the US, got the link off Flyertalk. That wasn't super useful as a lot of bookings these days are SITI (Sold Inside Ticketed Inside - so you'd need to be associated with an Australia-based agency to sell ex-Australia fares for instance). But it was useful for constructing RTWs before handing the PNR to AA for ticketing (so no unreasonable airline-imposed ticketing deadline to put up with) as well as checking up on good deal published premium fares out of Whateverstan. Currently I get access to Sabre through my employer's corporate TA which makes it easier to do ex-Australia bookings.

Does this mean that you are allowed to make your own bookings? Does the TA take care of the ticketing?

SITI can cause some trouble. What I have noticed with QF though is that they restrict the cheap booking classes for the European markets. When I get my TA here to book and ticket the flights for my European friends they save 100's of Euros.

 

[QF WP]

I don't have access, but why have a dog and bark too.

I utilise the other knowledgeable people here on AFF for questions, generally book my own after that research, or can use a AFF based TA (well, have flicked them some commission on a hotel booking and may need their assistance for a big trip planned).

 

[SeaWolf]

I know some people pay for view-only access through KVS or ExpertFlyer, but I've always been kind of hesitant to pay the fee for something I'm not that sure I'd use all that much. However, it would be nice to have the access, to be able to get easy access to things like fare rules, prices, availability and get info on the more obscure fares available.

 

[Keith009]

Does this mean that you are allowed to make your own bookings? Does the TA take care of the ticketing?

SITI can cause some trouble. What I have noticed with QF though is that they restrict the cheap booking classes for the European markets. When I get my TA here to book and ticket the flights for my European friends they save 100's of Euros.

I generally construct my own itineraries and the TA and/or her consolidator does the ticketing. This is especially useful outside of business hours and I'm seeing something like T1 on a flight I desperately want to be on. Not helpful if the airline demands ticketing outside of business hours of course but most airline staff I've spoken to are generally ok with extending ticketing time limits for a couple of hours or days up to the deadline allowed by fare rules.

NB: I don't pay her agency for Sabre access. In return, she retains all commissions.

 

[Travel Guru]

I have access to Galileo due to my profession.

TG

 

[JohnK]

I really cannot see any reason for me to have any form of GDS access. Unless of course the access was for free.

 

[LiamR]

*Bump*

Is there any update to this, how would a member of the public or a business wanting to arrange it's own travel gain access to a GDS? Is there some sort of process?

 

[Ewing]

*Bump*

Is there any update to this, how would a member of the public or a business wanting to arrange it's own travel gain access to a GDS? Is there some sort of process?

I know in the US you can sign up to Sabre for about $45/month, but you need to be affiliated with a travel agency to ticket anything.

No idea about here.

 

[moa999]

I have an expertflyer subsciption (obviously not full GDS), but very useful when planning/ altering RTW fares as well as for understanding timetables and options.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

If you are ticketing via a GDS it will automatically recognise the city to are attached to in your office ID and price the ticket accordingly eg an airfare SYD/BKK/SYD would quote airfares based on a SITI transaction being Sold Inside & Ticketed Inside the country of commencement of travel.

Doing this will quote the fares the airline wants to charge for that market however other countries may have access to cheaper fares for exactly the same itinerary but ticketed in a different country.

An example of this was some recent airfares booked via www.expedia.ie that specifically mentioned they could not be booked and/or paid for in Australia.

The benefit of booking via different global websites (vs a GDS) is that the place where the sale or ticket issue takes place is generally wherever the website is located so whilst you could be sitting at home in Sydney & making the booking with your Australian credit card, so your ticket would be deemed as being booked and paid for in Ireland.

 

[LiamR]

I know in the US you can sign up to Sabre for about $45/month, but you need to be affiliated with a travel agency to ticket anything.

No idea about here.

It's a good thing I'm in the US right now then.