Elective Airlines Ticketing and GDS
Airlines Ticketing and GDS notes
9 chapter notes, in syllabus order. Each starts with the key points.
Unit 1
Airline Ticketing Basics: Definitions, Types, Processes & Industry RolesUnit 1 of Airlines Ticketing and GDS introduces core concepts of airline ticketing—from definitions and types of tickets to the roles of stakeholders, ticketing processes, and the importance of IATA standards in global air travel operations.8 min readUnit 2
IATA Areas, Geography & Air Traffic ZonesUnit 2 of Airlines Ticketing and GDS explains the IATA’s global traffic zones, geographical classifications, and air traffic regions (e.g., North Atlantic, Pacific, Indian Ocean) that define fare structures, routing rules, and ticketing procedures for airlines worldwide.10 min readUnit 3
Journey Types in Airline Ticketing: Open, Circular, Round Trip, Multi-City & ComplexUnit 3 of Airlines Ticketing and GDS explores the five core journey types—open, circular, round trip, multi-city, and complex—defining each, illustrating their fare structures, and showing how they appear in GDS systems like Amadeus or Sabre, with real-world examples from airlines like Nepal Airlines and international 10 min readUnit 4
Fare Construction Basics · note coming
Unit 5
Taxes, Surcharges & Fees in Airline TicketingUnit 5 of Airlines Ticketing and GDS explains the mandatory taxes (government levies), airline-imposed surcharges (fuel, security, airport), and optional fees (baggage, seat selection) that inflate ticket prices. It covers their types, calculation methods, and how they appear on passenger tickets—critical for fare cons14 min readUnit 6
Electronic Ticketing: e-Tickets, Barcodes, e-Docs & GDS IntegrationUnit 6 of Airlines Ticketing and GDS explores the shift from paper tickets to electronic tickets, including e-ticket formats, barcode technology, document types (e-DOCs), and how GDS systems like Amadeus and Sabre process e-tickets. It covers validation, security, and the role of IATA standards in modern air travel.15 min readUnit 7
Global Distribution Systems (GDS): Functions, Types & WorkflowUnit 7 of Airlines Ticketing and GDS explores the role of Global Distribution Systems (GDS)—their definition, architecture, major players (Amadeus, Sabre, Galileo, Travelport), and how they integrate airlines, travel agencies, and customers. It covers real-world applications (e.g., eSewa’s ticketing, Daraz’s logistics)15 min readUnit 8
GDS Reservations: Systems, Workflows & Real-World BookingUnit 8 of Airlines Ticketing and GDS explores how Global Distribution Systems (Amadeus, Sabre, Galileo) process reservations—from seat selection to fare validation—using IATA standards, PNRs, and real-time inventory. Covers workflows, error handling, and integration with airline databases, with Nepalese and global exam11 min readUnit 9
Ticket Issuance, Reissue & Refund: Rules, Processes & GDS WorkflowUnit 9 of Airlines Ticketing and GDS covers the end-to-end lifecycle of an airline ticket—from issuance to reissue and refund—explaining IATA rules, GDS procedures (Amadeus, Sabre, Galileo), penalties, and real-world scenarios like Daraz order cancellations or Ncell recharge refunds. Learn how to handle errors, calcula15 min readUnit 10
Booking Classes, Fare Rules & Airline Pricing LogicUnit 10 of Airlines Ticketing and GDS explores how airlines categorize passengers into booking classes (Y, J, K, etc.), the fare rules governing each class, and how these rules determine ticket prices, availability, and passenger benefits. Learn the hierarchy of classes, fare conditions, and real-world applications in 13 min read