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Abacus:
Asian/Pacific computerized reservations
system owned by Cathay Pacific, China
Airlines, Malaysia Airline, Philippine
Airlines, Royal Brunei, Singapore Airlines
and Worldspan.
access
code: A combination of characters
that enables a computer user to gain
entry to a field of information.
add-ons:
Additional arrangements that can be
purchased in conjunction with a tour.
adjoining
rooms: Two or more hotel rooms side
by side but not necessarily with connecting
doors.
advance
deposit: Partial payment in advance
for goods or services.
advance
purchase excursion fare (APEX):
Special roundtrip air fare calling for
restrictions and advance payment and
subject to penalties for alterations.
Aeronautical
Radio, Inc. (ARINC): A company owned
primarily by the airlines that provides
internal domestic U.S. computer communication
services among them and others.
affinity
group: An organization formed for
any purpose and subsequently sponsoring
group travel arrangements; clubs, schools
and trade associations are examples.
Africa
Travel Association: Group of governments
and travel suppliers promoting travel
to and within the African continent.
aft:
In, near or toward the back of a ship
or aircraft.
agency
administrator: IATA conference official
responsible for overseeing travel agency
relations.
agency
manager: The person who manages
a retail travel agency; in an airline-appointed
agency in the U.S., must have at least
three years of experience selling travel
to the public.
agency
rep: Sales representative of a hotel,
airline or other travel industry segment
who calls on travel agents.
agency
tour: See familiarization
trip.
agent:
In the travel industry, a company or
individual selling travel arrangements.
airline
codes: The systems of abbreviations
for airlines, airports, cities, and
fares used by the travel industry throughout
the world.
Air
Line Pilots Association (ALPA):
Collective bargaining unit for airline
pilots, copilots and engineers in the
U.S.
Airlines
Reporting Corp. (ARC): Nonprofit
airline-owned corporation that accredits
U.S. travel agencies and processes their
air sales remittances; also sets and
enforces standards for agency bonding
and handling and storage of tickets.
Air
Line Stewards and Stewardesses Association:
The trade union of U.S. airline flight
attendants.
Airport
Association Council International/North
American: Branch of world organization
of governmental operators of airports,
formerly Airport Operators Council International.
airport
tax: See head
tax.
air/sea:
Cruise or travel arrangement in which
air and sea transportation are combined.
air
taxi: Small operator of nonscheduled
or on-demand air transportation for
short distances.
Air
Transport Association (ATA): The
trade association of U.S. scheduled
airlines, based in Washington.
Air
Transport Association of Canada (ATAC):
A trade association of Canadian airlines.
Air
Travel Card: A credit card owned
and administered by the airlines; formerly
called the Universal Air Travel Plan.
all-expense
tour: A fixed-price tour including
transportation, meals, lodging and sightseeing;
be aware that the terms 'all expense'
and 'all-inclusive' are often misused.
Alliance
of Canadian Travel Associations (ACTA):
Federation of travel industry association
in the provinces.
all-in:
British term for all-inclusive.
all-inclusive
tour:See all-expense
tour.
allocation:
Assignment of rooms to a specific organization
for them to sell exclusively.
Amadeus:
The European computerized reservations
system whose founding owners are Air
France (23.36%) Lufthansa (18.28%) and
Iberia(18.28%); it is based in Madrid.
American
Association of Retired Persons (AARP):
An organization devoted entirely to
the welfare of retired persons; in the
travel sector, offers discounts and
specials on all kinds of packages and
rates.
American
Automobile Association (AAA): A
not-for-profit federation of motor clubs
in the U.S. and Canada that provides
members with travel information, highway
services, insurance and other auto-related
services; it also operates travel agencies
throughout its network.
American
Bus Association (ABA): Trade group
of intercity and charter bus operators
that has strong relations with other
segments of the travel industry.
American
Hotel & Motel Association (AH&MA):
A federation of state and regional lodging
industry associations.
American
plan (AP): A hotel rate that includes
a room and three meals a day; see full
pension.
American
Society of Travel Agents (ASTA):
Principal U.S. travel industry trade
association representing agents and
tour operators with airlines, hotels
and other industry segments as allied
members.
amidships:
At or in the direction of the middle
of a ship.
Amtrak:
The name under which the National Railroad
Passenger Corp. operates U.S. intercity
passenger trains.
APEX:
See advance
purchase excursion fare.
appointment:
Procedure by which travel agencies obtain
rights to sell products on behalf of
travel industry suppliers.
area
settlement plan: The mechanism through
which U.S. travel agents report and
remit ticket sales to the airlines and
Amtrak, operated by ARC.
Association
of British Travel Agents (ABTA):
The principal trade association of travel
agents and tour operators in the U.K.
Association
of Conference Executives (ACE):
U.K. trade association of executives
who arrange conferences.
Association
of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE):
A U.S. group of travel management and
corporate executives dealing in business
travel.
Association
of Group Travel Executives (AGTE):
A U.S. trade association of executives
responsible for the promotion, sale,
operation or purchase of group travel
programs.
Association
of Retail Travel Agents (ARTA):
A trade association of travel retailers
in the U.S.
Association
of Retail Travel Agents Consortia (ARTAC):
U.K. trade association of travel agents'
association.
auto
drop PNR: A passenger name record
that automatically appears in the appropriate
queue when it needs to be attended to;
for example, when space becomes available
for a waitlisted client.
automated
ticket/boarding pass: Ticket stock
that can include a flight coupon and
boarding pass on one document.
availability:
Usually refers to seat or bed capacity
or its availability for booking.
available
seat miles: One aircraft seat flown
one mile whether occupied or not.
B
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back
of the house: Parts or departments
of a lodging facility not normally having
direct contact with guests.
back-to-back:
A program of multiple air charters between
two or more points with arrivals and
departures coordinated to eliminate
deadheading-sending an empty aircraft-and
waiting.
back-office
automation: Systems that computerize
agency functions other than reservations;
most often used to refer to automated
accounting
Baggage
allowance: Weight or pieces of baggage
that may be carried by a passenger with
no extra charge.
baggage
check: Official receipt issued by
a carrier for a passenger's luggage.
baggage
tag: Personal identification attached
to a piece of luggage.
bandwidth:
The amount of data, including voice
and video, that can be transmitted over
a network; often referred to as a pipe,
meaning a network's communications'
capacity .
bank
settlement plan: Airline-operated
system for payment of travel agents
accounts.
banqueting
rooms: Rooms set aside for functions.
bareboat
charter: Rental of a yacht or other
boat without crew or supplies.
barter:
The exchange by an airline or other
supplier of its product for goods and
services providing by another entity.
beam:
The breadth of a vessel at its widest
part.
bed-and-breakfast:
An arrangement for breakfast to be included
in guest accommodations; usually a private
house or a small hostelry that serves
breakfast as the only meal, including
the price in the room rate.
bedienung:
German term meaning the tip is included
on the bill.
bed
night: One person spending one
night in a hostelry; 10 persons staying
10 nights would be 100 bed nights; a
standard measure of overnight tourist
traffic.
berth:
A bed on a common carrier, often but
not necessarily built in; also a space
at a wharf for a ship to dock or anchor.
best
available: A pledge by a travel
supplier to furnish the top accommodation
possible to a client.
bias:
Preference given to flights of one carrier
over those of others in the displays
of choices on computerized reservations
systems,. A practice forbidden in the
U.S., Canada and most European countries
if the listed carriers pay to appear
in a system.
bilateral:
Agreement between two countries respecting
the designation of air carriers to fly
routes between them, and the limitations,
if any, of schedules and fares on those
routes.
blacked
out: A time when special lower fares
and other prices do not apply.
blocked
space: Reservations, often subject
to forfeiture of deposit, made with
suppliers by travel agents or wholesalers
in anticipation of resale.
boarding
priority: The standardized order
in which airlines board passengers holding
different types of tickets.
bonding:
Purchase of a guarantee of protection
for a supplier or a customer; certain
bonding programs being mandatory in
the travel industry.
bonus:
See override.
bow:
Front end of a vessel.
breakage:
Money earned by a travel supplier when
client does not use all the services
paid for as part of a package.
break-even
load factor: The load factor necessary
for scheduled traffic revenue to cover
operating costs.
British
Tourist Authority (BTA): Government
body promoting travel to U.K. throughout
the world.
Britrail
pass: Allowing unlimited travel
over the British Rail system for a specified
period of time.
brochure:
A printed folder describing a tour,
package, attraction, or designation
and specifying the arrangements.
browser:
A program that enables computer users
to access the Internet; the most widely
used browsers are Microsoft Internet
Explorer, Netscape and America Online.
bucket
shop: Travel agency that sells to
the public discounted air tickets obtained
from consolidators .
bulk
fare: Fare available only to tour
organizers or operators who buy a block
of seats from carrier.
bulkhead:
A wall dividing a vessel into cabins,
or a wall of an aircraft usually located
at the front of a passenger compartment.
bulkhead
seat: Usually roomier seat on an
aircraft right behind the bulkhead.
bullet
train: High speed train.
bump:
To displace a passenger or guest in
favor of a reservation or sale to a
person with higher priority or supposed
importance.
Bureau
of Consular Affairs: An agency within
the U.S. State Department charged with
administration of U.S. passports.
business
class: A grade of airline seat and
service usually between first class
and coach, with better seating, food,
service and check-in facilities; called
club class by some carriers.
business
travel agent: See commercial
travel agent.
bustout:
Purchase of an agency to steal and/or
fraudulently use its ticket stock and
perhaps other assets before abruptly
closing down.
bypass:
Practice by some suppliers of selling
travel products directly to the public
rather than through travel retailers.
C
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cabana:
A room or hut in a beach or pool area,
usually separate from a main building,
and maybe having beds.
cabin:
Passenger compartment of an aircraft;
standard bedroom on a ship; a small,
isolated building for rent to travelers.
cancellation
insurance: Insurance policy for
travelers guarding against loss of funds
in case traveler cannot take trip or
the arrangements are cancelled by the
supplier.
cancellation
policy: Travel supplier policy regarding
cancelled bookings and amount of notification
necessary for granting of refunds.
carriage:
The transportation of passengers, cargo
or freight and the accompanying charges.
Caribbean
Tourism Organization (CTO):
Association created for promotion of
travel to and around the area.
car
ferry: A boat designed to carry
automobiles and passengers from one
point to another.
carousel:
The circular conveyer in transportation
terminals that carriers baggage for
passengers to claim.
carrier:
A company organized to transport passengers
and/or goods.
CDW:
See collision
damage waiver.
central
reservation office: Sales office
that handles bookings on behalf of a
group of hotels.
Certified
Travel Counselor (CTC): A certification
granted by the Institute of Certified
Travel Agents upon completion of a required
course of study leading to professional
competence.
chapter
11 bankruptcy: Court protection
in the U.S. from creditors, allowing
a failing firm to continue operations,
while seeking to settle its debts.
charter:
(verb) To hire all or part of an aircraft,
ship bus, train or other transport for
a specified group or for resale to the
public; (noun) the trip so involved.
charter
airline: A U.S. or foreign carrier
with an operating certificate or permit
that allows charter service only; formerly
called supplemental airline.
charter
coach: Motorcoach or bus to be used
by a specific group for a specific trip.
check-in
time: The hour at which a room is
ready for occupancy by a guest; also,
the time for preflight ticket checking
and baggage handling.
check-out
time: The hour by which a guest
must vacate his or her accommodations,
although the management may permit continued
use of facilities.
circle
fare: A special fare lower than
the sum of the point-to-point fares
for a circle trip.
circle
trip: A journey with stopovers that
returns to the point of departure without
retracing its route.
city
pair: The origin and destination
points of an air trip.
city
terminal: An airline ticket office,
not at an airport, where a passenger
can check in, check baggage, receive
a seat assignment and get transportation
to the airport.
city
ticket office (CTO): Airline
ticket office or counter not located
at an airport.
city
tour: Sightseeing tour through a
city to view its main attractions, usually
by bus and usually lasting a half-day.
coach:
Usually the lowest and cheapest class
of transport.
codes:
Standard abbreviations and designations
used by the travel industry to indicate
elements such as airports, fares, and
classes of service and cities.
code-sharing:
An arrangement between two airlines
that allows one carrier to list its
flights under the two-letter designation
of another, usually to obtain the benefits
of on-line status for connections displayed
in reservations systems; often part
of a broader marketing pact such as
feeder agreements between regional and
major carriers, or between carriers
that cooperate on international routings.
collision
damage waiver (CDW): Protection
offered, for an extra fee, by a car
rental company against liability for
damage to a rental car.
commercial
rate: A discount rate offered to
a company or to a special customer.
commercial
travel agent: One whose clients
are companies rather than members of
the public; also a corporate agent.
commission:
An amount, usually based on a percentage,
paid to a travel agent for the sale
of supplier's product or service.
common
carrier: An enterprise that offers
transportation for hire.
common
rated: Two or more relatively adjacent
destinations to which the fare from
the point of origin is identical.
common
rating system: A European practice
enabling long-haul travelers from outside
the continent to move freely on a single
ticket at no extra cost.
commuter
airline: Scheduled carrier operating
regional U.S. service, usually with
aircraft carrying fewer than 60 passengers;
also called regional airline.
companionway:
Stairway between decks on a ship.
computerized
reservations system (CRS): Computer
system through which many travel products,
including airlines and major hotel chains,
are booked; several systems, all started
and controlled by airlines, compete
for travel agency business.
concierge:
A person or deck in a hotel in charge
of porters and bellboys; handles personal
services for a guest, including ground
arrangements.
Concorde:
A supersonic aircraft operated by Air
France and British Airways.
conditions:
To language of a travel contract which
specifies what the customer is or is
not being offered and which may specify
the circumstances under which the contract
may be invalidated; also called terms
and conditions.
conducted
tour: See escorted
tour.
Confederation
of Latin American Tourist Organization
(COTAL): Association of official
tourism bodies promoting travel to Central
and South America.
conference:
An association of carriers formed to
establish standards and rules governing
others, such as travel agents, who do
business with members of the association.
confidential
tariff: A schedule of wholesale
rates, to be marked up to include commission,
distributed in confidence to travel
agents and wholesalers.
configuration:
The interior arrangement of a vehicle,
such as an aircraft, used for transporting
passengers in various classes of service.
confirmed
reservation: Oral or written statement
by a travel industry supplier acknowledging
receipt of a reservation and promising
to honor it within specified limitations.
connecting
flight: A segment of a journey requiring
passengers to change planes on line
or interline.
connecting
rooms: Two or more rooms with private
doors permitting access from one to
the other without use of a hotel corridor.
consolidation:
Selling the same tour with identical
departure dates through a number of
wholesalers, cooperatives or other outlets
so as to increase sales and reduce the
possibility of tour cancellations; cancellation
by a charter tour operator of flights
associated with a specific departure
or departure period with transfer of
passengers to another flight or flights
to depart on or near the same day.
consolidator
wholesaler: Selling discounted scheduled
air tickets to travel agents or to the
public.
consortium:
Entity formed by individuals or companies
to acquire travel products they could
not acquire individually or to negotiate
better prices or commissions; in the
U.K. a chain of generally retail travel
outlets.
continental
breakfast: Rolls or toast and a
beverage.
continental
plan (CP): Hotel rate for room
and continental breakfast.
contractor:
Land operator providing services to
tour operators, wholesalers and travel
agents; also called ground operator,
independent contractor, land operator,
receiving agent, reception agency, receptive
operator.
cookies:
Files stored on hard drives by the browser
that, when enabled, give Web sites the
ability to track users' surfing habits
for advertising or marketing purposes.
cooperating
carrier: Scheduled line that pays
or helps to pay for brochures or other
costs of marketing a tour program.
cooperative:
A trade association formed for the same
purposes as a consortium but structured
differently, with shares held by agency
owners; see consortium.
corporate
agent: See commercial
travel agent.
corporate
card: An individual charge or credit
card issued through the traveler's employer
and typically carrying the names of
both.
corporate
rate: A reduced price applicable
to business travelers, sometimes specially
negotiated.
corporate
travel manager: An employee
who makes travel arrangements for other
employees of a company; also called
a passenger traffic manager.
couchette:
A sleeping berth on a European train.
counter
agent: Ticket agent for a carrier.
coupon,
passenger: Portion of airline ticket
retained by passenger; should be one
coupon for each air segment of a trip.
CP:
See continental
plan.
CRS:
See computerized
reservations system.
CRS
rules or codes of conduct: Regulations
imposed on operators of agency CRSs
in the U.S., Canada and most European
countries; includes prohibition against
bias displays.
Cruise
Lines International Association (CLIA):
Trade association with promotional and
training programs.
CTS:
See Certified
Travel Counselor.
CTO:
See city
ticket office; can also refer to
Caribbean
Tourism Organization.
cutoff
date: Specific date when final action
must be taken on a reservation or blocked
space.
D
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day
rate: Special rate for use of a
hotel room during the day only, usually
good between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m.
deadhead:
Aircraft, ship or other transportation
vehicle in transit without a payload;
also known as an empty leg.
deck
plan: A diagram or model of a ship's
decks; often used by agents to select
cabins.
deluxe:
Used in travel to suggest highest quality,
but much misused and meaningless.
demi-pension:
Half-pension, a hotel rate, particularly
in Europe, including bed, breakfast
and either lunch or dinner; also called
modified
American plan.
denied-boarding
compensation: Payment in the form
of cash or additional airline ticket
made to passenger by carrier when he
or she is bumped.
Department
of Transportation (DOT): U.S. government
department responsible for transportation;
includes Federal Aviation Administration,
responsible for the safety of the aviation
system and operating the air traffic
control network; also includes the Federal
Railroad Administration, Federal Highway
Administration and the Coast Guard;
responsible for airline licensing; airline
passenger protection, approval of international
rates and fares and regulations of CRSs.
departure
tax: See head
tax, passenger
facility charge.
deposit
policy: Sum required to reserve
a service or goods, for example, hotel
rooms or tours.
deposit
reservation: A reservation for which
a hotel has received advance payment
for at least one night and is usually
obligated to hold the room regardless
of the guest's arrival time; policies
vary and should be checked.
deregulation:
In the travel industry, the move, initiated
in 1978, to cease U.S. government regulation
of domestic airline fares, competition
and routes; Australia followed suit
in 1990, and Europe will begin the process
in 1993.
dine-around
plan: Provisions of meals in a package
that allows the client to chose from
among a variety of restaurants in the
area.
direct
access reservations: A CRS feature
that offers agencies a direct link via
the host's mainframe to a number of
airline or other suppliers; simple versions
allow agents only to look at but not
book in the nonhost computer, enhanced
ones permit real-time bookings there.
direct
air carrier: An airline that actually
operates aircraft, as opposed to an
indirect air carrier, which charters
passenger or cargo space for resale
in its own name.
direct
flight: Service between two points
on the same aircraft, with or without
intermediate stops.
direct
sell: British usage for selling
tours directly to the public without
going through agents.
directional
tariff: A reduced fare, often seasonal
and usually roundtrip, for passengers
originating at one end of a route only.
discounted
rates: Any rate below the standard
minimum rate.
district
sales manager (DSM): Person
in charge of sales at a district office
of a travel industry supplier.
domain
Name: A Web address, like www.twcrossroads.com,
that is needed to access a Web site.
dome
car: See observation
car.
double:
A hotel room with a double bed.
double-double:
See twin double.
double
occupancy: Rate the room rate for
a double or a twin room when it is being
occupied by two people; a discount of
50% or less of the double rate is usually
offered for single occupancy.
downgrade:
To change to a lower class of service
or accommodation.
drop-off
charge: Fee charged by car rental
company when the renter does not return
the car to the original rental location.
dry
lease: Rental of a vehicle, particularly
an aircraft, without an operator, crew
or service; a pure dry lease does not
include fuel, supplies or maintenance.
DSM:
See district
sales manager.
duplex:
A two-story suite connected by a private
stairway.
E(Return
to index)
East
Asia Travel Association (EATA):
Promotes travel to the area and disseminates
news to members in the area.
economy:
Fare or service in airlines operations,
coach or tourist class.
economy
hotel: See hotel
classifications.
efficiency
accommodation: With some cooking
facilities.
elapsed
flying time: Duration of actual
air travel after all scheduled ground
time at intermediate stops has been
deducted.
elapsed
travel time: Duration of an air
trip including time on the ground between
connecting flights.
Electronic
Ticket Delivery Network (ETDN):
A proposed ticket delivery service to
travelers on behalf of U.S. travel agencies
accredited by the Airlines Reporting
Corp.
English
breakfast: Hearty breakfast served
in the U.K. and Ireland; usually including
fruit or juice, cereal, eggs, bacon,
toast and beverage.
English
Tourist Board: Regional body responsible
for promoting travel to England.
entry
requirements: The official documentation
required by a country to allow a foreigner
to enter.
entry
tax: See head
tax.
EP:
See European
plan.
errors
and omissions insurance: A policy
that covers damages resulting from an
agent's mistake or omissions.
escort:
See tour manager.
escorted
tour: Prearranged foreign or
domestic tour, usually for a group,
with escort service and often local
guides; a sightseeing program conducted
by a guide.
escrow:
Funds placed by a travel agency or supplier
in the custody of a bank or other financial
institution until the fulfillment of
certain conditions, such as the completion
of a travel contract.
Eurailpass:
First class pass allowing unlimited
travel over the majority of European
rail systems for a specified period
of time; available in a variety of durations;
must be purchased before arriving in
Europe.
European
Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC):
An association of European aviation
officials concerned with facilitating
European air commerce.
European
plan (EP): Hotel rate that pays
for room only, meals not included.
European
Travel Commission (ETC): Cooperative
agency sponsored by European nations
for the promotion of tourism.
ex:
Departing from, as in ex Sydney.
excess
baggage: In excess by size weight
of the free allowance specified by a
carrier.
exchange
order: Document issued by a carrier
or other travel related entity requesting
provision of specified services or the
issuance of a ticket to the person named
in the document.
excursion:
A journey, usually short, made with
the intention of returning to the starting
point.
excursion
fare: Any fare offering roundtrip
transportation below the combined cost
of component one-way fares; usually
with restrictions, sometimes with advance
purchase requirement.
extension:
Tour at additional cost to buyers of
a tour or cruise; may be taken before,
during or after the basic program.
extra
section: Additional transportation
equipment, such as a plane, bus or train,
used or scheduled.
F
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familiarization
trip: A complimentary or reduced-rate
trip or tour offered to travel agents
and other segments of the industry to
acquaint them with a destination, service
or facility; usually called a fam trip.
family
plan: Discounts offered to a family
group by hotels, resorts and other suppliers.
fam
trip: See familiarization
trip.
fan
jet: See turbofan
jet.
fantail:
The stern overhang of a ship.
fathom:
Unit of length measuring 6 feet, usually
used for describing water depth.
FAQ:
Frequently asked questions, or everything-you-wanted-to-know
about a Web site, from technical questions
to privacy policies; usually presented
in a question-and-answer format.
Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA): An
agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation
that regulates civil aviation and certifies
the airworthiness of aircraft.
Federal
Maritime Administration (FMA): A
unit of the U.S. Department of Transportation
that administers federal programs affecting
waterborne commerce, the merchant marine
and the American shipbuilding industry.
Federal
Maritime Commission (FMC): Independent
U.S. government regulatory agency with
authority over international passenger
and cargo shipping.
fee-based
pricing: A method of pricing agency
services based on the suppliers' net
price, plus a mark-up that covers the
cost of delivering the service and a
profit.
ferry
flight: A nonrevenue flight for
positioning an empty aircraft.
fifth
freedom: See freedoms
of the air.
first
class hotel: See hotel
classifications.
first
sitting: The earliest dining time;
usually applies to cruises.
FIT:
See foreign
independent tour; has also loosely
come to mean any independent tour arranged
by travel agents, whether domestic or
foreign; in hotel usage can mean full
individual tariff (nondiscounted).
FIT
operator/wholesaler: A specialist
in designing and operating FITs for
travel agents to sell.
fly/drive
tour: Package for a certain number
of nights supplying car and a series
of hotel vouchers; itinerary may be
prearranged although frequently only
first and last night reservations are;
air travel may or may not be included
in the price.
food
and beverage (F&B): The department
in a hotel responsible for providing
meals and drinks.
folio:
A guest's account in a hotel, kept at
the front desk.
fore
or forward: In or toward the front
of a ship.
foreign
exchange rate: Rate at which one
country's currency can be exchanged
for that of another.
foreign
independent tour (FIT): An international
prepaid tour designed to the specifications
of the client.
freedoms
of the air: The concept that
international air commerce should operate
under six basic freedoms in any country,
allowing an aircraft or airline the
right to:
1. fly over another country's territory
without landing:
2. land for technical or other non-traffic
purposes
3. disembark traffic originating in
the carrier's home country
4. pick up traffic destined for the
carrier's country;
5. carry traffic from one foreign country
to another foreign country, and
6. carry traffic to the carrier's home
country and beyond to another foreign
country.
front
office automation: Computer system
used to make bookings particularly CRSs.
free
port: Port where goods are not subject
to duties.
free
sale: A system of reserving facilities
whereby the sales agent or the CRS equipment
does not need to obtain availability
on a booking-by-booking basis from the
principal.
frequent
flyer program: A plan offered by
airlines to award bonuses, such as free
or upgraded passage, to fare-paying
customers who fly specified minimum
mileage; concept extended to hotels
and car rental firms through frequent
stay and frequent rental plans.
front
office: Office or counter in the
lobby of a hotel for sale of rooms,
guest registration, key and mail service
and keeping guest accounts.
full
pension (FP): A hotel rate,
especially in Europe, that includes
three meals a day; also called American
plan.
fully
appointed: Travel agent approved
by the principal airline, cruise and
railroad conferences for selling travel
products and services.
G(Return
to index)
Galileo
International: Along with Worldspan
and Sabre, one of the three major U.S.-based
computerized reservations systems.
gap:
The portion of an airline itinerary
involving transportation by means other
than an IATA carrier.
gateway:
Arrival or departure city, airport or
area for a flight or tour.
General
Accounting Office: The U.S. agency
responsible for, among other matters,
travel regulations for federal employees.
general
sales agent (GSA): Agency or
other travel entity appointed by an
airline or other supplier as its sales
agent in a specific country or territory.
Greenwich
Mean Time (GMT): The mean solar
time at Greenwich, England, used as
the basis for calculating standard time
throughout the world.
gross
registered ton: 100 cubic feet of
enclosed space on a ship.
ground
arrangements: See land
arrangements.
ground
operator: See land
operator or contractor.
GSA:
See general
sales agent.
guaranteed
payment reservation: A hotel reservation
secured by the guest's agreement, usually
by credit card, to pay for the room
even if it is not used.
guaranteed
tour: One guaranteed to operate
unless canceled before an established
cutoff date.
guarantee
policy: A hotel's requirements for
holding a room for late arrival.
guest
history: Personal profile of client's
previous stays with a hotel.
guest
night: See bed
night.
guided
tour: A local sightseeing trip conducted
by a guide.
H
(Return to index)
half-pension:
See demi-pension.
half-roundtrip:
One-way portion of a roundtrip fare;
the two halves may vary on a charter
depending on the season; often scheduled
excursion fares may be advertised on
a half-roundtrip basis.
head
tax: A fee collected from a
visitor or passenger upon his entry
into or departure from an airport or
hotel; also see passenger
facility charge.
hire
car: A rental.
hospitality
suite: A hotel suite, parlor or
studio engaged for the entertainment
of those attending a meeting, conference
or convention.
host:
A representative of a tour operator
destination or other tour principal
who provides escort service at the destination:
tour manager, as against representatives
who provide only information or greeting
services.
host
system: Usually a CRS that gives
users access to others vendors and systems
though the same equipment.
hostel:
An inexpensive, usually supervised lodging
primarily for young people.
hostelry:
An accommodation that provides lodging
and/or food.
hotel
classifications: Designations
used throughout the world, whether the
rating is made professionally or promotionally.
In Europe, the general system is to
rate hotels from 5-star-deluxe-to-1-star-budget
or economy. There is no universally
accepted system in the U.S.
- Deluxe
or luxury: A top-grade hotel;
all rooms with private bath, and 'highest
standards maintained throughout.
- Moderate
class: Some rooms with private
bath and most standard public rooms
and services.
- Second
class: A budget operation; very
possibly no private bath and very
probably limited services and amenities;
also called economy or tourist class.
hotelier:
A hotel owner, manager or keeper.
hotel
package: A package offered by a
hotel, sometimes consisting only of
room and breakfast, and sometimes, especially
at a resort hotel, of room, meals, transportation,
use of sports facilities and other services.
hotel
register: The permanent record kept
by all hotels of the arrival and departure
of guests, each of whom must sign in
on arrival.
hotel
rep: A representative offering hotel
reservations to wholesalers, agents
and the public; some also offer marketing
and other services.
Hotel
Sales Management Association (HSMA):
A professional trade society of executives
responsible for marketing hotels.
housing
bureau: An organization, often government-sponsored,
that acts as a clearinghouse for accommodations,
particularly for meetings and conventions;
often established on an ad hoc basis
during major tourist events to maintain
a registry of private accommodations
to supplement an area's regular lodging
industry.
HTML:
Hypertext Markup Language; a software
language used to create and display
Web pages.
hub
and spoke: In the airline industry,
a system of routing of passengers through
a central airport, permitting a carrier
to operate fewer flights on less traveled
routes.
I
(Return to index)
inaugural:
Institution of a new airline route or
equipment, often with free tickets for
travel agents, along with free accommodations.
inbound
agent or operator: A ground operator
specializing in serving incoming visitors,
particularly those from foreign countries.
incentive
commission: See override.
incentive
travel: The offering of travel by
companies to their employees as an incentive
toward greater productivity.
Incentive
Travel and Meeting Executive Show (IT&ME):
Annual exposition devoted to incentive
and meeting market.
inclusive
tour: A tour in which air fare,
hotels, transfers and other elements
are included for a flat rate, although
all expenses may not be included.
inclusive
resort: A property that prices itself
to include the room, meals and amenities
in a single package rate; also called
all-inclusive resort.
independent
contractor: An agent who arranges
travel for clients; may sell a supplier's
products directly or through an agreement
with an agency.
inclusive
tour excursion (ITX): British
and European usage for inclusive tour
fare.
independent
hotel: One not affiliated with a
chain or group.
indirect
air carrier: A charter tour operator,
an agent or other operator who may contract
for charter space from an airline for
resale.
infrastructure:
In the travel industry, the network
of highways, water supply, airport,
port facilities, lodging, restaurants
and all other elements needed to support
tourism.
innkeepers'
lien: Legal right of an innkeeper
in some countries to keep the property
of a guest for unpaid charges.
in-plant
agency: A travel agent's sales outlet
located on the premises of a company
and doing business primarily for that
company only; also called a customer-premises
agency location.
Institute
of Certified Travel Agents (ICTA):
A professional organization in the U.S.
concerned with developing and administering
educational programs for travel agents;
see Certified
Travel Counselor.
interface:
In the travel agency industry, a direct
link between an airline reservations
system and an agency's computer.
interline
cooperation: Among air carriers
that permits travelers to fly on two
or more lines on the same trip by using
a single ticket and to check luggage
at point of origin for the connecting
flight or flights.
interline
connection: The transfer of passenger
baggage or cargo between flights of
different airlines.
interliner:
An airline employee traveling on a carrier
not his own.
interline
rep: An airlines salesperson who
deals with other airlines.
intermodal:
Using more than one mode or means of
transportation, such as beginning a
tour on a motorcoach and ending it on
a flight.
International
Airlines Travel Agent Network (IATAN):
Wholly owned subsidiary of the International
Air Transport Association, responsible
for accrediting U.S. travel agents for
member airlines.
International
Air Transport Association (IATA):
World trade association of international
airlines, proposing rates, conditions
of service, safety standards and other
elements, and appointing and regulating
travel agents who deal in international
ticketing.
International
Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions
(IAAPA): Trade group dealing with
promotion of theme parks, zoos, amusement
parks, resorts and other facilities.
International
Association of Convention and Visitors
Bureaus (IACVP): An industry association
International
Association of Tour Managers (IATM):
A professional society of tour escorts.
International
Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO):
An international organization of governments
working with the United Nations to promote
safety in international civil aviation
by standardizing equipment, services
and training.
International
Congress and Convention Association
(ICCA): European trade organization
of convention organizers.
international
dateline: The line at 180 degrees;
longitude where, by international agreement,
each day begins; eastbound travelers
gain a day when they cross the line,
westbound lose a day.
International
Federation of Air Line Pilots Associations:
Worldwide association of national pilots'
groups.
International
Federation of Tour Operators (IFTO):
Organization of European tour operators
promoting among other matters, safety
measures for hoteliers and tour packagers.
International
Federation of Women's Travel Organizations
(IFWTO): Professional group of women
travel executives.
International
Hotel Association: A group of hotel
associations from different countries
dedicated to promoting and teaching
top professionalism in the industry.
International
Student Identity Card: Issued by
the Council on International Student
Exchange to qualified students to help
them secure special travel rates, low-cost
accommodations and other benefits.
International
Tourism Bourse: Largest international
travel trade show held each year in
Berlin.
Interstate
Commerce Commission (ICC): An independent
U.S. agency created by Congress to regulate
surface transportation by common carriers
such as railroads and bus companies.
ISP:
Internet service providers like America
Online, AT&T and Bell Atlantic/Verizon
give users dial-up or DSL access to
the Internet.
IT:
See inclusive
tour.
IT
number: Number assigned to an inclusive
tour containing certain specified elements
that make it eligible for commission
overrides from the airline.
ITX:
See inclusive
tour excursion.
itinerary:
Travel schedule provided by a travel
agent for a client, spelling out in
the final form all details and descriptions.
J
(Return to index)
jet
lag: Discomfort caused by long flights
and changes in time zones.
jetway:
A loading and unloading bridge giving
passengers protected entry and exit
from an aircraft; the term is a registered
trademark.
jitney:
A small bus or motorcar that serves
a route, usually on a flexible schedule.
joint
fare: Fare applying from the point
of origin to the destination through
one or more intermediate points for
travel on more than one airline; see
through fare.
joint
notice of change: Form containing
information about an agency's status
and about proposed new owner or owners;
submitted with a change of ownership
application to conferences to continue
appointments under new ownership.
joint
operations: Two or more carriers
operating a service using one aircraft,
with one carrier administering and one
carrier controlling the reservations.
jumbo
jet: See wide-body
jet.
junior
suite: A large hotel room with a
partition separating the bed and sitting
areas.
(Return to index)
kilo:
Short for kilogram; major measurement
of weight throughout the world except
the U.S.; consists of 1,000 grams, equivalent
to 2.2 pounds.
kilometer:
Major measurement of distance throughout
the world except the U.S.; equivalent
to 0.62 statute mile.
king
room: A hotel room with a king-size
bed.
knot:
One nautical mile per hour, approximately
1.15 statute miles per hour.
(Return to index)
lanai:
A room with a balcony or patio overlooking
water or a garden, usually in a resort
hotel.
land
arrangements: All services to
a client at his destination.
land
only: Transportation to and from
the destination not included.
land
operator: A firm that provides
sightseeing, tickets and other services
at a destination.
last-seat
or room availability: An agent's
ability to book the last seat on flight
or room in a hotel; for travel agents,
this access is an issue when a vendor
cannot or will not release through a
CRT operated by another supplier.
late
charge: Charges appearing on a guest's
credit card for services such as restaurant
and telephone that do not appear on
the bill at checkout.
late-show:
Passenger holding a reservation who
arrives at the check-in desk after the
designated time.
leased-space
operations: Where a carrier leases
seats or cargo capacity on a service
to another carrier; also known as shared
operations.
leg:
The portion of a flight between two
consecutive scheduled stops.
lido:
The area around the swimming pool on
a cruise ship or a fashionable beach
resort.
life-seeing:
Activity or orientation of a tourist
seeking to observe and meet residents
of the destination to experience how
they live.
limousine
service: At hotels, the transportation
provided to guests, especially between
the airport and the property.
liter:
Volume measurement used in most of the
world except the U.S.; equal to 1.057
quarts (liquid).
load
factor: The ratio, expressed as
a percentage, of an aircraft's capacity
sold to the total capacity offered for
sale; a 100-seat plane with 75 paying
passengers is operating at a 75% load
factor.
local
operator: See land
operator.
loss
damage waiver (LDW): Protection
offered by a car rental company against
responsibility for damage to the rental
car resulting from loss, theft, vandalism
or collision.
(Return to index)
maglev:
(magnetic levitation) New concept in
high-speed surface travel where vehicles
would float off the ground following
a guideway.
managerial:
Qualifier agency staff person who meets
the requirements for managerial or sales
promotion experience established by
the airline conferences.
manifest:
A list of passengers or goods on an
aircraft or a ship.
MAP:
See modified
American plan.
MCO:
See miscellaneous
charges order.
minibar:
A small refrigerator unit in a hotel
room stocked with alcoholic and soft
drinks as well as snacks; guests are
usually charged for each item taken.
minimum
connecting time: The time allowed
between the arrival of one scheduled
flight and the departure of a connecting
flight, established separately for every
commercial airport.
minimum
land packages: The minimum tour,
in terms of cost and ingredients, that
must be purchased to qualify a passenger
for certain tour-basing or bulk air
fares.
minimum/maximum
stay requirements: Conditions of
sale of airline tickets and other service
providers that require travelers to
stay at the destination for certain
period.
miscellaneous
charges order (MCO): A payment
voucher used by an airline or travel
agent to cover payment for transportation,
accommodations, sightseeing and other
services.
modified
American plan (MAP): A hotel
room rate that includes breakfast and
one other meal; also known as demi-pension
or half-pension.
motorcoach:
A highway passenger vehicle often equipped
with a restroom, air conditioning and
other amenities.
MS:
Motor ship.
MV:
Motor Vessel.
MTS:
Motor turbine ship.
multi-access
reservations system: Computerized
reservations system offering travel
agencies access to the computers of
various carriers and other suppliers;
can also be used to book space on nonparticipating
airlines and other suppliers.
multi-level
rates: Range of rates, such as rack
or corporate, that may be applied to
one or more room types.
multiplier
effect: Concept that tourist expenditures
in an area generate even more expenditures
and thus more money as the tourist income
is spent by residents who receive it
as wages or profits; can be estimated
statistically.
(Return to index)
National
Association of Cruised Oriented Agencies
(NACOA): U.S. trade group of travel
agencies specializing in sea voyages.
National
Business Travel Association (NBTA):
U.S. trade group representing corporate
travel managers formerly known as the
National Passenger Traffic Association.
National
Park Service: U.S. federal agency
within the Department of the Interior
responsible for operation of the U.S.
national park system.
National
Tour Association (NTA): Organization
of U.S. motorcoach tour operators, wholesalers
and other tour suppliers to deal with
standards, training and marketing; formerly
called the National Tour Brokers Association.
National
Transportation Safety Board (NTSB):
The U.S. agency that recommends safety
standards for all modes of public transportation
and investigates accidents.
nautical
mile: Measure of distance at sea;
equivalent to 6076.115 feet.
negotiated
rates: Usually a commercial rate,
which is available to specific clients
in return for volume of business.
net
rate: A wholesale rate to be marked
up for retail sale.
netiquette:
The unwritten rules of Internet etiquette.
neutral
unit of construction (NUC): unit
devised by IATA as a common denominator
for constructing air fares whereby the
local selling fare is multiplied by
a pre-established rate of exchange for
the country of origin.
nonrefundable
ticket: Air ticket whose dates cannot
be changed and which cannot be turned
in for a refund because of its low cost;
sometimes elements may be changed by
paying an extra fee.
nonrev:
See nonrevenue.
nonrevenue:
A flight on which there are no paying
passengers; also, a passenger, usually
an employee of the airline, who has
not paid for a ticket.
nonsked:
Nonscheduled; an airline or other carrier
that operates at irregular times, usually
at a lower fare.
nonstop:
A flight or other journey that goes
from origin to destination without interruption.
no
rec.: No record; a PNR that
cannot be found because it was lost
or delayed during its transfer.
no
show: A passenger or guest who fails
to use or cancel a reservation.
(Return to index)
observation
car: A railroad car with special
provisions for sightseeing, some of
them with high windows that curve into
the ceiling and are called bubble cars
or dome cars.
oceanfront:
A hotel room directly facing the ocean.
oceanview:
A hotel room, usually at a side, with
a view of the ocean.
occupancy
rate: Ratio expressed as a percentage
of bed nights or room nights sold to
the total offered for sale by a hotel.
off-line:
Any employee, function or facility located
or performed off a carrier's regular
route .
off-line
carrier: Any airline other than
the one whose computer is being used
to obtain information and make reservations;
any carrier other than the airline an
agency is using to make a multi-airline
booking, whether by computer or by telephone.
off-peak:
A time of year when business is traditionally
slow.
off-route
charter: A flight by a scheduled
airline to or from a point it is not
authorized to serve on a regularly scheduled
basis; limited by some governments.
off-season:
Time when business is traditionally
slowest; rates are often lowest then.
on-line
connection: The transfer of passenger
baggage or cargo between flights of
the same airline.
one-off:
British term for one time only, one-shot.
one-way
trip: Transportation from a point
of origin to a destination without provision
for returning.
on-line
reservations system: Automated access
to a reservations database.
open
jaw: Round trip in which the return
trip begins at a point other than the
arrival point; thus, New York to Chicago
with return from Detroit.
open
rate: A situation in which airlines
have failed to negotiate a uniform fare,
leaving each carrier able to charge
its own fare; applies only to international
market.
open
ticket: A ticket that does not specify
when a service is to be performed, leaving
the holder responsible for reserving
at a later time.
operator:
A loose term meaning contractor, tour
operator, wholesaler or a combination
of any or all of these functions.
option:
A tour extension or side trip offered
at extra cost.
option
date: The date upon which definite
commitment, often a deposit, must be
made or the space, seat or other facility
will be made available for sale to others.
other
persons: ARC concept referring to
agencies that could be appointed by
individual carriers outside the ARC
framework but would report sales and
remit through the ARC area settlement
plan.
other
service information: Information
included in a client's airline booking
record that does not require specified
action by the carrier, such as VIP designation.
overbooking:
The practice by a supplier of confirming
reservations beyond capacity, either
in expectation of cancellations or no
shows, or in error.
override:
Extra commission paid by suppliers as
a sales incentive.
oversale:
See overbooking.
(Return to index)
Pacific
Asia Travel Association (PATA):
Government and travel industry organization
promoting tourism throughout the Pacific
and Indian Ocean areas.
package:
A trip that includes prepaid transportation,
accommodations, meals, transfers, sightseeing
and other elements.
packager:
Organizer and usually operator of tour
packages; wholesaler.
package
tour: See package.
parador:
Castle, monastery or such converted
into first-class or luxury tourist accommodations
by government, particularly in Spain
and Puerto Rico.
parlor:
A living room or sitting room that is
part of a hotel suite and not used as
a bedroom; in Europe often called a
salon or lounge.
parlor
car: In the U.S. or Canada, rail
cars featuring individual swivel seats
and food and liquor service.
part
charter: A situation in which a
scheduled airline transports charter
passengers, using some of the seats.
passenger
facility charge (PFC): A head
tax allowing U.S. airports to impose
a fee to be used for federally approved
airport improvements; airlines collect
the tax and remit the funds to the airports.
passenger
name record (PNR): The record
of a booking made and stored in a computerized
reservations system, including all the
pertinent information, such as passenger
name, flight number, travel times and
dates, the airline(s) and price.
passenger
service agent: Airline employee
helping passengers with check-in and
boarding procedures.
passenger
traffic manager (PTM): See corporate
travel manager.
payload:
Paying passengers on transportation
vehicle.
pax:
Travel industry abbreviation for passengers.
peak:
Fare, rate or season when travel and
tourism are traditionally at the highest
level.
pension:
Often a private home renting a bedroom
to paying guests; often including some
meals, in which case in may be called
a boardinghouse.
petit
dejeuner: French term for breakfast.
PFC:
See passenger
facility charge.
piston-engine
plane: Aircraft powered by internal
combustion engine.
pitch:
The space occupied by an aircraft seat,
measured from the back of one seat to
the back of the next; also a fore-and-aft
rocking motion, as of a ship.
PNR:
See passenger
name record.
point-to-point
fare: A basic fare from one destination
to another.
pool
cooperation: Two or more airlines
coordinating services in a market and
pooling costs and revenue; such flights
are administered by the operating carrier,
which also controls the reservations.
porterage:
Baggage-handling service, may be included
in the price of a tour.
port:
Left side of a ship or aircraft facing
toward the front; city where shipping
docks.
portion
control: The effort by commercial
food services to provide equal-size
portions to all customers.
positioning:
The movement of a vehicle on land, air
or sea to place it for boarding and
departing.
positive
space: A confirmed reservation.
postconvention/preconvention
tour: An extension offered as a
supplement to a convention.
prepaid
ticket advice (PTA): Notification
from a carrier or a travel agent in
one city asking a carrier in another
city issue a ticket for prepaid transportation
to a specified person.
preregistration:
Assignment of room and filling out registration
information before a guest's arrival;
often used for convention, meeting and
tour guests and sometimes involving
a lower rate.
principal:
A primary producer of an element of
travel- such as transportation, accommodations
or a cruise - that pays a travel agent
a commission to sell it
prix
fixe: French term for the price
for a specific complete meal.
profile:
Information, such as travel preferences
and typical methods of payment, stored
in a reservations system computer on
frequent travelers and other important
customers; also known as a frequent
travel file.
promotional
fare: An air or other tariff below
regular levels established to stimulate
travel in slack times or for other reasons;
usually roundtrip and restricted in
one way or another.
proof
of citizenship: Document that establishes
the nationality of a traveler to the
satisfaction of a government or carrier.
protected:
A guarantee by a supplier or wholesaler
to pay commission to a travel agent
and full refunds to clients on prepaid,
confirmed bookings regardless of subsequent
cancellation by the supplier; see guaranteed
tour.
provisioned
charter: Rental of a yacht without
crew but with fuel and provisions.
prow:
See bow.
pseudo-PNR:
Reservation or other information stored
in an airline reservations system that
does not include an air booking; for
example a package tour, car rental or
travel insurance.
PTA:
See prepaid
ticket advice.
PTM:
See passenger
traffic manager.
public
charter: The predominant form of
vacation charter travel in the U.S.
airline industry; the rules allow U.S.
and foreign carriers and tour operators
to offer public charters directly or
through travel agents, with or without
inclusive land packages, no purchase
or duration requirements, but rigid
consumer protection, refund, bonding
and escrow provisions.
Pullman:
Railroad sleeping and parlor car in
the U.S.
purser:
Officer on a ship responsible for accounts,
papers and services relating to passenger
comfort and welfare.
(Return to index)
quad
room: Suitable for occupancy by
four persons.
quarterdeck:
Rear part of the upper deck of ship,
usually reserved for ship's officers.
quay:
Dock, wharf or pier.
queue
system: Computerized tickler file
that is part of an automated reservations
system and can provide such information
as waitlisted clients, bookings affected
by fare or schedule changes and ticket-printing
reminders.
queen:
Room a hotel room with a queen-size
bed.
(Return to index)
rack
rate: The regular, public rate for
a hotel room.
ramp
agent: An airline employee who loads
and unloads baggage, cargo and food
supplies on an airplane.
rate
desk: Department of an airline that
calculates fare constructions.
receiving
or reception agency or operator:
See contractor.
receiving
airline: A carrier that will transport
a passenger after arrival at an interline
point.
reconfirmation:
Notice of intent to use a reservation,
required by some airlines.
recreational
vehicle (RV): A van or other
vehicle designed for camping or other
recreational use.
red
eye: Transportation late at night
or overnight.
refund
policy: Policy regarding reimbursement,
especially following cancellation.
regional
airline: See commuter
airline.
Regional
Airline Association: A trade group
representing commuter airlines.
registry:
Attestation of a ship's registration
in a country not necessarily the country
of ownership; does not indicate the
quality of the ship or the nationality
of officers, crew or service personnel.
regulatory
agency: A local, state, federal
or international agency with authority
to approve or disapprove the actions
of principals in an industry.
res
agent: A person who takes reservations
and/or sells tickets.
reservationist:
An employee who accepts, verifies and
confirms reservations.
resort:
Generally, an area offering recreation
and leisure possibilities along with
accommodations.
resort
condo: Usually, individually owned
but jointly managed apartments that
are rented out to vacationers for short
stays.
responsibility
clause: The section of a brochure
that spells out all the conditions of
a tour offering; should include the
name of the financially responsible
principals.
restricted
fare: Airline fare that restricts
the time the holder can travel and imposes
other restrictions, such as advance-purchase
and minimum/maximum-stay requirements.
retailer:
A retail travel agent or agency.
return:
British and European term for roundtrip.
revalidation
sticker: Attachment to a flight
coupon validating a change made in the
original reservation.
revenue
passenger mile (RPM): One paying
passenger carried one mile, basic statistical
unit in the airline industry.
roomette:
On trains, a small bedroom with toilet
facilities.
room
night: One hotel room occupied by
one or more guests for one night; see
bed night.
room
type: General room description by
type, such as single, twin, suite.
roundtrip
fare: The rate charged for a trip
to a destination and return by the same
route.
RPM:
See revenue
passenger mile.
RV:
See recreational
vehicle.
run-of-the-house
rate: A flat price at which a hotel
agrees to offer any of its rooms to
a group.
ryokan:
A traditional inn in Japan.
(Return to index)
Sabre:
Along with Galileo and Worldspan, one
of the three major U.S.-based computerized
reservations systems.
salon:
See parlor.
satellite
ticket printer (STP): A ticket
printer placed on the premises of an
agent's client to deliver airline tickets
electronically to a corporate account.
scheduled
airline: An airline operating passenger
or cargo service on published schedules.
search
engine: A software tool that enables
users to search for information on the
Web. Popular search engines include
Yahoo!, AltaVista and InfoSeek, among
many others.
seat
rotation schedule: Whereby passengers
on a tour motorcoach change seats to
afford everyone an equal opportunity
for the best views.
second
class hotel: See hotel
classifications.
segment:
A leg of an air itinerary from boarding
to deplaning point.
self-drive
tour: A tour that has a preplanned
itinerary with vouchers for meals, hotels
and optional air travel arrangements;
clients can rent a car or drive their
own.
self
sale: Sale of airline tickets by
an agency to a company with which it
is financially affiliated; limited by
some carriers.
sell-through:
Booking accepted by a hotel, although
unavailable days may be included, because
of length or value.
senior
fares: Lower airline fares available
from some U.S. carriers for senior citizens;
age qualifications and other elements
vary from line to line.
service
charge: Additional charge levied
for care of guests.
service
compris: French term meaning a tip
has already been included in the bill.
service
non compris: French term for tip
or gratuity not included.
shared
airline designator: Operations when
a carrier operates flights or legs for
another carrier using the latter's airline
designator; most frequently when commuter
lines provide feeder service to major
carrier's hub .
shells:
See tour shells.
shore
excursion: A tour or trip off the
ship at a port of call, usually for
a charge.
short-haul:
Travel and packages between two nearby
points.
shoulder:
Fare, rate or season between high and
low season.
sidetrip:
See excursion.
single:
Any reservation, facility or service
to be used by one person.
single
entity charter: An air charter sponsored
and paid for by a single company, organization
or person.
single
supplement: Additional charge
to one person occupying a hotel room
accommodating two or more; usually charged
on a tour.
sitting
meal: Serving times on a ship for
breakfast lunch and dinner, usually
two each and usually an hour and a half
apart.
six
p.m. release: Room released for
resale after 6 p.m. because it was reserved
but not guaranteed.
sleeper:
A railroad car with accommodations for
sleeping.
sleeper
Seat: A modified first or business
class seat used on some airlines that
reclines to an almost horizontal plane.
slot:
The scheduled time of arrival or departure
allocated to an aircraft movement on
a specific date or dates at an airport;
by FAA definition applies only to four
high density U.S. airports where flights
are limited, but term has been extended
loosely to other airports.
slow
rec: Slow record; a PNR; that has
been delayed in its transfer from one
airline's computer to another; see no
rec.
Society
of Government Travel Professionals (SGTP):
A U.S. trade association for agencies
involved in government travel.
Society
of Incentive Travel Executives (SITE):
Organization of incentive travel planners.
Society
of American Travel Writers (SATW):
A trade association of travel writers
and journalists.
soft
opening: Preliminary opening of
a new hotel, normally for invited guests
and the media
Sound-and-light
show: Staged nighttime spectacle,
usually at a historic site, involving
dramatic use of light beams and narration.
special
service requirement: A request for
a specific service for a passenger,
such a kosher meal, a wheelchair or
a specific seat assignment; stored in
passenger name record.
split
charter: A vehicle, usually an aircraft,
engaged by two or more entities for
a specific flight or number of flights.
SST:
Supersonic transport, an aircraft capable
of cruising at a speed greater than
that of sound; for example, the Concorde.
stabilizer:
A device designed to eliminate or lessen
a ship's tendency to roll; a gyrostabilizer
constantly adjusts the attitude of underwater
vanes at the command of a gyroscope;
a flume stabilizer uses the weight and
motion of water brought in and expelled
from tanks in a rhythm counter to the
ship's roll.
standard
ticket stock: See ticket
stock.
standby:
A passenger holding a ticket on a reduced
standby fare, meaning he cannot make
a reservation; a passenger on a waitlist
for a seat.
starboard:
Right side of a ship or aircraft when
facing toward the front.
steamship:
Literally, a large ship powered by steam,
of which few remain; actually, shipping
people still may refer to the steam
ship business.
stem:
Bow or prow (front) of a ship.
stern:
The rear end of a ship.
STOL:
Short takeoff and landing; an aircraft
with those capabilities.
stopover:
The act of leaving or the right to leave
a flight for an indefinite period, promotional
fares often not permitting stopovers
or carrying a surcharge for them; also
a tour package name for a short stay
in a city.
STP:
See satellite
ticket printer.
stripped
package: A package that includes
the minimum ingredients to qualify for
an IT number; a package or tour offering
lesser accommodations and features.
subcontractor:
A local operator that provides service
for a wholesaler.
suite:
Hotel unit of at least two rooms, one
a parlor; may include kitchen facilities.
supplement:
The price for an extra or better grade
of service; see also single
supplement.
supplemental
liability insurance: Liability coverage
for accident claims against a car renter
by a third party.
supplier:
An entity offering travel products or
services for sale, generally through
retail travel agents and often directly
to the public.
supporting
document: Additional evidence needed
to verify identity or a transaction;
driver's license, birth certificate,
health card, visas and passport are
examples for the former, cancelled checks
and receipts for the latter.
(Return to index)
tabled'hote:
A full-course meal served at a fixed
price.
tariff:
An individual fare or rate, a class
of fares or rates; a published list
of fares or rates; an official publication
containing all fares or rates and conditions
of service.
technical
stop: A stop en route, planned or
unplanned, for refueling, crew change
or other operational need, but not for
discharging or taking passengers on
board an aircraft.
teleticketing:
Automated procedure that permits a machine
to print airline tickets at an agency
when the booking is made by telephone.
terms
and conditions: See conditions.
TGV
Train a Grade Vitesse: France's
ultra-fast passenger train.
theme
park: A large amusement facility
with rides, shows, restaurants, shops
and other attractions; architecture,
decoration, uniforms, music and other
features suggest a theme or image for
the entire park or for designated sections
of it.
through
fare: Fare applying from the
point of origin to the destination through
one or more intermediate points for
travel on one airline.
ticket
agent office or counter: Authorized
to make reservations and write tickets
for travel supplier; the employee authorized
so to do.
ticket
stock: Blank ticket forms held
by travel agents and travel industry
services to be filled out and validated,
at which point they become tickets that
can be exchanged for travel services.
tonnage:
Gross registered tonnage is measured
as 100 cubic feet of enclosed space
per ton on a ship; net registered tonnage
is gross less space occupied by such
elements as crew quarters, engines,
cargo, fuel, stores and so on that a
ship can carry; displacement tonnage
is the amount of water a ship displaces.
tour:
A prearranged and usually prepaid journey
to and from one or more destinations
and usually including transportation,
meals, accommodations and other elements.
tour-basing
fare: A reduced rate excursions
fare available to purchasers of prepaid
tours or packages, including group inclusive,
incentive and inclusive tours; any fare
offered by a carrier on which a travel
agent may claim a higher commission
by selling specified ground arrangements
at the same time.
tour
brochure: See brochure.
tour
departure: Date, time and place
for the beginning of a tour and, by
extension, the entire operation of a
single tour.
Tourism
Canada: The government unit responsible
for promoting travel to the country.
tourist
card: Document issued to prospective
tourists as a prerequisite for entry
and exit; the card may be the only travel
document required by the issuing country.
tourist
class: Accommodations and services
of less quality that those for first
class; on airlines, unofficial designation
for economy or coach service.
tourist
hotel: See hotel
classifications.
tour
manager: A person who leads
a trip from beginning to end, or at
least the land portion; also known as
escort.
tour
operator: A company that develops
tour packages with all the transportation,
accommodations and other elements and
usually markets the tours; tour operators
sell and pay commissions to travel agents
and some sell directly to the public.
tour
organizer: An individual, sometimes
a travel agent, who forms a group of
passengers to participate in a special,
prepaid tour; an organizer does not
necessarily have conference appointments,
nor does he usually pay commissions.
tour
package: See package.
tour
shells: Brochures containing
artwork and graphics but no printed
copy, which subsequently is printed
separately by wholesalers or tour operators.
tour
wholesaler: See wholesaler.
track:
Charter route, particularly the route
followed by a series of back-to-back
charters.
traffic
conferences: Within IATA, the three
areas into which the organization has
divided the world.
transaction
fee: Charges for certain types of
services, such as the making or canceling
of bookings, delivery of tickets and
providing insurance or visas; rare but
has been proposed as an alternative
to commissions.
transfer:
Local transportation and porterage from
one airline terminal to another, from
a terminal or station to a hotel or
from a hotel to a theater or restaurant,
all as part of a tour contract which
also states the mode of transfer.
transit:
Word for a passenger who changes planes
without having to go through customs
or security checks.
travel
advisory: Official U.S. State Department
warning about conditions in an area
or a country.
travel
agent arbiter: The person who is
empowered to adjudicate disputes between
the Airlines Reporting Corp. and individual
U.S. travel agencies.
Travel
and Tourism Research Association (TTRA):
A professional society of U.S. travel
industry market research specialists.
Travel
Industry Association of America (TIA):
A nonprofit organization of government
and private organizations dedicated
to promoting travel to and around the
U.S.
Travel
Industry Association of Canada (TIAC):
A trade association including the entire
range of Canadian travel, transportation
and related industries and governmental
organizations.
Travel
South U.S.A.: A nonprofit regional
travel promotional organization formed
by governors of 11 Southeast states.
triple:
A hotel room suitable for occupancy
by three persons.
turbofan
jet: Jet aircraft powered by
turbojet engines, the thrust of which
has been increased by the addition of
a low-pressure fan.
turbojet:
Aircraft powered by engines incorporating
a turbine-driven air compressor to take
in and compress air for fuel combustion,
the combustion gases and/or heated air
being used both to rotate the turbine
and create a thrust-producing jet.
turboprop:
Aircraft powered by engines in which
the propulsive force is supplied by
a gas turbine that drives a propeller.
twin:
A hotel room with two single beds.
twin
double: A hotel room with two
double beds.
(Return to index)
United
States Tour Operators Association (USTOA):
A U.S. organization of tour firms devoted
to promoting professionalism in the
industry.
United
States Travel & Tourism Administration
(USTTA): The U.S. Commerce Department
agency for the promotion of tourism
to the U.S.
unit
load device (ULD): A load-carrying
device that acts directly with aircraft
loading and restraint systems and meets
all restraint requirements without use
of supplementary equipment.
Universal
Federation of Travel Agents, Associations
(UFTAA): A world organization of
national travel agents' trade associations.
upgrade:
To move to a better accommodation or
class of services; to make improvements
to a facility.
U.S.
Travel Data Center organization:
Affiliated with TIAA that provides economic
to the industry.
(Return to index)
validation:
Imprinting a piece of generic airline
ticket stock with the stamp of particular
airline, which makes it a ticket.
validator:
A mechanical device used in validation;
any of the special airline die plates
used in such a device to imprint tickets.
value
added tax (VAT): Part of a country's
tax system that imposes a levy at each
stage of production of a product or
service.
visa:
An official authorization appended to
a passport that permits entry and travel
within a country for a certain time.
VFR:
Traffic visiting friends and relatives,
a statistical category of traveler.
volume
incentive: See override.
vouchers:
Tour documents issued by tour operators
to be exchanged for accommodations,
meals, sightseeing and other services.
(Return to index)
waitlist:
A list established by a supplier, particularly
an airline, of customers who seek space
on a day or time that is sold out.
walk-ins:
Hotel guests who arrive without reserving.
Warsaw
Convention: Agreement limiting the
legal liability of international airlines
in regards to passengers and cargo;
currently the per-passenger liability
limit is $75,000.
weekend
rates: Special rates often used
to attract leisure business to business
hotels.
weigh
anchor: To raise a ship's anchor.
wet
lease: The rental of a vehicle,
particularly an aircraft, including
crew, supplies, fuel and maintenance
services.
wholesaler:
A company that develops tour packages
with all the components for sale through
travel agents.
wide-body
jet: Any of a number of large-capacity
aircraft that can seat up to 10 passengers
abreast, such as 707's DC10s and L-1011s.
Worldspan:
Along with Sabre and Galileo, one of
the three major U.S.-based computerized
reservations systems.
World
Tourism Organization (WTO): A worldwide
group of government travel organizations
involved in promoting tourism; formerly
the International Union of Official
Travel Organizations.
World
Travel and Tourism Council: Organization
of travel industry executives established
to ensure that governments understand
the economic role of tourism and to
promote the expansion of the tourist
industry.
World
Travel Market: Annual global travel
and tourism event in London featuring
exhibition stands by hotel groups, airlines,
car rental companies, cruise lines,
ferry companies, tourist organizations,
attractions, tour operators and business
and incentive travel operators.
(Return to index)
yield
management industry: Practice of
controlling the mix of bookings by computer
to achieve highest revenue and profit.
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