Before Departure / Complete Itinerary |
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When the change is to the outbound portion of a ticket and/or when a change to the complete itinerary is requested before any travel begins, complete the following steps: 1. Display the ETR (for electronic tickets) or have the paper ticket in hand to determine flight coupon validity and/or OPEN status. 2. Determine if you have a refundable or non-refundable fare. Refund a refundable fare, if at all possible. 3. Because the change affects the entire ticket and/or the outbound portion, an entire new fare must be priced after all new flights have been confirmed. a. Verify if the original ticket can be voided or refunded based on the date of issue, type of fare and whether or not your account is transaction fee-based. b. Book the new segments in the lowest available fare. c. Subtract the old base fare amount from the new base fare amount. d. Subtract the old tax amounts from the new tax amounts.
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Rules Display Entry |
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There are several methods to accessing a rule display. After requesting a fare quote... To display the entire rule from the fare on line 2: RD2 To display the menu of rules categories for the fare on line 2: RD2*M To display only rules categories 2 (penalty) and 19 (refunds) for the fare on line 2: RD2*2/19 To display the travel restrictions (Minimum Stay, Maximum Stay, Day/Time Restrictions, Seasonality, Blackouts, Effective/Expiration and Flight Application) for the fare on line 2: RD2*TR |
ETR - Electronic Ticket Record |
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When an electronic ticket is issued, the GDS creates an Electronic Ticket Record (ETR) - a computerized version of the ticket. It contains all of the information that would be found on a paper ticket. [Many airlines refer to an ETR as a VCR - Virtual Coupon Record.] When the ETR has been created, it is stored in the validating carrier's database. It is stored in the GDS for up to 13 months after the travel date if it is unused. If the entire ETR has been used or exchanged, it remains active for approximately 7 days after the last travel date. |
Display ETR |
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To display an ETR while in a PNR, begin by displaying the ticket field (*T). *T TKT/TIME LIMIT 1.T-17SEP-QCXA*ALI 2.TE 0161092250704-AT OHANL/B QC0A*ASO 0034/09SEP 3.TE 0161092858992-AT OHANL/B QC0A9ART 1729/15SEP 4.TE 0161093393020-AT OHANL/B QC0A*ALI 1819/17SEP Choose the ticket you wish to display. If you want to display the third ticket, enter WETR*4 (because the third ticket is on line 4 of the ticketing field). |
Display ETR |
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An ETR can also be displayed without being in a PNR. WETR*Txxxxxxxxxx (where xxxxxxxxxx = the thirteen-digit ticket number). A paper ticket can also be displayed from Sabre's database. WTDB*2 (line number from the *T) or WTDB*Txxxxxxxxxx Flight Status Codes |
| OPEN | | Unused flight coupon - this is the default status when the ETR is created. | CKIN | | The passenger has either checked in or boarded the aircraft. | USED | | The passenger has boarded the aircraft and/or has already flown. | VOID | | The flight coupon has been voided by the issuing agency. | PRTD | | The flight coupon has been printed by the airline. | EXCH | | The flight coupon has been exchanged. | RFND | | The flight coupon has been refunded | SUSP or NOGO | | For interline (multiple carriers on a single electronic ticket) tickets; the flight coupon has been suspended by the airline. These codes are also used by some airlines to specify a non-refundable ETR that is no longer eligible for exchange if the original, ticketed reservation is not canceled before the departure of the outbound flight |
The only coupon status valid for exchange processing is "OPEN." Flight coupons with OPEN status will remain active in the ETR for up to 13 months from the date of the last open segment (provided the original travel is canceled before the departure).
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Taxes ZP - Flight Segment Tax |
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3.20 USD (effective 1Jan05) per takeoff/landing of aircraft (regardless of whether or not the city is shown on the ticket); applies only when 7.5% US Domestic Transportation Tax applies. XF - Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) | | Specific airports charge 3.00 - 4.50 USD applicable to departures only to enable those airports to raise funds for improvement projects. A maximum of four (4) PFCs can be charged on a ticket. · On tickets issued for journeys not returning to the point of origin, only the first two applicable PFCs are collected. · On tickets issued for journeys returning to the point of origin, PFCs are collected for the first two and the last two applicable enplanements |
AY - Security Service Fee | | Affectionately referred to as the "September 11th Tax," this fee offsets the cost of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) facilities at US airports. 2.50 USD applies for each departure from a US airport A maximum of $5.00 one-way and $10.00 round-trip applies |
Q - Fuel Surcharge | | 9.30 USD (13.95 USD for Las Vegas) is added into the base fare (yet shown separately on the linear fare ladder) for departures from specific airports to offset associated jet fuel costs.
(This surcharge is airport-imposed, not airline-imposed.)
[Remember: Q charges (and other taxes and fees other than US tax are NOT included in fares shown on fare quotes/fare displays.] _________________________________________________________ Linear Fare Calculation Lines | | Linear fare calculation lines (sometimes called linear fare ladders or just fare ladders) contain all the elements and details of a ticket's fare. They do not, however, contain fare rules, only the structure by which the fare has been calculated. The example below will be examined over the next few pages. HOU AA X/DFW AA SMF 175.81KA14NR DL X/ATL Q9.30 DL HOU 194.41L14N 379.52 END ZPHOUDFWSMFATL XFDFW4.5SMF4.5ATL4.5 |
What's In a Fare Calculation Line? | | City codes for each flight shown on the ticket - Codes for enroute stops on direct flights are not shown
- Only city codes are used - note in the example below, "HOU" is shown when the flight may actually depart from IAH
HOU AA X/DFW AA SMF 175.81KA14NR DL X/ATL Q9.30 DL HOU 194.41L14N 379.52 END ZPHOUDFWSMFATL XFDFW4.5SMF4.5ATL4.5 |
Connections | | Cities at which connections occur are indicated by "X/" before the connection city. (Remember, for domestic purposes, a valid connection is less than four (4) hours in duration.) A stopover is not permitted in a city that has "X/" preceding it. In the example below, DFW and ATL are connection cities. HOU AA X/DFW AA SMF 175.81KA14NR DL X/ATL Q9.30 DL HOU 194.41L14N 379.52 END ZPHOUDFWSMFATL XFDFW4.5SMF4.5ATL4.5 Carriers | | Carriers are shown in between the city codes for the flight(s) operated by that airline. HOU AA X/DFW AA SMF 175.81KA14NR DLX/ATL Q9.30 DL HOU 194.41L14N 379.52 END ZPHOUDFWSMFATL XFDFW4.5SMF4.5ATL4.5 Q Surcharges | | Fuel and other surcharges appear immediately after the flight to which they apply. In the example below, the fuel surcharge applies on the SMF-ATL flight. HOU AA X/DFW AA SMF 175.81KA14NR DL X/ATL Q9.30 DL HOU 194.41L14N 379.52 END ZPHOUDFWSMFATL XFDFW4.5SMF4.5ATL4.5 |
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Fare and Fare Basis | | The fare and fare basis immediately follow the fare break point. Fares do not have US tax included in them. If a ticket designator applies, it should be appended to the fare basis. HOU AA X/DFW AA SMF 175.81KA14NR DL X/ATL Q9.30 DL HOU 194.41L14N 379.52 END ZPHOUDFWSMFATL XFDFW4.5SMF4.5ATL4.5
Total and End | | The total base fare and "END" indicates the actual fare calculation portion is complete. HOU AA X/DFW AA SMF 175.81KA14NR DL X/ATL Q9.30 DL HOU 194.41L14N 379.52 END ZPHOUDFWSMFATL XFDFW4.5SMF4.5ATL4.5
ZPs | | Segment taxes apply to departures from most (except pre-designated rural) airports in the US. 3.20 USD per segment (with no maximum) applies to all cities on an itinerary, regardless of whether or not it appears on a ticket. For example, if AA has a direct flight IAD-LAX with an enroute stop in DFW, yet the passengers do not change planes, travelers will pay a ZP for the DFW departure because it is part of the entire journey. In the example below, the traveler is paying a segment tax for departures from HOU, DFW, SMF and ATL.. HOU AA X/DFW AA SMF 175.81KA14NR DL X/ATL Q9.30 DL HOU 194.41L14N 379.52 END ZPHOUDFWSMFATL XFDFW4.5SMF4.5ATL4.5 |
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PFCs | | Passenger Facility Charges (PFCs) shown with "XF," are the last to be shown on the fare calculation line. The amount of the charge is shown immediately after the appropriate airport code to which it applies. HOU AA X/DFW AA SMF 175.81KA14NR DL X/ATL Q9.30 DL HOU 194.41L14N 379.52 END ZPHOUDFWSMFATL XFDFW4.5SMF4.5ATL4.5 Additional Fare Calculation Elements | | Other things you may see in fare calculation lines: /- Surface Sector / ARNK LAX AA DFW 100.00B26 /-HOU CO ATL 200.00Y8 S Stopover Charge MSY UA DEN S46.51 UA BOI 300.00MUA XT |
| XT - Extra Taxes Tickets only have room for three taxes. Most domestic fares have more than three, so all the taxes are then "lumped" together as XT, then broken down in the fare calculation line.
LAX DL NYC 694.00Y06 694.00 END ZPLAX XT 52.05US 3.20ZP 2.50AY 3.00XFLAX3 |
NUC | | NUC (Neutral Unit of Construction) is used for international fares and travel to/from the USA or Canada and Mexico. It is a fictitious currency used for construction of international fares.
YYC AA X/DFW Q5.17 Q11.09 AA MEX 658.48Y NUC674.74END ROE1.35159 XFDFW4.5 |
ROE |
| ROE (Rate of Exchange) is used to convert NUCs into the currency of the country of commencement of travel. Like NUC, ROE is used for international fares to/from the USA or Canada and Mexico.
YYC AA X/DFW Q5.17 Q11.09 AA MEX 658.48Y NUC674.74END ROE1.35159 XFDFW4.5 ISI Code | | International Sales Indicator (ISI Code) were used on tickets issued on/before 14Jan05 to define the point of sale and point of ticketing. The ISI code determined other fare construction rules that may have applied. SITI - Sold Inside, Ticketed Inside the country of commencement of travel SITO - Sold Inside, Ticketed Outside the country of commencment of travel SOTO - Sold Outside, Ticketed Outside the country of commencement of travel SOTI - Sold Outside, Ticketed Inside the country of commencement of travel
YYC AA X/DFW Q5.17 Q11.09 AA MEX 658.48Y NUC674.74END ROE1.35159 SITI XFDFW4.5 [Hint: IATA defines the US and Canada as the same country; that's why, even though travel originates in Canada, it's a SITI ticket.]
NOTE: Even though the original ticket may have an ISI code on it, it is irrelevant for new tickets/exchanges issued on/after 15Jan05 |
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US - Domestic Transportation Tax |
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7.5% of the base fare is assessed on: - all travel entirely within the 48 US states
- all travel to/from/within cities within the buffer zone and the 48 US states when tickets are purchased in the US
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Buffer Zone |
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For taxation purposes, the US has "stretched" its mainland borders 225 miles north into Canada and 225 miles south into Mexico. For tickets issued in the US, various taxes apply for travel to/from/within/between points within the buffer zone.
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D, X, 1, 2, 3, etc. Day of the Week |
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D - Valid only on... X - Valid except on... 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 Day of the week Examples: K14D23 - valid only on Tue/Wed BUAX57 - valid daily except Fri/Sun |
As the second character of a fare basis, it indicates the fare for a departure within a specific time of year.
H - High Season
J - High Shoulder Season
O - Shoulder Season
K - Low Shoulder Season
L - Low Season
A fare basis consists of two main elements:
The booking code is, typically, the first letter of the fare basis.
For example, in the fare basis KE14NR, "K" is the booking code.
The fare elements are codes used to define a fare's rules.
For example, in the fare basis KE14NR,
"E" means the fare is an excursion fare and probably has a minimum stay requirement
"14" means the fare requires a 14 day advance purchase
"NR" means the fare is non-refundable
Travel Type
1) MCO-DL-SEA VE14NR 167.20 / SEA-DL-MCI WE21NR 163.70
This is an open jaw because the journey begins in MCO, goes to SEA, but returns to MCI.
(2) MSP-NW-LAX KE7NR 99.10 / LAX-NW-MEM VE14N 169.10 / MEM-NW-MSP KE7N 218.10
This is a circle trip because the outbound and return fares are different. (Remember, a circle trip is either one in which there is more than one stopover point or one in which the outbound and return fares are different.)
(3) MIA-AA-CHI QE14N 79.10 / CHI-AA-MIA QE14N 79.10
This is a round-trip because both the outbound and return fares are the same.
(4) CLT-US-PIT-US-PHX B8US 1077.20
This is a one-way because there is no return.
Fare type
1) ATL-DL-DEN Y06 972.00
This is a local fare - only one carrier is used on a single route.
(2) FAI-AS-SEA-UA-DEN Y 1427.00
This is a joint fare - more than one carrier is used on a single routing.
(3) IND-YX-MKE-YX-DFW BAP7 648.00
This is a thru fare - the fare allows travel "through" a mid-point city.
(4) PHL-US-IAH H 409.10 IAH-HP-PHX B 303.60
This is a point-to-point fare - two different fares are charged for the journey.