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Amadeus India’s Ticket Capping Solution For Airlines

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Company Amadeus India

Department Product Management

Table of Contents 1. Introduction.........................................................................................................................................4 2. Product Positioning..............................................................................................................................4 3. Features & Benefits.............................................................................................................................4 4. Advantages/Key Value........................................................................................................................5 5. Description of Ticket Quota System in Amadeus................................................................................5 6. System Overview & Website working..................................................................................................5 6.1 How does the Website works?..........................................................................................................6 6.2 How to use Web interface?...............................................................................................................6 6.3 Separate Ticket Limits (9W,S2, IC, AI & IATA to advise industry limits ‘YY’)...................................7 6.4 Selection of Action codes..................................................................................................................8 6.5 Interpretation Message Before Update is made................................................................................9 6.6 Request id Generation.....................................................................................................................11 6.7 Acknowledgement of Update Made By Amadeus To The Airline...................................................12 6.8 Action Codes On The Website........................................................................................................13 6.8.1 New Permanent And Current Limits.............................................................................................13 6.8.1.1How To Inhibit The Agency From Issuing Tickets......................................................................13 6.8.2 Change Only Current Limits (Adhoc Request).............................................................................13 6.8.3 Change Only Permanent Limits...................................................................................................13 6.8.4 Unlimited Limits............................................................................................................................13 6.9 Itinerary Type Indicator....................................................................................................................14 7. Other Features On Web Interface.....................................................................................................14 8.New Value Added Feature of the website – Real Time Status..........................................................15 9.Product Logic......................................................................................................................................19 10. Technical Requirements..................................................................................................................21 11. Services...........................................................................................................................................21 12. Ordering Procedure/Deployment.....................................................................................................22 13. SMS product to send Ticket Limits..................................................................................................22 14. Contacts..........................................................................................................................................23

1. Introduction

Web Interface is a totally automated tool for Airlines to update ticket quota for travel agencies. Amadeus India has developed the web interface product for Airlines to create and update agency ticket limits on the Amadeus system.

2. Product Positioning

This product is for all the BSP participating Airlines who wish to update agency ticket limits on the Amadeus system.

3. Features & Benefits

Fast, Efficient & Time saving totally graphical Sends automatic acknowledgement to Airlines once the update is done An Airline can request new limits for an agency or change the existing ones The Airline can revoke an agency from ticketing in case of agency default. For the travel agencies – the update made by the Airline is automatically sent as a queue

message for information. The product is available 24*7 and even post business hours! Can define separate domestic & international ticket limits. Real time status of ticket limits on the website.

4. Advantages/Key Value

• Product available at any time (after office hours & holidays) • Graphical & easy to use • All input given by the Airline • Acknowledgement of the update made sent to the Airline for verification. • Airline can check real time status of any agency on the website.

5. Description of Ticket Quota System in Amadeus

The Ticket quota system (TQS) is a function within the Amadeus central ticketing system that is used to monitor and limit the issuance of automated and electronic tickets. A warning is displayed when the maximum quota allotment specified by the validating Airline or by the local BSP is reached. The TQS table is automatically refreshed and the TQS counts are reset by a batch process at the end of a TQS reporting period. The TQS table contains two types of Quota allocations:

a. Permanent Quota – The permanent ticket quota indicates the number of tickets that an agency is allowed to issue for each validating Airline and within the BSP quota (YY) during a BSP reporting period. After updating the permanent ticket quota, the remaining quota is automatically adjusted to reflect the difference between the current quota and the issued counter.

b. Current Quota – The current quota is different from the permanent quota, this indicates that the Airline has requested an update for this reporting period only. The current quota is reset automatically by the system to match the permanent quota when a new reporting period begins.

6. System Overview & Website working

URL OF THE WEBSITE: www.amadeustqs.com

6.1 How does the Website works?

1. It works through Internet. The user logs on to the site www.amadeustqs.com 2. A user id and password is provided by Amadeus and user must tick/select I agree button at

the time of login 3. The user fills the agency name, IATA number (8 digit without spaces), and the quota by

choosing the appropriate action, using the drop down menu (see page no. 7) (The update is made on the Iata number)(see note 2)

4. The user can go on filing the panel with numerous agency details at one time. 5. Once finished, click on the SUBMIT box at the bottom of the screen. 6. A display interpreting the action to be performed is displayed. The user should read it and

only then click on I AGREE. 7. A check box with disclaimer of BSP link will display. The user should read it and only then

click on I AGREE. 8. When the I AGREE button is clicked, a request id number is generated by Amadeus, and

the request is actioned. 9. The acknowledgement is generated to the user’s email address.

Error Response

Errors will be generated if:

1. In the agency name the character & or ‘ is used. (AMPHASANT AND APOSTROPHE)

2. In case this happens, use the BACK button where the details you typed will still be there! 3. Make the modification and click on SUBMIT once more.

6.2 How to use Web interface?

Log on to the website with user name and password (see note 1)

Important notes: 1. It is the Airlines responsibility to advise and verify Amadeus to delete the rights of staff who is no longer authorized. 2. Amadeus does not verify if agency name matches with IATA no .the update is always made on the IATA number input by the Airline.

3. No special characters i.e. @, . ,”,’ are accepted in agency name. So while entering the agency

name special character must be removed.

4. The speed of actioning the request depends on the speed of the ISP. There might be some time difference (10-15 minutes) in time to update.

User id & Password

A Blank mask will appear where user has to update all relevant information

For Airlines who only have international operation like LH,CX,BA etc can use common option on the website.

6.3 Separate Ticket Limits (9W, S2, AI only in India)

Airlines having DOMESTIC & INTERNATIONAL flights can give ticket quota separately for INTERNATIONAL and DOMESTIC flights

All Airlines by default can only use the “common indicator”. Airlines who have both domestic as well as international operations can get the feature of using DOMESTIC & INTERNATIONAL option separately on web interface. Amadeus can control access of DOM & INT on website* Important note: In case an Airline wants the right to separately advise domestic & international tickets, they should contact the Amadeus India product management team at product@amadeus.in

A drop down menu exists for each field chose by clicking left mouse Selection of DOM & INT

All Airlines can see in the drop down display – the option of Domestic, International and Common. But only for Airlines who are authorized by Amadeus can send the separate limit for DOM & INT. If an unauthorized Airline sends DOM/INT limits the response on the website will be International & Domestic not allowed. So Airlines such as LH, TG, CX etc. should use only COM option and Airlines like 9W, S2, AI etc. should use DOM/INT options. Effective 01

st July 2013, IATA Billing & Settlement for Domestic & International Airline Sales, will be

on weekly basis.

Weekly reporting change effective 1st July 2013

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

01 Week - 01 to 07*

02 Week - 08 to 15*

03 Week - 16 to 22*

04 Week - 23 to Month End

*Days of the Month

6.4 Selection of Action codes

Explanation of codes in Section 6.8

Only Intl

A drop down menu exists for each option. You may choose the action Code as per your

requirement for capping update.

User will update details in the blank mask

After filling the details click on SUBMIT button.

6.5 Interpretation Message Before Update is made

Interpretation message of the update to be performed on the website After submitting the request user has to confirm the action requested. After reading the interpretation, on clicking “I AGREE” button on the website, it is confirmed and sent for processing to Amadeus.

After filling the details, click on the submit

The Airline gets to read their instruction in comprehensive statements. Only once they click on I AGREE button it will come on the Amadeus server for execution

If user is selecting the option INT – then the interpretation statement will include the word ‘INTERNATIONAL’

If user is selecting DOMESTIC Airlines then statement will include DOMESTIC

To indicate INT limits. (Used by Airlines with rights to update separate DOM & INT capping)

To indicate INT limits (Airline having both DOM & separately for this)

If the user is selecting “COMMON Capping” for any agent then it means the Airline does not have separate DOM & INT operation

6.6 Request id Generation

After clicking “I AGREE” Button a Request ID is generated

The common capping authorization is available with all Airlines including 9W,S2, AI who have both DOM & INTL operations, this is because Domestic BSP is currently available with few selected agents. So Airlines like 9W, have to provide separate DOM & INTL caps to domestic BSP participating agents, and only COM cap to non-Domestic BSP participants.

Once the Airline clicks on I AGREE, a request id number is generated by Amadeus. This means request is now accepted.

Request ID is generated which is an indicator that the request is sent to Amadeus for processing

Please quote this request id to Amadeus in case of queries from the travel agent who calls the Airlines can be given this request id number.

6.7 Acknowledgement of Update Made By Amadeus To The Airline

6.8 Action Codes On The Website

6.8.1 New Permanent And Current Limits

If the user wants to advise new quota/limits for both the permanent and the current quota/limits of a travel agency. This option would mean that the Airline is advising new permanent and current quota/limits for that agency. This option does not add any more tickets to the existing quota/limits but overrides the existing (old) quota/limits with the new quota/limits.

** Do not leave any field “P” or “C” blank or else errors can appear, if the system does not find any value specified for “P” then permanent value becomes same as the current value**

6.8.1.1How To Inhibit The Agency From Issuing Tickets

To stop/inhibit ticketing for an agency you may choose the action code as ‘New Permanent & Current Limits’ And put 0 in both Permanent & Current limits.

6.8.2 Change Only Current Limits (Adhoc Request)

If the user wants to advise only current ticket quota/limits for an agency. This option would mean that permanent ticket quota/limits remains the same while current quota/limits will change as per the new quota/limits advised by the Airline. New current quota/limits will override the existing (old) current quota/limits.

6.8.3 Change Only Permanent Limits

If the user wants to advise only permanent ticket quota/limits for an agency. This option would mean that current quota/limits remains the same, while permanent quota/limits will change as per the new quota/limits advised by the Airline. New permanent quota/limits will override the existing (old) permanent quota/limits.

6.8.4 Unlimited Limits

If the user wants to allow unlimited ticketing for an agency. This option would mean that there are no ticket limits for the specified agency and it can issue unlimited tickets on that Airline. Amadeus doesn’t recommend this option **** At the end of the sale period the current value automatically takes the limits given for permanent value****

6.9 Itinerary Type Indicator The Quota allocations by validating carrier and by BSP can be further defined as being for domestic itinerary or for international itinerary. An indicator added at the time the Airline is added to a TQS table identifies this requirement. The validating carrier code may be added to the TQS table with an itinerary type indicator to identify the quota allocation as being domestic or international or common itinerary.

7. Other Features On Web Interface

Pending Request

Previous Request

In this option user can check request which are pending and are not executed

Existing Quota

In this option user can check previous request given to

agencies

8.New Value Added Feature of the website – Real Time Status

Now Airline can check real time status on the website for any ticketing agency.

1- After selecting submit request option a screen will display wherein Airline will

update 8 digit IATA code with the agency name and click on SUBMIT Button for processing the request

**The real time status can be processed in a lead-time of 5 minutes depending on the speed of the Internet**

2- Airline can request real time status for 13 IATA in one go.

3- Request ID is generated by the website for checking REAL TIME Status

4- Click on check status option on the website

5- Click on result and site will show the current/real status of capping of the requested IATA

Real time ticket quota is the same as the TOQD display in Amadeus central system for any ticketing agency.

Ticket Quota status on Amadeus Central System

Explanation of TOQD table in Amadeus Central system

1. Airline – The Airline column lists has all validating Airlines that have stored ticket quotas for this agency.

2. Itinerary Indicator (ITIN) – The Quota allocation by validating carrier and can be further defined as being for domestic itinerary or for international itinerary.

An indicator added at the time the Airline is added to a TQS table identifies this requirement. The validating carrier may be added to the TQS table with an itinerary type indicator to identify the quota allocation as being domestic or international or common (for both) itinerary.

3. Transaction type code and Document type column (TC/DT) – When a quota is added to the TQS table, it must contain a document type (TKT). TKT document type is for both Paper as well as Electronic tickets.

4. Permanent Quota – is static and indicates the number of automated tickets and e-tickets that an agency is allowed to issue for each validating Airline and within the BSP quota limit during a reporting period. At the end of the reporting period, the allotment of the permanent quota is copied over to the next reporting period.

5. Current Quota – At the beginning of the reporting period, the current quota is the same as the permanent quota. On request of Airline the current quota can be updated during the current reporting period. At the end of the reporting period, the current quota is reset to match the permanent quota.

6. Issued Counter (actual number of documents issued) – The TQS table contains a counter for the actual number of documents issued per Airline (Issued Column).

7. Remaining Counter (remaining number of documents) – In the remaining column of the ticket quota table, the system displays the difference between the current quota and the issued counter.

9.Product Logic

a. In case if already a common quota exists for the Airline. • If the agency had common quota from before – in that case the Amadeus system will

automatically update the quota as 0 for the missing itinerary indicator. However, the Airline should note that present limits of the allocation are overridden to accommodate the new limits. No calculations are made by the system to discount the number of issued documents from the previous common quota.

For ex:

1. Most agents have the allocation as COMMON for both domestic & international as shown below:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AIRLINE ITIN TC/DT PERM CURR ISSUED REMAINING ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AI AIR INDIA TKT 10 10 2 8

2. In case, the Airline (for ex: - AI) chooses the option OC on web interface to say 15 International tickets - then the system will delete the common cap, add domestic quota as 0 to prevent unlimited domestic ticketing and will add the quota for International tickets as follows:

AIRLINE ITIN TC/DT PERM CURR ISSUED REMAINING ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AI AIR INDIA D TKT 0 0 0 0 AI AIR INDIA I TKT 0 15 0 0

Please note that the system does not calculate what has already been issued from the common allocation. Since this is the first time International Cap is being given (I) the system is performing

TOQA entries on the Amadeus System to add a new /fresh international allocation. We can never physically add any value in the ISSUED column. It is therefore recommended that Airlines check the real time status before and after the quota update. In case the International allocation already existed, then permanent would show 10 and current would show 15 AIRLINE ITIN TC/DT PERM CURR ISSUED REMAINING ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AI AIR INDIA D TKT 0 0 0 0 AI AIR INDIA I TKT 0 15 0 0

The same logic applies for fresh Domestic allocation for agencies who so far have only Common Limits defined.

• The Airlines who already had common limits from before, for the very first time of allocating separate limits must ensure to provide both values for DOM & INTL. Otherwise the agent will not be able to issue tickets on the missing itinerary indicator. For ex:

1. till now all agencies had the common quota - in the example below, the agency has a common cap of 100 tickets which can be used for International or Domestic BSP ticketing

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AIRLINE ITIN TC/DT PERM CURR ISSUED REMAINING ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9W JET AIRWAYS TKT 100 100 6 9

2. Now if the Airline only provides a Domestic Limit, then the system will update the Domestic Limit, delete the common limits. In order to avoid Unlimited International Ticketing, the International Limit will automatically be set to 0.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AIRLINE ITIN TC/DT PERM CURR ISSUED REMAINING ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9W JET AIRWAYS D TKT 50 50 0 50 9W JET AIRWAYS I TKT 0 0 0 0

3. If the Airline had specified both DOM & INTL limits instead of only specifying DOM limits, then the result on Amadeus would be:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ AIRLINE ITIN TC/DT PERM CURR ISSUED REMAINING ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9W JET AIRWAYS D TKT 50 50 0 50

9W JET AIRWAYS I TKT 100 100 1 99

4. Once an agency already has defined separate DOM & INT limits, then the Airline can

go ahead and provide separate independent DOM & INT limits. b. In case if there is no previous allocation from the Airline for the agency. • If the agency does not have a quota at all from before from your Airline (the common

quota) then such an Airline must always provide both DOM & INTL limits for this agency – This is a one time exercise. Once the quota is defined as separate for DOM & INTL, then for future there is no need for the Airline to always advise both limits. If this is not done, the Airline will land up providing Unlimited Ticketing to the missing itinerary indicator.

For ex: When an Airline who has both Domestic & International BSP business provides separate ticket limits for the first time, it is recommended that both DOM & INTL limits be specified in the entry. In case this is not done , then unlimited ticketing might take place on the missing itinerary indicator. In case agency has no previous allocation from the Airline, then if ' N ' indicator is used to provide ' New permanent and current quota ' or ‘OC’ is used, then the Airline must specify both Domestic & International allocation. This is explained as follows: 1. Agency not having ticket quota earlier. 2. Now if the Airline only provides a Domestic Limit, then the system will update the Domestic Limit. In order to avoid Unlimited International Ticketing, the International Limit should be given by the Airline as P 0 & C 0. If Airline is not specifying International limit as P 0 & C 0 then agent can enjoy unlimited ticketing.

The same scenario exists if only INTL is provided & no DOM is provided. This capture shows that agency did not have any previous limits and the Airline provided International limit as 50 and did not specify any domestic limit. As a result, agent enjoys unlimited domestic ticketing

AIRLINE ITIN TC/DT PERM CURR ISSUED REMAINING -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AI AIR INDIA I TKT 50 50 0 0

This is a very dangerous scenario and must be avoided Once an agency already has been provided separate DOM & INT limits, then the Airline can go ahead and provide independent DOM & INT limits.

c. If agent is already having domestic and international separate capping and Airline wants to

give common quota to that agency then they have to contact Amadeus office for this.

d. If Airline wants to restrict Domestic or International for any agency then they have to

update permanent as ‘0’ and current as ‘0’.

10. Technical Requirements

User should have access to internet.

11. Services

Training

Amadeus product management team conducts training for all member Airlines.

Support

Amadeus office supports website users 24*7

12. Ordering Procedure/Deployment

In order to request User Id & Password, the Airline can send an email with their email id and user name to product@amadeus.co.in . If any user has left the organisation then it is the Airline’s sole responsibility to inform Amadeus for deactivating his / her TQS login id.

13. Contacts Ms. Swati Bhatia swb@amadeus.co.in Ms. Charu Hingorani ch@amadeus.co.in