Travel Glossary

Your expectations, our limitations

Add-on – A selection, typically at an increased price, added to a travel reservation.
Adjoining rooms – Bordering hotel rooms that do not share a common door.
Advance purchase requirement – Ticket must be purchased a minimum number of days before the flight departs.
ARC – The Airlines Reporting Corporation – is responsible for supervising payments from travel agencies to airlines along with the manner in which tickets are issued to consumers.
Airport access fee – A fee paid to the airport authority by car rental companies for the use of shuttle vehicles. This often appears in customer’s car rental bills.
Availability – The total number of seats allowed to be sold at a particular rate.

Base fare – The cost of an airfare prior to addition of fees, taxes or surcharges.
Blackout dates – Specific dates in which special fares or promotions do not apply. Typically exist around holidays or special events.
Blocked space – Seats reserved to be sold to third party companies at a discounted group rate.
Boarding pass – A ticket issued at airport check-in that authorizes airplane boarding.
Bulk contract – An agreement whereby an airline sells large blocks of seats at a discount for resale by a third party.
Bulk fare – A reduced fare for purchases of a large number of tickets.
Business class – While amenities vary based on the airline, business class generally falls between first class and coach.

Cancellation penalty – A fee to charged to customers that cancel flights after booking reservations. Fees typically vary based on the agency or carrier.
Commission – A small fee that a travel agency or services adds to the total fee in order to make money.
Consolidator – A business that has contracts with airlines to sell tickets in bulk, generally at a discounted rate.
Corporate agency – A travel agency that usually caters to medium-large sized businesses.

Electronic ticket – A paperless ticket that allows travelers to fly with only a photo ID. Commonly referred to as “E-ticket’s”, they cannot be lost or stolen because it is an electronic reservation.
Exclusive fare – Discounted airfares offered by travel consolidators.

Fare basis (code) – The code that determines the price of an airline ticket.
First class – The class which offers the most premium service. Enhanced seating, meal selection, and drink offerings staples of this services.

Global distribution system (GDS) – An international computer reservation system that accesses many databases of suppliers, airlines, etc. in different countries, such as Sabre.

Hub – A city in which an airline has a major presence. Often, it is the city in which the airline was formed.

IATAN – International Airlines Travel Agent Network – Administers the IATAN card, the only widely accepted form of legitimate travel agent identification.
Interline connection – A trip with a connection flight from a different airline.

Land arrangements – All non-flying reservations upon arrival such as car rental, hotel, and tourist reservations.
Layover – The period of time spent between connecting flights.
LDW – loss damage waiver – Supplementary car rental insurance that covers theft, vandalism, and accident damage.
Leisure travel – Usually signifies traveling for relaxation, vacation, or to visit friends/family.
Limited service hotel – A hotel without a restaurant on the premises.
Lowest available fare – The most inexpensive flight currently available.

Maximum stay – The longest period of time a traveler can stay at a particular destination and still qualify for the promotion or discounted fare.
Minimum connect time – The shortest time required in order to successfully transfer to a connecting flight. It is recommended to select a connecting flight that exceeds the minimum connection time.
Modified American plan (MAP) – Meal plan that includes two daily meals, usually breakfast and dinner.

Net fare, net rate – Implies the commission has already been added to the price of the fare.
No show – A traveler that doesn’t appear for their flight, hotel, or car rental reservation.
Non-refundable – A ticket in which no money will be returned if the customer no longer intends to use the ticket.
Non-transferable – A ticket that can only be used by the person who was originally scheduled to fly at the time of purchase.
Nonstop – A flight that travels directly to its destination without connections or layovers.

Occupancy rate – The proportion of reservations expected during any given period.
Offline connection – A connection that requires switching to both a new aircraft and carrier.
Off-peak – A less expensive time to travel as result of lower consumer volume during these periods.
Operator – Any company that provides any transportation service. Not just limited to flights, it also includes trains, buses, and cruise ships.
Overbooking – When a carrier books more reservations than available seats.

Rack rate – The price of a hotel prior to discount.
Reconfirm – to double-check a reservation.
Record locator – The number assigned to a reservation in the airlines number. This number is unique, as it will never be assigned again.
Red-eye flight – A flight in which the travel takes place between the hours of 9pm and 7am.
Reissue – When a new ticket is issued as a result of a change of plans. This can often require fees or penalties from the airport.
Round trip – Two flights: the destination flight and its return trip.

Sabre ® – The world’s largest travel reservation system.
Saturday night stay – In order to receive a specialty fare, a Saturday stay over is sometimes required.
Scheduled carrier – An airline that offers regularly scheduled flights between destinations.
Special fare – Any fare that deviates from normal pricing (typically discounted).
Shoulder season – The period of time between busy and quiet seasons in which prices are typically at a midpoint.
Suite – A hotel room that usually offers a living room and kitchenette in addition to the bedroom.
Supplier – A company that offer travel services to the general public.

Through passenger – A passenger who remains on the plane at a connecting stop on the way to his/her final destination.
Ticket stock – Blank airline tickets.
Travel agent – An individual or company that sell travel services on a commission basis.
Travel agency – Usually used in the travel industry to refer to an ARC-appointed storefront retailer.

Unlimited mileage – Signifies there are no mileage restrictions for renters.
Unrestricted fare – An airfare with no limitations. It is typically refundable and has no blackout days.