What are the benefits of learning one?
A Computer Reservation System (CRS) are computer systems, which link airlines and travel agents together. These systems are used in the booking process, and provide up to date availability for airline seat purchases. Global Distribution Systems (GDS) are CRS systems, which can cater for multiple airlines, hotels, and car reservations. Airline Courses Online offers the most popular CRS courses including Amadeus, Galileo, Sabre and Worldspan. These CRS systems are not available to the public. A Travel agent must subscribe to a CRS provider and complete specialist training. This is where we can help, by providing the specialist training. To work within the travel and tourism industry, learning a CRS is an absolute must. Travel agents or airlines, will expect you to know a least one CRS. These systems are also used by hotels and car hire companies. Learning a CRS will greatly improve your chances of finding employment

Set up your own Travel Business

Have you ever dreamed of opening your own travel agency?
What steps should be taken before opening?
1.First of all make sure you are fully qualified in using reservation system. Act now and start training your GDS training with Airline Courses Online. You should be able to use at least one reservation system. In UK and Europe the strongest GDS is Amadeus or Galileo.

2.GDS is Global Distributions System such as Galileo, Amadeus, Sabre, Worldspan, Apollo. All GDS will enable a passenger to be offered flights, air fares and their restrictions for all journeys, and specific details of the passenger such as name, phone contact and payments details to be entered to create personal file called passenger name record PNR or Booking files BF. A GDS can also book hotels and car –hire. Accelerator Pack enables you to learn these sections.

3. You should be well prepared in reservations; fares and ticketing and it would be best to complete the Comprehensive Pack.

4. Once you open your travel office you will be required to obtain a licence in order to use a GDS in your office. Start by making contact with the organisations below depending on the GDS you would like in your agency. Check out each organisation by clicking on the link below

In order to start issuing tickets from your new agency, you will be requiredto obtain a licence from the International  Air Transport Association (IATA), this information can be sourced from below, by clicking on the link.

IATA

Each month Airline Courses Online will introduce a variety of occupations within the Travel & Tourism industry

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Administration/Documentation Assistant

This role is entry level position, and will involve checking and putting together all the itinerary, tickets and vouchers for any customers that have a booking.

This role is administrative and requires all paper work is correct and put together correctly. They receive all the bookings via a computer system and then required to double check the traveller’s itinerary to make sure flights, hotel room bookings and any other relevant information matches up. You are then required to create a written itinerary and collect all the necessary airline tickets or vouchers and package them together and send them out to the traveller or travel agency.

Occasionally they will be required to track down lost paperwork or change or re-issues documents, carrying out stock or financial returns to pay suppliers or balancing the air ticket sales (BSP). They may also organise visa applications for the consultants or collate all the tickets and vouchers together ready to give to the travellers. They may even get to issue tickets, raise invoices, make deliveries, do the banking or just type letters for the other staff with supervision.

You will need excellent attention to detail, good organisation skills and the ability to work to deadlines. This role is usually based within a team, so the Administration/ Documentation consultant will need to be able to work well in a team environment and liaise with other departments when required.
Salary range £14000 - £18000

Travel Agent Manager

Travel Agency Manager runs Travel Agencies which are usually in the high street or shopping centres which have direct public access. The main responsibility is for welfare and management of all staff within their agency whilst still having ‘a hands on’ approach to selling travel packages.

They generally have all budget and financial responsibility for the agency and maintaining how it performs. They must motivate the team of travel consultants to achieve their sales targets and exceed monthly financial goals. The Agency Manager will also have the responsibly of looking after their own customers also.

You will need to have leader and motivational skills. You should be approachable, personable and inspire your staff. Sales experience of travel products and managing a budget is also required. You will need to be innovative in marketing the agency’s services in a highly competitive market.
Salary range £35000 - £40000

Reservation Sales Agent

A Reservations Sales Agent takes customer enquiries and bookings. They then make all the travel arrangements which will include processing airline tickets, coach bookings, hotel bookings, day tours, car-hire, transfers and travel insurance. This work is usually completed over the telephone or on-line and occasionally face to face, if the office is on the high street.

The agent processes customer bookings and answers customer enquiries over the phone and on-line. All bookings and reservations are loaded onto a global distribution system (GDS). A Reservations Sales Agent needs to ask and answer questions to ensure their customers are getting the best value and exactly what the customer requires. It is important that a Reservations Sales Agent has comprehensive product information about what they are selling in order for enquiries to be answered accurately.

You require being at ease meeting the general public, good listening skills, very good attention to detail and accuracy. The Reservations Sales Agent needs to be able to work at a fast pace as they will often find reservations roles are located in call centers with large numbers of phone calls on hold with clients awaiting your help which can be stressful.
Salary range £20000 - £28000

Travel Agent

A Travel Agent makes arrangements for both leisure and personal travel holidays to the general public. This job is usually face to face with customers who come into their offices. The offices are usually located on busy high streets or shopping centers.

The usual day for a Travel Agent includes making airline reservations, hotel bookings, coach tours, car hire, transfers, cruises, day tours and anything else that will give the traveller an enjoyable holiday. They often give lots of advice and make suggestions about travel destinations and products.

A travel Agent will have to be well travelled and have good geographical knowledge of the world. They need to be able to work in stressful conditions which can be fast paced with plenty of deadlines and you should have a good degree of accuracy. The absolute must is excellent customer service skills, and enjoy meeting and helping the general public. You will also be expected to remember products and destination details.
Salary range £18000 - £25000

Ticketing Consultant

A Ticketing Consultant’s responsibility requires calculating and quoting basic and complex airfares on a Global Distribution System (GDS). Their role is to produce an airline ticket and pass it to the traveller or travel agent.
A Ticketing Consultant will usually be involved in quoting the airfares and providing assistance to travel agents. They will give the travel agent an understanding of the rules and the limits of a particular ticket. The itinerary of some customers can be quite complex and the Ticketing Consultant will need to think very carefully of all the options available before providing a solution. When producing any tickets the Ticketing Consultant will check the booking to ensure it correct before issuing.
The ticketing role is more ‘behind the scenes’ rather than face to face with the public. You should be process orientated as the job can be repetitive at times.
A Ticketing Consultant needs to be able to work under pressure to meet airline deadlines. Good attention to detail and the ability to problem solve is essential. A strong customer service focus is also important as are good computer skills.

Salary range £14000 - £25000


Corporate Travel Consultant

A Corporate Travel Consultant makes the necessary travel arrangements for business clients. The key expectations are to handle numerous accounts for the business traveller, ensuring they arrive to their meetings stress free and on time. The role unusually involves booking clients first or business class tickets on complex air routes and making premier accommodation bookings.

The most important aspects of this job are building new and long-lasting relationships with clients, and understanding the clients travel requirements. Most bookings are done over the phone or via email so attention to detail is vital. Bookings maybe required at short notice so there is an element of stress attached to the role.
Salary range £16000 - £35000

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