Farelogix Eliminates the Need for GDS Passive Segments

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. October 14, 2008

NOVEMBER 2, 2005. Farelogix is providing the technology that travel agency and corporate markets require to effectively manage travel without the use of passive segments.

New policies regarding the use and pricing of GDS passive segments are being discussed by various Global Distribution Systems (GDS), and in some cases, a few GDS are beginning to implement new rules around passive segments. This creates a significant dilemma for agencies given that almost all travel management companies are fully reliant on the GDS for data management and the "passive segment" has been universally utilized to manage off-GDS booking activity, itineraries, and data reporting.

"For a travel management company to modify their operational processes is not realistic," said Jim Davidson, president and CEO of Farelogix. "Agency and corporate travel companies require itineraries, quality control, invoicing, back-office, and full data searching and record keeping in order to operate their businesses and travel programs efficiently. The second requirement is to provide these capabilities in a single system."

With its Essential Bridging Technology, the Farelogix FLX Platform enables non-GDS booking elements to be integrated into the response XML that is stored in the Farelogix Passenger Name Record (PNR) database automatically. This enables all the elements of the total PNR to be easily integrated and synchronized, regardless of booking source, seamlessly passing the required information to the agencies quality control and back-office applications. To support existing back office systems and procedures Farelogix is developing a means to implement the same interface record data formats that are created by the GDS, such as an Accounting Interface Record.

"With Sabre's recent announcement and other GDS indicating that they plan to either increase charges for passive segments or inhibit their use altogether, it is important to understand that the Farelogix FLX Platform does not require or utilize passive GDS segments," explained Davidson. "Farelogix can accomplish agent front end, corporate online booking, quality control, and back office integration and synchronization without the use of passive segments that are placed in the GDS. This ability, coupled with a single dashboard view of the entire travel inventory available on the market through the aggregation and management of content from all the major sources, including the GDS, supplier direct, web, and private database sources, makes the Farelogix FLX Platform extremely versatile and productive."

Davidson continued, "I have great respect for the GDS business model and their continued significant presence in the industry. At the same time, I am encouraged by the creative developments being made by GNEs with technology solutions that go beyond what the industry has become accustomed to. In addition to the elimination of passive segments, customized work flow/business logic demands, off-line transaction processing, and data management are among the advancements that continue to support this new era in travel reservations."