Term Used Additional Collection/AddCollect Add-on Fare

Definition An additional cost assessed, usually on an airline ticket, to cover an increase in the ticket. Used primarily for international travel, where the fare from a gateway is fixed and a fare for travel to the gateway is added on to provide a total fare for travel. An airfare which requires that the ticket be purchased a minimum period of time prior to departure date. An airfare published by the airlines. It is restricted by availability, advance purchase, and minimum and maximum stay requirements. A 2 or 3-digit alphanumeric code for an air carrier, administered by IATA. Three-letter codes used to uniquely identify all airports. A local tax imposed on air tickets and passed along to passengers, used to fund airport maintenance, expansion, and similar expenditures. The actual inventory of seats that are really available to be sold at a certain fare. Just because a fare is presented as "available" between two cities does NOT mean seats at that rate are available. This causes much confusion when airfare ads are published, so you must read the "fine print" before calling your agent and asking them to get that fare for you. The fare, as of an airline ticket, before tax has been added. Commissions are calculated on the base fare. Specific dates that a discounted or promotional airfare is not offered. The alphabetic category in which an airline seat is reserved on a CRS for a specific fare. Also called a fare code (class). The practice of removing a passenger with a confirmed reservation from a full flight. Each airline has its own bumping policy, but generally, the last passengers to check-in and/or arrive at the departure gate are the ones most likely to be bumped. Offered by many airlines and provides more amenities than in coach, including larger seats, more legroom, better meals, complimentary in-flight entertainment and liquor. A limited number of airplane seats to which a special fare has been assigned. This percentage may change depending upon how quickly seats are selling on the flight. A change of aircraft that occurs without a change in the flight number. At airline terminals, the latest time at which a passenger may arrive for the flight without the risk of loosing their seat. A routing which involves two or more stopovers, after which the passenger returns to the point of origin. 3-letter codes used to uniquely identify cities and/or their airports. In airline bookings, the departure and arrival cities on an itinerary. The "economy" section of an aircraft, which may have multiple fares for the same flight. An agreement whereby airlines permit the use of their CRS code in the flight schedule displays of other airlines.

Category Airline Airline

Advance Purchase Fare Advanced Purchase Excursion (APEX) Fare Airline Designator Airport Codes Airport tax

Airline Airline

Airline Airline Airline

Airline

Availability

Base Fare Blackout Period

Airline Airline Airline

Booking Code (Class)

Airline

Bumping

Airline

Business Class

Airline

Capacity-Controlled Fares

Change of Equipment

Airline Airline

Check-in time

Circle Trip City Codes City Pair Coach Code Sharing

Airline Airline Airline Airline Airline

Travel Terminology Decoder

An air ticket is seldom simple. It's often subject to an "advance purchase" restrictions, change penalties, no-show penalties, or non-refundable clauses. You may be limited by "capacity controls" or "yield management" - which means that the same seat on an aircraft on the same day and the same flight can have up to 20 different prices. And flying "direct" doesn't necessarily mean you're flying "nonstop". While airline-speak may be old hat to the seasoned traveller, some people might find themselves puzzled on occasion. Here is a decoder for some common terms that crop up in the world of travel. For anything weve missed, just give us a call and well help you to decipher it! 2 letter codes (Two letter codes) To simplify communication in the airline world, IATA (International Air Traffic Association) has designated all scheduled airlines with two letter codes. These are used in reservations, tickets, timetables and fare tables. 3 letter codes (Three letter codes) IATA designated codes for airports and cities around the world. Example LON is London, LHR is London Heathrow, LGW is London Gatwick. ABC Advance Booking Charter A charter that requires a minimum advance booking period. ABP Able Bodied Passenger. May be selected to sit at the emergency exit on an aircraft. Accompanied/Unaccompanied Baggage. Accompanied baggage is carried in the same aircraft as the passenger (and may be checked or unchecked). Unaccompanied baggage is carried separately as cargo. ACFT/EQT Aircraft Type ACSA Airports Company of South Africa Advance purchase: The ticket must be purchased at a specified number of daysusually three, seven, 14, or 21 daysin advance of the flight departure. The fare generally goes down the further out from the day of departure it is purchased. Ad Hoc Schedule A variation, addition or cancellation from the basic schedule of one or more flights on single dates. Administrating Carrier The airline which controls the operation of a flight. Airline alliance: An agreement between a group of airlines involving the sharing of flight codes, reservation systems, airline clubs, or frequent flyer benefits. Alternative airport: A secondary airport, generally smaller and/or farther away from the metropolitan center, than a major airport. ATB Automated Ticket and Boarding Pass. A cardboard receipt outlining your trip and fare paid. Unfortunatley is does not always act as a boarding pass despite its name. You still need to check in via an automated kiosk, on-line, or in the traditional join the queue manner for a check-in desk at the airport. Air Passenger Duty Charge payable on tickets for flights departing from the UK. Air Passes Designed for travelers who want to make many domestic flights in one country (ie USA). The flights all need to be on the same airline and have to be bought outside of the country in which they will be used. Aircraft Configuration Planned utilisation layout of aircraft interior space. AIRIMP Reservations Interline Message Proceedures - Passenger (ATC/IATA)

Airline Code A two letter code indicating an airline, air company or air carrier - see 2 letter codes. All-Cargo Aircraft A version of an aircraft type which carries cargo and mail only. Alliance A term for airlines that have grouped together formed an alliance - to give them a stronger identity and larger market share. examples are StarAlliance, Oneworld and Skyteam. Alliances Where two or more airlines collaborate in for example offering loyalty rewards. examples are StarAlliance, Oneworld and Skyteam. AOC Air Operators Certificate. ARCS Airline Routing and Connections Service ARINC Aeronautical Radio Incorporated Arrival Times All timetables give the time that the flight will arrive in local time. ARS Airline Reservation System ASATA Association of South African Travel Agents. ASATA acts as the quality assurance and representation body for the South African Travel Industry. ASK Available seat kilometres. A transport measure calculated as the product of the number of aircraft seats available for sale and the kilometres flown. ASM Ad hoc Schedules Message (IATA) ATA Air Transport Association of America Available Seat Miles A transport measure calculated as the product of the number of aircraft seats available for sale and the miles flown. BAA British Airports Authority Baggage Allowance The free luggage allowance an airline will carry for each traveller. Travellers are able to take more luggage by paying an Excess Baggage Charge. Depending on the route the allowance will either be by piece (numbers of bags or cases) or by weight. Baggage Hold The part of the plane where the baggage is stored. The traveller's luggage is handed over at the Check In desk at the departure airport. Basing Point A location to and from which air fares are established. Blackout period: A period during which the airlines won't let you fly using a frequent flyer award ticket (the term may also apply to certain promotional fares). Block Spacing

An allocation by one airline to another of a number of seats on some of its flights, which the airline sells to the travelling public through its own marketing and distribution system. BSP Bank Settlement Programme a system allowing the processing of multiple airline payments through one central facility owned and operated by IATA. Budget Airlines Also known as 'No Frills' or Low Cost' Airlines. They operate schedules (regular timetables) in the same way as the larger airlines, but with lower fares. They fly on shorthaul routes and sometimes in and out of less popular airports. Bulkhead A Rigid partition CAA Civil Aviation Authority Cabin Inside area of the aircraft. Usually there are separate cabins for First Class travellers, Business Class travellers and one or more cabins for Economy Class travellers. Capacity Limitation Agreement An agreement between carriers, commonly airlines, stipulating the maximum capacity to be offered by each carrier on a particular route. Cargo Any goods carried on an aircraft Carrier Another term for the airline or company that operates flights from one airport to another. The term is used in many legal documents. CAT Clear Air Turbulence. The disturbance caused to an aircraft when flying through inclement weather or air pockets Capacity controlled: A limited number of seats on a plane available at a particular fare (might also apply to passengers flying on a frequent flyer reward). Change penalty: A fee charged by the airlines in the event you change your ticket after purchasing it. Coach, or economy class: The cheapest, most abundant class of seats. Code share: An agreement between two airlines in which each shares its flight codes, which means travelers purchasing one airline's ticket might actually be flying on the other carrier's plane. Might also include other types of agreements, such as reciprocal frequent flyer benefits. Curbside check-in: A place at the curb in front of the terminalwhich might be staffed or feature an automatic kioskwhere travelers can check in and check their baggage, rather than at the regular counter inside the terminal. Certificate of Airworthiness Document issued by a national civil aviation authority to certify that an aircraft satisfies its safety and other criteria. Certificate of Seaworthiness Document issued by a national maritime authority to certify that a ship satisfies its safety and other criteria. Charter Airlines An aircraft which has been hired by one or more operators, usually for the package holiday market. Most seats are sold only as return flights for 7 or 14 night stays. The flights sometimes depart and arrive at inconvenient times and passengers are unable to change their bookings. Seats are normally sold with accommodation. Circle Pacific Fare A special fare offered by some Pacific carriers which allows passengers to fly to Pacific Rim destinations (Australia, Asia, North and South America) usually including four stopovers. Additional stopovers available at an extra cost, one condition is that the passenger must travel in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction. City Pair

The origin and destination cities of an aircraft flight. Class Segregation of passengers according to the fare paid or facilities and services offered. Class Override Class which overrides that from a previous board point Code Share Term used when two airlines share a flight operation. There are two flight numbers, but only one aircraft. COM Comment Commercial Duplicate Flight A flight where the operating airline allows seats/space to be sold by one or more than one airline and all participants to such an agreement sell their seats/space on that flight under their own flight designator. Compartment A space designated within the aircraft for the carriage of passengers or deadload. Configuration See Aircraft Configuration Conjunction Tickets A set of two or more airline tickets to cover a single itinerary. The tickets are stapled together and issued at the same time, which constitutes a single contract of carriage. Connections/Connecting Services Indicates that on a particular route, the traveller will have to change planes and flight numbers - make a transfer connection - at an airport enroute. Also known as Transfer. Container See Unit Load Device CRS Computer Reservation System Daily Every day of the week, including Saturday and Sunday. Data A representation of facts, concepts or instructions in a formalised manner suitable for communication, interpretation or processing by human beings or by automatic means. Direct flight, versus nonstop: A flight which involves one or more stops (however, you stay on the same plane). "Nonstop" means there are no stops before you get to your destination. Data Element A data element is a sequence of alpha-numeric characters which, depending on their specific context and position, has a unique meaning, eg Flight Designator, Days of Operation Deadhead Aircraft or another vehicle travelling without passengers or cargo, or airline or another carrier's employee travelling free. DEI Data Element Identifier Denied Boarding Compensation Payment by an airline to a passenger with a confirmed reservation for a specific flight not honoured by the airline. Commonly given as a result of overbooking Departure Times All timetables give the time that the plane will depart in local time.

DES/DESI/DESIG An Airline Designator code Destination The travellers final arrival city. A journey or itinerary can have many destinations but each flight sector has only one. Direct Flight Where the plane goes diretly from the departure city to the arrival city and the traveller does not need to change planes. Sometimes a direct flight makes an intermediary stop where the plane lands at an airport enroute, but if the passengerdoesn't have to change flights, its still known as a direct flight. Domestic A flight that takes off from one airport and lands at another airport in the same country. ie New York to Los Angeles is a domestic flight as both airports are in the USA. Domestic Airline An airline operating services entirely within one country Domestic Flight Leg A flight between two stations to which the same ISO country code applies. Dry Lease Refers to the leasing of an aircraft only Dupe/Duplicate Leg A single, non-operational leg of a flight that, for commercial/technical reasons is displayed under more than one flight number by the operating carrier, or is displayed by a different Airline Designator/Flight Number by an airline other than the operating airline. Economy Cabin For travellers with Economy Class tickets. On an aircraft, there may be two or more Economy Class cabins (Premium Economy and Economy). EJT or EFT Elapsed journey time or elapsed flying time. Elapsed (Journey) Time is the term used to explain 'real flying time' or 'actual journey time'. Because the flight timetables use local times for departure and arrivals, it is not easy to see how long each flight will actually take. Electronic ticket: A booking made through the Internet or other electronic means, in which there is no paper ticket. This doesnt mean you dont get any paper normally you will have printed out your booking details or will have received a receipt from the airline or Travel Management Company. Empty Leg An empty flight between two consecutive scheduled stops Eg, occurs when a charter flight takes passengers in one direction but returns empty rather than waiting for a return load. Excess Baggage Charge An extra charge made by the airline if the travellers baggage exceeds the free allowance. FAA Federal Aviation Authority FFP Frequent Flyer Programme Where airlines offer rewards to regular travellers with the airline and its partners. Flag Carrier A carrier designated by a government to operate international services. Flight Numbers Letters and numbers unique to each flight. Flight numbers always begin with two letters which indicate the airline. Example, flight number MS865 is the flight number that Egyptair (MS) uses for their flight from Bangkok, Thailand to Cairo, Egypt.

FLT/Flight The operation of one or more legs with the same Flight Designator Frequent Flyers Travellers who belong to airline Frequent Flyer Programmes. Frequent Flyers A range of rewards and incentives that encourage business travellers or regular travellers to use the same airline for all their requirements. The more frequently a traveller flies with the selected airline, the better will be the rewards or benefits. Funnel Flight A flight composed of two or more member flights which is identified by the Airline Designator and Flight Number of one of the members. Only one Airline Designator/Flight Number is operational on any one leg but a leg may have multiple, non operational Fl Also known as Complexing, Starburst, W or Y flights. GDS Global Distribution Systems. Hub: An airport in a large city through which major airlines will route their flights. (See "point-to-point" below.) Hypothetical or Fictitious Fare Construction Points Airline term to describe points (ie airport) included in an itinerary in order to construct a lower fare. Also known as fictitius construction points. IATA International Air Transport Association, body which regulates many of the world's scheduled airlines. ICAO International Civil Aviation Organisation Identifier A character or group of characters used to identify or name an item of data and possibly to indicate certain properties of that data. Indirect Route Principle Airline term used to describe the general rule allowing passengers paying full fares on IATA airlines to deviate from the direct route between any two points without extra payment, as long as the maximum permitted mileage for the route listed in the tariff is not exceeded. Infant A child normally under the age of two. Intermediate Stop When the plane lands at airports between the departure city and the arrival city. The traveller does not usually have to change planes. International Flight Describes a flight which takes off from one country and then lands in another. The term is used to separate International Flights and Domestic Flights. Amsterdam, Netherlands to Athens, Greece is an example of an international flight. Jetlag Temporary state of feeling in ill health following a long journey across several timezones. The traveller has difficulty adjusting to the timezone of their destination and may feel sick, lethargic and have difficulty concentrating. Joint Operational Flight A flight on more than one airline operates one or more of its legs. K When shown as 23k is the weight allowance shown on a ticket. Example, 23k is a maximum free baggage allowance of 23 kilos. Landing Card A document which must be completed by a passenger prior to arrival in order to gain entry to the country. Layover

Scheduled interruption of a journey, usually overnight, either at the passengers request or necessary because of a lack of a connecting service. An air ticket is seldom simple. It's often subject to an "advance purchase" restrictions, change penalties, no-show penalties, or non-refundable clauses. You may be limited by "capacity controls" or "yield management" - which means that the same seat on an aircraft on the same day and the same flight can have up to 20 different prices. And flying "direct" doesn't necessarily mean you're flying "nonstop". While airline-speak may be old hat to the seasoned traveller, some people might find themselves puzzled on occasion. Here is a decoder for some common terms that crop up in the world of travel. For anything weve missed, just give us a call and well help you to decipher it! 2 letter codes (Two letter codes) To simplify communication in the airline world, IATA (International Air Traffic Association) has designated all scheduled airlines with two letter codes. These are used in reservations, tickets, timetables and fare tables. 3 letter codes (Three letter codes) IATA designated codes for airports and cities around the world. Example LON is London, LHR is London Heathrow, LGW is London Gatwick. ABC Advance Booking Charter A charter that requires a minimum advance booking period. ABP Able Bodied Passenger. May be selected to sit at the emergency exit on an aircraft. Accompanied/Unaccompanied Baggage. Accompanied baggage is carried in the same aircraft as the passenger (and may be checked or unchecked). Unaccompanied baggage is carried separately as cargo. ACFT/EQT Aircraft Type ACSA Airports Company of South Africa Advance purchase: The ticket must be purchased at a specified number of daysusually three, seven, 14, or 21 daysin advance of the flight departure. The fare generally goes down the further out from the day of departure it is purchased. Ad Hoc Schedule A variation, addition or cancellation from the basic schedule of one or more flights on single dates. Administrating Carrier The airline which controls the operation of a flight. Airline alliance: An agreement between a group of airlines involving the sharing of flight codes, reservation systems, airline clubs, or frequent flyer benefits. Alternative airport: A secondary airport, generally smaller and/or farther away from the metropolitan center, than a major airport. ATB Automated Ticket and Boarding Pass. A cardboard receipt outlining your trip and fare paid. Unfortunatley is does not always act as a boarding pass despite its name. You still need to check in via an automated kiosk, on-line, or in the traditional join the queue manner for a check-in desk at the airport. Air Passenger Duty Charge payable on tickets for flights departing from the UK. Air Passes Designed for travelers who want to make many domestic flights in one country (ie USA). The flights all need to be on the same airline and have to be bought outside of the country in which they will be used. Aircraft Configuration Planned utilisation layout of aircraft interior space. AIRIMP

Reservations Interline Message Proceedures - Passenger (ATC/IATA) Airline Code A two letter code indicating an airline, air company or air carrier - see 2 letter codes. All-Cargo Aircraft A version of an aircraft type which carries cargo and mail only. Alliance A term for airlines that have grouped together formed an alliance - to give them a stronger identity and larger market share. examples are StarAlliance, Oneworld and Skyteam. Alliances Where two or more airlines collaborate in for example offering loyalty rewards. examples are StarAlliance, Oneworld and Skyteam. AOC Air Operators Certificate. ARCS Airline Routing and Connections Service ARINC Aeronautical Radio Incorporated Arrival Times All timetables give the time that the flight will arrive in local time. ARS Airline Reservation System ASATA Association of South African Travel Agents. ASATA acts as the quality assurance and representation body for the South African Travel Industry. ASK Available seat kilometres. A transport measure calculated as the product of the number of aircraft seats available for sale and the kilometres flown. ASM Ad hoc Schedules Message (IATA) ATA Air Transport Association of America Available Seat Miles A transport measure calculated as the product of the number of aircraft seats available for sale and the miles flown. BAA British Airports Authority Baggage Allowance The free luggage allowance an airline will carry for each traveller. Travellers are able to take more luggage by paying an Excess Baggage Charge. Depending on the route the allowance will either be by piece (numbers of bags or cases) or by weight. Baggage Hold The part of the plane where the baggage is stored. The traveller's luggage is handed over at the Check In desk at the departure airport. Basing Point A location to and from which air fares are established. Blackout period: A period during which the airlines won't let you fly using a frequent flyer award ticket (the term may also apply to certain promotional fares).

Block Spacing An allocation by one airline to another of a number of seats on some of its flights, which the airline sells to the travelling public through its own marketing and distribution system. BSP Bank Settlement Programme a system allowing the processing of multiple airline payments through one central facility owned and operated by IATA. Budget Airlines Also known as 'No Frills' or Low Cost' Airlines. They operate schedules (regular timetables) in the same way as the larger airlines, but with lower fares. They fly on shorthaul routes and sometimes in and out of less popular airports. Bulkhead A Rigid partition CAA Civil Aviation Authority Cabin Inside area of the aircraft. Usually there are separate cabins for First Class travellers, Business Class travellers and one or more cabins for Economy Class travellers. Capacity Limitation Agreement An agreement between carriers, commonly airlines, stipulating the maximum capacity to be offered by each carrier on a particular route. Cargo Any goods carried on an aircraft Carrier Another term for the airline or company that operates flights from one airport to another. The term is used in many legal documents. CAT Clear Air Turbulence. The disturbance caused to an aircraft when flying through inclement weather or air pockets Capacity controlled: A limited number of seats on a plane available at a particular fare (might also apply to passengers flying on a frequent flyer reward). Change penalty: A fee charged by the airlines in the event you change your ticket after purchasing it. Coach, or economy class: The cheapest, most abundant class of seats. Code share: An agreement between two airlines in which each shares its flight codes, which means travelers purchasing one airline's ticket might actually be flying on the other carrier's plane. Might also include other types of agreements, such as reciprocal frequent flyer benefits. Curbside check-in: A place at the curb in front of the terminalwhich might be staffed or feature an automatic kioskwhere travelers can check in and check their baggage, rather than at the regular counter inside the terminal. Certificate of Airworthiness Document issued by a national civil aviation authority to certify that an aircraft satisfies its safety and other criteria. Certificate of Seaworthiness Document issued by a national maritime authority to certify that a ship satisfies its safety and other criteria. Charter Airlines An aircraft which has been hired by one or more operators, usually for the package holiday market. Most seats are sold only as return flights for 7 or 14 night stays. The flights sometimes depart and arrive at inconvenient times and passengers are unable to change their bookings. Seats are normally sold with accommodation. Circle Pacific Fare A special fare offered by some Pacific carriers which allows passengers to fly to Pacific Rim destinations (Australia, Asia, North and South America) usually including four stopovers. Additional stopovers available at an extra cost, one condition is that the passenger must travel in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction.

City Pair The origin and destination cities of an aircraft flight. Class Segregation of passengers according to the fare paid or facilities and services offered. Class Override Class which overrides that from a previous board point Code Share Term used when two airlines share a flight operation. There are two flight numbers, but only one aircraft. COM Comment Commercial Duplicate Flight A flight where the operating airline allows seats/space to be sold by one or more than one airline and all participants to such an agreement sell their seats/space on that flight under their own flight designator. Compartment A space designated within the aircraft for the carriage of passengers or deadload. Configuration See Aircraft Configuration Conjunction Tickets A set of two or more airline tickets to cover a single itinerary. The tickets are stapled together and issued at the same time, which constitutes a single contract of carriage. Connections/Connecting Services Indicates that on a particular route, the traveller will have to change planes and flight numbers - make a transfer connection - at an airport enroute. Also known as Transfer. Container See Unit Load Device CRS Computer Reservation System Daily Every day of the week, including Saturday and Sunday. Data A representation of facts, concepts or instructions in a formalised manner suitable for communication, interpretation or processing by human beings or by automatic means. Direct flight, versus nonstop: A flight which involves one or more stops (however, you stay on the same plane). "Nonstop" means there are no stops before you get to your destination. Data Element A data element is a sequence of alpha-numeric characters which, depending on their specific context and position, has a unique meaning, eg Flight Designator, Days of Operation Deadhead Aircraft or another vehicle travelling without passengers or cargo, or airline or another carrier's employee travelling free. DEI Data Element Identifier Denied Boarding Compensation Payment by an airline to a passenger with a confirmed reservation for a specific flight not honoured by the airline. Commonly given as a result of overbooking Departure Times All timetables give the time that the plane will depart in local time.

DES/DESI/DESIG An Airline Designator code Destination The travellers final arrival city. A journey or itinerary can have many destinations but each flight sector has only one. Direct Flight Where the plane goes diretly from the departure city to the arrival city and the traveller does not need to change planes. Sometimes a direct flight makes an intermediary stop where the plane lands at an airport enroute, but if the passengerdoesn't have to change flights, its still known as a direct flight. Domestic A flight that takes off from one airport and lands at another airport in the same country. ie New York to Los Angeles is a domestic flight as both airports are in the USA. Domestic Airline An airline operating services entirely within one country Domestic Flight Leg A flight between two stations to which the same ISO country code applies. Dry Lease Refers to the leasing of an aircraft only Dupe/Duplicate Leg A single, non-operational leg of a flight that, for commercial/technical reasons is displayed under more than one flight number by the operating carrier, or is displayed by a different Airline Designator/Flight Number by an airline other than the operating airline. Economy Cabin For travellers with Economy Class tickets. On an aircraft, there may be two or more Economy Class cabins (Premium Economy and Economy). EJT or EFT Elapsed journey time or elapsed flying time. Elapsed (Journey) Time is the term used to explain 'real flying time' or 'actual journey time'. Because the flight timetables use local times for departure and arrivals, it is not easy to see how long each flight will actually take. Electronic ticket: A booking made through the Internet or other electronic means, in which there is no paper ticket. This doesnt mean you dont get any paper normally you will have printed out your booking details or will have received a receipt from the airline or Travel Management Company. Empty Leg An empty flight between two consecutive scheduled stops Eg, occurs when a charter flight takes passengers in one direction but returns empty rather than waiting for a return load. Excess Baggage Charge An extra charge made by the airline if the travellers baggage exceeds the free allowance. FAA Federal Aviation Authority FFP Frequent Flyer Programme Where airlines offer rewards to regular travellers with the airline and its partners. Flag Carrier A carrier designated by a government to operate international services. Flight Numbers

Letters and numbers unique to each flight. Flight numbers always begin with two letters which indicate the airline. Example, flight number MS865 is the flight number that Egyptair (MS) uses for their flight from Bangkok, Thailand to Cairo, Egypt. FLT/Flight The operation of one or more legs with the same Flight Designator Frequent Flyers Travellers who belong to airline Frequent Flyer Programmes. Frequent Flyers A range of rewards and incentives that encourage business travellers or regular travellers to use the same airline for all their requirements. The more frequently a traveller flies with the selected airline, the better will be the rewards or benefits. Funnel Flight A flight composed of two or more member flights which is identified by the Airline Designator and Flight Number of one of the members. Only one Airline Designator/Flight Number is operational on any one leg but a leg may have multiple, non operational Fl Also known as Complexing, Starburst, W or Y flights. GDS Global Distribution Systems. Hub: An airport in a large city through which major airlines will route their flights. (See "point-to-point" below.) Hypothetical or Fictitious Fare Construction Points Airline term to describe points (ie airport) included in an itinerary in order to construct a lower fare. Also known as fictitius construction points. IATA International Air Transport Association, body which regulates many of the world's scheduled airlines. ICAO International Civil Aviation Organisation Identifier A character or group of characters used to identify or name an item of data and possibly to indicate certain properties of that data. Indirect Route Principle Airline term used to describe the general rule allowing passengers paying full fares on IATA airlines to deviate from the direct route between any two points without extra payment, as long as the maximum permitted mileage for the route listed in the tariff is not exceeded. Infant A child normally under the age of two. Intermediate Stop When the plane lands at airports between the departure city and the arrival city. The traveller does not usually have to change planes. International Flight Describes a flight which takes off from one country and then lands in another. The term is used to separate International Flights and Domestic Flights. Amsterdam, Netherlands to Athens, Greece is an example of an international flight. Jetlag Temporary state of feeling in ill health following a long journey across several timezones. The traveller has difficulty adjusting to the timezone of their destination and may feel sick, lethargic and have difficulty concentrating. Joint Operational Flight A flight on more than one airline operates one or more of its legs. K When shown as 23k is the weight allowance shown on a ticket. Example, 23k is a maximum free baggage allowance of 23 kilos. Landing Card

A document which must be completed by a passenger prior to arrival in order to gain entry to the country. Layover Scheduled interruption of a journey, usually overnight, either at the passengers request or necessary because of a lack of a connecting service. Leased or Blocked Space Flight A flight where the operating airline leases (or blocks) some seats/space to one or more other airlines and all participants to such an agreement sell their seats/space on that flight under their own designator (s). Leg A leg is another word for 'sector', ie each section of a journey or trip. Example, a traveller could be told that the London to Paris leg of their trip would be either by air or by Eurostar train. Leg Room Term used to indicate how much space there is between an aircraft seat and the one in front. The technical term is 'pitch'. Links (OAG Links) OAG propriety schedule update remote access system Long Haul A flight of more than 4 hours. On long haul flights the amount of space and comfort a traveller enjoys has a real effect on their feeling of wellbeing on arrival at their destination. Lounge Airport Lounge/Executive Lounge/VIP Lounge A part of the airport where travellers can spend time between check in and boarding the plane. Many airlines provide special lounges exclusively for Business and First Class passengers. Loyalty Programmes Reward programmes that encourage business travellers to use the same airline or hotel chain for all their travel arrangements. These programmes are also known as 'Frequent Flyer' or 'Frequent Lodger' programmes but each has a unique name. Mail All types of material communications carried on one aircraft, eg, General Post Office Mail, diplomatic mail, military mail and company (airline) mail MCD Multiple Carrier Designator MCT Minimum Connecting Time Indicates whether there is enough time for a traveller to change planes - make a transfer connection - at any airport. Minimum stay: The minimum time required for a traveler to stay at a destination in order to qualify for a certain fare. Some fares have maximum stay requirements as well which generally are one month. Movement The arrival or departure of an aircraft Non-Operational (commercial leg). See Operational Leg Multi Sector On a journey that includes one or more transit stops, each part of that journey is known as a sector. Nonrefundable fare: A fare that can't be refunded for any reason after it's purchased. No-show penalty: A fee charged by the airlines in the event you miss your flight and attempt to use your ticket for a different flight. Nontransferable: A ticket that can't be exchanged for another ticket or flight. No Frills Airlines Also known as 'Low Cost' or 'Budget' airlines.

No Show Term used for a traveller who does not check in for the flight that they have a reservation for and has not cancelled the reservation. Non Stop Flights Flights which fly from one airport to another without landing at any airport in between. As these flights are faster than those that make intermediate stops, they are preferred by business travellers. Off Point Station of disembarkation Onboard Inside the plane. On-line A facility offered by airlines whereby you may check-in before you get to the airport by way of your PC. check-in

One-way fare based on a roundtrip purchase: The cost of an airline ticket from the point of origin to your destination (or vice versa), based on the total cost of the roundtrip flight. That is, you'd double the one-way fare to get the roundtrip price, which is actually what you'd pay. Operation The act of a transport vehicle travelling from point to point Operational Leg A flight leg which is physically operated and identified by its Airline Designator and Flight Number Originating Flight A flight designated by a Flight Designator, commencing at the station in question Outbound/Outward The first part of an itinerary or journey from the point of origin. Overbooking Some airlines sell more tickets than there are seats on the plane. If every traveller tries to check in, some will be asked to travel on another flight in exchange for financial compensation. PAX Passengers Peak, off-peak flights: "Peak" refers to flights scheduled for times when demand is heavy, hence the fares tend to be higher. Off-peak fares are lower because they are scheduled for flights when demand is light. Point-to-point: A nonstop flight between two cities, one or both of which may be smaller destinations. Rather than fly lots of nonstop flights between two smaller city pairs, the larger airlines have tended to route their flights from smaller cities through a major airport, called a hub. Piece System One of the ways that airlines describe baggage allowances, the other term used is Weight System. The letters PC are shown on the ticket ie 2PC, indicating that the traveller can check in two cases or bags. These is a maximum size for these 'pieces'. Pitch The distance between a plane seat and the seat in front. The higher the figure, the more leg space the traveller will have. PNR Passenger Name Record A unique code used by airlines to recognise a booking Preclearance

Provision of customs and immigration proceedures in a foreign country of departure to ease the demand for such facilities in the country of arrival. Such arrangements exist for example between the USA and Caribbean. PTA Pre-paid Ticket Advice. Notification by an agent or carrier that a person has paid for another person's transportation, usually from a place other than the one in which the fare was paid, thereby authorising the issue of an airline ticket by the recipient. Recline The measurement of how far a plane seat will push back. Some airlines measure the recline by inches, others by degrees. The higher the figure, the further the seat back can recline. Red Eye A phrase referring to lack of sleep, usually when the traveller lands at the arrival airport early in the morning following an overnight flight. RES/RESTN Restriction Re-validation Sticker An amendment attached to the flight coupon of an airline ticket showing a change such as change of flight made to the original reservation. Rewards The benefits that a business traveller gets for frequently using the same airline or hotel chain as part of a 'Frequent Fkyer' or Frequent Lodger' program. Rewards include free flights, discounts on holidays, gift certificates, tickets to leisure parts, hotel accommodation and more. Rotation The operation of consecutive legs in operational sequence between the station or origin and the station of destination of any flight Routing A list of consecutive legs in operational sequence between the station of origin and the station of destination of any flight RSD Release for Sale Date SAD Shared Airline Designator Scheduled Airline/Flights A scheduled airline operates on advertised routes, this may be several times a day and/or several days a week. The routes are fixed and each route is linked to a flight number. SCR A multi-volume set of documents which describe the protocols, standards and implementation issues related to intersystem communications for the airline and aeronautical communities. Seat Plans Diagrams of the inside of an aircraft showing seat locations etc. Seat pitch: A guide to leg room, pitch measures the distance between seats at the level of your knees. The industry standard in economy is 3132 inches. Sector On a journey that includes one or more transit stops, each part of that journey is known as a sector. Self Booking Tools Systems that allow travel bookers within a corporation to view flight, hotel, car rental availability and process and request specific itineraries through their Travel Management Company. Not to be confused with booking on-line through the internet, which process has no management element attached. Short Haul A flight of less than 4 hours.

SISC Schedules Information Standards Committee (IATA) SKD/SKED/SKEDS Schedule SLOT The scheduled time of arrival or departure available or allocated to an aircraft movement on a specific date at an airport. Solari The large signs in airports that display flight times and boarding gates. SPC Scheduling Procedures Committee (IATA) SSIM Standard Schedules Information Manual (IATA) SSM Standard Schedules Message (IATA) Stacking Describes aircraft flying in large circles at two or more levels awaiting for permission to land Occurs at busy airports Standby fare: A ticket sold at a discount but which doesn't guarantee you a seat on the plane. Standby passengers are usually boarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Standby Term used for a traveller who does not have a firm reservation for a particular flight. (Firm reservations are indicated on the ticket by the letters 'OK'). These tickets are often held by airline staff who can only travel if there is space available. The passenger is asked to report to the gate or check-in desk at a specific time - shortly before departure. Station A place or airport to which a Location Identifier has been assigned example JNB for Johannesburg. Stopover When a traveller leaves the airport at which they have arrived. The passenger must complete arrival formalities and when they return to the airport they must check in again. In this way, a stopover is different from a stop where the passenger stays 'in transit' and doesn't leave the 'airside' of the airport. Taxi The journey taken by an aircraft between its loading point and takeoff point. The aircraft also 'taxis' from its landing position to its unloading point. TC's Transfer Connections Technical Landing/stop A landing for non-traffic purposes eg, refuelling. Passengers cannot board or disembark at this point. Terminating Flight A flight, designated by a Flight Designator, ending at the station in question. THRU FLT Direct Flight TIACA The International Air Cargo Association TIMATIC Boards

An automated service used by Travel Management Companies to check VISA and Passport requirements for your destination/s and transit points relative to your nationality. Traffic Conference IATA's classification of the world's major airline routes. Area's (TCA's): TCA1=North and South America, TCA2=Europe and Africa, TCA3=Asia and Australasia Transfer See Connection Transfer Connection When a traveller must change flights at an airport enroute to their destination. OAG publishes details of single and double transferconnections in various products. Transit Flight A flight, designated by a Flight Designator, during an en route landing at the station in question Transit Stop An intermediate stop on a flight where the plane will only be on the ground for an hour or so. Sometimes passengers are invited to leave the aircraft, but usually they remain on board. Transit Time The time an aircraft remains in transit at the station in question Travel Management Company A company that specializes in corporate and business travel, with emphasis on the management components of travel. These would include Management information, accounting, Travel Policy, Service Level Agreements, Payment systems and so-on. TTB Timetable Turnaround time The time spent by an aircraft between landing and taking off. UN/ECE United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Unit Load Device A load carrying device which interfaces directly with aircraft loading and restraint systems and meets all restraint requirements without the use of supplementary equipment. As such, it becomes a component part of the aircraft. These are the metal containers you see at airports. Upgrade: Switching your ticket from economy class to business or first class (or from business to first). UTC Universal Time Coordinates (same as GMT) VAT Charged on South African Domestic airfares, but not on International flights. May be applicable to domestic flights within other countries consult your Travel Management Company for a breakdown of prices on your tickets within other countries. Wait-Listing/Wait List When all seats on a flight have been sold, a traveller may ask to be 'waitlisted' or 'put on the wait list'. They would then be notified if a seat becomes available. Warsaw Convention An agreement approved in 1928 that restricts the liability of airlines on international flights. Weight System One of the ways that airlines describe baggage allowances. Wet Lease Refers to the leasing of an aircraft and includes the provision of crew & supporting services.

Wide body A type of aircraft which has two aisles in the passenger cabin. Yield management: A system of calculating fares based on the supply of available seats versus the demand. As planes fill up and the supply of seats dwindles, fares increase. Conversely, if seats are not selling, the system will reduce fares in order to attract passengers. Zulu Same as GMT A flight where the operating airline leases (or blocks) some seats/space to one or more other airlines and all participants to such an agreement sell their seats/space on that flight under their own designator (s). Leg A leg is another word for 'sector', ie each section of a journey or trip. Example, a traveller could be told that the London to Paris leg of their trip would be either by air or by Eurostar train. Leg Room Term used to indicate how much space there is between an aircraft seat and the one in front. The technical term is 'pitch'. Links (OAG Links) OAG propriety schedule update remote access system Long Haul A flight of more than 4 hours. On long haul flights the amount of space and comfort a traveller enjoys has a real effect on their feeling of wellbeing on arrival at their destination. Lounge Airport Lounge/Executive Lounge/VIP Lounge A part of the airport where travellers can spend time between check in and boarding the plane. Many airlines provide special lounges exclusively for Business and First Class passengers. Loyalty Programmes Reward programmes that encourage business travellers to use the same airline or hotel chain for all their travel arrangements. These programmes are also known as 'Frequent Flyer' or 'Frequent Lodger' programmes but each has a unique name. Mail All types of material communications carried on one aircraft, eg, General Post Office Mail, diplomatic mail, military mail and company (airline) mail MCD Multiple Carrier Designator MCT Minimum Connecting Time Indicates whether there is enough time for a traveller to change planes - make a transfer connection - at any airport. Minimum stay: The minimum time required for a traveler to stay at a destination in order to qualify for a certain fare. Some fares have maximum stay requirements as well which generally are one month. Movement The arrival or departure of an aircraft Non-Operational (commercial leg). See Operational Leg Multi Sector On a journey that includes one or more transit stops, each part of that journey is known as a sector. Nonrefundable fare: A fare that can't be refunded for any reason after it's purchased. No-show penalty: A fee charged by the airlines in the event you miss your flight and attempt to use your ticket for a different flight. Nontransferable: A ticket that can't be exchanged for another ticket or flight.

No Frills Airlines Also known as 'Low Cost' or 'Budget' airlines. No Show Term used for a traveller who does not check in for the flight that they have a reservation for and has not cancelled the reservation. Non Stop Flights Flights which fly from one airport to another without landing at any airport in between. As these flights are faster than those that make intermediate stops, they are preferred by business travellers. Off Point Station of disembarkation Onboard Inside the plane. On-line A facility offered by airlines whereby you may check-in before you get to the airport by way of your PC. check-in

One-way fare based on a roundtrip purchase: The cost of an airline ticket from the point of origin to your destination (or vice versa), based on the total cost of the roundtrip flight. That is, you'd double the one-way fare to get the roundtrip price, which is actually what you'd pay. Operation The act of a transport vehicle travelling from point to point Operational Leg A flight leg which is physically operated and identified by its Airline Designator and Flight Number Originating Flight A flight designated by a Flight Designator, commencing at the station in question Outbound/Outward The first part of an itinerary or journey from the point of origin. Overbooking Some airlines sell more tickets than there are seats on the plane. If every traveller tries to check in, some will be asked to travel on another flight in exchange for financial compensation. PAX Passengers Peak, off-peak flights: "Peak" refers to flights scheduled for times when demand is heavy, hence the fares tend to be higher. Off-peak fares are lower because they are scheduled for flights when demand is light. Point-to-point: A nonstop flight between two cities, one or both of which may be smaller destinations. Rather than fly lots of nonstop flights between two smaller city pairs, the larger airlines have tended to route their flights from smaller cities through a major airport, called a hub. Piece System One of the ways that airlines describe baggage allowances, the other term used is Weight System. The letters PC are shown on the ticket ie 2PC, indicating that the traveller can check in two cases or bags. These is a maximum size for these 'pieces'. Pitch The distance between a plane seat and the seat in front. The higher the figure, the more leg space the traveller will have. PNR Passenger Name Record

A unique code used by airlines to recognise a booking Preclearance Provision of customs and immigration proceedures in a foreign country of departure to ease the demand for such facilities in the country of arrival. Such arrangements exist for example between the USA and Caribbean. PTA Pre-paid Ticket Advice. Notification by an agent or carrier that a person has paid for another person's transportation, usually from a place other than the one in which the fare was paid, thereby authorising the issue of an airline ticket by the recipient. Recline The measurement of how far a plane seat will push back. Some airlines measure the recline by inches, others by degrees. The higher the figure, the further the seat back can recline. Red Eye A phrase referring to lack of sleep, usually when the traveller lands at the arrival airport early in the morning following an overnight flight. RES/RESTN Restriction Re-validation Sticker An amendment attached to the flight coupon of an airline ticket showing a change such as change of flight made to the original reservation. Rewards The benefits that a business traveller gets for frequently using the same airline or hotel chain as part of a 'Frequent Fkyer' or Frequent Lodger' program. Rewards include free flights, discounts on holidays, gift certificates, tickets to leisure parts, hotel accommodation and more. Rotation The operation of consecutive legs in operational sequence between the station or origin and the station of destination of any flight Routing A list of consecutive legs in operational sequence between the station of origin and the station of destination of any flight RSD Release for Sale Date SAD Shared Airline Designator Scheduled Airline/Flights A scheduled airline operates on advertised routes, this may be several times a day and/or several days a week. The routes are fixed and each route is linked to a flight number. SCR A multi-volume set of documents which describe the protocols, standards and implementation issues related to intersystem communications for the airline and aeronautical communities. Seat Plans Diagrams of the inside of an aircraft showing seat locations etc. Seat pitch: A guide to leg room, pitch measures the distance between seats at the level of your knees. The industry standard in economy is 3132 inches. Sector On a journey that includes one or more transit stops, each part of that journey is known as a sector. Self Booking Tools Systems that allow travel bookers within a corporation to view flight, hotel, car rental availability and process and request specific itineraries through their Travel Management Company. Not to be confused with booking on-line through the internet, which process has no management element attached.

Short Haul A flight of less than 4 hours. SISC Schedules Information Standards Committee (IATA) SKD/SKED/SKEDS Schedule SLOT The scheduled time of arrival or departure available or allocated to an aircraft movement on a specific date at an airport. Solari The large signs in airports that display flight times and boarding gates. SPC Scheduling Procedures Committee (IATA) SSIM Standard Schedules Information Manual (IATA) SSM Standard Schedules Message (IATA) Stacking Describes aircraft flying in large circles at two or more levels awaiting for permission to land Occurs at busy airports Standby fare: A ticket sold at a discount but which doesn't guarantee you a seat on the plane. Standby passengers are usually boarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Standby Term used for a traveller who does not have a firm reservation for a particular flight. (Firm reservations are indicated on the ticket by the letters 'OK'). These tickets are often held by airline staff who can only travel if there is space available. The passenger is asked to report to the gate or check-in desk at a specific time - shortly before departure. Station A place or airport to which a Location Identifier has been assigned example JNB for Johannesburg. Stopover When a traveller leaves the airport at which they have arrived. The passenger must complete arrival formalities and when they return to the airport they must check in again. In this way, a stopover is different from a stop where the passenger stays 'in transit' and doesn't leave the 'airside' of the airport. Taxi The journey taken by an aircraft between its loading point and takeoff point. The aircraft also 'taxis' from its landing position to its unloading point. TC's Transfer Connections Technical Landing/stop A landing for non-traffic purposes eg, refuelling. Passengers cannot board or disembark at this point. Terminating Flight A flight, designated by a Flight Designator, ending at the station in question. THRU FLT Direct Flight TIACA The International Air Cargo Association Boards

TIMATIC An automated service used by Travel Management Companies to check VISA and Passport requirements for your destination/s and transit points relative to your nationality. Traffic Conference IATA's classification of the world's major airline routes. Area's (TCA's): TCA1=North and South America, TCA2=Europe and Africa, TCA3=Asia and Australasia Transfer See Connection Transfer Connection When a traveller must change flights at an airport enroute to their destination. OAG publishes details of single and double transferconnections in various products. Transit Flight A flight, designated by a Flight Designator, during an en route landing at the station in question Transit Stop An intermediate stop on a flight where the plane will only be on the ground for an hour or so. Sometimes passengers are invited to leave the aircraft, but usually they remain on board. Transit Time The time an aircraft remains in transit at the station in question Travel Management Company A company that specializes in corporate and business travel, with emphasis on the management components of travel. These would include Management information, accounting, Travel Policy, Service Level Agreements, Payment systems and so-on. TTB Timetable Turnaround time The time spent by an aircraft between landing and taking off. UN/ECE United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Unit Load Device A load carrying device which interfaces directly with aircraft loading and restraint systems and meets all restraint requirements without the use of supplementary equipment. As such, it becomes a component part of the aircraft. These are the metal containers you see at airports. Upgrade: Switching your ticket from economy class to business or first class (or from business to first). UTC Universal Time Coordinates (same as GMT) VAT Charged on South African Domestic airfares, but not on International flights. May be applicable to domestic flights within other countries consult your Travel Management Company for a breakdown of prices on your tickets within other countries. Wait-Listing/Wait List When all seats on a flight have been sold, a traveller may ask to be 'waitlisted' or 'put on the wait list'. They would then be notified if a seat becomes available. Warsaw Convention An agreement approved in 1928 that restricts the liability of airlines on international flights. Weight System One of the ways that airlines describe baggage allowances.

Wet Lease Refers to the leasing of an aircraft and includes the provision of crew & supporting services. Wide body A type of aircraft which has two aisles in the passenger cabin. Yield management: A system of calculating fares based on the supply of available seats versus the demand. As planes fill up and the supply of seats dwindles, fares increase. Conversely, if seats are not selling, the system will reduce fares in order to attract passengers. Zulu Same as GMT

Tourism Glossary
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A
Accreditation is a process of qualifying, endorsing, and "licensing" entities that perform certification of businesses, products, processes, or services. Attraction: Any visitor service or product which tourists would enjoy visiting or using. An attraction may not be an attractor but can still be an attraction. To be considered an attraction, a product must be: a. Findable (clearly located on maps and street addresses, and directions provided). If tourists cant find the facility, it is not a tourist attraction. Attractor: A significant tourist attraction, which compels visitation. The primary must sees in an area. The top reasons a tourist would choose to visit this area.

Back to back: A term used to describe tours operating on a consistent, continuing basis. For instance, a motorcoach arriving in a city from a cross-country tour may conclude the first tour upon arrival, then transport a second group back along the same route to the origination city of the first tour Bed and breakfast (B&B): Overnight accommodations usually in a private home or boarding house, often with a full American-style or Continental breakfast included in one rate. Bell captain: The person in charge of luggage at a hotel. Benchmarking: The process of comparing performance and processes within an industry to assess relative position against either a set industry standard or against those who are best in class (Synergy, 2000). Best practice(s): Used to designate highest quality, excellence, or superior practices in a particular field by a tourism operator. Block: A number of rooms, seats, or space reserved in advance, usually by wholesalers, tour operators, or receptive operators who intend to sell them as components of tour packages. Booking form: A document which purchasers of tours must complete to give the operator full particulars about who is buying the tour. It states exactly what is being purchased (including options) and must be signed as acknowledgment that the liability clause has been read and understood. BPA: Blanket Purchase Agreement. These are agreements with vendors that allow buyers to make repetitive types of purchases over a period of time with a summarized bill sent by the vendor once a month. Breakage: Expenses budgeted for a tour but not used or expended, thus resulting in additional profit to the tour operator. Examples include meals budgeted but not consumed, currency fluctuations in favor of the tour operator, or the tour selling to much larger numbers of passengers than expected. Break-even point (BEP): The point at which revenues and expenses are the same. For example, the BEP is the number of products (or seats, cabins, tickets, etc.) that must be sold for a company to break even. The BEP is calculated as fixed costs divided by the selling price less variable costs. See reasonable number. Break-even pricing: Pricing a product based on a forecast of the break-even point and the cost of achieving the break-even point. Budgeted balance sheet: A budget that measures total assets and liabilities. Budgeted income statement: A budget that tracks revenues and expenses. Also called the profit and loss statement. back to top

C
Carrier: A company that provides transportation services, such as motorcoach companies, airlines, cruise lines, and rental car agencies. Carrying Capacity: Carrying capacity refers to the number of visitors that can adequately be accommodated with existing infrastructure including lodging, dining, public bathrooms, roads, parking, etc. Certification: A voluntary procedure that assesses, monitors, and gives written assurance that a business, product, process, service, or management system conforms to specific requirements. Chain-ratio method: A method for forecasting market demand by multiplying a base market figure by a series of consumption constraints.

Chamber of commerce: A DMO that operates at the local level and is comprised of businesses that are not necessarily associated with the tourism industry. Charter: To hire the exclusive use of any aircraft, motorcoach, or other vehicle. Community is people living in one place, district, state, or country (NEAP, 2000). Confidential tariff: A schedule of wholesale rates distributed in confidence to travel wholesalers and travel agents. Consolidator: A person or company which forms groups to travel on air charters or at group fares on scheduled flights to increase sales, earn override commissions or reduce the possibility of tour cancellations. Consumer show: A product showcase for the general public. Differs from a trade show as a trade show generally targets industry professionals. Conversion: Getting heads in beds or otherwise closing the sale. Differs from hospitality. Hospitality is being warm, friendly and helpful. Conversion is active selling. Cooperative Agreement: A cooperative agreement is a written legal instrument reflecting a relationship between a Federal agency and a state or local government, tribal government, or other non-federal recipient in which the principle purpose is to transfer money, property, services, or anything of value to the state or local government or other recipient to stimulate or support a public purpose authorized by federal statute. Substantial involvement is anticipated between the federal agency and the recipient during performance of the contemplated activity. Cultural tourism: Travel for the purpose of learning about cultures or aspects of cultures (NEAP, 2000). Culture: The sum total of ways of living by a group of human beings that is transmitted from one generation to another (NEAP, 2000). CVB: Convention and Visitors Bureau. (See also DMO). back to top

D
Day rate: Also called a day room. A reduced rate granted for the use of a guest room during the daytime, not overnight occupancy. Usually provided on a tour when a very latenight departure is scheduled. Day tour: An escorted or unescorted tour that lasts less than 24 hours and usually departs and returns on the same day. See sightseeing tour. Deadheading: Making a trip or a segment of a trip without passengers, such as driving an empty. motorcoach somewhere. Degradation: Any decline in the quality of natural or cultural resources, or the viability of ecosystems that is caused directly or indirectly by humans (NEAP, 2000). Demand generators: Strategies and programs developed by DMOs and suppliers to generate destination demand. Examples include festivals, events, cultural tours, and consumer promotion. Demands: A consumers wants backed by the ability to purchase. Demographics: Population measures, such as age, gender, income, education, race/ethnicity, religion, marital status, household size, and occupation. Departure point: The location or destination from which a tour officially begins. Departure tax: Fee collected from a traveler by the host country at the time of departure. Deposit policy: A specified amount or a percentage of the total bill due on a specified date prior to arrival.

Deposit: An advance payment required to obtain and confirm space. Descriptive research: A form of marketing research that is used to provide detailed answers about customer markets. Destination: The end point of a trip. This can be a town, a resort, or a stand-along attraction. The place to which a traveler is going; or any city, area, region or country be marketed as a single entity to tourists. Destination alliance: A DMO that operates as a for-profit association of select suppliers who form a paid membership network to promote their services to travelers. Destination management company (DMC): A for-profit company that operates similar to a CVB by providing planning and execution services for the convention and meeting market. Destination Marketing Organization (DMO): A company or other entity involved in the business of increasing tourism to a destination or improving its public image. Destination: The geographic place to which a traveler is going. Direct flight: A flight that stops one or more times on the way to a destination, but does not require travelers to change planes. Direct marketing: Sales and marketing communication that feature direct interaction between a company and its customers without any distribution intermediaries. Directors: An industry council of the Travel Industry Association of America www.tourstates.com Distance Learning: Any activity in which the learner participates in a resource education experience from a location remote from the resource in question and without the personal presence of a agency representative, i.e. internet, interactive CD teleconferencing. DMC (Destination Management Company): A local company that handles arrangements for tours, meetings, transportation, etc. for groups originating elsewhere. DMO (Destination Marketing Organization): A company or other entity involved in the business of increasing tourism to a destination or improving its public image(such as a convention and visitor bureau). Docent: A tour guide who works free of charge at a museum. Double double: A room with two double beds. Double-occupancy rate: The price per person for a room to be shared with another person; the rate most frequently quoted in tour brochures. Double-room rate: The full price of a room for two people (twice the doubleoccupancy rate.) Downgrade: To move to a lesser level of accommodations or a lower class of service. Driver-guide: A tour guide who does double duty by driving a vehicle while narrating. Duty-free imports: Item amounts and categories specified by a government that are fee of tax or duty charges when brought into the country. back to top

E
Economic impact study: Research into the dollars generated by an industry and how these dollars impact the economy through direct spending and the indirect impact of additional job creation and the generation of income and tax revenue. Ecotour: A tour designed to focus on preserving the environment, or to environmentally sensitive areas. Ecotourism certification: Programs that cover businesses, services, and products that describe themselves as involved in ecotourism.

Ecotourism: Tourism responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the welfare of local people, according to The International Ecotourism Society. Educational programming: Activities conducted in partnership with formal education institutions and which seek to meet both the institutions specific education outcomes and the agencys resource stewardship goals. Educational tour: A tour designed around an educational activity, such as studying art. Educational/interpretive signage: Simple sign or label that provides basic information to aid visitor in orientation to or understanding of the location. Errors and omissions insurance: Insurance coverage equivalent to malpractice insurance, protecting an agents or operators staff if an act of negligence, an error, or an omission occurs that causes a client great hardship or expense. Escort: A person, usually employed by a tour operator, who accompanies a tour from departure to return as guide or trouble-shooter, or a person who performs such functions only at the destination. The terms hostescort or host are often used, and are preferred, to describe this service. Escorted group tour: A group tour that features a tour director who travels with the group throughout the trip to provide sightseeing commentary and coordinate all group movement and activities. Escorted service: A prearranged travel program, usually for a group, with escort service. Fully escorted tours may also use local guide services. Escrow accounts: Funds placed in the custody of licensed financial institutions for safekeeping. Many contracts in travel require that agents and tour operators maintain customers deposits and prepayments in escrow accounts. ESSTO: Educational Seminar for State Travel Officials. Extension: A fully arranged sub-tour offered optionally at extra cost to buyers of a tour or cruise. Extensions may occur before, during, or after the basic travel program. back to top

F
FAM (familiarization) tour: A free or reduced-rate trip offered to travel professionals to acquaint them with what a destination, attraction, or supplier has to offer. Familiarization Trip: A complimentary or reduced-rate travel program for travel agents, airline or rail employees or other travel buyers, designed to acquaint participants with specific destinations or suppliers and to stimulate the sale of travel. Familiarization tours, also called fam tours, are sometimes offered to journalists as research trips for the purpose of cultivating media coverage of specific travel products. FIT: Acronym with multiple meanings. RTM has seen it used to mean the following: -Foreign individual traveler -Frequent individual traveler -Fully independent traveler Usually a FIT Package will include lodging, meals, and attractions. Fixed costs: Costs that dont change with sales or production levels. Fly/drive tour: A F.I.T. package that always includes air travel and a rental car and sometimes other travel components. Folio: An itemized record of a guests charges and credits which is maintained in the front office until departure. Also referred to as a guest bill or guest statement. Foreign Independent Travel or Foreign Individual Travel - FIT: An international pre-paid unescorted tour that includes several travel elements such as accommodations, rental cars and sightseeing. An FIT operator specializes in preparing FITs

documents at the request of retail travel agents. FITs usually receive travel vouchers to present to on-site services as verification of prepayment. Frequent Independent Travel (F.I.T.): A custom-designed, prepaid travel package with many individualized arrangements. F.I.T. are unescorted and usually have no formal itinerary. Fulfillment piece: Promotional literature, video, or other material that is sent in response to an inquiry. Usually contains full trip planning information. Full house: A hotel with all guest rooms occupied. Function room: A special room that is used primarily for private parties, banquets, and meetings. Also called banquet rooms. back to top

G
Gateway city: City with an international airport. Gateway: City, airport, or area from which a flight or tour departs. Geotourism (1998): Tourism that sustains or enhances the geographic character of the place being visited--its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents GLAMER: Group Leaders of America Travel Show www.glamer.com GPS: A Global Positioning System is a satellite-based radio navigation system developed and operated by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD). GPS permits land, sea, and airborne users to determine their three dimensional position, velocity, and time 24 hours a day, in all weather, anywhere in the world with a precision and accuracy far better than other radio navigation systems available today or in the foreseeable future. Ground operator: A company that provides local travel services, including transportation or guide services. Group leader: An individual who has been given the responsibility of coordinating tour and travel arrangements for a group. The group leader may act as a liaison to a tour operator or may develop a tour independently (and sometimes serve as the tour director). Group rate: A special discounted rate charged by suppliers to groups. Also called tour rate. Group tour and group leader: Group Tour: A travel agent type company which plans motorcoach trips. Group Leader: A small, informal group, such as a church group, scout troop, or social group. Usually one person plans the activities for the group. Some travel shows target these planners such as GLAMER. Group tour: A travel package for an assembly of travelers that has a common itinerary, travel date, and transportation. Group tours are usually prearranged, prepaid, and include transportation, lodging, dining, and attraction admissions. See also escorted group tour. back to top

H
Hospitality: A general term used in travel & tourism describing the hospitality industry; refers to the general greeting, welcoming, food service, etc. Hotel Package: A package offered by a hotel, sometimes consisting of no more than a room and breakfast; sometimes, especially at resort hotels, consisting of (ground) transportation, room, meals, sports facilities and other components. HSMAI: Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International www.hsmai.org , www.abt-travel.com back to top

Incentive tour: A trip offered as a prize, usually by a company to stimulate employee sales or productivity. Inquiry: A request for more information about an attraction or destination. International Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus (IACVB): Worldwide association of convention and visitors bureaus, based in Washington, DC. www.iacvb.org Interpretation: Print materials, signage, narration, guided tours, and anything that interprets the site for the visitor. Interpretation helps the customer interpret the experience and explains why a particular product is valuable. Interpretation adds value and meaning to the experience. Common interpretation techniques used in ecotourism include commentary on guided tours, presentations and discussions, drama performance, musical performance, brochures, signs, displays, and audiovisual presentations (NEAP, 2000). Interpretative Programming: Activities conducted in a recreational environment which seek to connect the participants to the meanings and values of the resource being experienced. Itinerary: Travel schedule provided by a travel agent for his/her customer. A proposed or preliminary itinerary may be rather vague or specific. A final itinerary however provides all details (flight numbers, departure times, reservation confirmation numbers) and describes planned activities. back to top

L
Life Cycle assessment: A variant of an EMS that tracks a product, process or activity from cradle to grave. In the tourism industry, it assesses the use of resources and social and environmental impact during three phases: 1) departure and return travel, 2) stay at the destination, and 3) activities at the destination. back to top

M
Mass or mainstream tourism: Terms commonly but loosely used to refer to popular forms of leisure tourism pioneered in southern Europe, the Caribbean, and North America in the 1960s and 1970s. back to top

N
NAGPRA: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act 25 U.S.C. 3001, Pub. L. 101-601 (November 16, 1990). This act provides for consultation with native American tribes and native Hawaiian organizations regarding the cultural affiliation, ownership, and disposition of human remains and associated material culture which are excavated or discovered on federal lands. The Act also provides defines criminal penalties for illegal trafficking in Native American human remains and cultural items. National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 16 U.S.C. 470 et seq. (1966), 80 Stat. 915, Pub. L. 89-665: This Act authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to "expand and maintain a national register of districts, sites, building, structures, and objects significant in American history, architecture, archeology, and culture" and to dispense matching grants-in-aid to the states for historical surveys, preservation plans, and the acquisition and development of historic properties. Nature tourism: Travel to unspoiled places to experience and enjoy nature. back to top

Off-site programming: Educational or interpretive activities conducted by agency personnel outside the agencys unit jurisdictional boundary. On-site Programming: Educational or interpretive activities conducted by agency personnel within agencys unit jurisdictional boundary. ORV: Off-road vehicles are any motorized vehicle designed for or capable of cross-country travel on or immediately over land, water, sand, snow, ice, marsh, swampland, or other natural terrain; except that such term excludes (1) any registered motorboat, (2) any military, fire, ambulance or law enforcement vehicle when used for emergency purposes and (3) any vehicle whose use is authorized by the Chief of Engineers, or his properly designated representative, under a permit, lease, license or contract. back to top

P
Package Tour: A saleable travel product offering an inclusive price with several travel elements that would otherwise be purchased separately. Usually has a predetermined price, length of time and features but can also offer options for separate purchase. Packager: Anyone organizing a tour including prepaid transportation and travel services, usually to more than one destination. Partnership: Two persons who dance together. A relationship between one or more parties involving close cooperation in exercise of specific rights and responsibilities. Product Extension: An add-on product or service, which enhances the experience of your product and generates additional revenue. Example - A state park that offers guided wildflower tours (for a fee). Product Life Cycle: The cyclical pattern of demand for most products from new and exciting to old and dated. Almost all products (tourism and otherwise) have these cycles. back to top

R
Rack card: The typical tourism brochure sized 4 x 9 and used primarily in tourism racks. Also known as a teaser. Rack rate: The official cost posted by a hotel, attraction or rental car, but not used by tour operators. Reassurance sign: When trying to locate an attraction, especially when the route is long and unclear, it is critical to offer reassurance signs that tell the visitor they are indeed going the right way. Receptive operator: Someone who plans to receive your motorcoach or tour group. They may plan your lodging, meals, attraction visits, etc. for a fee or commission. A tour operator or travel agent specializing in services for incoming visitors, such as meeting them at the airport and facilitating their transfer to lodging facilities. Reconnaissance: An on-site evaluation of an attraction or destination from the perspective of the customer. Best performed by an outsider who is not familiar with the location and who is trained in fair and scientific methods of evaluation. Retail agency: Travel company selling directly to the public, sometimes a subdivision of a wholesale and/or retail travel organization. back to top

S
Scheduled flights: Air flights that are publicly scheduled and promoted by major airlines. Scheduled tour: A tour thats set in a tour operators regular schedule of tour departures and thats often sold to the general public. Also called public tour or retail tour.

Secondary information: Research data that was collected by another company or person and usually for a purpose thats different than the research objectives and tasks at hand. Shells: Preprinted brochures with photos, illustrations, and graphics but no text; also called slicks. Shore excursion: A land tour, usually available at ports of call, sold by cruise lines or tour operators to cruise passengers. Shoulder season: Those periods between the peak and off season when destination demand is moderate. SHPO: State Historic Preservation Officer. Sightseeing companies: Organizations that provide local guided tours. Sightseeing guide: See driver/guide. Sightseeing tour: Short excursions of usually a few hours that focus on sightseeing and/or attraction visits. Simple random sample: A sample that draws a group of respondents randomly from all members of the population. Special event tour: A travel package that features major happenings, such as concerts or sporting events, as the reason for the journey. Split itinerary: An itinerary in which part of the group does one thing while the other part does something else. Stakeholders: Parties who may be affected by agency decisions and actions (i.e., user groups, elected officials, commercial interests, environmentalists, park managers, tourism industry representatives, consumers, host countries, host communities, funders and financiers, and others). Standard: A document approved by a recognized body that provides for common and repeated use of a prescribed set of rules, conditions, or requirements (Toth, 2000). Step-on guide: A highly knowledgeable guide whom steps-on an incoming motorcoach and provides narrative interpretation for the experience. Some CVBs offer stepon guides for free. Sometimes an independent company offers this service for a fee. Strategic plan: A report that describes a companys mission statement, goals, objectives and strategic actions. Subcontractor: A local operator who provides services for a wholesaler. Supplier: The actual producer and seller of a unit of travel merchandise, such as a carrier, hotel or sightseeing operator. Sustainable development: That which meets the needs of the present without Compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainable tourism certifications: Programs that measure a range of environmental, socio-cultural, and economic equity issues both internally (within the business, service, or product) and externally (on the surrounding community and physical environment). Sustainable tourism: According to the World Tourism Organization, envisaged as leading to management of all resources in such a way that economic, social and aesthetic needs can be fulfilled with maintaining cultural integrity, essential ecological processes, biological diversity, and life support systems. SWOT analysis: A summary of a companys strengths and weaknesses, and the environmental opportunities and threats that will most influence it.

System: A voluntary building rating system that evaluates environmental performance from a "whole building" perspective over a building's life cycle. A program of the U.S. Green Building Council. back to top

T
Target market: The group of customers who will be the focus of a companys marketing efforts Tariff: (1) Fare or rate from a supplier; (2) Class or type of a fare or rate; (3) Published list of fares or rates from a supplier; (4) Official publication compiling rates or fares and conditions of service. Teaser piece: A teaser piece can either be a rack brochure (*see rack brochure above), or a mailer, giveaway, or some other promotional piece that is intended to tease the receiver into taking a specific action. Telemarketing: Direct marketing via the telephone. Theme tour: A tour thats designed around a concept of specific interest to the tour takers, such as history or sports. TIA: Travel Industry Association of America www.tia.org. Tickler system: A method for monitoring reservations and payments thats arranged by date and points out late payments so customers can be contacted. Tiered pricing: When suppliers offer different prices to receptive operators, tour operators, and group leaders, so each party can earn a profit by marking up the supplier's price while still offering a fair price to customers. Tour operator: A company that creates and/or markets inclusive tours and/or performs tour services. Tour: Any prearranged (but not necessarily prepaid) journey to one or more places and back to the point of origin. Tourism certification programs: These included AAA (Automobile Association of America) and have typically measured and compared quantity, service, and price, areas deemed most important to travelers. Tourism Industries, US Department of Commerce: The federal agency responsible for tracking and analyzing international visitation to the United States. http://tinet.ita.doc.gov Tourism: Travel undertaken for pleasure. The business of providing and marketing services and facilities for pleasure travelers. Thus, the concept of tourism is of direct concern to governments, carriers, and the lodging, restaurant and entertainment industries and of indirect concern to virtually every industry and business in the world. Trade show: A product showcase for a specific industry. Generally it is not open to the public. Differs from a Consumer Show in that a trade show targets the professional industry, while a consumer show targets consumers. Trailblazing signage: Signs to aid the public in arriving at a particular location. Travel agent: The individual who sells travel services, issues tickets and provides other travel services to the travel services to the traveler sat the retail level. Travel Industry Association of America (TIA): The non-profit umbrella trade organization of companies and government agencies representing all segments of the travel industry formed to promote travel to and within the US. www.tia.org back to top

U
Upgrade: To move to a better accommodation or class of service.

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V
Value season: See off-season. Value: The relationship between the benefits associated with a product or service and the costs of obtaining the product or service. Value-added tax (VAT): A type of tax system which adds a fixed percentage of taxation on products and services at each step of production or service delivery. Value-based pricing: Pricing a product based on buyer perceptions of value rather than actual product costs. Variable costs: Costs that change with sales or production levels. Variance report: A summary of how much a company has gone above or below budget. VFR: Visiting friends and relatives. VFRM: Visiting friends and relatives of the military. Visa: Stamp of approval recorded in a travelers passport to enter a country for a specific purpose. Volume incentive: See override. Volume purchase: The purchase of large quantities of a product or service. Voluntary initiatives: Initiatives within the tourism industry are not legally required or binding. Voucher: Documents that are exchanged for goods and service to substantiate payment that will be or already has been made. back to top

W
Waitlist: A list of clients awaiting transportation or accommodations at times when they are not available. Waitlisted clients are confirmed as a result of subsequent cancellations. Wants: Ways in which a person satisfies a basic need. Wayfinding signage: Signs to aid the public in orienting themselves geographically within a specific location and which identify functional units within the location. Wholesale: Sale of travel products through an intermediary in exchange for a commission or fee generally at reduced tariffs. Wholesaler: A company that purchases large blocks of rooms, tickets, etc. and then resells to either the public or to other travel professionals. A company that usually creates and markets inclusive tours and FITS for sale through travel agents. Usually sells nothing at retail (as opposed to a travel agent who can sell any product)., but also does not always create his/her own product; also less likely to perform local services. Word-of-mouth promotion: Personal communication about a product or service from one customer to another. WTM: World Travel Market. WTO stands for two international organizations: 1) the World Tourism Organization, a UN-related institution based in Madrid that collects data on tourism and lobbies on behalf of the industry; and 2) the World Trade Organization.