Flight Booking Algorithm: Steps and Key Systems

How Online Flight Booking Works

The video explains the technology and systems behind booking an online flight, from searching for fares through boarding.

Searching for Flights

• An airline website checks a passenger’s query against availability in the airline’s reservation system and displays suitable options.
• Online travel agencies (OTAs), such as Expedia and Priceline, typically get flight data through global distribution systems (GDSs). A GDS combines:
  • Flight schedules from sources such as OAG or Innovata
  • Fare data published through ATPCO
  • Real-time seat-availability checks sent to airline reservation systems
• The GDS builds offers from schedules, fares, and availability, then sends them to the OTA. OTAs may also prioritize offers according to commercial agreements and business interests.
• Metasearch engines such as Google Flights and Skyscanner compare results from airline and agency sites. They generally refer users to a provider rather than selling tickets themselves, earning revenue when users click through.

Choosing a Booking Channel

Travelers can book through an OTA or directly with an airline. Direct booking can make changes and cancellations easier and may provide access to extras such as baggage, meals, seat selection, and additional legroom.

Creating a Booking and PNR

The booking process collects passenger and trip information into a Passenger Name Record (PNR). The record may include the passenger’s name, itinerary, contact details, ticketing information, and who last changed it.

For OTA bookings, the PNR information passes through the GDS to the airline. The airline generates a unique six-character record locator. Additional trip-related information may later be attached to the record.

Processing Payment

Airline and OTA sites use third-party payment gateways to support different payment methods and secure transactions.

OTA payments may take longer because the agency checks with the airline through the GDS to confirm that the ticket is still available before completing the purchase.

Issuing the Ticket

Booking confirmation and ticket issuance are separate steps. After payment is confirmed, the airline’s booking system issues an electronic ticket linked to the PNR.

For OTA sales, ticketing is handled through the GDS, with a copy sent to the airline’s system. If a ticket cannot be issued, the supplier should offer an alternative or a refund.

Check-in and Departure

The Departure Control System (DCS) works with the airline reservation system and airport systems, including check-in kiosks and mobile apps.

During check-in, the DCS verifies passenger and booking details, assigns or confirms a seat, and creates a boarding pass containing a QR code. It also supports baggage tagging. Baggage barcodes are scanned for sorting and tracking, including through IATA’s World Tracer system.

At boarding, the DCS updates the passenger’s PNR status to “boarded” and later “completed.”

Content Type and Source

• Type: Explanatory guide to the flight-booking process; not a review of a specific product.
• Main source: AltexSoft narration