The GDS Fares and Airline Ticketing Training Course offered by Oxford Training Centre is a comprehensive and industry-aligned programme designed for travel professionals who seek expertise in global distribution systems, fare construction, and airline reservation procedures. Situated within the domain of Hospitality and Tourism Training courses, this course equips participants with the knowledge and operational skills necessary to manage airline ticketing workflows efficiently using major GDS platforms like Amadeus, Galileo, Sabre, and Worldspan. Covering everything from fare rules and IATA tariff structures to advanced booking functionalities and ticket issuance, the curriculum provides a holistic foundation for roles in travel agencies, corporate travel departments, and tour operators.
Participants will explore system architectures, reservation work flows, fare construction methodologies, ticketing best practices, and automation integrations. The training emphasises real-world applicability, combining IATA-aligned standards with hands-on exercises in live GDS sandboxes. Airline professionals will learn not only the technical aspects of fare calculation and ticket issuance but also the nuances of handling exchange procedures, customer profiles, group bookings, ancillaries, and post‐ticketing servicing. As industry requirements continue to shift with digital distribution channels and evolving fare rules, this course ensures that travel experts remain current and competitive.
The Airline Ticketing and GDS Training Course is delivered through a structured curriculum with progressive modules, each providing 3 or more practical learning points designed to integrate theory with system navigation. By the end of the programme, participants will possess advanced competencies in fare construction, GDS reservation techniques, ticketing workflows, customer service protocols, and compliance with industry regulations. This certification strengthens career readiness and aligns with professional growth paths in travel management and reservation operations.
Objectives
- Provide a deep understanding of Global Distribution System (GDS) Ticketing Course architecture, including industry-standard commands, PNR creation, and data flows.
- Enable participants to construct accurate fares and pricing using IATA tariff manuals and GDS fare shops to mimic real-world ticketing scenarios.
- Ensure proficiency in ticketing processes, including issuing e-tickets, handling refunds, exchanges, voluntary and involuntary endorsements, and storage.
- Train learners to design and execute itineraries for complex travel journeys, including multi-airline, multi-city, stopovers, connecting flights, and open-jaws.
- Build capability in managing airline reservation enhancements such as SSRs, seat assignments, fare bundling, special services, and Baggage Allowance.
- Introduce workarounds and advanced ticketing technique training for special fares: group bookings, infant/child fares, fare overrides, and upgrade pricing.
- Prepare professionals to handle changes in fare markets, currency differences, GDS caching, availability syncing, and ticketing agent IDs.
- Provide opportunity to practise real-time GDS ticketing workflows using Amadeus or Galileo sandboxes, boosting confidence in daily operations.
- Promote adherence to standard operating procedures, system audit compliance, and IATA-based documentation for corporate and leisure travel contexts.
- Strengthen professional communication with airline carriers, ticketing managers, and customers via compliant invoicing, document reissuances, and reassurance.
Target Audience
- Travel consultants, ticketing agents, and reservation specialists working within agencies or corporate travel entities seeking enhanced GDS proficiency.
- Airline sales and distribution staff responsible for fare creation, ticketing, ticket improvement, and fare rule enforcement.
- Hotel and tourism professionals enrolled in Hospitality and Tourism Training courses who require ticketing skills to offer packaged or integrated travel solutions.
- Corporate travel managers who oversee ticket issuance, itinerary planning, cost control, and vendor policy compliance for employees.
- Travel technology professionals integrating booking workflows or designing GDS-compatible platforms and ticketing modules.
- Operations supervisors in airline and tour operator environments who manage fare audits, guest profiles, and post‐ticketing service.
- New hires or upskilling candidates aiming for certification in fare rules, IATA pricelists, and ticket validation across GDS platforms.
- Professionals transitioning into ticketing from customer service, hospitality, or tourism desks, requiring structured GDS fare training.
How Will Attendees Benefit?
- Acquire industry-recognised skills through a Certified GDS and Airline Reservation Training programme that adds credibility and competence in ticketing operations.
- Learn to create complex fare constructions aligned with IATA rules, ensuring accuracy and revenue integrity across travel products.
- Gain confidence in handling full reservation workflows: passenger name record (PNR) creation, fare display, fare shop, applicable ticketing commands, seat assignment, and timely ticket issuance.
- Develop expertise in special procedures: infant fares, child discounts, refund processing, voluntary exchanges, involuntary refunds, and revalidations.
- Enhance customer service performance by accurately responding to ticketing queries, itinerary changes, fare checks, and airline endorsements.
- Master intricate booking setups for group reservations, corporate agreements, interline coupons, and service fee provisions.
- Strengthen problem-solving through troubleshooting GDS errors, fare mismatches, booking oversells, and multi-carrier connections.
- Improve efficiency with automation: scripting commands, macros, queue management, fare templates, and ticketing system shortcuts.
- Build a competitive edge for agency placement, airline roles, or tour operator positions requiring professional GDS and fare ticketing training.
- Expand career development through certification that demonstrates technical mastery of fare rules, booking paths, and advanced ticketing.
Course Content
Module 1: Introduction to GDS Architecture and Ticketing Workflow
- Overview of GDS Fares and Airline Ticketing Training Course structure
- System login, screen layout, PNR creation, queue management
- Basic availability checks, fare quotes, low fare calendars
Module 2: Fare Construction and IATA Rule Fundamentals
- Understanding fare basis codes, booking classes, fare rules
- IATA Fare Tariff interpretation: seasonality, advance purchase, min/max stay
- Constructing accurate fares with GDS pricing engine commands
Module 3: Booking and Reservation Techniques
- Multi-segment and multi-airline itinerary recording
- Segment modification, seat assignments, passenger special requests (SSR)
- Working with queue messages, industry-specific statuses (OSI, SSR, etc.)
Module 4: Ticket Issuance and Fare Automation
- Electronic ticket issuance sequences, agent ticketing, airline ticketing agreements
- Handling currency conversions, fare overrides, exchange rate variances
- Ticket reissuance processes for itinerary changes and upgrades
Module 5: Refunds, Exchanges, and Fare Amendments
- Voluntary and involuntary refund procedures and documentation
- Exchange fee, fare difference, and involuntary endorsements
- Documenting involuntary policies for disrupted flights
Module 6: Group Ticketing and Corporate Agreements
- GDS group booking functionalities and group fare construction
- Corporate fare agreements, negotiated corporate discounts
- Large-PNR handling, repeated passenger information, group deposit management
Module 7: Ancillaries, Upselling, and Fare Bundling
- Ancillary booking strategies: seat upgrades, extra baggage, lounge access
- Fare families, bundles, and dynamic packaging
- SSR and hotel/car rental configurations within PNR
Module 8: Fare Audits and Compliance Controls
- GDS ticket audit commands, report generation, void/negative differences
- Identifying fraudulent fare usage and commission leakages
- IATA settlement systems checks and airline policy compliance
Module 9: Advanced GDS Workflow Automation
- Macros, scripted commands, templates, and cache revalidation
- Queue monitoring, autonomous agent rules, daily batch operations
- Transitioning workflows across Amadeus, Galileo, and Sabre platforms
Module 10: Fare Negotiation and Upsell Strategy
- Airline rebate modelling, override pricing authority
- Upselling best practices through fare bundling and value-added services
- Coordination with airlines for rate parity and named fare requests
Module 11: Real-world Ticketing Case Simulations
- Live booking and ticketing practice in sandboxed GDS environment
- Role-play handling absentee passengers, cancellations, schedule changes
- Peer-review of ticket audit logs and refund handling
Module 12: Final Certification and Exam Preparation
- Comprehensive review of system commands, fare construction, and ticketing scenarios
- Mock certification exam replicating real-time ticketing challenges
- Professional feedback, solution walkthrough, and certification process