Global Distribution Systems

Global Distribution Systems

The GDSs is a computerized reservation system used worldwide for airline seats, hotel rooms, car renting and other items related to travel. The most popular systems are Amadeus and its competitor Galileo and there are more, such as Worldspan, Apollo, Abacus, Infini and Sabre.

You can book anything through GDS, they all use letter-codes to make it shorter and faster such as BA (British Airways), LHR (London Heathrow), D (Dinner) or L (Lunch) etc. It is used by travel agents.

GDS systems are very important part of the whole Travel and Tourism Industry. It was originally designed by airlines and it had been extended later for travel agencies also.
The first automated reservation system was made in 1946 by American Airlines and it was successful in its developed format. Several airlines started to use it. But actually booking the tickets were a bit different that time compare to now. The ticketing agents had to call the booking office up and make the reservation over the phone, they could not do it straight away themselves.
It is essential to know how the system works for those people who are working in a travel agency. If you are thinking about to work there, you have better consider to learn one of the popular ones.

I will write about some of the GDS systems in more detail also in my posts.