Automated product for miscellaneous charges will simplify agency admin processes

Sabre Travel Network has introduced a travel agency product designed to simplify the process used to produce documents used for upgrades, tickets on departure and ‘extras’ such as excess baggage. The automated Miscellaneous Charges Order (MCO) became available on Monday 31 March and will reduce agency overheads significantly, by replacing the cumbersome manual process currently in use.

The Sabre global distribution system (GDS) is the first in the United Kingdom capable of providing an IATA-approved, machine-printed MCO. Sabre Travel Network previewed the product at BT2003 in London in February.

Traditionally, agents have had to fetch a multi-purpose document (MPD) from a safe, validate it, hand-write the document and manually report it to the UK Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP). Staff in a typical mid-size travel agency would have to do this about 200 times a month. With the automated MCO agents simply have to fill in the blanks in a template on their PC screens, and print the document using their standard ATB2 Ticket Printer.

The product automatically records, reports and provides documentation for a host of miscellaneous charges, including pre-paid ticket advices, deposits, stop-over arrangements, tour orders, taxes and other fees.

“Every travel agent hates having to do these things manually, because it’s time-consuming and complicated,” said Neil Greatorex at Chambers Travel Management in London. “This product has helped us improve our work process, and guarantees accuracy. This, in turn, has increased productivity in ticketing, reservations and accounting. We now rely on automated MCOs and would never return to a manual system.”

“At a time when every agency is looking for ways to sharpen its competitive edge, we believe that products like this add considerable value to what we are able to bring to the traditional GDS/agency relationship,” said David Brown, Sabre Travel Network’s director for the UK, Ireland and the Nordic region.

About Sabre Travel Network

Sabre Travel Network, a Sabre Holdings company, owns and operates the world’s leading global distribution system (GDS) and provides products and services enabling more than 56,000 travel agents worldwide to be travel experts. About 40 percent of the world’s travel is booked through the Sabre GDS. Originally developed in 1960, it was the first system to connect the buyers and sellers of travel. Today the system includes more than 400 airlines, 59,000 hotels, 52 car hire companies, nine cruise lines, 36 railways and 232 tour operators.

Sabre Holdings Corporation (NYSE: TSG) is a world leader in travel commerce, retailing travel products and providing distribution and technology solutions for the travel industry. More information about Sabre Holdings is available at http://www.sabre-holdings.com.

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