If you had this , would you be able to issue paper tix too , assuming you had the machine .

The University of Houston has a 200 Hour Travel Agent Training online course, but wants $1,590 for it. :eek:

ROFLOL...Nevermind...wrong link (pulled that one out of an old "Favorites" folder). Hold on a moment. That course is a joke.

I looked into the Nexion thing but decided it wasn't worth it. The charges are pretty high and I just couldn't justify the costs any way I looked at it. My cousin wanted to split it with me and aim for getting an IATA card but that requires a pretty high chunk of issuance through the agency before they even consider you. Ultimately I gave up on the idea, though I keep that Nexion bookmark around, just in case...


Oh, and that AWD I posted before is the State of Florida employee rate. I've been known to "work as a contractor" for them before. I've actually never had anyone question the rate at all, even with a NY drivers license.

That works out to $7.95/hr of instruction. That's not bad seeing as I bill out at $37/hr per student to teach a class or $125/hr for private tutoring.

There's This Online Amadeus Course for About $400 However, Nexion uses Sabre.

Basic Sabre Course

Automated Air Fares/Tickets Training Description: "Become proficient in the automation systems used by airlines and their authorized agents as you continue to practice creating PNRs and add the skills of interpreting fare quote displays and rule displays, pricing and ticketing."

My question is, who uses travel agents anymore? sure back in the old days when them new fangled computers came out, but now?

Orbitz : Travel Agent :: Walmart Do-It-Yourself Divorce Kit : Attorney

Touche ALCO, Touche.

expert flyer does show routing rules :

Routing Details
Search: Departing EWR on 05/29/08 for HNL
Fare basis code BUAS
Flying UA


BUAS 1162.70 2325.40 UA ROUTE:0635
VALID SINGLE CONNECT CITIES FROM: EWR TO HNL
ABE ABQ AUS BOS BUR CAK CHI CID CLE CLT COS DEN
DFW DSM ELP FSD FYV HAR HOU ICT ITO JHM KOA LAS
LAX LGB LIH LNK LNY MCE MKC MKE MKK MRY MSP NYC
OAK OGG OKC OMA ONT PDX PHL PHX PIT PSP RNO SAN
SAT SBA SEA SFO SJC SLC SMF SNA STL TUL TUS WAS
YNG

ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON ROUTING:
NONE

For 99.99% of fliers (ignoring those beholden to corporate travel agents - many of which are less competent than the average FTer), a Travel Agent isn't a necessity. It's when you want to quickly and easily book certain types of fares and take full advantage of legal routing rules (as well as numerous other scenarios) that a TA becomes a Godsend. Also, even being a TA sometimes isn't enough. There are certain fares that can only be issued in certain countries. In those cases, it's helpful to know a local TA in that country.

Travel agents are still alive and well. My mommy happens to be a pretty good one. The Internet hasn't taken over the way it was made out to be. People do still desire a subject-matter expert.

Just curious, as I'm only KVS so far. Could you please post the routing rules for the UA LAX-ATL $979 HUPMX fare? I'd like to compare how ExpertFlyer displays that against the saved copy of the routing rules I have from back when KVS used to give them. That fare allowed for two transfers each way, so I'm curious as to how ExpertFlyer might display that (as opposed to the "Single Connect" language above).

I guess I am switching from KVS to expertflyer.

Ain't that the truth! At least I now have a manageable working relationship with the 2 in my office: I tell them EXACTLY what to book and they do it. Some people just tell them "I need to be in the London office next week" and take whatever flights and hotel they get. :o