|
|
|
|
|
|
Building a personal Profile |
|
The passenger profile is the resource we will use to access all of your personal preferences when booking travel. These preferences are stored in your record each time you book a travel related service. You can update your profile at any time. This ensures that your mileage numbers, seat choices, meal selections etc. are current and accurate. To use the profile section, simply type the requested information in the appropriate box and tab to the next line. Be sure to include your telephone and email numbers so that you can be contacted. After you fill out the name and address boxes, you will come to a box that asks what kind of user you are. You have two choices: |
|
|
|
The Novice User |
|
The novice user will see availability displays in much the same way as the expert user. The main difference is the class of service display. The novice user will see only whether seats are available in First, Business or Coach classes, but not the number of seats. |
|
|
|
The Expert User |
|
The expert user will see availability displays in much the same way as the novice user. The main difference here is the class of service display is broken down into the actual airline designated booking class. Different fares require different booking classes. An airline availability display will break down something like this: F9 Y9 B9 M9 H9 Q9 V9 Read more about Understanding the Availability Display |
|
|
|
Understanding the Availability Display |
|
The class of service is designated by the letter. F designates first class and the rest designate the coach section. Y is generally an unrestricted fare and the others usually have restrictions attached. The benefit of being able to see the class of service really comes when a traveler is looking to make a change. If you have been booked in the M class of service and you need to make a change to your itinerary, you can see if it is available in M or not. Whether before your departure or en route, you have the ability to shape your plans accordingly. The other class of service you will sometimes see in the availability display is C or J. These designate business class. They will always appear between the first class display and the coach display when applicable. The number following the class of service is an indicator of the amount of seats available in each class. The maximum number you will see is 9. This is simply to keep the display in single digits. When you see an availability such as the one shown above, it generally means that the plane is wide open. When you see a 4 or a 5 for example, that particular class of service is filling up fast. The price for any given flight is the price of the lowest class of service with availability. If the price seems high, be sure to look at the number of seats available in the individual classes. When looking for the lowest fare, always select the leg with the highest availability in all classes. Classes of service are in order from left to right: Highest price at the left, lowest at the right. |
|
|
|
Choices for Availability Display |
|
Next will be the number of choices you can view per leg of your trip. Your choices are 5, 10, 15 or 20. The availability return will be more comprehensive using the higher numbered return options. However, be prepared to wait a little longer for the longer list. Not much, but just a little. You can sort your flight choices a number of different ways. One click on the arrow will display your options. Simply click on the option which suits your individual needs. Class preference is next. Again, click on the option that suits your needs. Although in the availability display, all classes will show, the pricing correlates to the class of service you requested. One thing to remember about the previous three options is that they can be changed at the availability screen as well. This way, if your preferences change for a specific itinerary, you can adjust them without having to return to the profile page. The next two options you can select are the window/aisle option, and the meal option. Window/aisle selection is pretty cut and dried. The meal selection is a large one. Select the meal you would generally like to have, and understand that not all options are available on all flights. With 24-hour notice, if the meal type is available, the airline will provide it. |
|
|
|
Preferred Airlines |
|
Next in the profile is the preferred airlines section. More often than not, the preferred airlines are the carriers that you have frequent flier programs with. When selecting the airlines you prefer, no more than three are allowable at a time. This is because this field is directly tied to the availability search. If you are flying from San Francisco to Chicago and you have selected Alaska, United and American as your preferred carriers, the system will display United and American flights. Alaska does not fly to Chicago, but the system will search for the flights anyway. When it is discovered that two out of three choices fly to Chicago, it will feature those two. If none of your preferred choices fly to your destination, the system will default to the carriers that do service that destination. The preferred airline option can also be altered at the availability screen. |
|
|
|
Frequent Flyer Information |
|
Frequent Flyer Information is stored in your permanent profile so that it can be entered into your airline reservation whenever applicable. This information is sent to the agent responsible for your ticket to enter into your airline reservation. |
|
|
|
General requests or special notes |
|
This box is your notepad for notes that you want to send each time you make a reservation. Things you might want to indicate here are general things about your method or preference of travel that you'd like your agent to be reminded of when handling your affairs. |
|
|
|
TO ENTER YOUR PROFILE |
|
FIRST go to the Airline, Car, Or Hotel Screen. DO NOT ENTER AS A GUEST. Enter a user name and password. IF this is your first time you will need to enter the same password in the second password box as well. Next click on the --PROFILE-- button at the bottom of the screen. |
