Monster Media 1994 #2/Monster Media No. 2 (Monster Media)(1994).ISO/freq_qa/oag5.zip/OAG5.TXT

Text File | 1994-05-23 | 6KB | 134 lines

Archive-name: travel/air/online-info
Last-modified: 1994/02/28

[[ This Q&A is a response to a flood of questions about access to Eaasy Sabre
 and the like.  Suggestions for improvement welcome.]]

* Is there a way to get airline schedules on the Internet for free?

The short answer is no.  The longer answer is maybe, kind of.  See below.

* Is there a way to get airline schedules on the Internet if I pay for it?

Definitely.  See below.

* What reservation systems are available?

There are three computer reservation systems available to the general public:

EAASY SABRE: Run by American Airlines, lets you check fares and schedules
on all airlines with computerized reservations (all but the most obscure),
and make reservations for yourself and others.  Tickets can be sent by
mail, issued by airlines at the airport or city ticket offices, or by any
travel agent with a Sabre terminal, which is nearly all agents in the U.S.
You can keep a lot of profile info on-line such as frequent flyer numbers
and meal and seat preferences which are automatically inserted into
reservations you make for yourself.  Your ID is your AAdvantage frequent
flyer number.  Official Recreation Guide available at extra cost.  Line
oriented command language, e.g.  to ask for flights from Boston to San
Francisco on July 4 around noon:

/AIR,BOS,SFO,4JUL,1200

It will prompt you field by field if you don't know all the parameters.

Travelshopper: Run by Worldspan (formerly PARS), which is Delta, Northwest
and TWA, similar features to Eaasy.  Interface is a little clunkier, but
there are some features not available on Eaasy such as open date tickets,
and experienced users can type through menus faster.  Same ticketing
options, but fewer agents have Worldspan terminals.  No travel club, less
detailed profile.  Line oriented command language with optional prompts,
same query as above would be:

A;BOS;SFO;4JUL;12n;1

The 1 means one person travelling.

ON-LINE OFFICIAL AIRLINE GUIDE: Similar data and commands to the other
two.  It used to be better than Sabre and Travelshopper, but now
everyone's updated in near real-time.  Lots of other random stuff, e.g.
frequent flyer newsletter and flight departure and arrival info (they can
show you the contents of the flight info TV screens from some airports.)
Airlines and a few agencies can issue tickets.

* Are these the same systems that travel agents use?

The underlying data are the same, but the interface is different.  Some
data are visible to agents, but not to these systems.  A good way to work
is to make the best reservation you can on-line, then call a travel agent,
tell him what you've reserved, and see if he can do better.

* How do I get access to them?

[[These lists aren't complete.  Please send updates]]

Eaasy and Travelshopper are only available via gateway systems, OAG
directly or via gateways.

Eaasy Sabre: GEnie, Compuserve, Delphi, Prodigy, AOL, NVN.
PARS Travelshopper: Compuserve, Delphi.
OAG: Direct subscription, Delphi, Compuserve, GEnie, Dow Jones News Retrieval,
 AT&T InterSpan.

Telnet to Delphi: delphi.com, no surcharge.
Telnet to OAG: oag.com, no surcharge.
Telnet to Compuserve: compuserve.com, hostname CIS.

Compuserve has a front-end program called CIM which runs under Windows
and can make access and navigation somewhat simpler, but can only be used
via direct dialup, not via telnet.

For dial-in access, Delphi is on Sprintnet and Tymnet, no surcharge nights
and weekends.  Compuserve has its own extensive network, or is available
via Sprintnet at a surcharge.  OAG is on Sprintnet and Tymnet, no surcharge.

* How much do they cost?

Eaasy and PARS are available at the base rate for all of the on-line
services that offer them except for Prodigy.

Delphi offers a five-hour free trial when you sign up; you can use PARS
and Eaasy during that time.  AOL also usually offers a free trial period.

Gateway systems charge a substantial surcharge for the OAG, e.g.  Delphi
charges 59 cents/min peak, 42 cents/min off-peak.  A direct subscription
to the OAG (call 800-323-3537) is much cheaper, per-minute rates are lower
than the surcharge. [[ what's the extension number to waive the signup
fee?]]  If you subscribe directly, the OAG waives session charges if you
make or cancel a reservation during the session.  The OAG has no monthly
minimum, which is good for occasional users.

* What about on-line travel agents and clubs?

Eaasy Sabre offers Traveller's Access, run by Comp-U-Card which for $39/yr
rebates 5% on air, hotel, and car rentals for you and family members that
they've ticketed for you and family members when you send in receipts.  In
my experience, their agents are not very good.

Travel-by-Modem ([e-mail]), is run by a small company in Belmont,
Mass., primary access via Delphi, but Internet e-mail is fine, too.  Costs
$39/yr, sliding rebate on tickets depending on price and how delivered.
Don't have to send in receipts, they mail a check quarterly.  Lots of
useful coupons and discounts.  I like them.

Compass Point Travel ([e-mail]) is a full service agency that
welcomes Internet customers.

Stephanie Alford ([e-mail]) is a full service travel agent who
welcomes Internet customers.

Edward Hasbrouck (Aereo Travel Group, San Francisco)
[e-mail] around-the-world specialists; also other discounted
international tickets; NOT a general-purpose, corporate, or domestic
travel agency

The Travel Tree ([e-mail]) is a full service travel agency that welcomes
Internet customers.  They offer discount airfares and cruises.

[[ I know there are others, tell me about them and I'll add them ]]
--
John R. Levine, IECC, POB 349, Cambridge MA 02238, [phone]
[e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]
"Space aliens are stealing American jobs." - MIT econ professor