Computer reservations systems

Did you ever ask yourself why airfares vary so much from one customer to another? Or how it is that these fares are established around the world?


The answer is Computer Reservation Systems (CRS).


Those systems allow you to stock and retrieve information and perform transactions on air travel. Airline companies initially designed them for their own use, then travel agencies began using them and they are now linked to major travel search engines on the web, with direct access to the customer. The systems now go beyond simple airline reservations to give access to hotel booking and rental cars.


The major CRS are: Amadeus, Sabre, Galileo or Worldspan.


What really amazed me is the degree of price discrimination on air fares. Depending on when you book your ticket, how long you are staying, or what class you select, individual fares for the same flight can cost nearly 10 times more than those of other passengers.


Check out this table extracted from Wikipedia. The range of prices for the same flight vary widely.

Listing of available fares on Delta Airlines (DL) from SFO to BOS as of 10/6/2010