ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on several primary distribution channels the airlines use to disseminate their flight schedule, seat availability and fare information to prospective customers and, if they are successful in making a sale, accepting payment and getting a ticket into the hands of the customer. The airline reservations agent would note the transaction with a written reservation slip or notebook and the reservation would be posted to large boards for all to see. In 1929, an organization publishing railroad schedules began publishing a list of flights offered by airlines. Many times, manually constructing complicated linear-type itineraries required agents to make phone calls to multiple airline reservations offices. Airlines liked the idea of not having to burden their bottom lines with the extensive overhead that would be needed to build and operate more airline offices. Travel agents soon grew to be the predominant distribution method. The host airlines added another revenue source by selling co-host status to airlines.
