Independent Traveling

Information technology is revolutionizing the travel industry. Airlines __0__ trying to cut their sales and distribution costs. They are doing this by bypassing travel agencies and selling direct __31__ companies or the individual business traveler and keeping the seller’s commission. Anyone with a personal computer or laptop __32__ access airline computer reservation systems to plan or book trips. The result __33__ that dozens of airlines, hotel groups, car rental firms and rail operators are laying out their wares in cyberspace with websites on the internet. __34__ we are starting to see is agentless reservations systems and “ticketless travel”. This means that what you get is a computer code number, but nothing __35__ paper.

Curiously, the travel agencies - __36__ least the forward looking ones – are among those leading the revolution. They used to act __37__ agents for the airlines. However, with those services __38__ longer in such demand, they are now acting for the traveler instead. A good agency offers what it calls a “yield management system” for its clients in the form __39__ “robotics” programs. These search the airline computer reservation systems for the lowest available fare, __40__ into account the travel policy of the company, arrangements with certain airlines and travelers’ needs.