This section introduces an optional element to the standard booking request, invoking a transaction “session”. This allows for a maximum of 15 minutes during which details of the reservation or associated travel plans can be confirmed before the transaction must be either committed or ignored. During this 15 minute period, rates and availability are frozen as quoted.
Not all CRSs support session control.
Example Session Booking request:
<HotelMLxmlns="http://www.xpegs.com/v2001Q3/HotelML"><Head><ProcessDataPath="/HotelML/Form/BookReservation"Function="TI_BookReservationV1_1"Token="1259152768726"/><RouteDestination="00"Source="XX"/></Head><Form><BookReservationCurrencyCode="EUR"GuaranteeMethod="CreditCard"GuaranteeType="Guarantee"InDate="2013-12-10"OutDate="2013-12-12"PropertyCode="XM;0905"RatePlanCode="RAC"RoomRate="300.00"RoomTypeCode="B1D"Session="New"><AgentInfoCountryCode="GB"Number="12345678"Type="IATA"/><CreditCardExpirationDate="2015-12"IssuedName="RateGain Test"Number="4321432143214327"TypeIdentifier="VI"/><GuestFirstName="RateGain"LastName="Test"NumberOfAdults="1"NumberOfRooms="1"Primary="true"Remarks="This is a test booking"ServiceRequest="This is a test booking"><EmailAddress="[email protected]"/><PhoneNumber="0203948890"/><PostalAddressCity="London"CountryCode="GB"Line1="2 Kew Bridge Rd"PostalCode="TW8 0JF"/></Guest></BookReservation></Form></HotelML>
Session Booking response:
The SessionID="UD74f42:12480994074:-7e10a6c" value is confirmation that the rate/room has been “placed in session”. This value must be echoed back as a part of the Ignore or Commit transaction, ending the session.
Example BookReservation Ignore Session request:
This transaction indicates the booking held in the session is to be ignored and returned to inventory.
The Action="Ignore” will instruct the CRS to ignore the “booking request and return the rooms to common inventory.
Even though there is a built-in session timer of 15 minutes, the best practice is for the distributor to end the transaction by either sending a Commit request or an Ignore request.
Example BookReservation Ignore Session response:
The Hotel has not returned a confirmation number, therefore, there is no active booking.
Example BookReservation Confirm Session request:
The Action =” Commit” will instruct the CRS to complete the booking process and return a confirmation number.
Confirm Session response:
The Hotel has returned a confirmation number of 0905JL9504" therefore there is now an active booking on the CRS.
<HotelML xmlns="
http://www.xpegs.com/v2001Q3/HotelML
">
<Head>
<Route Destination="XX" Source="00">
<Operation Action="Create" App="TIDispatcher" AppVer="1.12.40.2.8.1" DataPath="/HotelML" StartTime="2009- 11-25T14:22:06.842+00:00" Success="true" TotalProcessTime="671"/>
</Route>
</Head>
<Reservation BookedRate="300.00" CurrencyCode="EUR" HoldReservationTime="18:00" HotelRoomType="B1DRAC" InDate="2009-12-10" NumberOfPersons="1" OutDate="2009-12-12" PropertyCode="XM;0905" RateGuaranteed="true" RatePlanCode="RAC" RoomTypeCode="B1D" TaxInformation="NATIONAL TAXES ON ACCOMMODATION 2.00 EUR" Token="1259152768726">
<CancelPolicy Description="NO CANCELLATION CHARGE UNTIL DAY OF ARRIVAL, 18:00. THEREAFTER: HOTEL WILL CHARGE THE FIRST NIGHT."/>
<GuaranteePolicy Description="GUESTS ARRIVING AFTER 18:00 LOCAL TIME MUST PROVID E A GUARANTEE."/>
<Guest FirstName="RateGain" LastName="Test" NumberOfAdults="1" NumberOfRooms="1" Primary="true" Remarks="This is a test booking" ServiceRequest="This is a test booking">
<Email Address="
[email protected]"/>
<Phone Number="0203948890"/>
<PostalAddress City="London" CountryCode="GB" Line1="2 Kew Bridge Rd" PostalCode="TW8 0JF"/>
</Guest>
</Reservation>
</HotelML>
