Travel Glossary
Travel terms, especially travel tech terms, can get complex fast. What is NDC? GDS? PNR? Alphabet soup, anyone? Here’s our take on travel technology industry terms to help everyone from the new travel professional to the seasoned executive.
What is Artificial Intelligence?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) encompasses a range of technologies that enable computers to perform a wide array of advanced tasks, from basic machine learning to deep learning, reinforcement learning, generative AI, and agentic AI. These tasks include the ability to perceive the environment, comprehend, and translate spoken and written language, analyze data, provide recommendations and take actions.
What is NDC?
New Distribution Capability (NDC) is a set of technical standards developed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to bring new retailing capabilities to the travel industry and travel distribution. The technology’s primary goal is to provide a transparent and dynamic way of distributing and selling airline products. This allows the airlines to improve the shopping experience by offering more tailored and relevant offers to travelers.
What is a Passenger Name Record (PNR)?
A Passenger Name Record (PNR), appears on a boarding pass or travel itinerary as a short code of letters and numbers that is also known as a reservation code or record locator. It is a unique identifier that travel providers and travel agents use to manage personal and travel booking information for a single trip. A PNR makes life easy for travelers and the travel companies serving them on their trip, from airlines to hotels to tour operators and more. It is an essential tool for the coordination and management of travel bookings that ensures all relevant details such as flight segments, hotel reservations, car rentals, and special requests are accurately recorded and easily accessible to both travelers and service providers alike.
What is a Frequent Flyer Number?
Despite its name, frequent flyer numbers are for everyone, not just road warriors or people who fly multiple times a year. Many airlines have loyalty programs that award their customers with miles that can be redeemed for future travel or other products and services. A frequent flyer number is an identification number assigned to customers who enroll in an airline's frequent flyer or loyalty program. This allows airlines to track a passenger's travel activity and reward them with perks and benefits based on the miles they travel or earn with the airline.
What is Cloud technology in the travel industry?
Cloud computing is revolutionizing the travel industry by enabling companies to deliver seamless, scalable, and personalized services across the globe. Instead of investing in and maintaining physical infrastructure, travel businesses—from airlines to hotel chains and online travel agencies—can rely on computing resources from cloud technologies, allowing them to scale operations up or down based on demand.
What are Biometrics?
Biometrics is a technology that provides proof of identity by scanning and measuring an individual's unique physiological or behavioral characteristics, and then typically comparing this with the biometric information being previously digitally enrolled. It enables travelers to use their face as ID at various touchpoints across their journeys, providing a seamless end‑to‑end passenger experience.
What is a Global Distribution System (GDS)?
A Global Distribution System is a technical intermediary between buyers and sellers of travel content. It connects travel service providers, such as airlines, hotels, car rental companies, cruise lines, rail companies and more, with travel agencies and other types of travel sellers. A GDS allows travel sellers to access and book the schedules, availability and fares of multiple travel providers through one source and for the travel providers to reach a global customer base.
What is an Airport Operational Database (AODB)?
An Airport Operational Database (AODB) is the airport’s digital brain—centralizing and managing data like flight schedules, gate assignments, and baggage routing to ensure seamless operations. It functions as the airport’s central nervous system, enabling real‑time coordination and efficiency across all departments.
What is Common Use Self Service: CUSS
CUSS (Common Use Self Service) is a shared technology that lets multiple airlines offer check‑in and baggage tag printing from the same airport kiosk. It streamlines operations, reduces hardware needs, and makes the travel experience smoother for everyone.
What is an Automated Border Control?
Automated Border Control (ABC) uses biometric verification and smart technologies to streamline traveller identity checks. By combining document authentication, real‑time database matching, and self‑service tools, ABC helps border authorities deliver faster, more secure, and seamless processing at airports, seaports, and land crossings worldwide.