EmiratesCPH From Denmark, joined Feb 2006, 86 posts, RR: 0 Posted (5 years 10 months 2 weeks 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 9042 times:
Dear co-Members,
I hope someone here can give me an advice or support.
After being with major Amadeus airlines for more than 8 years I now got a good offer/package from one of my earliere managers who now is with Galileo. I got a job as Analyst.
Actually I have accepted the offer. But some where I am not happy to leave all the Amadeus knowledge behind I am a bit worried to build up everything in a completely new system.
I always thought that Amadeus was the best/easiest CRS. Also it was more logical and much developed.
But does anyone now the difference between A and G.
What is most userfriendly?
Is there big challenge for me ahead?
Banco From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2001, 14752 posts, RR: 55 Reply 1, posted (5 years 10 months 2 weeks 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 9025 times:
If you thoroughly understand Amadeus, I don't see any reason why you wouldn't be able to transfer those skills to Galileo. There are substantial differences, but they are ultimately doing the same thing.
She's as nervous as a very small nun at a penguin shoot.
OHLHD From Finland, joined Dec 2004, 3962 posts, RR: 27 Reply 2, posted (5 years 10 months 2 weeks 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 8972 times:
I feel with you because I had to change from the very perfect Swissair ( Swiss) super systems to Amadeus.
I had the same feeling that you have now but in the end I had no other choice. I am doing well in Amadeus now ( since it is job requirement) but I miss the good old times where each and every entry made sense.
I cannot tell you anything about Galileo but I do wish you well and that you keep more of Amadeus than I kept from Swiss.
JGPH1A From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 3, posted (5 years 10 months 2 weeks 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 8948 times:
Quoting OHLHD (Reply 2): I feel with you because I had to change from the very perfect Swissair ( Swiss) super systems to Amadeus.
Perfect for Swissair maybe - not so perfect for anyone else. Say no more !
Quoting EmiratesCPH (Thread starter): After being with major Amadeus airlines for more than 8 years I now got a good offer/package from one of my earliere managers who now is with Galileo. I got a job as Analyst.
Quoting EmiratesCPH (Thread starter): But does anyone now the difference between A and G.
What is most userfriendly?
Is there big challenge for me ahead?
Of course both are industry compliant res systems and so offer a lot of the same baseline features, but Amadeus is much more parameter and business-rule driven, and so much more customisable for each agency or airline that uses it. Of course Galileo is not an airline hosting solution, it is purely for travel agents, and loses some of the benefits that come from agents and airlines sharing the same system.
I haven't worked on 1G for years, so I don't know much about recent developments, but I know that as a GDS they are losing market share left right and centre, in virtually every market - the upcoming "merger" with Worldspan is not helping the situation, as nobody know for sure which core system(s) will be retained (although for sure once UA migrates to Amadeus, Apollo is for the chop) - maybe they'll keep a two-core solution, with 1G for some markets and 1P for others, who knows. Whatever happens, don't expect a great deal of investment in the 1G/1P core products, one hears that the venture capitalists who bought them regard them as "mature" businesses with little scope for growth.
In terms of useability, I prefer Amadeus - even in cryptic, the commands are logical, and you have more flexibility with what you can do (e.g pricing and ticketing different segments of the same PNR seperately). Farequote is reputedly much more accurate (if you go by ADM numbers), so is availability and segment sell (way more last-seat availability and real-time sell links than 1G). Ticketing is ticketing pretty much, but 1A is certified in about 2x as many BSP's as 1G, plus we have implemented ticketing in non-BSP markets for specific carriers.
Overall 1A is more fully industry compliant, which makes working with airlines easier - we actually make money, and so have a budget specifically for industry and government mandates, and we work closely with IATA and governments on what the standards should be, so we don't just have to be reactive.
It's a shame you couldn't get a job with 1A, given your experience - did you just try the local ACO or did you try Nice as well ? Recruiting is tricky at the moment, but I know there are job openings. Send me an email, maybe I can forward you some details, depending on what you're after.
You might do at the moment, but the airlines are screaming about the sector charges all the GDS's impose, and many of them are now looking to bypass the GDS altogether for their trade distribution by going to web based systems directly into their own inventory. BA are already given notice of their intentions. Some major changes to the business model need to happen or in five years time you'll be in the brown and nasty.
She's as nervous as a very small nun at a penguin shoot.
JGPH1A From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 5, posted (5 years 10 months 2 weeks 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 8941 times:
Quoting Banco (Reply 4): You might do at the moment, but the airlines are screaming about the sector charges all the GDS's impose, and many of them are now looking to bypass the GDS altogether for their trade distribution by going to web based systems directly into their own inventory. BA are already given notice of their intentions.
Which is exactly why, 7 years ago, we branched out into Airline IT - who do you think provides BA's Inventory for them, for example ? And QF's, and SA's and 45 other carriers already, with AF, KL, LH, UA etc moving soon ? As an IT provider (we are already the biggest in terms of passenger numbers after only 7 years), it doesn't matter how the airlines distribute the product, we still get paid - we are aware of how distribution is moving, and have been working with BA and others to provide them with the technology they need to develop these direct distribution channels. So while we have been growing GDS market share (and revenues) the market is levelling off overall, and the way forward is providing full IT hosting solutions to airlines, hotels, ferries, cruise companies, railway operators etc.
Banco From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2001, 14752 posts, RR: 55 Reply 6, posted (5 years 10 months 2 weeks 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 8937 times:
Quoting JGPH1A (Reply 5): do you think provides BA's Inventory for them, for example ?
You think I don't know about that? With my background? For shame!
Nevertheless, branching out is one thing, but losing the vast revenue streams already in place is another. If the airlines all do start to dump the GDS's then group revenue is going to plummet, irrespective of what else is being done. Yet those charges don't seem to show any sign at all of coming to more reasonable levels, and the airlines are doing their collective nuts.
She's as nervous as a very small nun at a penguin shoot.
JGPH1A From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 7, posted (5 years 10 months 2 weeks 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 8932 times:
Quoting Banco (Reply 6): Nevertheless, branching out is one thing, but losing the vast revenue streams already in place is another. If the airlines all do start to dump the GDS's then group revenue is going to plummet, irrespective of what else is being done. Yet those charges don't seem to show any sign at all of coming to more reasonable levels, and the airlines are doing their collective nuts.
It's more than just branching out, it is an effort to replace the distribution revenue stream with something else, and so far it's doing very well. We have loosened the dependency we had on GDS revenues and widened our appeal, as it were - I won't put the figures on here, but it's paying handsome dividends, and in the meantime the GDS industry has not collapsed (despite dire predictions) and the airlines continue to do their collective nuts as they have done ever since they (collectively) invented and founded the GDS industry 20 years ago. We still have minority ownership held by three major airlines (one in each alliance).
I don't know what plans exist (if any) for changes to distibution charging - I know 3 years ago we radically revised our GDS pricing mix which benefitted most carriers somewhat, but no doubt the marketplace will work its magic. Regardless of the wonders of the web and the new technology available for direct distribution (most of which is provided by the GDS's, btw), the travel agent is still around in a modified form - and they are far less dependent on airline largesse for their living, too, thanks to zero commissions, and therefore getting quite demanding in terms of content, fares discounts, nego fares etc - and they still sell the majority of most full-service carrier tickets, this is a fact of life and will remain so for some time I think.
Quoting Banco (Reply 6): You think I don't know about that? With my background? For shame!
Well then with your background you should know how the relationship works (and who pays what to whom), and that as far as BA is concerned, 1A is not just a GDS any more.
Banco From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2001, 14752 posts, RR: 55 Reply 8, posted (5 years 10 months 2 weeks 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 8928 times:
Quoting JGPH1A (Reply 7): the travel agent is still around in a modified form - and they are far less dependent on airline largesse for their living, too, thanks to zero commissions, and therefore getting quite demanding in terms of content, fares discounts, nego fares etc - and they still sell the majority of most full-service carrier tickets, this is a fact of life and will remain so for some time I think.
They aren't talking about chopping the agent. They're talking about encouraging the agents to link through to their sites and bypassing the CRS altogether. More than that, the big ones are looking at forcing the trade down this route with a view to pulling out of the public GDS's altogether in the medium term (or at least forcing them to do what they want instead).
Quoting JGPH1A (Reply 7): Well then with your background you should know how the relationship works (and who pays what to whom), that as far as BA is concerned, 1A is not just a GDS any more.
And you should know that BA is extremely pissed off at what Amadeus charge them for their distribution. The fact that Amadeus does more than that now is beside the point.
She's as nervous as a very small nun at a penguin shoot.
JGPH1A From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 9, posted (5 years 10 months 2 weeks 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 8924 times:
Quoting Banco (Reply 8): They aren't talking about chopping the agent. They're talking about encouraging the agents to link through to their sites and bypassing the CRS altogether. More than that, the big ones are looking at forcing the trade down this route with a view to pulling out of the public GDS's altogether in the medium term (or at least forcing them to do what they want instead).
I know that - B2T is not a new phenomenon, and no doubt the GDS industry as a whole will have to react. 1A is rather better placed than most, in that we can offer real value as a distribution partner that others perhaps cannot, and that is truly global coverage - we are present in more markets than McDonalds or the Catholic Church. Now the question as to how much value GDS's can continue to offer has yet to work itself out, but I'm guessing that GDS's will be around for some time as one of a number of distribution channels available to an airline. The idea though is for Amadeus to become "channel agnostic" for our IT airlines, and offer them the technology to distribute however they want.
As far as "encouraging" agents, we'll have to see how that works out - BA's relationship with UK travel agents is frosty at best, as BA introduced the reduced commissions regime in the first place. Agents want to be able to find and book as much content as possible through a single channel - that's how they get incentives from the GDS's, and so switching to multiple different channels for each airline complicates their processes, throws spanners in their back-office systems and doesn't offer them any extra money.
I don't know the in's and out's of BA's distribution relationship with 1A, but as we are not the biggest GDS in the UK (1G is), no doubt their beef is with other GDS's as well. BA have full control over their distribution within Amadeus (as does any participating carrier), and can control absolutely what products are made available to what agencies and markets (I know, I helped set it up) - what the contractual arrangements are however, I don't know.
Banco From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2001, 14752 posts, RR: 55 Reply 10, posted (5 years 10 months 2 weeks 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 8919 times:
Quoting JGPH1A (Reply 9): we are present in more markets than McDonalds
On your travels on behalf of the company, you've been checking, haven't you?
Quoting JGPH1A (Reply 9): BA's relationship with UK travel agents is frosty at best, as BA introduced the reduced commissions regime in the first place. Agents want to be able to find and book as much content as possible through a single channel - that's how they get incentives from the GDS's, and so switching to multiple different channels for each airline complicates their processes, throws spanners in their back-office systems and doesn't offer them any extra money.
Nope. That's not how you do it. You do it by targeting the seat only operators from whom the agents will look to purchase in the first place. They will certainly hook up with them for the discounted price structure (whilst at the same time retaining their GDS links) that the airline would look to incentivise them on, thus there is the extra money. It works on the cheapest fares, and those are the ones they would be most interested in. That's not the end of the process, not even (lights cigar) the beginning of the end, but perhaps, the end of the beginning....Rather good that, I must spread the word.
And it's not just BA driving this. The franchises and independent carriers are all urgently looking at the feasibility of it.
She's as nervous as a very small nun at a penguin shoot.
Captaink From Mexico, joined exactly 12 years ago today! , 5093 posts, RR: 13 Reply 12, posted (5 years 10 months 2 weeks 4 days 9 hours ago) and read 8887 times:
Quoting Cragley (Reply 11): Having used Sabre, Galileo and Amadeus I would say that Amadeus is by far the most accurate.
I feel more comfortable in Sabre, but it is what I have used for almost my entire airline career. Very little do I know about Amadeus. I think it is like speaking you native tongue and another.
I have used Shares a little and Gabriel extensively but Sabre still remains my favourite.
JGPH1A From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 13, posted (5 years 10 months 2 weeks 4 days ago) and read 8871 times:
Quoting Banco (Reply 10): Nope. That's not how you do it. You do it by targeting the seat only operators from whom the agents will look to purchase in the first place. They will certainly hook up with them for the discounted price structure (whilst at the same time retaining their GDS links) that the airline would look to incentivise them on, thus there is the extra money. It works on the cheapest fares, and those are the ones they would be most interested in. That's not the end of the process, not even (lights cigar) the beginning of the end, but perhaps, the end of the beginning....Rather good that, I must spread the word.
That's just cannibalizing your direct web distribution anyway, if you're only targetting distressed inventory and IT/BT farmed out to the consolidators. The tickets you want your travel agents and business travel consultants to be selling are full Y, WTP and Club, and these will still be through the GDS channel most likely - ie. corporate travellers booking via company travel portal, or the global retireds with money to burn.
But you just keep your finger poised on the GDS Seek And Destroy button, and stroke your white cat - we get paid per PB anyway
Banco From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2001, 14752 posts, RR: 55 Reply 14, posted (5 years 10 months 2 weeks 4 days ago) and read 8868 times:
Quoting JGPH1A (Reply 13): if you're only targetting distressed inventory and IT/BT farmed out to the consolidators
IT/BT? Blimey, those were the days!! That's long gone.
And no, not only distressed inventory at all. As I say, that's the start of it. But don't worry, you just sit quietly counting your money and thinking how marvellous all those multi-dollar sector rates are. Nothing will happen, the airlines love you dearly and wouldn't dream of thinking of a way to chop you out.
She's as nervous as a very small nun at a penguin shoot.
JGPH1A From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 15, posted (5 years 10 months 2 weeks 4 days ago) and read 8866 times:
Quoting Banco (Reply 14): But don't worry, you just sit quietly counting your money and thinking how marvellous all those multi-dollar sector rates are. Nothing will happen, the airlines love you dearly and wouldn't dream of thinking of a way to chop you out.
Don't worry, some of the most fiendish minds in Europe are thinking up new and cunnings ways to "add value" ! We'll get you, my pretty, and your little franchises too - EEEEhehehehehe !!!
(poses dramatically by window as winged monkeys account managers swarm from the ramparts)
Sponsor Message: 
From Denmark, joined Feb 2006, 86 posts, 
From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2001, 14752 posts, 
From Finland, joined Dec 2004, 3962 posts, 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
No argument here.
From Australia, joined Jul 2004, 426 posts, 
From Mexico, joined exactly 12 years ago today! 
, 5093 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
