Travelport GDS (Global Distribution System) provides access to a wide range of travel-related services, including flights, hotels, car rentals, and more. Businesses that want to integrate Travelport's API into their travel platforms need to go through a structured process. Below is a comprehensive step by step guide to obtaining and integrating Travelport GDS API.

Before proceeding, it's important to understand what Travelport GDS offers and how its APIs work.

What is Travelport GDS?

Travelport is a global travel technology company that provides GDS services through three main platforms: 

• Galileo: One of the largest GDS systems
• Apollo: Used mainly in North America
• Worldspan: Focused on automation and efficiency

Types of APIs Offered by Travelport

Travelport provides Universal API (uAPI), which allows access to multiple services, including: 

• Flight API: For searching, pricing, and booking flights
• Hotel API: For searching and booking hotels
• Car API: For renting cars and managing reservations
• Rail API: For rail ticket booking
  
  

Explore Travelport APIs at: Travelport Developer Portal

Travelport does not provide open API access. You need to contact Travelport and register your business.

Steps to Register: 

1. Visit the Travelport Website:
2. • Go to Travelport Contact Page
   • Select "API Integration Request" from the form
3. Submit Business Information:
4. • Business Name
   • Website URL
   • Country of Operation
   • Type of Business (B2B, OTA, Travel Agency, Startup)
   • IATA/Non-IATA Status
   • Expected API Usage (Flights, Hotels, Cars)
5. Speak to a Travelport Representative:
6. • A Travelport region sales representative will contact you for further discussions
   • You may need to sign an agreement based on your API usage

After approval, Travelport will provide the following credentials: 

• PCC ID
• Universal API Key
• Target Branch Code (unique for each business)
• Login Credentials (User ID & Password)
• Access to Travelport UAT (Sandbox Environment)

Possible Costs Involved: 

• Travelport may charge licensing fees based on your business model
• Some businesses may qualify for free access through partnerships

1. Choose Your Integration Method: 

Travelport APIs mainly use SOAP/XML, but some endpoints support REST APIs.

2. Download API Documentation & SDKs: 

• Get detailed API documentation from the Travelport Developer Portal
• Download Travelport SDKs and code samples

3. Use the UAT (Sandbox) Environment: 

• The Test Environment (UAT) allows you to test API responses before going live
• You can make trial bookings and understand API behavior

IATA Accreditation (For direct ticketing)

• If you want to issue tickets directly, you need IATA accreditation
• Apply through IATA Website

Non-IATA Agencies (Third-Party Ticketing)

• If you don’t have IATA, you can partner with a Travelport licensed IATA agency

Travelport allows hosted agency models

1. Implement Authentication (Login API)

2. Implement Core API Functionalities

• Flight Search API: Search for available flights
• Booking API: Make and confirm bookings
• Pricing API: Get real-time pricing updates
• PNR Management API: Modify or cancel bookings
• Payment Gateway Integration: Connect with a payment processor

3. Use Travelport Support Resources

• Access Travelport’s online developer community
• Use Travelport Support Services for troubleshooting

1. Test API Responses in UAT

• Verify flight search, booking, and payment functionalities
• Check for error handling & response time optimization

2. Implement Logging and Monitoring

• Use real-time monitoring tools to track API performance
• Set up alerts for API downtime

3. Security Testing

• Secure API access with OAuth 2.0 / Token-based authentication
• Implement encryption for payment transactions

1. Request Production API Credentials

• Once testing is complete, submit a Go Live Request to Travelport
• Travelport will review your integration and issue live API credentials

2. Deploy to Production

• Replace sandbox credentials with live credentials
• Run final test transactions before launch

3. Launch and Start Booking

• Open the platform to customers

Begin processing real time bookings and payments

1. Get Technical Support

• Access Travelport’s Technical Support Team
• Join the Travelport Developer Forum

2. Optimize API Performance

• Reduce API response times
• Improve caching mechanisms for faster searches

3. Regularly Update API Integrations

• Travelport updates its API structure periodically
• Ensure your system remains compatible with new API versions

✔Ensure your company is legally registered and has a valid Tax ID, Business License

✔If you are an IATA accredited travel agency, you have a higher chance of approval.

✔ If you are not an IATA certified agency, partner with an IATA agent for ticketing.
✔ Use Travelport's B2B Wallet for secure payments.
✔ Consider integrating other travel APIs (e.g., hotel, car rental, ancillary services).

✔ Strengthen Your Application with a Clear Business Plan

• Your business model (B2B, OTA, corporate travel etc.)
• Target market (domestic, international, niche segments)
• Expected monthly booking volume (number of transactions).
• Technology & development team capabilities (to prove you can handle API integration).
• How you will use the API

✔ Use caching (Redis or MongoDB) to store search results for a short period.

✔ Batch API requests when possible to reduce latency.

✔ Set rate limits to avoid exceeding Travelport API quota.

✔ OAuth2 Authentication: Use secure access tokens.

✔ IP Whitelisting: Restrict API access to trusted sources.

✔ Data Encryption: Encrypt PNR details and payment transactions.

✔ Instead of polling Travelport API frequently, set up webhooks to get instant updates on: 

• Flight status changes
• PNR modifications
• Payment success/failure

✔Plan your API integration in phases to avoid delays

✔ Ensure your technical team understands API error codes (400, 401, 500).

✔ Provide customer support staff with PNR retrieval & modification training.

✔ Get Dedicated Support from Travelport

• A dedicated Travelport account manager for priority support.

• Access to API documentation & sandbox for smooth integration.

• Training sessions for your team on API best practices.

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