New Air Rule

The Add a Rule page allows Content Optimizer users to create rules that affect the shopping query results. Rules are tied to a PCC/SID and apply to all users within that PCC/SID.

Note: Required fields are indicated by a red asterisk *

  1. From the Rules tab, click the New Rule button to display the Select a Rule to Create dialog.

  2. From the Rule Type list, select the type of rule to be added. Refer to Air Rule Types for an explanation of each type of rule.

  3. Set up the rule on the following screen by filling out the following fields:

    • Rule Name Only Alpha Numeric characters, spaces and commas are allowed, and can not be greater than 25 in length.

    • Campaign Name (Optional) Only Alpha Numeric and certain characters (-,:()'.+&) are allowed and can not be greater than 25 in length.

    • Description (Optional). Only Alpha Numeric and certain characters (-,:()'.+&) are allowed and can not be greater than 100 in length.

    • Complete the fields associated with the option chosen.

      Multi-Function rules

      This rule prevents fares from being returned in shop, pricing, or fare display results.

      1. Select the Exclude criteria from the drop-down list. The options change based on the selection

      2. Exclude criteria Options
        Fare basis codes

        This type of rule prevents results by restricting specific fare basis codes or fare families. Ticket designators can also be specified.

        Enter up to 15 fare basis codes separated by a comma. Separate optional ticket designator with a /. Wildcards are allowed. Optionally, enter Tariff and Rule codes. Tariff code must contain 3-4 alphanumerics. Rules must contain 4 alphanumerics. Ticket designators can also be specified.

        Optionally, select Apply only to specific flight(s). A rule can selectively be applied to specific flight numbers and flight number ranges.

        Optionally, in the Geography area, you can exclude directional fares when a fare is being excluded in both directions, when Both ways is selected. This ensures that a fare being excluded will only be excluded for the proper direction.

        Note: NDC does not support Tariff and/or rule and Industry fare type options

        Fare basis and booking codes

        This prevents results by restricting specific fare basis codes or fare families. You can also restrict up to ten specific booking codes, separated by a comma, at the same time. Wildcards are allowed for fare basis codes, but not allowed for booking codes. Separate optional ticket designator with a /.

        • Optionally, enter Tariff and Rule codes. Tariff code must contain 3-4 alphanumerics. Rules must contain 4 alphanumerics A rule can selectively be applied to specific flight numbers and flight number ranges on the Target and Schedule screen.

        • Optionally, select Apply only to specific flight(s). A rule can selectively be applied to specific flight numbers and flight number ranges.
        Booking Codes

        This type of rule prevents results by restricting up to ten specific booking codes, separated by a comma. Wildcards are not allowed.

        • Optionally, enter Tariff and Rule codes. Tariff code must contain 3-4 alphanumerics. Rules must contain 4 alphanumerics. A rule can selectively be applied to specific flight numbers and flight number ranges on the Target and Schedule screen. This rule can selectively be applied to the origin and destination of either the entire trip or segments within a trip.

        • Optionally, select Apply only to specific flight(s). A rule can selectively be applied to specific flight numbers and flight number ranges.

        Another optional flight specification applies geography matching.

        • (Default) The Match origin and destination of the trip option matches on either direct or connecting flights that make up the origin/destination of the itinerary.

        • The Match origin and destination of a sector option matches a sector/segment within an itinerary. If this option is selected, you have the option to choose the flight type.

          • When Non-stop flights is selected, if the geographies specified were country US to country DE, then an itinerary JFK-MUC would match the rule, but JFK-FRA-MUC or ATL-IAD-FRA would not match the rule.

          • When Connections is selected, if the geographies specified were country US to country DE, then an itinerary JFK-MUC would NOT match the rule, but JFK-FRA-MUC or ATL-IAD-FRA would match the rule.

          • When both Non-stop flights and Connections are selected, if the geographies specified were country US to country DE, then JFK-MUC, JFK-FRA-MUC, and ATL-IAD-FRA would all match the rule.

        • Note: When the inhibit criteria matches the booking code, and either non-stop, connections, or both are selected for Match origin and destination of a sector, incidental or un-ticketed stops are not considered and ignored.

          For example, if the rule’s specified geography is airport AMS to airport CGK, and the flight's routing is AMS-KUL-CGK (where the stop in KUL carries the same flight number all the way through from AMS-KUL-CGK), then the rule is applied as a match from AMS-CGK. The incidental stop in KUL is ignored.
        Cabin

        This prevents fares from being returned by restricting a specific type of aircraft cabin. Select a cabin type from the drop-down menu.

        • Premium First

        • First

        • Premium Business

        • Business

        • Premium Economy

        • Economy

        A rule can selectively be applied to specific flight numbers and flight number ranges on the Target and Schedule screen.

        Optionally, select Apply only to specific flight(s). A rule can selectively be applied to specific flight numbers and flight number ranges.
        Tariff and/or Rule

        This type of rule prevents results by restricting specific fare tariffs and/or fare rule numbers.

        Enter Tariff and optionally Rule codes. Tariff code must contain 3-4 alphanumerics. Rules must contain 4 alphanumerics. Wildcards are not allowed.

        Note: NDC does not support Tariff and/or Rule function.
        Fares - public/private

        This type of rule prevents fares by restricting a specific type of fare. Select one of the options from Step C.

        Notes: There are a variety of ways to use this rule.

        • The most common is to restrict Airline Private and/or Agency Private fares. Airline Private fares can be restricted through a variety of configurations for Net and Selling types of fares. There are also numerous options for restricting via account codes.

        • Agency Private fares can also be restricted through a variety of configurations for Net and Selling types of fares. The user has numerous options for restricting.

        • NDC does not support Fares - Public/Private
        Industry fare type

        This prevents fares by restricting a specific type of fare.

        Enter up to 10 Industry Fare Types separated by a comma. Example: EU, PRO, SIP

        Note: NDC does not support Industry fare type options

      3. Select options from Public/private fares.

        • All fares Select this option to include all fares in the exclusion criteria. All other options are not selectable.

        • Public Select this option to include all public fares in the exclusion criteria.

        • Airline private Select this option to include airline private fares in the exclusion criteria.

          • Both Net and Selling (not supported for NDC content)

          • Net Only (not supported for NDC content)

          • Selling Only

            Select the Account code application based on your selection:

            • Exclude only fares without account codes

            • Exclude all fares with or without account codes

              • Exclude fares without account codes, and also exclude the specified account code(s). Enter up to 3 account codes separated by a comma in the following text box.
                Note: This option is not supported by NDC.

            • Exclude all fares with or without account codes, except the specified account codes. Enter up to 3 account codes separated by a comma in the following text box.
              Note: This option is not supported by NDC.

            • Exclude only fares with the specified account codes. Enter up to 3 account codes separated by a comma in the following text box.
              Note: This option is not supported by NDC.

        • Agency private

          Note: Agency private fares option is not supported by NDC.

          • Both net and selling

          • Net Only

          • Selling Only

            Enter the account code application

            • Exclude only fares without account codes

            • Exclude all fares with or without account codes

            • Exclude fares without account codes, and also exclude the specified account code(s). Enter up to 3 account codes separated by a comma in the following text box.

            • Exclude all fares with or without account codes, except the specified account codes. Enter up to 3 account codes separated by a comma in the following text box.

            • Exclude only fares with the specified account codes. Enter up to 3 account codes separated by a comma in the following text box.

            • Exclude fares from the specified supplier code(s). Enter the supplier code(s) in the following text box.

            • Exclude all fares, except those from the specified supplier code(s). Enter the supplier code(s) in the following text box.

      4. Enter one or more airlines codes for the rule in the Airlines text box.

      5. Rule application Select one or more applications of the rule. Some options may already be selected based on the rule type and content. For example, if Industry Fare Type is selected, both Fare Search and Fare Quote Rule application settings are pre-checked and cannot be unchecked, and only Fare Display is selectable.

        • Fare search/shop

        • Fare quote/pricing

        • Fare display

        • Sell

        • Availability

          • Inhibit availability

          • Zero availability

      6. Select Content application:

        • Traditional

        • NDC

        • The default setting is Traditional.

          • If NDC is selected, the rule is only be applied to those airlines from which the customer is authorized to receive NDC content. Customers should work with their account managers to be authorized to receive NDC content.

          • If Both is selected, the rule applies to both Traditional and NDC content.

      7. Optionally, select Apply only to specific flights to display the specific flight or range field, and enter the flight number or range or flight numbers in the text box. For example: 1234, 4567, 4568, 4568-4699, 4672-4678

      8. Optionally, in the Geography area, you can exclude directional fares when a fare is being excluded in both directions. This ensures that a fare being excluded will only be excluded for the proper direction. Initially, this only applies to fares being excluded by fare basis code.

      This rule excludes a specific airline flight or flight range from shop, availability, and sell.

      1. Enter the flight number or range or flight numbers in the text box. For example: 1234, 4567, 4568, 4568-4699, 4672-4678

      2. Enter the airlines this rule is applied to in the text box.

      3. Rule application Select one or more applications of the rule. Some options may already be selected based on the rule type and content.

        • Fare search/shop

        • Sell

        • Availability

      4. Select Content application:

        • Traditional

        • NDC

        • Both

          The default setting is Traditional.

          • If NDC is selected, the rule is only be applied to those airlines from which the customer is authorized to receive NDC content. Customers should work with their account managers to be authorized to receive NDC content.

          • If Both is selected, the rule applies to both Traditional and NDC content.

      This rule restricts specified airlines from shop, fare, quote, fare display, availability, and sell results, regardless whether it is the marketing or operating airline.

      1. Enter one or more airlines codes for the rule in the Airlines text box.

      2. Rule application Select one or more applications of the rule. Some options may already be selected based on the rule type and content.

        • Fare search/shop

        • Fare quote/pricing

        • Fare display

        • Sell

        • Availability

      3. Select Content application:

        • Traditional

        • NDC

        • Both

          The default setting is Traditional.

          • If NDC is selected, the rule is only be applied to those airlines from which the customer is authorized to receive NDC content. Customers should work with their account managers to be authorized to receive NDC content.

          • If Both is selected, the rule applies to both Traditional and NDC content.

      This rule excludes either the specified marketing only or codeshare combinations from shopping, availability results, and sell transactions.

      1. Enter the airline name or code in the Marketing field.

      2. Optionally enter the airline name or code in the Operating (airline) field for the airline in the associated Marketing field.

      3. Optionally, click Add airlines to add additional airlines to the rule. Up to 10 combinations can be entered.

        Marketing Airline Operating Carrier Result

        XX

        XX

        This setting will inhibit only those flights that are both marketed and operated by airline XX. It will not inhibit any codeshare flights that are either only marketed or only operated by airline XX.

        XX

        YY

        This setting will inhibit only those flights that are marketed by airline XX and operated by airline YY.

        XX

        Blank/null

        All flights marketed by airline XX and operated by any airline including XX are inhibited.

        XX

        **

        This setting will inhibit flights marketed by airline XX and operated by any airline other than XX. Flights marketed and operated by XX are still shown.

        **

        XX

        This setting will inhibit flights operated by airline XX and marketed by any airline other than XX. Flights marketed and operated by XX are still shown.

         

        The following settings are not allowed:

        • Marketing Carrier = blanks

        • Both Marketing Carrier and Operating Carrier = **

        • Marketing Carrier = ** and Operating Carrier = blanks

      4. Rule application Select one or more applications of the rule. Some options may already be selected based on the rule type and content.

        • Fare search/shop

        • Sell

        • Availability

      This rule allows customers to either include or exclude the rich content, ancillary information, and optional branded fares for the airline(s) specified in the rule. This rule does not affect the presence of branded fares in fare quote or search responses. It only applies to supplementary content.

      1. Select either Include branded fares or Exclude branded fares.

      2. Add airlines in the Airlines text box to add airlines to which the rule. Up to 10 can be entered.

      3. Rule application: Select one or more applications of the rule.

        • Fare search/shop

        • Fare quote/pricing

      The Exclude Fares by Brand Name rule expands the ability of Content Optimizer to allow agencies to influence Search responses to better suit their business needs. It allows customers to more easily restrict airlines’ fares by specifying up to ten brand names rather than having to track down fare basis codes or rule and tariff numbers.

      1. Enter up to 10 two-digit airline code in the Airlines field to more easily restrict airlines’ fares, rather than having to track down fare basis codes or rule and tariff numbers.

      2. Enter the names of the brand to exclude in the Brand names field. Enter up to 10 brand names separated by a comma. Use * as a wildcard.

        The full brand name can be entered, or wildcards can be used at the beginning or end of the text to handle multiple brands. The list of supported wild cards are:

        Restriction Wildcard Use Result
        Restrict all brand names that end with Economy *Economy Brands like Basic Economy and Premium Economy would be restricted.
        Restrict all brand names that begin with Economy Economy* Economy Plus and Economy Basic would be restricted.

        Restrict all brand names that contain ECON

        Note: Double wild cards are only processed if present at the beginning and the end, for example *ECON*. Scenarios where a wild card is in the middle of the brand name and another at the end of the brand name are not supported.

        		 *ECON* Any brand containing ECON in its name would be restricted. E.g., Basic Economy, Economy Plus, Economic, Economico.
        Restrict all brand names that begin with E and end with Y E*Y The brand Economy would be restricted.

        3. Notes:

        • The rule can be applied to Search, Fare Display, and Fare Quote.

        • The ability to apply this rule to NDC content will be in a future release.

        • For fares filed to/from cities, then the FROM and TO Geographies must also be cities. They cannot be airports.

      3. Rule application: Select one or more applications of the rule.

        • Fare search/shop

        • Fare quote/pricing

        • Fare display

      Availability rules

      This rule is used to move a airline to the top (promote) or to otherwise move it above its original position (weight promotion) within an Availability display.

      1. Enter one or more airlines codes for the rule in the Airlines text box. All airlines is the default entry.

      2. Select an option for completing the rule Where the promoted flights are:

        • Marketed and operated by the SAME airline

        • Any flight operated or marketed by the airline

        • Operated by the airline. Select the Marketing Airline options:

          • Promote the above operated airlines:

            • Only

            • Except

          • Enter up to five airline codes, separated by commas, in the When marketed by field.

        • Marketed by the airline. Select the Operating Airline options:

          • Promote the above marketed airlines:

            • Only

            • Except

          • Enter up to five airline codes, separated by commas, in the When operated by field.

            Note: Click Clear ALL to remove entries from the Operated by or Marketed by fields.

      3. Select an option from Flight category

        • All flights

        • Non-stops/directs

        • Connections

      4. Optionally, enter a value(s) in the Exclude Flight number or range field. This excludes the stipulated flight numbers from the Promote rule. Separate flight numbers by blanks or enter a dash for a range. For example, 1234, 4567, 4568, 4568-4699, 4672-4678.

      5. Optionally, enter a value in the Weight promotion field. This value adds a 'weight' bias, from 1-1439 minutes, to the selected airline. Flight departure dates will not be moved.

      6. Enter a value in the Max number of promoted solutions to limit the number of solutions returned.

      This rule is used to move a airline to the bottom (demote) or to demote below its original position (weight demotion) within an Availability display.

      1. Enter one or more airlines codes for the rule in the Airlines text box. All airlines is the default entry.

      2. Select an option for completing the rule Where the demoted flights are:

      • Any flights marketed or operated by the airline.

      • Operated by the airline. Select the Marketing Airline options:

        • Demote the above operated airlines:

          • Only

          • Except

        • Enter up to five airline codes, separated by commas, in the When marketed by field.

      • Marketed by the airline. Select the Operating Airline options:

        • Demote the above marketed airlines:

          • Only

          • Except

        • Enter up to five airline codes, separated by commas, in the When operated by field.

      • Marketed and operated by the SAME airline.

      • Marketed and operated by the DIFFERENT airline.

      1. Select an option from Flight category

        • All flights

        • Non-stops/directs

        • Connections

      2. Optionally, enter a value(s) in the Demote Flight number or range field. For example, 1234, 4567, 4568, 4568-4699, 4672-4678

      3. Optionally, enter a value in the Weight demotion field. This value adds a 'weight' bias, from 1-1439 minutes, to the selected airline. Flight departure dates will not be moved.

        Note: The Rule Override rule does not apply to the Availability Demote rule, but this order of precedence is followed:

        • Agent airline preferences on entries always take precedence over the Availability Demote rule.

        • Absent agent airline preferences on entries, the Availability Demote rule always takes precedence over Travelscreen preferences.

        • Absent airline preferences on entries and the Availability Demote rule, Travelscreen preferences are applied.

      Search / shopping rules

      This rule Improves choice and price competitiveness by returning ‘mixed cabin’ fares for journeys where airlines are specifically offering this differentiated product to travelers.

      1. Select an action from the drop-down menu:

        • Upgrade Cabin: All sectors that offer the requested cabin or higher must be booked in that cabin.

          • If a sector does not offer the requested cabin or higher, it may be booked in any cabin.

          • At least one sector of the trip must be booked in the requested cabin or higher.

        • Downgrade Cabin: Holds the significant sector to the requested cabin. Non-significant sectors can be booked in a lower cabin if the requested cabin is not available.

        • Hold to Cabin: Returns only results that are within the requested cabin. If the cabin is not available, the flight is not considered.

        • Mixed Cabin: Holds the significant sector to the requested cabin and permits lower cabins for the other sectors if the fares allow.

      2. Optionally, select the Use mileage to determine the significant sector check box. Default processing is to determine the significant sector by one of these three methods:

        • Cross IATA Area

        • Cross IATA Zone

        • Cross Countries

      3. Specify the desired airlines.

      This rule designates and ensures that an airline is represented in search results regardless of schedule or price advantage in city pairs with a large range of content.

      1. Enter the Number of results per airline (1-9). Optionally, select the check box for extra airline results when available.

      2. Enter associated Airlines for this rule. Up to 3 airlines will be processed for this rule type. When more than 3 records match, the newest rules are selected.

      This rule limits Shopping/Search requests to non-stop and stopping direct flights only.

      In the Content application area, select one of the following:

      • Traditional (default)

      • NDC

      • Both

        The default setting is Traditional.

        • If NDC is selected, the rule is only be applied to those airlines from which the customer is authorized to receive NDC content. Customers should work with their account managers to be authorized to receive NDC content.

        • If Both is selected, the rule applies to both Traditional and NDC content.

      The application of this rule results in only online solutions in the shopping results.

      In the area that states This rule will only return online connections for the airlines specified below,

      1. Enter airlines for the rule in the Airlines text box. Default is all airlines.

      2. Select one of the following:

      • Traditional (default)

      • NDC

      • Both

        The default setting is Traditional.

        • If NDC is selected, the rule is only be applied to those airlines from which the customer is authorized to receive NDC content. Customers should work with their account managers to be authorized to receive NDC content.

        • If Both is selected, the rule applies to both Traditional and NDC content.

      When a location is restricted, if that location occurs either in the shopping request or in a result as the origin, destination, or connection, the itinerary that contains that location is not returned in the shopping results. The default Airlines setting is for the rule to apply to All Airlines (**). This rule can also be applied to NDC content.

      1. Enter excluded all three-digit airport and/or city locations in the Exclude Locations field. Up to 50 city or airport codes can be restricted.

      2. Enter one or more two-digit airline codes in the Airlines field. The default Airlines setting is for the rule to apply to All Airlines (**).

      3. Select one of the following:

      • Traditional (default)

      • NDC

      • Both

        The default setting is Traditional.

        • If NDC is selected, the rule is only be applied to those airlines from which the customer is authorized to receive NDC content. Customers should work with their account managers to be authorized to receive NDC content.

        • If Both is selected, the rule applies to both Traditional and NDC content.

      This rule excludes equipment types from rule results. This rule automatically applies to all airlines and can be applied to NDC content.

      1. Enter equipment codes to exclude in the Exclude equipment codes text box. Enter up to 10 codes separated by a comma.

      2. Select one or more rule application check box(es):

        • Fare search/shop

        • Availability

      3. Select Content application:

        • Traditional

        • NDC

        • Both

          The default setting is Traditional.

          • If NDC is selected, the rule is only be applied to those airlines from which the customer is authorized to receive NDC content. Customers should work with their account managers to be authorized to receive NDC content.

          • If Both is selected, the rule applies to both Traditional and NDC content.

      This rule can exclude one or more marketing airlines from shopping results for a given time period.

      1. Optionally, enter connections. Enter 3 letter (CAPITAL) City/Airport code separated by a space up to 50 connections. If connections are entered, this rule only applies to itineraries containing the connection cities specified.

      2. Enter the amount of time from which a shopping request is made that the rule applies.

        • Select the Unit of time.

        • Enter the Value (amount) of time.

          The sliding time value is added to the PCC's local time to create the restricted travel start date/time. From when the shopping entry is made, any flight that has a departure time less than or equal to the restricted travel date/time is restricted. For example, if a rule restricts travel on airline XX with a sliding value of 2 days, flights marketed by XX that depart within 2 days or less of the time at which the shopping entry is made are restricted from the results display.

      3. Specify marketing airline(s) to exclude from a shopping response by entering the airline code in the Airline field.

      This rule splits a single search request into two or three requests on the internal processing side, allowing you to receive the lowest public, private, and Net fares.

      Note: For system performance reasons, this rule is not available to all Content Optimizer users. Customers must coordinate with their account managers to enable this rule.

      1. Select one or more check boxes to determine which fare types to return. A variety of selections can be combined, but Return lowest private or net fare can only be combined with the Public fares only option.

        • Private fares only

        • Public fares only

        • Net fares only

        • Return lowest private or net fare

      2. Select a response option:

        • Return lowest option per itinerary only:

          • This rule allows the response process to consider both Private AND Net fares in pricing process without a split.

          • This setting can also be used with Public, Private, and Net fares only, but it only returns the lowest quote per itinerary without a split, so it is inadvisable to select these options.

        • Return expanded number of results:

          • This option allows extra options to return:

            • Up to 2x the PCC’s configured number of quotes, OR

            • 120 quotes (whichever is lower) is allowed.

          • For example:

            • If the configuration allows 30 quotes and the split is for 2 types, Public and Private, then this option allows 60 quotes to return (30 public and 30 private) in the response.

            • If the configuration allows 80 quotes and split is for 2 types, this option allows 120 quotes to return (up to 80 public and 80 private to a limit of 120 total) in the response.

          • If this option is not selected, the process must hold to the PCC configuration limit.

      This rule allows you to set an upper limit, in minutes, for the entire length of time that an itinerary takes from origin to destination.

      1. Enter the time, in minutes (4 digits), that no journey should exceed:

        • Journey time includes the flight time as well as the connection times.

      2. Enter airlines for the rule in the Airlines text box. All airlines are entered by default.

        • The default Airlines setting is for the rule to apply to All Airlines (**).

      3. Select Content application:

        • Traditional

        • NDC

        • Both

          The default setting is Traditional.

          • If NDC is selected, the rule is only be applied to those airlines from which the customer is authorized to receive NDC content. Customers should work with their account managers to be authorized to receive NDC content.

          • If Both is selected, the rule applies to both Traditional and NDC content.

      This rule allows you to reduce the shopping response size while still providing diverse itineraries. The maximum number of results will not exceed the contracted e-Pricing Tier Level.

      1. Enter the desired number of itineraries that should be returned.

        • This rule can be used to reduce the standard number of itineraries.

        • You can enter a value between 1 and 300.

      This rule allows fares from airlines to be preferenced by excluding similar fares from other airlines that fall within a price and departure time range. This rule applies to Fare shop only.

      Notes:

      • Simulate how a potential Promote Preferred Fares (PPF) rule will be applied to their Search results by reviewing the Promote Preferred Fares Simulator topic.

      • Promote preferred fares:

        • Requires additional provisioning and authorization. Contact your Account Management team to participate in the Alpha-phase testing for this feature.

        • Is exclusive to Travelport+ Traditional and NDC content.

        • Rules apply to all fares. There is no differentiating between Public/Private fares.

        • Is not in scope to work with Travel Dates.

        • Does not work with Smartpoint Desktop or Terminal/Cryptic entry.

      • ONLY works with Smartpoint Cloud v3.11 and greater. In the Flight Search panel, either Traditional, NDC, or All content source option can be selected.

       

      1. Select one or more flight options for comparison on a like-for-like basis in the Cabin and Connections fields. All cabin classes and Non-Stop/Direct connections are default settings.

      2. Select the non-preferred and preferred airlines. A maximum of five can be entered for each category.

        • Use the non-preferred airline(s) field to define which airline are not preferred.

        • Use the preferred airline(s) field to define which airline(s) for which to promote fares. Airlines are based on the Marketed airline.

      3. Set fare preference conditions to promote preferred fares and define non-preferred airlines.

        • Select one or more of the airlines you added in the previous section in the Non-preferred airline(s) drop-down.

        • Select the range (amount or percentage) of the fare to compare in the when fare is drop-down list.

        • Enter a value in the between and and text boxes. Use a - prefix when typing a value for negative amounts.

        • Select the comparative airline for the non-preferred airline in the of preferred airline(s) drop-down menu.

        • Set departure time parameters with the Flight departure between numeric boxes to promote preferred fares and define non-preferred airlines. Departure time is in minutes (from -1440 to 1440).

        • You can select up to 5 non-preferred airlines and 5 preferred airlines per condition.

        • Click the delete icon to remove a condition.

        • You can add up to five conditions.

      This rule uses or excludes validating airlines based on the criteria selected within the rule.

      Note: While this rule can be setup to enforce a particular validating airline, Travelport will continue to validate and implement any Cat15 or CAT35 rules associated with a fare. However, if an airline files validating airline information as a note (and not in Category 15 or 35) then the automated validation of this rule information will not occur. It is the agent’s responsibility to check all fare rules before implementing this rule.

      1. Select the desired validating airline from the drop-down list.

      2. Select the application for determining whether to override or exclude the airline and when to apply the rule.

        • Use the validating airline to override the specified marketing airline

        • Use the validating airline when both the marketing and validating airline are part of an itinerary

        • Exclude the validating airline (No marketing airlines can be specified for this option.)

        • Exclude the validating airline when a specific marketing airline is part of an itinerary

        • Exclude the validating airline when ALL specified marketing airlines are part of an itinerary

      3. Enter up to 10 marketing airlines.
        Note: The override application, Exclude a validating airline, does not use the marketing carrier field.

      Search / shopping connection rules

      This rule restricts flight itineraries that arrive in one airport and depart from another airport.

      1. In the Bias/restrict connections area, enter a number between 1-9 in the Bias value field, with 1 being the least restrictive and 9 completely restricting multi-airport connections:

        • When a value of 9 is entered, multi-airport connections are restricted from shopping results.

        • When a value of 1 is entered, multi-airport connections have a slightly lower priority; whereas, a value of 8 greatly reduces the priority of multi-airport connections within the shopping results.

      2. Enter airlines for the rule in the Airlines text box. All airlines are entered by default.

      This rule excludes flights that contain the specified connection point(s) from the shopping results.

      Enter the connection points (city, airport, double connection, or country code) to be excluded by the rule.

      1. Enter up to 50 three-digit airport or city codes, or two-digit country codes separated by a space, to be excluded by the rule, in the Location 1 field. Optionally, specify All.

      2. Optionally, add a double-connection by adding a second location in the Location 2 field. The connections you wish to exclude in display in the Excluded connections field. For example, BKK-SYD.

      3. Enter airlines for the rule in the Airlines text box. All airlines are entered by default.

      4. Select Content application:

        • Traditional

        • NDC

        • Both

          The default setting is Traditional.

          • If NDC is selected, the rule is only be applied to those airlines from which the customer is authorized to receive NDC content. Customers should work with their account managers to be authorized to receive NDC content.

          • If Both is selected, the rule applies to both Traditional and NDC content.

      This rule:

      • Excludes the airline transfer specified from shopping results. Specify the airline or airline combinations for this rule.

      • Excludes interline itineraries of the specified airlines.

      • Can include exceptions for up to three connection airports/cities.

      • Excludes the first airline transferring to the second airline (XX-YY), as well as the second airline (YY-XX) transferring to the first airline, automatically.

      The first two fields (before the colon) are used to specify the marketing airline first then the operating airline (optional). The last two boxes (after the colon) specify the connecting marketing then operating airline.

      1. In the Airline/operating airline combinations area, which can have up to 10 combinations:

        • Enter the first marketed airline for the pair

        • Optionally, enter the operated by airline

        • Enter the second marketed airline for the pair

        • Optionally, enter the operated by airline

        • Click Add combination to add an additional airline combination

      2. In the Exclude city/airport connection(s) area, optionally, select one of the following Location type values and enter the specific Location. This area allows you to exclude connections in these cities or airports.

        • Airport

        • City

      3. Review the following table for an explanation of the settings:

        First Marketing airline First Operating airline Second Marketing airline Second Operating airline Result

        XX

        XX

        YY

        YY

        This setting will inhibit only those results with flights that are both marketed and operated by airline XX that connect with flights both marketed and operated by airline YY.

        XX

        ZZ

        YY

        WW

        This setting will inhibit only those results with flights marketed by airline XX and operated by airline ZZ that connect with flights marketed by airline YY and operated by airline WW.

        XX

        Blanks/null

        YY

        Blanks/null

        This setting will inhibit only those results with flights that are marketed by airline XX and operated by any airline that connect with flights that are marketed by airline YY and operated by any airline.

        XX

        **

        YY

        **

        This setting will inhibit only those results with flights that are marketed by airline XX and operated by any airline other than XX that connect with flights that are marketed by airline YY and operated by any airline other than YY.

        **

        XX

        **

        YY

        This setting will inhibit only those results with flights that are marketed by any airline other than XX and are operated by airline XX that connect with flights that are marketed by any airline other than YY and are operated by airline YY.

        The following settings are not allowed:

        • Marketing airline = blanks

        • Both Marketing airline and Operating airline = **

        • Marketing airline = ** and Operating airline = blanks

        Note: When the marketing and operating airline are the same, the same airline code must be entered in both fields.

      This rule restricts connections based on an amount of time between one flight and another. This rule eliminates short connection times that travelers may not want even though they meet published Minimum Connection Times. Longer connections through alternate airports may be preferred.

      Note:  Travel between the United States and its Territories rely on Minimum Connection Time (MCT) information, supplied by OAG, to suppress connections that may be in violation of U.S. Cabotage.

      1. Enter the airport location as a connection point.

      2. Enter the maximum connection time, in minutes, to restrict Fare Search/Shopping results to connecting flights whose individual connection times are equal to or less than the time entered. Allowed values between 1 and 1440. Click the Plus sign.

        Note: Time input with this rule overrides any customer table settings.

      3. Repeat steps a and b to add an additional connection point. Up to 10 connection points and connection times can be added.

      4. Select Content application:

        • Traditional

        • NDC

        • Both

          The default setting is Traditional.

          • If NDC is selected, the rule is only be applied to those airlines from which the customer is authorized to receive NDC content. Customers should work with their account managers to be authorized to receive NDC content.

          • If Both is selected, the rule applies to both Traditional and NDC content.

      This rule restricts Search solutions based on the number of connections specified. The rule can be further defined by airline, market, or geography. Enter the number of connections allowed; values can be 0-2, inclusive. Any itineraries containing more connections than the number entered are restricted from the shopping results.

      1. Enter the maximum number of connections, either 0, 1, or 2.

      2. Enter code(s) if restricted by airline for the rule in the Airlines text box. All airlines are entered by default.

      3. Select Content application:

        • Traditional

        • NDC

        • Both

          The default setting is Traditional.

          • If NDC is selected, the rule is only be applied to those airlines from which the customer is authorized to receive NDC content. Customers should work with their account managers to be authorized to receive NDC content.

          • If Both is selected, the rule applies to both Traditional and NDC content.

      This rule restricts overnight itineraries for connecting flights if the connection time is greater than the time specified in the rule.

      Note: ‘Overnight’ connections are defined as: 

      • Single connections, when the first leg of the connection departs on calendar day 1 and arrives before 0500 of calendar day 2, and the second leg also departs on calendar day 2.

      • Double connections, when either the first leg has an overnight connection as described above, or the second leg of the connection departs on calendar day 2 and arrives before 0500 of calendar day 3, and the third leg also departs on calendar day 3.

      1. Enter an airport location as a connection point. Enter two asterisks ** in the airport location field to apply to all airports.

      2. Enter the connection time, in minutes, to restrict flights with connection times equal to or less than the time entered. Allowed values between 1 and 1440.

         Note: Time input with this rule overrides any customer table settings.

      3. Repeat steps a and b to add an additional connection point. Up to 10 connection points and connection times can be added.

      This rule restricts connections based on an amount of time between one flight and another. This rule eliminates short connection times that customers may not want even through they meet published Minimum Connection Times (MCT). Longer connections through particular airports may be preferred.

      1. Enter airlines for the rule in the Airlines text box.

      2. In the Minimum Connection time(s) area:

        • Enter an airport as a connection point in the Airport location field. Leaving the airport value blank will apply to all airports.

        • Enter a minimum connection time value in minutes (Allowed values between 1 and 9999).

        • Click the Add button.

        • Optionally, add another value and minimum connection time. Up to 25 connection points and connection times can be added.

      3. Select a Rule application:

        • Fare search/shop

        • Availability
          Notes:

          • Because not all NDC airlines support a minimum connection time parameter for Availability, if Availability is selected, then the rule only applies to Traditional Search and Availability entries.

            • Availability cannot be selected for a Minimum Connection Time rule if the rule is to be applied to NDC content.

            • Because Travelport’s NDC messaging does not support a minimum connection time parameter for NDC Air Availability, Minimum Connection Time disables both the NDC and Both content application settings when the rule is applied to Availability.

          • If Availability is not selected, then for Searches the rule can be applied to Traditional, NDC, or both.

      4. Select Content application:

        • Traditional

        • NDC

        • Both

          The default setting is Traditional.

          • If NDC is selected, the rule is only be applied to those airlines from which the customer is authorized to receive NDC content. Customers should work with their account managers to be authorized to receive NDC content.

          • If Both is selected, the rule applies to both Traditional and NDC content.

          • If Availability is selected in Rule application, the rule only applies to Traditional Search and Availability entries.

          • If Availability is not selected in Rule application, then for Searches the rule can be applied to Traditional, NDC, or both.

      Allows cross-town connections to be built only for the cities specified (maximum of 50 cities). For instance, if NYC and PAR are chosen, then when flight search is performed for the trip requested, cross town connections will be built only in NYC and PAR if applicable.

      1. Enter the city/airport that allows cross-town connections. Enter the three-letter (CAPITAL) City/Airport code separated by a space for up to 50 airports/cities.

      2. Optionally, specify one or more airlines. The default is All Airlines.

      3. Select Content application:

        • Traditional

        • NDC

        • Both

          The default setting is Traditional.

          • If NDC is selected, the rule is only be applied to those airlines from which the customer is authorized to receive NDC content. Customers should work with their account managers to be authorized to receive NDC content.

          • If Both is selected, the rule applies to both Traditional and NDC content.

      This rule allows customers to indicate a preference for NDC content when compared to traditional GDS content in their search results. This rule applies to Fare Shop only and is exclusive to Smartpoint Cloud/ Travelport+, integrated search (combined Traditional as well as NDC search).

      1. Enter one or more NDC airlines in the Airlines field. Only NDC airlines can be specified, and the customer must be authorized to receive the NDC airlines’ content.

      2. Select whether the rule applies to Single passenger search results, Multiple passenger search results, or to Any search results.

      3. Select an option for When duplicate offers are priced the same. I.e., when an offer is returned by both Traditional and NDC content sources and both the BRAND and PRICE of the offer is the same:

        • Return the Traditional offer (discard the NDC offer)

        • Return the NDC offer (discard the Traditional offer)

        • Return both Traditional and NDC offers (duplicate search results)

      4. Select an option for When duplicate offers are priced differently. I.e., when an offer is returned by both Traditional and NDC content sources and the BRAND is the same, but PRICE is different:

        • Return the cheapest offer (Traditional or NDC)

        • Return the Traditional offer (discard the NDC offer)

        • Return the NDC offer (discard the Traditional offer)

        • Return both Traditional and NDC offers (duplicate search results)

        • Return NDC if cheaper than Traditional by a set threshold

        • Return Traditional if cheaper than NDC by a set threshold

          If a Threshold option is selected:

          • Select which NDC airline specified the threshold applies and whether the amount is Fixed or is a Percentage.

          • Up to five thresholds can be included in one rule.

      This rule gives the customer control over how long the system will wait for search results from an NDC airline. I.e., the rule allows customers to set different time out values for each NDC airline. The system default wait time is ten seconds.

      1. Enter NDC airlines for the rule in the Airline text box to set the maximum NDC search response time. Only NDC airlines can be specified, and the customer must be authorized to receive the NDC airlines’ content.

      2. Enter a value from 1 - 10 in the Seconds field. The default and maximum value is 10.

      3. Select Content application:

        • Traditional

        • NDC

        • Both

          The default setting is Traditional.

          • If NDC is selected, the rule is only be applied to those airlines from which the customer is authorized to receive NDC content. Customers should work with their account managers to be authorized to receive NDC content.

          • If Both is selected, the rule applies to both Traditional and NDC content.

      Rule Authorization

      Specifies if the system settings will override optional customer entries for a limited number of rule types.

      1. In the Choose agent/rule priority, select one or more rule check boxes to override
        Select the rules to always apply regardless of user input::

        • Exclude Fare or Fare Family (fare basis code only)
          ‘@XXXXXXXX’ fare basis code modifier

        • Maximum journey time
          ‘JT’ Search/Shopping modifier

        • Exclude undesirable connection points
          ‘X-AAA’ Search/Shopping modifier.

      2. Select the rules user input is allowed to override (when NDC is indicated):

        • Exclude marketing/codeshare airlines
          ‘/XX/YY’ modifiers
          Note: Override can only be applied for this rule when the operating airline is set to blank.

        • Maximum connection time
          ‘RMC’ Search/Shopping modifier

        • Maximum overnight connection time
          ‘ROI’ Search/Shopping modifier

        Notes:

        For each of the above rule types that is specified, Content Optimizer rules can be overridden using the corresponding optional modifiers.

        • For each rule type that is NOT specified, Content Optimizer rules are used no matter which optional customer entries are appended to a shopping, pricing, or fare display request.

        • If no modifiers are used, then the matching Content Optimizer rules will be applied.

        • If no Rule Override rule is present for a SID/PCC, then specific input will override applicable Content Optimizer rules.

      3. Select Content application:
        • Traditional

        • NDC

        • Both

          The default setting is Traditional.

          • If NDC is selected, the rule is only be applied to those airlines from which the customer is authorized to receive NDC content. Customers should work with their account managers to be authorized to receive NDC content.

          • If Both is selected, the rule applies to both Traditional and NDC content.

          • As of release 1.12, the only rule where this is applicable to NDC content is the Exclude Marketing/Codeshare Airlines rule.

          • Rule Override for the Exclude Marketing/Codeshare rule works inversely for NDC from how it works for Traditional. When NDC is selected for the Exclude Marketing/Codeshare rule, the agent entry takes priority over any rule of that type that is applicable to NDC content.

      4. In the Choose one list, select which split rule should have priority.
        Notes:

        • These rules are only available to selected customers, and if there is an overlap in applicability, only one rule can be applied. This allows the customer to specify which of the three rules will be applied in the case of an overlap.

        • If you have a combination of split rules the priority order is:

          • Public/private/net fare split

          • Unbundled/bundled fare split

          • Cabin split

        • The split rules has a dynamic display which displays the priority of the three rules based on the customer’s selection, i.e., the Split rules priority is: box changes based on the priority selected.

        • Note: These rules are only available to selected customers, and if there is an overlap in applicability, only one rule can be applied. This allows the customer to specify which of the three rules is applied in the case of an overlap.

  4. Click Next to display the Target and Schedule screen.

     

Target and Schedule

The Target and Schedule screen continues the rule creation process by allowing you to specify PCC/Groups, geography, rule timing, and travel dates.

What will be the rule target?

  1. Enter the Galileo (1G), Apollo (1V), or Worldspan (1P) PCC(s)/SIDs or PCC Group Name that this rule affects.

    • If entering a single PCC, indicate which Travelport GDS the PCC applies to along with the input. For example. if PCC ABC is a Galileo PCC, the system requires this as the input: ABC-1G.

    • The list of matching values display. Click to select the correct PCC or Group.

    • You can enter multiple PCCs. For example, XYZ5-1V, ABC7-1G

    • Click Add from PCC group list to select a PCC group.

      • You can Search for the PCC group in the Search box.

      • You can scroll to the bottom of the results and enter the page number, or click the right / left arrows.

      • Click the Add button next to the PCC group to add it to the rule. Items already added display a blue button .

  1. Optionally, enter the associated Channel IDs. The available Channel IDs display when the box is selected.

Geography and Exceptions

  1. Enter the Geography values:

    1. If the option is presented, select the Location type:

      • Airport

      • City

      • Location Group

      • Nation

      • Zone

      • Area

    2. Select the Geography values for the From/Between and To/And options. Optionally, select Both ways if available.

      Note: Both ways is not available for Promote Preferred Fares,NDC content preference, and NDC response time*).

    1. Optionally, select values in the Geography Exceptions, if available, to enter exceptions to the general Location Type.

    2. Optionally, click Add geography exception to add an addition exception to the rule.

    3. Optionally, for the Exclude Fare of Fare Family rule, select the Enforce directionality checkbox. This allows you to exclude directional fares when a fare is being excluded in both directions. This ensures that a fare being excluded will only be excluded for the proper direction. Initially, this only applies to fares being excluded by fare basis code.

    These examples demonstrate the difference when selecting From / To versus Between / And

    Note: Between/and setting for NDC Content Preference and NDC Response Time geography is not yet available, and will be in a future release.

    When From / To is selected

    This option is unidirectional. The Origin must match the From element and the Destination must match the To element.

    • Rule is applied to One-Way and Round-Trip.

      • From airport is DEN

      • To airport is ORD

        Rule:

        • Runs DEN > ORD (one-way)

        • Runs DEN > ORD > DEN (round trip)

        • Runs DEN > LAX > ORD (one way with connection)

        • Runs DEN > LAX > ORD > LGA > DEN (round trip with connections)

        • Does not run ORD > DEN, ORD > DEN > ORD, or ORD > LAX > DEN

        • Does not run if DEN > ORD are stopovers or layovers.

          E.g., LAX > DEN > ORD > LGA

        • Does not run if the origin or destination doesn't match.

          E.g., LAX > DEN > ORD

    When Between / And is selected

    This option is omnidirectional. The Origin can match either the Between or And element, with the Destination matching the other element.

    • Rule is applied to One-Way and Round-Trip.

      • Between city is DEN

      • And city or ORD

        Promote preferred fares:

        • Runs DEN > ORD or DEN > ORD > DEN

        • Runs ORD > DEN and ORD > DEN > ORD

        • Runs DEN > LAX > ORD > LGA > DEN (round-trip with connections)

        • Does not run if DEN > ORD are stopovers or layovers.
          E.g., LAX > DEN > ORD > LGA

        • Does not run if the Origins or Destinations do not match the rule.
          E.g., LAX > DEN > ORD

  2. Select Flight Options if the Booking Codes rule was selected on the previous screen, The rule can selectively be applied to the origin and destination of either the entire trip or sectors within a trip.

When will the rule run?

This section lets you specify the dates and times when the rule will run for airlines.

  1. Select Weekly, Daily. or Continuous from the Run rule drop-down box.

  2. Click the Start date field to select the date when the rule will start running.

  3. Specify the time the rule begins on the date selected. The times are based on the time zone of each PCC specified in the rule.

    1. If Daily was specified in step 1, specify a value in the Recurring start time and Recurring end time `fields.

    2. Optionally, click the plus sign to add additional time windows.

  4. Specify the End date and time for when the rule will stop running or select the check box to run rule indefinitely.

    Note: Leave the rule End date empty to run indefinitely. Content Optimizer defaults to December 31, 2059 in these instances.

  5. If Daily was specified in step 1

    1. Specify a value in the Recurring start time and Recurring end time fields.

    2. Optionally, click the plus sign to add additional time windows.

  6. If Weekly was selected in step 1:

    1. Specify the number of weeks the rule will run in the Recur every field.

    2. Select which days of the week the rule will run.

Travel Dates

This section lets you optionally specify when the air rules apply continuously, or specific days of the week.

Note: Multiple travel date ranges can be specified for only the Booking Code and Fare Basis Code/Booking Code rule types. The rule is only be applied if all travel falls within the date range(s). Click the add at the end of the row to add another date range.

  1. Select Continuously, or Weekly from the Run rule drop-down box.

  2. Optionally, select the Date window check box to specify dates for the rule to run. If this is selected, go to step 7

  3. Enter a Start date and End date when the rule will start running.

    Note: Leave the travel End date empty to run indefinitely. Content Optimizer defaults to December 31, 2059 in these instances.

  4. Specify the time the rule begins on the date selected. The times are based on the time zone of each PCC specified in the rule.

  5. Specify the End date and time for when the rule will stop running

  6. If Weekly was selected in step 1:

    1. Specify the number of weeks the rule will run in the Recur every field.

    2. Select which days of the week the rule will run.

  7. If Date window was selected in step 2, enter values in the Starting and Ending fields to specify the number of days from the current date the rule will run.
    Note: The number of days varies by airline. Therefore, we recommend neither the Starting nor Ending field value should be greater than 362 days.

  8. Click Activate. Optionally, click Previous to return to the Setup screen.