Amadeus GDS, commanding a market share exceeding 40 percent, is a globally influential distribution system established in 1987 by Air France, Iberia, Lufthansa, and SAS. Originating as a European alternative to the American Sabre GDS, it has expanded its reach to cater to travel businesses in 190 countries.
Amadeus supports wide range of th clients, including online travel agencies (OTAs), travel management companies (TMCs), host travel agencies, air consolidators, and various digital travel sellers among its clientele, Amadeus facilitates the exploration, comparison, and booking of inventory through a suite of application programming interfaces (APIs). Notably, these include:
Amadeus blazed a trail by using APIs back in 2000, and today, they provide various APIs for web and mobile apps, categorized into Self-Service and Enterprise options. The OneClick IT Consultancy team boasts hands-on experience collaborating with both classifications. In the following sections, we'll delve into the distinctive attributes of each group and elucidate the requisites for seamlessly integrating these APIs into your project.
The Self-Service API Catalog: Unveiling Content and Functionality
Building Integrations with Self-Service APIs
Transitioning to Production: Ensuring App Viability
The Crucial Role of Airline Consolidators in Flight Booking Apps
Finding Assistance in Your Integration Journey
Pricing Conditions for Self-Service Subscription
As of 2024, Amadeus's Self-Service suite encompasses 37 APIs meticulously categorized into five distinct groups.
Air APIs streamline and automate the booking process, offering features such as seat selection, discovering the most economical flight destinations from a specified city to inspire travelers, and more. Additionally, these APIs support the integration of advanced functionalities like airport autocomplete search, insights into local travel habits (such as most booked destinations or busiest traveling periods), and flight price analysis based on historical Amadeus data.
Hotel APIs seamlessly cover the hotel booking flow, enhancing search results with ratings and providing search autocomplete capabilities.
Destination Content APIs provide extensive information about premier attractions, tours, and activities in a given location. Users can also access popularity scores based on specific latitude and longitude coordinates. Destinations are meticulously evaluated across four parameters: sightseeing, restaurants, nightlife, and shopping.
Trip APIs leverage artificial intelligence to predict the purpose of a user’s trips, differentiating between business and leisure travel. They offer personalized recommendations based on users' previous searches and bookings.
COVID and Travel Safety APIs empower users to retrieve detailed safety data for 40,000 cities and access COVID-19 travel restrictions for 200 countries. Trip.com, a rapidly expanding travel planning platform, recently integrated Amadeus safety content. This integration allows them to provide critical information to their customers regarding airport entry policies, testing requirements, quarantines, and more.
Initiating collaborations with Self-Service APIs is a straightforward process. To commence, set up an account and, upon confirmation, generate an access token that serves as verification for your authorization as a developer.
Amadeus supports engineers by providing a comprehensive toolkit, including a test environment, code samples, and Software Development Kits (SDKs), streamlining the embedding of APIs. Explore the official GitHub repository to discover libraries tailored for API implementation across various languages such as Ruby, Python, Java, Node.js, .NET, Kotlin (for Android development), and Swift (for iOS development).
Irrespective of the programming language chosen, developers can fine-tune integrations by testing them in a limited data collection environment. Amadeus grants a fixed number of free API calls each month, with the quota ranging from 200 to 10,000 requests depending on the API. The system permits your app to execute one call every 100 milliseconds.
A notable advantage of certain Self-Service APIs is their ability to manage multiple transactions under the hood, responding to a single request. This complexity is abstracted by Amadeus, effectively saving developers time and simplifying their work. For instance, developers may only need to integrate one endpoint instead of three or four when finalizing a booking.
Also, Amadeus offers user-friendly pre-built booking pipelines tailored for flights and hotels. These pipelines are thoughtfully designed, comprising three consecutive calls to ensure a smooth and efficient process.
Search: This initial step returns comprehensive flight offers or a list of available hotels, setting the foundation for the subsequent booking process.
Price: Following the search phase, the Price call comes into play. This step is crucial as it confirms the selected flight's availability and prices or finds hotels' prices and conditions. It ensures users have accurate and up-to-date information before proceeding.
Book: The final step in the pipeline involves the Book call. This creates a flight order for flights, while for hotels, it initiates a reservation within the hotel property management system. This conclusive action completes the booking process, seamlessly connecting users with their desired travel arrangements.
During this structured flow, developers work with a consistent object (request), iterating and updating it with new details at each sequential step. This streamlined process ensures a coherent and straightforward development experience, enhancing efficiency and reducing the complexities of independently creating requests for each step.
When your app reaches the stage of readiness for a live environment, the move to production is a pivotal step, allowing your project to harness authentic data and enjoy unrestricted calls.
This progression involves two essential steps:
Complete a comprehensive form providing personal and billing details.
Select a preferred payment method.
Sign the Term of Service agreement through DocuSign.
The Amadeus team dedicates up to 72 hours to validate your initial app and create a personalized environment.
This process is expedited for subsequent apps, taking just a few hours.
A notification is dispatched upon successful validation, granting you production access.
This standardized flow applies to all Self-Service products, excluding the Flight Create Orders API, which finalizes the air booking flow. To integrate this API into production, adherence to Amadeus's terms and conditions, compliance with local regulations, and confirmation of API availability in your region are prerequisites.
Most notably, a crucial step involves signing an agreement with an airline consolidator. OneClick IT Consultancy, with its expertise in the travel tech domain, offers comprehensive support in navigating these prerequisites, ensuring a smooth integration process for travel companies.
Accreditation from authoritative bodies such as the Airline Reporting Corporation (ARC) in the US or the International Air Transport Association (IATA) worldwide is indispensable for issuing flight tickets. Explore our articles on ARC Accreditation Options and How to Obtain IATA Accreditation to delve deeper into the certification process.
In essence, smaller travel agencies and emerging players often encounter resource limitations, hindering their ability to secure accreditation from IATA or ARC. The conventional solution to this challenge involves forging partnerships with host agencies or airline consolidators undertaking the ticketing process in exchange for a commission. Amadeus assists those unfamiliar with this process by facilitating connections with potential intermediaries. GDS approval is a prerequisite for seamless integration for entities already partnered with an IATA/ARC-accredited collaborator. This underscores the pivotal role of airline consolidators in enabling flight-booking apps to navigate the complexities of ticketing processes and industry accreditations.
Amadeus offers extensive and lucid API documentation, providing a comprehensive guide throughout the integration process. Additionally, their Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page is consistently updated with new inquiries, providing valuable insights. While the GDS does not offer phone or live chat support for the Self-Service API catalog, assistance is available through the Developer Relations team via the contact form. It's important to note that quick responses are not guaranteed. In this scenario, OneClick IT Consultancy, with its expertise in Amadeus API Integration, steps in to fill the gap by offering dedicated support and guidance for Amadeus Travel API integration, ensuring a more direct and personalized assistance channel for businesses.
For a community-driven approach to problem-solving, consider seeking help from the Amadeus for Developers community on Discord and StackOverflow, or alternatively, engage with OneClick IT Consultancy’s professional network. With over 300 technical questions related to Amadeus API integrations on these platforms, OneClick enriches this knowledge base with its practical experience in the field. Furthermore, OneClick can assist in navigating the travel tech forum Techtalks, where businesses can pose questions and engage in discussions about Amadeus API integration, benefiting from OneClick's seasoned insights and contributions to these forums.
In an era predating the existence of the democratic Self-Service catalog. During that time, exclusive access to GDS content through SOAP APIs, designed in 1998, was reserved for major players in the travel industry certified by ARC or IATA.
This evolution is ongoing while Amadeus is progressively transitioning from SOAP to REST. Reliance on SOAP is still imperative to harness the comprehensive suite of features, and eligibility for the Enterprise subscription requires a business to be of significant scale. Beyond merely unlocking a broader spectrum of functionalities, enterprise clients benefit from tailored pricing structures, round-the-clock technical support, and the dedicated assistance of a manager committed to resolving their specific challenges. This marks the paradigm shift toward Enterprise APIs, catering to the distinct needs of substantial players within the travel sector.
While the Self-Service tier accommodates businesses lacking travel accreditations, prohibiting them from executing airline ticketing directly, enterprise clients possess the requisite credentials for issuing and managing e-tickets. Amadeus furnishes technical capabilities enabling automation across all facets of the ticketing process, empowering enterprise clients to seamlessly manage flight bookings.
This suite of REST and SOAP APIs facilitates the creation of flight and ancillary bookings. Management of Personal Name Record (PNR) is streamlined, encompassing operations such as search, retrieval, display, modification, addition, and cancellation of PNR elements.
In the domain of car rentals, SOAP APIs within this category provide the tools to construct a robust car rental reservation system or seamlessly integrate car rentals into your Online Travel Agency (OTA) offerings.
A trio of SOAP APIs in the rail category stands ready to fuel the development of a standalone railway reservation system or to enrich the travel platform with a dedicated rail-related module.
Before launching, your app must undergo a certification process by Amadeus, ensuring seamless compatibility with their Enterprise APIs and safeguarding against incorrect usage. Unlike the Self-Service subscription, this certification process extends over weeks rather than days.
For developers, the certification process entails the following steps:
The waiting period typically constitutes the longest segment of the entire procedure. In-flight booking integrations, most issues and comments arise during the interval between booking and ticketing. In the Self-Service subscription, this phase is handled by an authorized consolidator, reducing the validation period to no more than three days, as per the Amadeus official website.
Encouraging news for enterprise clients engaged in flight booking is that once the primary workflow, from search to ticketing, is implemented, incorporating additional features, such as seat maps, becomes a relatively swift process.
Upon successful certification after multiple iterations, Amadeus transitions integrations to the production environment, allowing them to operate with real data.
With the enterprise subscription, a service level agreement (SLA) or contractual arrangement with Amadeus outlines the scope of technical support you can anticipate.
Typically, the GDS extends the provision of a dedicated account manager and support team, poised to address your queries, assist with configurations, modify account settings, and more. In essence, when issues arise whether during the development or production phase you have the means to connect with Amadeus experts through email for prompt resolution.
In the contemporary landscape, travel businesses confront a choice among three primary Global Distribution Systems (GDSs) — Amadeus, Sabre, and Travelport. Initially tailored for flight-related services, these platforms have evolved to encompass a broader spectrum, including hotels, car rentals, and other travel products. As a conventional assumption, Sabre is the preferred choice for U.S.-based companies. Amadeus aligns with the European market, and Travelport typically garners recommendations for entities operating in African and Middle Eastern regions.
The three predominant Global Distribution Systems (GDSs) present almost identical coverage, subscription models, and features. The distinguishing factor resides in the nuances of contractual relationships and the terms open to negotiation specific to your targeted region. Consequently, it is common to find American Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) opting for Amadeus, while their European or Middle Eastern counterparts may lean towards engaging with Sabre. The strategic choice often hinges on tailoring agreements to regional preferences and business dynamics.
In the scenario where Sabre or Travelport is already in use, the question of when and why a second GDS becomes essential arises. Opting to integrate Amadeus as a secondary GDS may stem from pursuing enhanced system stability. However, it's crucial to temper expectations, as adding a second GDS doesn't necessarily equate to doubling coverage or content. In practical terms, employing two GDSs concurrently may augment your information pool by a figurative five percent compared to relying on a single GDS.
Conversely, major Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) often adopt a comprehensive approach utilizing all three GDSs. This strategic multi-GDS utilization aims to achieve the broadest coverage and operational flexibility. Embracing a multi-GDS strategy can be a potent bargaining tool, empowering businesses to negotiate more favorable terms with key content providers.
Undoubtedly, yes. A gradual transition from SOAP to REST APIs is underway across all Global Distribution Systems (GDSs). Notably, feedback from our developers affirms that Amadeus REST APIs are meticulously documented and deemed user-friendly.
While the evolution from the intricate SOAP protocol to more streamlined REST APIs is underway, the significance of domain expertise and hands-on experience in GDS API integrations remains paramount. Engineers well-versed in GDS intricacies and with a profound understanding of pivotal travel concepts and processes continue to play a crucial role in streamlining the development of travel apps, ultimately saving both time and financial resources.
With years of experience in the travel industry and in-depth knowledge of the Amadeus API, our team of experts is well-equipped to understand the nuances of the API and our services can be personalized to precisely match your specific requirements.
Our streamlined integration process ensures a smooth and hassle-free experience. We take care of all the technical complexities, allowing you to focus on your core business while we handle the integration seamlessly.
We believe in delivering solutions that are tailored to your unique business needs. Our team works closely with you to understand your requirements and develop customized integration solutions that align with your goals and objectives.
We understand the importance of time in the fast-paced travel industry. With our efficient project management and agile development approach, we ensure timely delivery of your Amadeus API integration project.
Our commitment to your success doesn't end with the integration. We provide ongoing support and maintenance services to ensure that your integration remains robust, secure, and up-to-date.
Our paramount concern revolves around safeguarding the integrity of your data and the confidentiality of customer information, giving you peace of mind knowing that your sensitive information is safeguarded.
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