Question 1

Can a hotel booking API show how far each hotel is from the places my customer needs to visit?

Accepted Answer

Yes, a hotel booking API can often help show how close a hotel is to an airport, attraction, business area or other place that matters to your customer. This can make it easier to compare suitable hotels without checking every address separately. The information available depends on the hotel supplier and the details returned through the API. Some suppliers provide an accurate hotel location that can be used to calculate distance, while others may provide only an address or a general area. A map service may also be needed if you want to show the route, driving distance or expected travel time. Distances should be presented clearly because a straight line distance is not the same as the distance by road. Travel time can also change because of traffic, transport options and local conditions. For this reason, the result should help with the search rather than be treated as a guaranteed journey time. Check which location details your chosen hotel suppliers provide, then decide whether your booking page should show distance, a map or both.

Question 2

Can a hotel booking API show whether a hotel has accessible rooms?

Accepted Answer

Yes, a hotel booking API can show accessibility information when the hotel supplier provides it. This may include details such as wheelchair access, lifts, accessible bathrooms or rooms designed for guests with reduced mobility. The information available can vary between hotels and suppliers, so it may not appear for every property or room. An accessibility label does not always confirm that a suitable room is available for the customer's dates. Some results describe general hotel facilities, while others identify a particular accessible room type. Important details, such as doorway width, bathroom layout or step free access throughout the property, may also be missing from the API response. Your booking portal can display the information received and allow customers to search for relevant facilities where the supplier supports those filters. However, special requirements should not be treated as guaranteed unless they are clearly included in the confirmed room description or accepted by the hotel. Before completing the booking, check the room details and confirmation terms, then ask the hotel to confirm any accessibility requirement that is essential to the guest's stay.

Question 3

Can my travel agency software help me keep track of payments due to travel suppliers?

Accepted Answer

Yes, travel agency software can help you record payments that are due to travel suppliers and connect them with the related bookings. This can make it easier to see what has already been paid, what is still outstanding and when action may be needed, without relying on separate notes or spreadsheets. The exact level of support depends on your glideFares plan and how each supplier provides booking and payment information. Some payment details may be added automatically when they are available through the supplier connection, while other details may need to be entered or updated by your staff. The software cannot guarantee that every supplier will provide the same information or send updates at the same time. Keeping supplier payments linked to bookings can also help your team check that the expected cost matches the booking record before payment is made. It may reduce missed due dates and make it easier to review outstanding items, but staff should still check supplier statements, booking conditions and any direct messages from the supplier. A record in the software does not replace confirmation from the supplier that payment has been received. Check which supplier payment details are available with your plan, then agree on a simple process for staff to review and update anything that is not supplied automatically.

Question 4

Can the flight booking API add meal requests for my customers?

Accepted Answer

Yes, a flight booking API can add meal requests for a customer when the airline and the selected fare support this service. The available choices may include standard meals and special meals for dietary, religious or medical needs, but the exact options come from the airline. A meal request is normally added to the flight reservation using the traveller details and the relevant journey segment. Some airlines accept the request during booking, while others only accept it after the reservation has been created. The API may also return a status showing whether the request was accepted, declined or is still waiting for confirmation. A request does not always guarantee that the meal will be provided. Availability can depend on the route, cabin, departure time, airline rules and how close the flight is to departure. Some meals may only be offered on certain flights, and some airlines may require the traveller to arrange the request directly. Any charge also depends on the airline and fare conditions. Before offering meal selection to customers, check which airlines and meal request types are supported by your flight booking API and whether confirmation is returned after the request is sent.

Question 5

Can a hotel booking API send a guest's bed preference or arrival time to the hotel?

Accepted Answer

Yes, a hotel booking API can often send guest requests such as a preferred bed type, an expected arrival time, an accessible room request or a preference for a quiet room. The exact choices depend on what the hotel supplier accepts and what information the hotel provides for that booking. These details are normally treated as requests, not confirmed services. A hotel may receive the request but still be unable to provide it because of room availability, hotel policy or operational limits. The booking page should make this clear so the customer does not assume that a preferred bed or room location is guaranteed. Some suppliers provide separate fields for common requests, while others accept only a general note or do not accept extra requests at all. A request may also need to be added after the reservation is confirmed. For important needs, such as accessibility or arrival outside the usual check in period, the traveller should receive clear confirmation from the hotel before relying on the arrangement. Ask glideFares which guest request fields are supported by your chosen hotel supply, then test how those requests appear in the booking confirmation and check whether the hotel must confirm them separately.

Question 6

Can my travel agency software show me which parts of my business are performing best?

Accepted Answer

Yes, travel agency software can help you compare the performance of different parts of your business. You may be able to review bookings by travel product, destination, supplier, branch, salesperson or booking source. This can make it easier to see where most of your sales are coming from and where customer interest may be changing. The information available depends on what the software records and how each booking reaches it. Bookings made outside the system may need to be added before the reports give a complete picture. Some supplier connections may provide more detail than others, and certain reports or filters may depend on your plan. The results should therefore be used alongside your payment records and supplier statements when checking business performance. Regular reporting can help you decide which products to promote, where staff may need support and which areas deserve more attention. It can also help you spot unusual changes, such as a fall in bookings for a popular destination or an increase in cancellations. Before relying on a report, check which bookings, dates, products and payment stages it includes, then ask glideFares which performance reports and filters are available with your setup.

Question 7

Can the flight booking API check the fare and seats again before my customer pays?

Accepted Answer

Yes, a flight booking API can usually check the selected fare and seat availability again before your customer pays. This is important because flight availability can change quickly while the customer is comparing options or entering traveller details. The final check can confirm whether the flight is still available, whether the fare has changed and whether the same booking conditions still apply. If something has changed, the booking page can ask the customer to review the updated details before continuing. This helps reduce the chance of taking payment for an option that can no longer be booked. The exact result depends on the airline, the flight supplier and the information returned by the API. Some suppliers confirm availability immediately, while others may still reject a booking after the check because seats were taken at the same time. A fare check also does not guarantee that a ticket will be issued, as ticketing depends on the supplier accepting and confirming the reservation. Ask glideFares whether your chosen flight suppliers support a final fare and availability check, and confirm what customers will see if the fare changes or the flight is no longer available.

Question 8

Can my travel agency software assign new customer enquiries to the right member of staff?

Accepted Answer

Yes, travel agency software can help you assign each new customer enquiry to a suitable member of staff. The enquiry can be given to someone based on the type of trip, destination, branch or current workload, depending on how your setup is arranged. This gives each request a clear owner and reduces the chance of it being missed. Staff can usually see which enquiries belong to them, what stage each enquiry has reached and whether a customer is waiting for a reply. A manager may also be able to move an enquiry to another person when someone is absent or when specialist help is needed. Access can be controlled so staff only see the enquiries and bookings they are allowed to handle. The exact assignment options depend on the software plan and the workflow available to your business. Some setups may assign enquiries automatically, while others may require a manager to choose a staff member. Enquiries received outside the booking portal may also need to be entered before they can be assigned and followed. Before choosing your setup, check how enquiries reach your business, who should receive them and whether you need automatic assignment or a simple shared view for your team.

Question 9

Can the flight booking API show connection times and terminal changes before my customer books?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the flight booking API can show connection times and available terminal details before your customer books. Each part of the journey can include its scheduled arrival time, departure time, airport and terminal, allowing the booking portal to calculate how long the customer has between flights. The portal can also highlight when connecting flights use different terminals or different airports in the same city. This helps the traveller understand whether a connection may involve a long walk, a shuttle journey, another form of transport or extra time for security checks. Clear connection information can make it easier for your staff and customers to compare suitable journeys. The amount of detail depends on what the airline or flight supplier sends through the API. Terminal information may be missing for some flights, and a terminal can change after the booking is made. The connection time shown is based on the published schedule and does not guarantee that a traveller will make the next flight if the earlier flight is delayed. Before offering this information to customers, ask glideFares to check which connection and terminal details are available from your chosen flight suppliers and how missing or changed information will appear on your portal.

Question 10

Can I limit my white label travel portal to approved customers only?

Accepted Answer

Yes, your white label travel portal can be arranged so that only approved customers are allowed to sign in and make bookings. This can be useful if you serve company travellers, members, regular clients or a private group and do not want the general public to use the booking area. The exact access options depend on your portal setup and plan. In some cases, travellers can request access and wait for approval. In others, your team may need to create or approve each user before that person can search or book. You may also be able to keep general information visible to everyone while protecting booking pages behind a sign in. Restricted access does not automatically control what every customer can see or book. Separate settings may be needed for travel products, payment methods, booking rules or company policies. Some options can also depend on the supplier or API connected to the portal, so access control should not be treated as a guarantee that every fare or room will be available to every approved user. Before launching, decide who should be allowed to register, who will approve them and whether visitors should see anything before signing in, then check that your glideFares plan supports the access process you need.