THE METHODOLOGY OF IMPLEMENTING AN AIRLINE TICKET AND SEAT RESERVATION SYSTEM
A CASE STUDY OF ARIK
ABSTRACT
This research work is centered on the design and implementation of airline ticket seat reservation system for Arik Airline. It is meant to design a system that will automatically generate seat numbers for passengers. The system is designed using Microsoft visual basis 6.0 along side with Microsoft access which is used as the database of the system. The main objective for this design is to achieve the following, To ensure prompt allocation of airline ticket  and seat reservation system for passengers, The Airline Seat Reservation System is to assist the airline with transactions related to making ticket reservations, which includes blocking, reserving, canceling and rescheduling tickets, Minimize repetitive work done by the system reservation clerks and to minimize the number of vacant seats on a flight and maximize flight capacity utilization. The justification of this system is meant to overcome the problems that were observed from the manual system that was used before now. It is therefore recommended that Arik airline should embrace this system so as to enhance their service delivering.
 CHAPTER ONE
1.0                                          INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
An Airline ticket and Seat Reservation System is part of the Passenger Service Systems (PSS), which are applications supporting the direct contact with the passenger. The Airline Seat Reservations System (ASRS) wasone of the earliest changes to improve efficiency. The Airline Seat Reservations System (ASRS) eventually evolved into the Computer Reservations System (CRS). A Computer Reservation System is used for the reservations of a particular airline and interfaces with a Global Distribution System (GDS) which supports travel agencies and other distribution channels in making reservations for most major airlines in a single system.
Airline Seat Reservations Systems contain airline schedules, fare tariffs, passenger reservations and ticket records. An airline's direct distribution works within their own reservation system, as well as pushing out information to the GDS. A second type of direct distribution channel are consumers who use the internet or mobile applications to make their own reservations. Travel agencies and other indirect distribution channels access the same Global Distribution System (GDS) as those accessed by the airlines' reservation systems, and all messaging is transmitted by a standardized messaging system that functions on two types of messaging that transmit on a High Level Network. These message types are called Type A for remarks-like communications and Type B for secured information. Prior to deregulation, airlines owned their own reservation seat systems with travel agents subscribing to them. Today, the Global Distribution System (GDS) are run by independent companies with airlines and travel agencies as major subscribers.
Before now, the entire system was done manually which involves a stressful process and at the same time waste time in the process of reserving seat for passengers. As a result of this problem encountered by Arik airline, it was important to for the air line to computerize the system so as to enhance and prevent the short comings that were associated wit the manual system and to prevent rush.
 1.2   STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
In the course of this research work, it was discovered that Arikair line was faced with some problems in terms of ticketing and seat reservation for passengers that prompted the idea of computerizing the system. Some of these problems include:
         I.            Inability to accommodate the pressure that is mounted on the air line by the passengers in getting their seat. As a result of the manual system that was involve.
      II.            Wrong allocation of seat number to passengers
   III.            Error in allocating a seat to more than one passenger
  IV.            Improper keeping of the reservation seat information
     V.            Wrong handling of the information that lead to misplacement of the information.
1.3    OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The objectives for this research work is as stated below
       I.            To ensure prompt allocation of airline ticket airline ticket seat reservation system for passengers
   II.  The Airline Seat Reservation System is to assist the airline with transactions related to making ticket reservations, which includes blocking, reserving, canceling and rescheduling tickets.
    II.            Minimize repetitive work done by the system reservation clerks
IV.   Minimize the number of vacant seats on a flight and maximize flight capacity utilization
 1.4    SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The main purpose of this software is to reduce the manual errors involved in the airline reservation process and make it convenient for the customers to book the flights as when they require such that they can utilize this software to make reservations, modify reservations or cancel a particular reservation.
1.5    SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The scope of this research work is limited to seat reservation for passengers using Arik airline as a case study.
1.6       DEFINITION OF TERMS
Airline-An airline is a company that provides transport on airplanes for people and things. A company that has a fleet of airplanes that provides flights for passengers is an example of an airline
Reservation-Something withheld, either not expressed or disclosed, or not given up or brought forward.
Seat:Something, such as a chair or bench, that may be sat on
Blocking – This term refers to the temporary holding of a seat(s) on a flight for a specific period of time. The user incurs no cost for Blocking a ticket, but must make a decision at least two weeks prior to the date of departure.      
Confirming – Process of changing a ticket from a Blocked status to a bought status.
Rescheduling – This process means that the user is allowed only to postpone the travel date and he has to pay the difference in fare. No other details can be changed through this process. For example the number of passengers can’t be changed.
BasePrice – This refers to the maximum price of a ticket, which usually is the price when the purchase is made at the last minute. This is used in arriving at the discounted price which depends on various factors like early bird booking etc.
Flight – This refers to a one-way trip made by an aircraft from a particular to a particular destination at a particular time on a particular weekday.
FlightNumber – This uniquely identifies a flight.
Administrator – Refers to an authorized official of the airline who has the authority to change and update the databases of the Airline Seat Reservations System (ASRS).