WASHINGTON -- Continental Airlines said non-ARC agents accessing
its inventory through CRS systems will have to obtain a Reservation
Service Provider (RSP) number from the Airlines Reporting Corp. by
Nov. 13 to continue doing business with the carrier.
ARC said Continental is the first carrier to require non-ARC
agents to use the controversial RSP numbers.
Continental notified agents of the new requirement several weeks
ago through the CRS' direct reference system file. ASTA reiterated
the directive to its membership Oct. 4 in its weekly
newsletter.
ASTA said the new requirement applies to all non-ARC agencies
that use a CRS "including outside contractors and corporate
customers using CRS-supplied dial-up or remote-access
software."
ASTA has criticized ARC's RSP program because, the Society
argues, it places suppliers in the position of determining the
legitimacy of agents. ASTA contends agents should make such
determinations and is preparing to launch its own program,
Travelsellers.com.
"Beyond a tracking number, there is no service being provided
here to the booking agent by either ARC or the carriers," said ASTA
president Richard Copland.
"This will place an additional burden on outside agents and
independent contractors with no real benefit to them," added Joanie
Ogg, president of the National Association of Commissioned Travel
Agents, an ASTA affiliate that represents outside sales agents.