1203 W. Ridgeway Ave. | Waterloo, Iowa 50701 | U.S.A.

(319) 234-5577 | (800) 678-7766 | Fax (319) 234-2490

www.shortstravel.com

April 4, 2013

U.S. Department of Transportation

1200 New Jersey Ave. SE

Washington, D.C. 20590

Reference: Application for Approval of an Agreement (Resolution 787) by the International

Air Transportation Association (“IATA”)

To the Department of Transportation:

Short’s Travel Management (“Short’s”), a private innovative travel management company, hereby 

responds to the Application for Approval of an Agreement (Resolution 787) by the International 

Air Transport Association (“IATA”) to the United States Department of Transportation (“DOT”) 

submitted on March 11, 2013. 

Short’s believes that IATA Resolution 787 will allow travel agencies the ability to offer the type 

of enhanced shopping environment currently available only on airline direct websites, provided 

that IATA adheres to the following statements per its Application for Approval of an Agreement:

o “The list of attributes about a passenger contained in 3.1.1.1.2, Name/Age/Marital Status, 

Contact Details, Frequent Flyer Number or Profile number, Customer Type, Travel History, 

Nationality, Shopping History, Previously Purchased Services are all only fields in the data 

specification that will be considered for inclusion in the standard (“may” include). All of those 

attributes, and perhaps others, are elements of data an airline might want, and a shopper might 

be willing to give, to contribute to a more customized shopping experience, but nothing will 

require all of the defined data fields be used. The standard should accommodate those data 

fields, but none are prescribed as mandatory by Resolution 787.... In short, the new data 

specification will continue to support “anonymous” fare quotes.”

o “Again, anonymous shopping requests will be supported in the new data standard, and the 

current EDIFACT system will be maintained in parallel.” 

o “Enabling the capabilities that exist on the airlines’ website through Indirect channels”

o “This is a top down approach where we will engage all key stakeholders”

o “Both distribution models will live side by side for some considerable time”

THE NEXT GENERATION IN BUSINESS TRAVEL
Our Mission: To enhance the experience of getting there, being there, and coming home.

Short’s believes that IATA Resolution 787 will allow for greater innovation in travel agencies 

“search” process and more importantly offer the same content that airlines offer on their websites. 

Short’s also would request the enhanced ability for the travel agency to produce e-tickets (or 

produce barcodes electronically) vs. having the traveler take the extra step of going through the 

airlines website, an airline app, an airline kiosk or an airline representative.

Accordingly, Short’s urges the Department approve IATA Resolution 787 and requests that a 

Final Order be issued as soon as possible. This will enable the travel agency industry to begin 

delivering the benefits of a customer focus distribution system in par with the airlines offerings. 

Sincerely,

W. David LeCompte

CEO

Short’s Travel Management, Inc.

WDL/mj