Patent ID: 8229774

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for reserving seats, the method comprising: transmitting first data to an application running on a general purpose computer associated with a first user and a general purpose computer associated with a second user, the first data including information descriptive of available individual seats on one or more flights, the first data encoded to cause the application to generate graphical user interfaces on the general purpose computers associated with the first and second users that comprise interactive seating maps representing individual seats on the one or more flights; receiving from the general purpose computer associated with the first user second data representing a seat selected by the first user; receiving from the general purpose computer associated with the second user third data representing a seat selected by the second user, wherein the seat selected by the second user is the same as the seat selected by the first user; receiving from the general purpose computer associated with the first user fourth data representing payment information; requesting verification of the received payment information; and if the received payment information is verified, then transmitting fifth data to the general purpose computer associated with the second user, the fifth data including information indicating that the seat selected by the second user is no longer available.