Sabre Travel Network has introduced a travel agency product designed to simplify the process used to produce documents used for upgrades, tickets on departure and å‘extraså’ such as excess baggage. 
CAPTION: Chambers Travel Management consultant Laura Keeler shows off the
new automated MCO from Sabre. The document replaces the traditional handwritten multi-purpose document (MPD) and simplifies agency administration processes.

The automated Miscellaneous Charges Order (MCO) will be available from today (Monday 31 March) and will reduce agency overheads significantly, by replacing the cumbersome manual process currently in use. 

The Sabre
global distribution system (GDS) is the first in the United Kingdom capable of providing an IATA-approved, machine-printed MCO.  Sabre Travel Network previewed the product at BT2003 in London last month.

Traditionally, agents have had to fetch a multi-purpose document (MPD) from a safe, validate it, hand-write the document and manually report it to the UK Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP).  Staff in a typical mid-size travel agency would have to do this about 200 times a month. With the automated MCO agents simply have to fill in the blanks in a template on their PC screens, and print the document using their standard ATB2 Ticket Printer. 

The product automatically records, reports and provides documentation for a host of miscellaneous charges, including pre-paid ticket advices, deposits, stop-over arrangements, tour orders, taxes and other fees.

“Every travel agent hates having to do these things manually, because it’s time-consuming and complicated,” said Neil Greatorex at Chambers Travel Management in London.  “This product has helped us improve our work process, and guarantees accuracy. This, in turn, has increased productivity in ticketing, reservations and accounting.  We now rely on automated MCOs and would never return to a manual system.”

“At a time when every agency is looking for ways to sharpen its competitive edge, we believe that products like this add considerable value to what we are able to bring to the traditional GDS/agency relationship,” said David Brown, Sabre Travel Network’s director for the UK, Ireland and the Nordic region.

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