Skip Navigation

Get Seats

Air
Seats
REST API
Travel Agency

What is it?

The Get Seats API displays flight seat maps, information about seat availability, free of charge seats and prices for chargeable seats, all in the International Air Transport Association (IATA) New Distribution Capability (NDC) standard format. This API provides different content in certain flows, as outlined below:

  • NDC content in a stateless flow
  • ATPCO content in a payload flow
  • Low Cost Carrier (LCC) content in a payload flow

Note: The API is REST-like and JSON-based but is not a fully RESTful API in its architecture. Note: The GetSeats API supports ATK and ATH session tokens.

Why use it?

Use this service to display seat map details such as availability of the seats, actual seat locations (defined by row and column numbers), seat facilities, information about non-chargeable seats, and prices for chargeable seats (defined by OfferItemId grouped based on a standard set of characteristics).

How it works

  • For NDC content, the Get Seats method connects to external seat map providers (e.g. United Airlines (UA), Qantas Airways (QF)).

    • There is one OfferID given per SeatAvailability response, which can contain multiple seat maps.
    • There is one OfferItemID given for individual seat prices and the set of seat characteristics.
  • For ATPCO content, the Get Seats method connects to the ATPCO database and processes content in accordance with ATPCO standards.

  • For Low Cost Carrier (LCC) content, the Get Seats method connects to Low Cost systems.

  • In all flows, seat attributes obtained from all data sources follow standard seat characteristics, as defined in the Passenger and Airport Data Interchange Standards (PADIS) code set.

How to use

Follow one of the flows to obtain NDC, ATPCO, or LCC content:

GetSeats with OfferID request type

Dedicated to display a seat map for NDC carrier.

Prerequisites: Shop for NDC itinerary Offer using [BargainFinderMax] REST API (https://developer.sabre.com/docs/rest_apis/air/search/bargain_finder_max). Price NDC Offer using [OfferPrice] REST API (https://developer.sabre.com/docs/rest_apis/air/book/offer_price)

Create a Get Seats OfferID request to display the seat map information for the referenced Offer. The response will display seat maps for all segments associated with the provided OfferId.

Notes:

  • Seats are not bookable from seat map displayed after shopping because the prices displayed on the map are not guaranteed until Offer is priced. Therefore, seat map is displayed with view only indicator (sellable: false) after Offer shop. If an attempt is made to book a seat, an error about invalid or expired offer will be returned.
  • Caution! Seats will be bookable from seat map displayed after pricing; however, this functionality will not be available in the first release. Until then at time of seat sell attempt there will be an error returned indicating that the Offer is either invalid or expired. Therefore, in the initial phase it will still be required to create an Order, request a seat map with GetSeats API and then use the Change Order method (/orders/change) in order to book and fulfill a seat.
  • Caution! In the first version release of the Get Seats API stateless flow, selecting a seat will not be available.
  • Caution! Point of Sale application or PCC might be configured to not sell seats for a requested carrier. In that case selecting a seat will not be available.

GetSeats with OrderID request type

Dedicated to display a seat map for NDC carrier.

Prerequisites: Create and save an NDC Order using the Order Management API.

Create a Get Seats Order ID request to display the seat map information for the referenced order. The response will display seat maps for all segments associated with the provided OrderId.

Notes:

  • To further book and fulfill a seat, use the Change Order method (/orders/change) of the Order Management API.
  • Caution! In the first version release of the Get Seats API stateless flow, selecting a seat will not be available.
  • Caution! Point of Sale application or PCC might be configured to not sell seats for a requested carrier. In that case selecting a seat will not be available.

GetSeats Payload request type

Display a seat map for either an ATPCO carrier or for a Low Cost Carrier (LCC):

Prerequisites: None.

Create a Get Seats Payload request by providing all required information, such as paxSegmentRefIds (indicates segment for which map is requested), originDest details and paxes.

Include non-required information (which may influence on the price of the offer) such as fare details (fareComponents), ptc (passenger type code), currency or Frequent Flyer details whenever these data are known.

Please note that it is no longer required to provide PCC in travelAgency element as this information is read from ATK/ATH session.

Note: To book a seat, use the PassengerDetails API or 4G command.

GetSeats Stateless request type

NOT SUPPORTED YET

Display a seat map for either an ATPCO carrier or for a Low Cost Carrier (LCC):

Prerequisites: Created pnr locator.

Create a Get Seats Stateless request by providing pnrLocator.