System and method for redemption and exchange of unused tickets

Abstract

A method of facilitating and performing the redemption and exchange of unused tickets includes steps of determining the availability of unused tickets, calculating a redemption value of an available unused ticket, and updating a status of the unused ticket. The availability is determined by querying a database containing information pertaining to unused tickets. The redemption value is calculated based on the application of validation rules. The status is updated after a decision as to whether to redeem the unused ticket has been made. The redemption value is obtainable by exchanging the unused ticket for a new ticket. The tickets may be for air travel.

1 . A method comprising:
 retrieving, by an unused ticket computer-based system, unused ticket passenger name records (PNR) from a plurality of global distribution system (GDS) queues, wherein the retrieving is based on specific formats and commands of a particular GDS and a ticket number associated with the unused ticket;   receiving, by the computer-based system, new price information for a new ticket, wherein the new price information is based upon the new ticket, validation rules using PNR remarks and a value of at least a portion of the unused tickets that can be applied to the price of the new ticket;   adding, by the computer-based system, the new price information to the PNR for the new ticket; and   enabling, by the computer-based system, the new ticket to be purchased based upon the new price information.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving, by the computer-based system, a booking for a new ticket. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising obtaining, by the computer-based system, new ticket information from the PNR associated with a new ticket, wherein the PNR is in a GDS. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising querying, by the computer-based system, a centralized repository of unused tickets. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising updating, by the computer-based system, a status of the unused ticket PNRs to indicate that the unused tickets have been used. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising parsing, by the computer-based system, PNR remarks from the unused ticket PNRs to obtain ticket information related to the unused tickets. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the validation rules using the PNR remarks include using standardized PNR remarks. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising standardizing, by the computer-based system, the PNR remarks to create standardized PNR remarks. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the booking includes at least one of a new booking and a reservation change. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the new price information includes at least one of value from the old ticket to be applied to the new ticket price and restrictions for the new ticket. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting, by the computer-based system, the new price information for the new ticket for consideration; and   receiving, by the computer-based system, approval of the new price information for the new ticket.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the PNR includes at least one of face value of the unused ticket, date of issue of the unused ticket, whether the unused ticket is fully open, whether the unused ticket is partially open, and flight information associated with the unused ticket. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the enabling is restricted to at least one of redemption of the unused ticket, and use of the value of the unused ticket as credit toward the purchase of the new ticket. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing, by the computer-based system, at least one of an indication that the unused ticket is not redeemable towards the value of the new ticket, a reason that the unused ticket is not redeemable towards the value of the new ticket, an alternative new ticket purchase for which the unused ticket is redeemable, an explanation of the value of at least a portion of the unused tickets that can be applied to the price of the new ticket, suggestions for optimizing the new price information, and suggestions for increasing the value of at least a portion of the unused tickets that can be applied to the price of the new ticket. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving, by the computer-based system, a decline of the new price information. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising adjusting, by the computer-based system, at least one of the new price information based on adjustments to the new ticket, the new price information based on adjustments to the value of at least a portion of the unused tickets and the new price information based on adjustments to the validation rules. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the validation rules at least one of include a redemption penalty applied to the price of the new ticket, are based on airline terms and are based on issuing agency terms. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a credit in response to the value of the unused tickets being greater than an original price for the new ticket. 
     
     
         19 . An article of manufacture including a non-transitory, tangible computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by an unused ticket computer-based system, cause the computer-based system to perform operations comprising:
 retrieving, by the computer-based system, unused ticket passenger name records (PNR) from a plurality of global distribution system (GDS) queues, wherein the retrieving is based on specific formats and commands of a particular GDS and a ticket number associated with the unused ticket;   receiving, by the computer-based system, new price information for a new ticket, wherein the new price information is based upon the new ticket, validation rules using PNR remarks and a value of at least a portion of the unused tickets that can be applied to the price of the new ticket;   adding, by the computer-based system, the new price information to the PNR for the new ticket; and   enabling, by the computer-based system, the new ticket to be purchased based upon the new price information.   
     
     
         20 . A system comprising:
 a processor for exchanging unused tickets,   a tangible, non-transitory memory configured to communicate with the processor,   the tangible, non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 retrieving, by the processor, unused ticket passenger name records (PNR) from a plurality of global distribution system (GDS) queues, wherein the retrieving is based on specific formats and commands of a particular GDS and a ticket number associated with the unused ticket; 
 receiving, by the processor, new price information for a new ticket, wherein the new price information is based upon the new ticket, validation rules using PNR remarks and a value of at least a portion of the unused tickets that can be applied to the price of the new ticket; 
 adding, by the processor, the new price information to the PNR for the new ticket; and 
 enabling, by the processor, the new ticket to be purchased based upon the new price information.