Bargain Finder Max (BFM) - Sabre GDS

Owned by Malissa Olofernes
Last updated: Mar 12, 2024 by Leif Hanson
6 min read

Introduction

Bargain Finder Max, our best-in-class low fare search product, is used to search for the best offers based upon a specific date. Learn how you can easily configure Bargain Finder Max.

Benefits

  • Increase productivity and profitability.

    • Display an expanded number of low fares and flights in one entry to reduce multiple shopping transactions and decrease time spent searching for low fares.

    • Promote flights that maximize revenue.

  • Click Bargain Finder Max for further information.

Need to know

BFM benefits over ITA

  • Enhanced Air searches.

  • Fare accuracy, especially with global points of sale. This is significantly more accurate than ITA.

  • Private fares are inherited by the GDS based on the initial filing by the airline.

  • More non-stop flights returned.

  • For Southwest airlines, BFM provides live availability versus an ITA snapshot. This reduces the number of fare decrease or increase responses.

Limitations

The BFM request has a lot of parameters and some of them don’t work together. This complexity is only partially documented by Sabre. One of the main problems is an inability to request flights in nearby airports when flexible fares are also requested.

Enabling BFM

Sabre tasks

Ensure all booking PCCs are configured with the following criteria:

  • Have Sabre activate BFM with these options:

    • Anchored search (Needed for Split Ticketing)

    • 200 Tier option (To allow for up to 200 options to be returned)

    • Alternate Airports

    • MBF - Multiple Branded Fares

  • The EPR (Employee Profile Records) that log into web services must have the SUBAAA keyword.

  • Bridge all booking PCCs (with B and C) to the iPCC established for web services.
    Note: All booking PCCs must have access to iPCC.

  • Input the web services log in the credentials into the partner dashboard.

  • Enable MT option in the Travel Journal Record (TJR) for split ticketing support.

    • Sabre format: W/MTKTP¥ON

Air Pricing

Complete the following steps under Agency Settings.  For further information click Agency Settings.

  1. Enter the customer code that is used to query for airline negotiated rates in the GDS:

    • Customer Code. If you don't enter a code, the default is ADT (Adult)

  2. Price and store fare using GDS branded fare codes

    • Select from drop-down (Recommended) - Yes

      • Use superdomain settings

        • Check superdomain settings if your Superdomain is configured with Yes. This would have been set during your initial set up with Deem.

      • No

      • Yes

Negotiated Rates

Note: Before setting up agency-negotiated airline fares (called "rates" in this section), ensure ATPCO/SNAP code is loaded and pricing within Sabre PCC

  1. Enter the customer code that is used to query for airline negotiated rates in the GDS: (Optional)

    • The value in this field is applied when pricing the Selected flights.

    • Enter only one customer code into the Customer Code field. Subsequent customer codes must be added to an airline private rate. See Airline Private Rates for instructions.

  2. Enter the ATPCO account codes that are used to query for airline negotiated rates from ITA:

    • While the field only states ITA, this field is also used for BFM

    • Enter ATPCO/ATPCO’s values separated by a comma.
      Note: Enter all ATPCO/SNAP codes separated by a common, to ensure as these are passed on for pricing.

  3. Specify the locales associated with the ATPCO account codes:

    1. Pseudo City Locale: 

      • Select Sales or Home
        Sales is typically selected

    2. IATA Locale:

      • Select Sales or Home
        Sales is typically selected

Preferred Vendor

Preferred Air

  • It is important to set up your preferred vendors based on their contracts and location/locations.

  • By setting preferred carriers within a market, you will improve the search experience for your client.  Such as British Airways from the United States to London. The search results will bring back much better search results for the client.  Including their flagship carriers.

  • Click Preferred Vendors link for further details.

Configure Display Configurations

It is important to set up your display configuration to enable Bargain Finder Max.

  1. Select the Services tab.

  2. Select Display Configuration.

  3. Select Display Configuration List.

  4. Click each Display Configuration and complete the following steps:

    1. Select a method for shopping airline itineraries.

    2. Select from list: User Superdomain setting
      Note: If you do not have your Superdomain set up for BFM, or you are not sure, refer to the next section.

    3. Navigate to the bottom of the screen and click Save.

      1. If you are not sure if your Superdomain has been set up, please verify your status prior to committing your changes.

      2. Once you have confirmed all configurations, commit your changes.

      3. Test your changes.

Configure Superdomain Configurations

To set up your Method for shopping airline itineraries:

  1. Select Configuration from the home page of the Deem Partner Dashboard.

  1. Select Manage Travel Configuration List.

  1. Select Add New Travel Configuration.

  1. Enter the Name of the new configuration.

  1. Select Yes for Enable trip template.

    Note:  Under Display Configurations at a site level you will have the options of: Superdomain, Yes or No.  By selecting Superdomain you are selecting what you have programmed in this section.

  2. Select the following:

    1. Low fare search method:  Select GDS Web Services.

    2. Confirm price in GDS for non-US Trips:  Select Yes.

    3. Enable GDS based schedule search: Select Yes.

    4. Default search method for flights: 

      1. Select by Price (Recommended).

      2. Select by Schedule.

    5. Expand flight results to include non-stops when available: Select Yes.

    6. Enable flexible fare search: Select Yes.

    7. Allow anytime search for flights: Select No.

    8. Allow flight solutions that require more than one ticket: Select Yes.

    9. Allow 'Morning, Afternoon and Evening' search for flights: Select No.

    10. Default the flight result sorting view to: Select Policy/Preferred.

    11. Price and store fare using GDS branded fare codes: Select Yes.

    12. Location Search Body Copy: Leave blank.

    13. Select a method for shopping hotel inventory: Select Both GDS and Ancillary.

    14. Select the maximum number of guests allowed per hotel room booking: Select 1 - 4 based on your agency requirements.

    15. Enable Trip Advisor Reviews: Select Yes or No based on you agency requirements.

  3. Click Save.

  1. Navigate back to the Configurations tab.

  2. Select Manage Travel Configuration Sets.

  1. Select Add A New Travel Configuration Set.

  1. Enter the Set Name.

  2. Click Add Travel Configuration.

  1. Select the radio button left of the set you would like to add to the configuration.

  2. Click Add.

  1. Click Save.

  2. Navigate back to the Configurations tab.

  3. Select Apply Travel Configuration to Domain Groups.

  1. Select the configuration set you just created.

  1. Click All Domains within the box labeled Domain Groups Not Assigned.

  2. Click Add. All Domains will move over to box labeled Assigned Domain Groups.

  3. Click Save.

  1. Commit Changes.

  1. Test your changes.