B, b

B&B. n. Bed and breakfast. Traditionally, a private home which takes in guests, with breakfast included in the price of lodging. B&Bs can range from modest homes with one spare room to elaborately restored historic houses with luxury prices. Used increasingly to describe any lodging arrangement that includes breakfast, even in a hotel.
BA. CRS. BankAmericard.
back of the house. Support and service areas usually not seen by guests of a hotel or theme park.
back office. adj. Describing business activities, such as accounting, that typically take place out of the view of customers.
back to back. Sequential booking of two different tours, so that the traveler has a continuous journey. Also used to describe arrangements in which one group arrives as another departs.
back to back ticketing. A strategy used to reduce the cost of a round trip involving no Saturday stay when the cost of two excursions is less than the cost of one unrestricted fare. For example, if a traveler wants to fly from New York to Denver on Monday and return Thursday, he would purchase two excursions, one from New York to Denver beginning on the Monday and the other from Denver to New York departing on the Thursday. The traveler then uses only the outbound portion of each excursion. The itinerary can be designed in such a way that the return portions of each excursion can be used on another trip. A technically illegal practice discouraged by the airlines. Also called "nested excursions."
backhaul. 1. The movement of an airliner, or other vehicle, from a destination to the point of origin. 2. The shipment of cargo on a returning vehicle.
backwash. 1. A disturbance of the water caused by a ship's propellers turning in reverse. 2. The turbulence caused by the exhaust of a jet plane.
Baedecker.
baggage. All of a passenger's or traveler's personal belongings, whether checked or unchecked. See also checked baggage and unchecked baggage.
baggage check. The claim check (qv) or receipt, usually numbered, issued to a passenger for his or her luggage.
baggage claim. The area at an airport or other terminal where passengers retrieve their checked luggage.
bagonize. Slang. To wait in agony at the airport luggage carousel for your luggage to appear.
bait and switch. An illegal sales tactic in which a consumer is lured by a low price only to be told that the "special offer" is no longer available and steered to a higher priced product.
baksheesh. Arabic. Literally, "gift." A constant refrain of street beggars, the word is also used to refer to "gifts" or bribes paid to facilitate business.
balance sheet. A financial report detailing a company's assets and liabilities as of a specific date.
balcony. An open-air space or platform off a room. The uppermost level of a theater.
ballast. Any weight placed in a ship's hold, or other special compartment, to increase stability or reduce motion. Weight used in a hot air balloon to control altitude.
bank rate. The official rate at which currency trades between banks. Usually more favorable that the rate that can be obtained by the traveler from the bank.
Bank Settlement Plan.
bankruptcy. A legal proceeding in which a company seeks protection from its creditors while it either reorganizes in the hope of surviving or liquidates its assets. Thus, a bankrupt company may or may not still be conducting business.
banquet event order. A document providing complete and precise instructions to a hotel for the running of a banquet, meeting, or other event to be held in the hotel. Also called a function sheet.
banqueting room. A room, typically at a hotel, available for rent for a public function at which food may or may not be served.
bar. 1. A retail establishment or a counter in a restaurant which sells or dispenses alcohol. 2. In navigation, a sandbar.
bareboat charter. A charter of a boat or yacht which does not include supplies or crew.
barge. A low draft (qv) vessel, often towed or pushed, used to transport cargo. A vessel designed for use on inland waterways and canals.
barge cruising. Pleasure cruises along canal systems, using converted commercial barges or new vessels built to resemble them.
barometer. A instrument which measures air pressure. Used to forecast weather.
barometric pressure. The density of the atmosphere, which varies according to altitude and weather conditions.
barrier island. A narrow strip of land lying just offshore that protects the main coastline from high waves.
barrier reef. A line of coral that protects the main shore line, usually of an island, from high waves.
barter. Buying and selling without the exchange of money. Purchasing by means of the exchange of goods or services. Typically, airlines will exchange airline seats for goods or services rendered by various suppliers.
base fare. The fare, as of an airline ticket, before tax has been added. Commissions are calculated on the base fare.
basis two. Another term for double occupancy.
bassinet. A small, portable crib for an infant.
batch mode. A computer operation in which a specific task, ticketing, for example, is performed on a group of records.
BB. CRS. Buffet breakfast.
BBML. CRS. Baby meal.
BBR. CRS. Bank buying rate.
BCHFT. CRS. Beachfront.
beam. A measurement of a ship's width at its widest point. bearing. The compass direction in which a vessel is traveling.
Beaufort Scale. A scientific scale from zero to seventeen measuring wind force.
bed and breakfast. See B&B.
bed night. In the hotel industry, a measurement of occupancy. One person for one night.
bedienung. Ger. Gratuity included.
bedroom. A railway compartment for two, with toilet and sink.
beeper. A paging device which alerts the user that a telephone message has been received.
bell captain. The person in charge of a shift of a hotel's bellhops (qv).
bellhop. In a hotel, the person who carries a guest's luggage to or from the room and performs sundry other services. The term, short for "bell-hopper," derives from the bell used in hotels to summon someone to carry a guest's luggage.
bellman and bellstaff. See "bellhop."
below. n. On a ship, any area underneath the main deck.
benchmarking. The practice of studying the methods of an acknowledged leader in an industry as a way of setting standards for one's own operation.
Benelux. Nickname for the area comprised by Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.
BEO. Abr. Banquet event order (qv).
bereavement fare. A lower airline fare offered to those traveling due to a death or illness in their immediate family.
Bermuda Plan. A hotel arrangement which includes a full breakfast with the room rate.
Bermuda Triangle. A triangular area of the Atlantic whose apices are Bermuda, Miami, and the Lesser Antilles. Reputed to be the site of numerous mysterious disappearances of planes and ships.
berth. 1. A bed on a ship, usually attached to the bulkhead (qv). 2. By extension, a passenger's stateroom. 3. The space on a dock at which a ship or boat is moored. See also slip.
beyond rights. See freedom rights.
BG. Abr. Business group.
BHC. CRS. Backhaul check (qv).
BIC.
bicentenary. The 200th anniversary.
bidet. A porcelain bathroom fixture, common in European hotels, designed to bathe a woman's external genitalia and for douching.
BIKE. CRS. Bicycle.
bike lane.
bikeway.
bilateral agreement. A treaty or other agreement, usually between sovereign nations, detailing their mutual understanding, policies, and obligations on a particular matter, such as trade or airline landing rights.
bilge. The bottommost part of a ship's interior. In seaman's slang, worthless talk.
bilingual. Written in or speaking two languages.
bill of fare. A menu.
bimini.
binnacle. On a ship, the holder for the compass.
biodegradable. Capable of being broken down into its constituent elements by natural processes. Used to describe "environmentally friendly" products.
biodiversity.
biorhythms. The natural cycles of the human body, said to vary from person to person and to be affected by travel. See also jet lag.
bioterrorism.
bird dog. n. A person who drums up or brings in business for a travel agency.
birdcage. Slang. Air traffic control term for the airspace in the immediate vicinity of an airport.
bistro. Fr. A small restaurant, featuring simple fare, sometimes with entertainment.
black market. Illegal trade, commerce, or currency exchange which evades taxes, governmental oversight, or both.
black-water rafting.
blacked out. Not available. See also blackout dates.
blackout dates, blackout periods. Dates on which tickets or certain fares are not available. Blackout dates usually coincide with holidays and peak travel seasons.
BLCY. CRS. Balcony (qv).
blimp. A lighter-than-air airship. Used primarily as an advertising vehicle or a camera platform for sporting events; occasionally used for tourist excursions.
BLND. CRS. Passenger is blind.
block(ed) space. n. Seats, berths, or rooms set aside for group sale. Also, v., to reserve such space.
board. 1. To get on a plane, train, or ship. 2. Meals, as in a hotel stay.
board of directors setup. Configuration of a meeting room in which chairs are placed around rectangular or oval conference tables.
boarding pass. A ticket-like form or stub, usually containing a seat assignment, issued to a boarding passenger. Serves as an additional check in the boarding process.
boat bite.
boat deck. The deck on a cruise ship on which the lifeboats are located.
boat station. A ship's passenger's assigned space during lifeboat drills or an actual emergency.
boatel. Combining "boat" and "hotel." A motel for boaters.
bodega. Sp. A wine cellar. By extension, a winery. In some Spanish speaking countries, a bar or grocery store.
bon voyage. Fr. Literally, "good voyage." The traditional farewell for those departing by ship.
bond. A sum of money held in escrow to assure full payment or to indemnify a party against financial loss. An insurance agreement that accomplishes the same ends.
bonded. Protected or guaranteed by a bond.
bonnet. Brit. The hood of a car.
booking. A reservation. booking code. The code used to make a booking on a CRS (qv) for a specific fare. Also called a fare code (qv).
booking fee. The charge levied by a CRS on a supplier for handling a reservation.
boot. Brit. The trunk of a car.
booth. An exhibit area at a trade show. A covered-over stall in a market.
bottom line. The net profit or result in a transaction. By extension, the final word or the outcome.
boutique hotel. A small property, typically offering an enhanced level of service and marketed to the affluent.
boutique operation. Any business venture that seeks to provide an enhanced level of service, at a premium price, to a select clientele.
bow. The front of a ship.
BP. CRS. Breakfast plan or Bermuda Plan (qv).
BPR. CRS. Boarding Pass Reserved or Boarding Pre-Reserved. A boarding pass with seating assignment arranged at the time of booking.
brasserie. Fr. A restaurant serving hearty fare, usually with a liquor and coffee bar.
breakage. A budget line item for items that will be broken and have to be replaced during a specific time period, for example glasses in a restaurant.
breakdown. The process of clearing and cleaning a meeting room, as in a hotel, after a function.
break-even point. The dollar figure at which an enterprise begins to show a profit. The amount of sales that must be reached for a project to become worthwhile.
break-out room. A smaller room, near a larger meeting room, for use when a larger group breaks into sections.
brewpub. A bar or restaurant that brews its own beer and ale on the premises.
bridge. On a ship, the navigational center. Where the captain stands.
bridge officers. On a cruise ship, the personnel charged with the navigation of the ship.
briefing. An informational talk, usually given to those with a professional need to know the information being dispensed.
briefing tour. A tour, usually for travel agents and other industry personnel, intended to acquaint them with a new destination or new procedures.
brioche. Fr. A type of breakfast roll.
Brit. Slang. A Briton. A citizen of the British Isles.
Britannia. The mythical female personification of Britain.
BritRail. British Railways.
brochure. Any piece of promotional literature.
brown bagging. Bringing one's own food. In a restaurant, bringing wine or liquor when the restaurant is not licensed to serve alcohol.
browser. A software program enabling users to navigate the World Wide Web and the Internet.
BSI. CRS. Basic Sine In.
BSO. CRS. Basic Sine Out.
BSP. CRS. Bank Settlement Plan. See Area Settlement Plan.
BTD. Business Travel Department, usually of a large corporation.
BTH. CRS. Bath.
BTS. Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
bubble car. A train car with a domed plexiglass top for sightseeing. Also called a dome car (qv).
bucket shop. Brit. slang. A consolidator (qv). Any retail outlet dealing in discounted airfares.
budget. 1. adj. Accommodations, tours, restaurants, etc. which are low in price and appeal to the frugal traveler. 2. n. A written plan outlining limits on expenditures. 3. v. To cost out an itinerary or trip.
budget fare. Any of a number of heavily restricted airline fares offering a substantial discount off the normal fare (qv).
buffer zone. 1. A demilitarized zone between two countries, intended to decrease the likelihood of hostilities. 2. An imaginary area extending 225 miles north and south of the United States border. Flights within this area are subject to US tax.
buffet. A serve-yourself meal featuring several choices in each course.
bug. A defect or malfunction in a computer program. By extension, any glitch in a system.
Buginese schooner. A two-masted sailing vessel or schooner of Indonesian design, accommodating 12 to 18 passengers, used by some soft-adventure tour operators.
bulk contract. An agreement whereby an airline sells large blocks of seats at a discount for resale by a third party.
bulk fare. A fare available only when buying blocks of seats.
bulk mail. A US Post Office category of presorted third-class mail mailed at a special low rate.
bulkhead. The walls on a ship or airplane, dividing the vessel into sections or compartments.
bulkhead seats. On an airplane, the seats immediately aft (qv) of a bulkhead, usually with limited legroom.
bullet train.
bumping. The practice of denying seats, usually on an airline, to ticketed passengers due to overbooking or in favor of other passengers with a higher priority.
bundling. The practice of combining a number of different products or services for sale at a single price.
bungaloft.
bungalow. A cottage. A small house. In hotels, a room or suite that is a separate building.
bunker. On a ship, a storage place for fuel.
buoy. A floating navigational marker, used to mark channels or warn of danger.
burg. Ger. suffix. A fortified place. A medieval city.
burgher. A resident of a town. A solid citizen.
burgomaster. In several European countries, a mayor or chief magistrate of a town.
burro. A small pack animal, a donkey.
bush, the bush. Wild, unsettled land; by extension, any rural locale. Frequently used in Australia and other former colonial countries to indicate "the country" as opposed to "the city."
bus. 1. n. A multi-seated vehicle used for inter- and intracity transportation. Sometimes called a "motorcoach," especially when specially designed for carrying tourists. 2. v. To transport by bus. 3. v. To clear tables, as in a restaurant.
busboy. A low-level restaurant employee who clears tables, serves water, etc. Sometimes "busman" or "busperson."
Bushman. 1. A member of a nomadic tribe in Southern Africa. 2. In Australia, one who lives in "the bush," the rural areas of the country.
business class. A relatively new class of airline service, positioned in marketing as between first-class and coach. Designed to appeal to the business traveler. The amenities provided in business class vary from carrier to carrier.
business mix. In a travel agency, the percentage of corporate to leisure travel booked.
bust-out, bust-out operation. A scheme in which an ARC-appointed agency sells large numbers of airline tickets in a short period but does not deposit the funds with ARC. The agency then goes out of business and the owners abscond with the funds.
buy forward. Enter into a forward transaction (qv).
buyback agreement. In the rental car industry, a practice in which automobile companies repurchase their cars at a set price after a negotiated period of time.
buyer's market. An economic condition in which supply exceeds demand, resulting in very favorable prices for buyers.
buyer's remorse. A tendency to have second thoughts about a purchase, which often leads to cancelling the sale.
buying market share. A practice in which a company offers goods or services at extremely low prices or at a loss to attract large numbers of customers, in the expectation that many of these customers will remain loyal even when prices move upwards in the future.
BVI. British Virgin Islands.
BWI. British West Indies. Sometimes pronounced "BeeWee."
bypass. 1. A route that goes around a city or other congested area. 2. v. To skip or avoid a destination on a trip. 3. The practice of marketing or selling direct to the public, without travel agents. See also agent bypass.