D, d

dabble agent. Derogatory term for a part-time travel agent. Sometimes applied to any outside agent or independent contractor as a slur on their professionalism.
daily program. On a cruise ship, a listing of the day's activities.
dais. Raised platform in a room or hall on which a speaker's lectern or table for VIPs is situated.
DAPO. CRS. Do all possible.
database. 1. Any collection of information on a specific subject or area. Specifically, a computerized collection of such information. 2. A computer program designed to store such information.
DATAS II. A computer reservation system which is now part of Worldspan.
Davey Jones' locker. Slang. The bottom of the ocean.
davit. A crane on a ship that's used to raise and lower anchors, lifeboats, and cargo.
day rate. 1. In hotels, the fee charged for a stay of limited duration, typically during daylight hours. 2. A fee charged for the use of a facility during a twenty-four hour period.
day tripper. Brit. A person whose round-trip travel will be completed on the same day. On a longer leisure trip, a day tripper will make a series of one-day excursions to different locales to avoid changing hotels.
daylight savings time. An artificial forward adjustment of the clock in the Spring. Instituted to increase business by adding more hours of daylight in the evening.
d.b.a. Abr. Doing business as (qv).
dbl. Abr. Double (qv).
DBLB. CRS. Double room with bath.
DBLN. CRS. Double room without shower or bath.
DBLS. CRS. Double room with shower.
DC. Abr. Direct current.
DCSN. CRS. Decision.
DEA. Drug Enforcement Agency.
dead ahead. Straight in front of the ship's bow.
dead calm. No wind. Zero on the Beaufort scale (qv).
dead reckoning. In navigation, a way of calculating a ship's or plane's position without reference to sun or stars, based on speed, direction, and drift.
deadend booking. A booking that is completed on a CRS but never ticketed. Deadend bookings can result from training new hires, forgetfulness, or fraud on the part of the travel agent.
deadhead. v. To return without paying cargo, whether freight or passengers. Used of commercial vehicles.
deadlight. A ventilated porthole cover that prevents light from entering.
DEAF. CRS. Deaf passenger.
debark. To get off a plane or ship.
debit memo. An informal invoice (qv) from a supplier showing an additional amount due. ARC (qv) will issue a debit memo when it feels the agency has made an error.
debug. A computer term meaning to identify and correct mistakes in a computer program. By extension, to correct mistakes in other contexts.
deck. The floor of a ship. A level on a ship.
deck chair. On a cruise ship, a reclining chair designed for lounging.
deck plan. Drawing or "map" that shows the layout of a ship's decks, cabins, and other areas.
deck steward. Member of a ship's crew who provides passengers with drinks, towels, deck chairs, etc.
decode. Translate from code into ordinary language.
decommission. To remove a ship from active service.
dedicated line. A telephone line that is used for ("dedicated to") a single purpose, such as a fax machine. May also refer to an electrical line.
deductible. 1. n. In insurance, the amount the customer must pay before the insurance kicks in. 2. adj. Used to describe business and other expenditures that you may subtract from your gross income in figuring your income tax liability.
deep six. Slang. To throw overboard. By extension, to throw away anything, usually with the motive of concealing its existence.
default. 1. v. To fail to supply contracted goods or services or refund the money paid for them. 2. n. In a computer program, a pre-programmed setting, which can sometimes be changed or modified by the user.
deluxe. Fr. Literally, "of luxury." Room or hotel in an excellent location with luxurious furnishings or accommodations.
demi-pension. Fr. Half pension (qv).
demo. 1. Slang. Demonstration. 2. Video or other visual or hands-on unit used in a sales demonstration.
demonstration effect. The phenomenon of local residents adopting the styles and manners they have observed in visiting tourists.
demographics. Age, income, marital status, ethnicity, and other statistical characteristics of populations. Used in marketing to analyze and identify markets.
denied-boarding compensation. Payment given passengers who've been bumped from a flight, cruise, or land-tour. May be a free trip, money, or accommodations.
dep. Abr. 1. Departure. 2. Deposit (qv).
DEP. CRS. 1. Scheduled departure time. 2. After departure, the time the flight departed.
departure tax. Tax levied on travelers when they leave a country.
deplane. v. To get off a plane.
deplate. v. Withdraw the right of a travel agency to issue tickets for an airline.
deposit. Payment made to hold space on a tour or accommodations. May be fully or partially refundable if the passenger cancels with enough advance notice.
depot. 1. Bus or train station. 2. Storage place for goods or motor vehicles.
depreciable asset. Any property owned by a business that is subject to depreciation (qv) for tax purposes.
depreciation. In taxation, a deduction taken to account for the decline in value of assets, such as machines used in a business, over a period of time. Used to offset the cost of acquiring the asset. See also expensing.
dereg. Slang. Deregulation (qv).
deregulation. Elimination of regulation. Usually used to refer to the U.S. government's elimination of restrictions on airlines' fares, routes, etc. Enacted in 1978.
designated driver. Member of a group who refrains from drinking alcoholic beverages in order to drive the group home safely.
designator, designator code. A two- or three-digit alphanumeric code uniquely identifying airlines and airports throughout the world. Administered by IATA (qv).
destination. Place to which a person is traveling or a thing is sent.
destination management company. A local company that handles arrangements for tours, meetings, transportation, and so forth, for groups originating elsewhere.
destination marketing organization. A company or other entity involved in the business of increasing tourism to a destination or improving its public image.
destination specialist. A person who has passed a test administered by an accrediting body certifying that he or she possesses an expert level of knowledge about a specific tourist destination or region.
destination wedding. A wedding that takes place in a location other than the bride and groom's home, typically a popular tourist destination.
DET. CRS. Domestic escorted tour. A packaged tour, with guide, that takes place in your own country.
detached interface. A computer configuration that allows additional functions (such as accounting) to be performed while primary functions (such as ticketing) are in progress.
detente. Fr. A state of lessened tension or hostility between nations.
devaluation. The decrease in value of one currency in relation to another, usually by action of the government. When a currency is devalued, it buys less in foreign markets.
DEW Line. Abr. Distant Early Warning line. A line of radar stations set up to give advance warning of enemy air attack.
differential. 1. The difference in price, quality, etc. between comparable products or services. 2. The amount of the difference. 3. Amount owed or credited due to a change in the class of service.
dig. Slang. An area of archeological excavation.
digs. Brit. slang. Living accommodations.
dine-around plan. Prepaid plan (such as a modified American plan) that allows guests to choose among a number of restaurants. Typically, the restaurants will all be owned by the same company.
diner. 1. The restaurant car on a train. 2. A small, usually very informal restaurant. 3. Person eating in a restaurant.
dinghy. A small oared boat.
diplomatic immunity. A provision of international law which exempts the diplomats of one country from the laws of a country to which they are assigned.
diplomatic plates. Automobile license plates, usually of a distinct design, issued to the vehicles of accredited diplomats.
direct access. System or program that gives the user the capability of tapping directly into a vendor's computer system to get last-minute information about seat or product availability.
direct billing. System in which a corporation's travel agency bills employees for their business travel. The employee must then submit an expense accounting and be reimbursed by the corporation.
direct flight. Any flight between two places that carries a single flight number. Unlike a nonstop, a direct flight will make one or more stops between the two places. The passenger may have to change planes or even change airlines. This is a change in meaning. In the past, direct flights made stops but required no change of plane.
direct mail. 1. A form of marketing in which sellers offer their products or services to buyers by mail, instead of (or in addition to) through agents or stores. 2. A form of advertising in which sellers promote their products or services by mail. Many recipients consider direct mail ads "junk mail."
direct spending. In the tourism industry, any money that goes directly from a tourist's pocket into the local economy. See also, indirect spending.
directional selling. Booking with suppliers with whom the agency has a preferred supplier relationship.
directional tariff. A lower fare for one segment of an itinerary, usually requiring round-trip travel or available only during certain time periods.
dirigible. A blimp (qv).
dis. Abr. Discontinued.
disburse. To pay out (money).
disclaimer, disclaimer of liability. A formal denial of legal and financial responsibility for monetary losses or other injury incurred as a result of advice given or products or services sold. Example: A travel agent would use a disclaimer to ward off claims for injuries or losses a client might incur while traveling, as a result, say, of a charter cancellation or an accident while white-water rafting.
disclosure. The act of making something known. Example: By law, airline ads must disclose all the restrictions on the special fares they advertise.
discontinued date. The date on which a fare, or other offer, expires.
discotheque. Nightclub for dancing.
discount fare. A special fare, usually offered for a limited time and in a limited quantity.
discretionary income. The amount a person has left to spend, save, or invest after paying all bills.
disembark. To get off a plane, ship, or train.
disk. A magnetic file used in computers.
display bias. A discontinued practice in which a CRS (qv) would display it's owners' flights first. See also architectural bias.
distribution. 1. The process of delivering products or services to customers. 2. The full extent of a supplier's distribution network.
district sales manager. The individual responsible for managing sales at the district level for a hotel, airline, cruise line, or other supplier. Depending on the company, may be primarily a salesperson or a manager of salespeople.
DIT. CRS. Domestic Independent Tour/Traveler.
dive boat. A small vessel outfitted for the needs of scuba divers. May or may not have accommodations.
divestiture. The compulsory transfer of title or disposal of interests (for example, in a corporation or real estate) upon government order, often to satisfy antitrust legislation and ensure competition. Example: In the early eighties, the federal government required the divestiture of the regional telephone companies by AT&T.
DLX. CRS. Deluxe room.
DM. Abr. 1. District manager. 2. Deutschemark.
D-Mark. Abr. Deutschemark.
DMC. 1. CRS. Directional Minimum Check. The check a travel agent must make to be sure that the fare (charged) isn't lower than the minimum applicable fare (in either direction). 2. Destination management company (qv) or consultants.
DMO. Abr. 1. Destination marketing organization. 2. District marketing office.
DO. CRS. Drop-off.
docent. A guide in a museum or art gallery.
dock. 1. n. The waterway between piers (qv) for the reception of ships. 2. n. A place for loading or unloading cargo or other materials. 3. A berth, pier, or quay. 4. v. To come into dock; to become docked.
docs. Slang. Documents.
docs rec'd. Abbr. Documents received.
dog and pony show. Slang. A derogatory term for a sales presentation.
doing business as. A phrase indicating that a corporation has registered with the state to conduct business under a name other than its official corporate name. Typically abbreviated dba. A corporation might have several dba's.
dom. Abr. Domestic.
dome car. A train car with a domed plexiglass top for sightseeing. Also called a bubble car (qv).
domestic airline. An air carrier that provides service within its own country. Also called a domestic carrier.
domestic escorted tour. Escorted tour (qv) for traveling within one's own country, typically used to refer to U.S. tours.
domestic fare. Fare charged for travel within a country.
domicile. Place of residence, home.
dormette. An airline seat that reclines to sleeping position. Used on some carriers for long-distance runs. Also called a sleeperette.
DOT. Department of Transportation.
dot-matrix printer. A printer, used with a computer, that forms letters and numbers with a series of ink dots. Dot-matrix printers produce a lower print quality than laser printers.
double. A room designed to be shared by two people. It may have one double (or larger) bed, two twin beds, or two double (or larger) beds. Rooms with two double beds are sometimes called a "double double."
double booking. The practice of booking and confirming two or more reservations when only one will be used.
double-double. A hotel room with two double beds, sometimes called a twin double.
double occupancy rate. The rate charged when two people will occupy a room, suite, apartment, etc. For example, a hotel might charge an individual $100 per night for a room (single occupancy) but charge two people only $130 for double occupancy of the same room.
double-decker. A bus, or other conveyance, with two levels; used as public transportation in some cities, and exclusively for sightseeing and other special uses in other areas.
down. Slang. Inoperable (as in "The computer is down."). Often used of computers and computer networks when they shut down as a result of power failures, system crashes, operator errors, quirks in the system, or downtime (qv) on networks or reservation systems.
Down East. Slang. Extreme northeast New England. Maine.
Down Under. An affectionate term for Australia and, to a lesser extent, New Zealand.
downgrade. To move to a lower grade or quality of services or accommodations.
downline. 1. All segments, legs, or cities listed below the originating or headline city (on a schedule or CRS). 2. The members, in rank order, of a multi-level marketing program.
download. v. To transfer a file or files from a remote computer to a local computer electronically.
downsizing. A corporate restructuring aimed at making the organization smaller, more efficient, and more profitable by selling ("spinning off") various product lines and/or business units and permanently eliminating many jobs.
downtime. 1. Time during which production is stopped for repairs or alterations to a system, network, machine, or program. 2. Slang. Time a person spends sleeping or vegging out.
downtown. The business district of a city.
DPLX. CRS. Duplex (qv).
DPP. Default protection plan. An insurance policy that protects the holder against a supplier's failure to deliver products or services or refund the money paid for them.
DPST. CRS. Deposit.
dptr. Abr. Departure.
draft. (Brit. draught) Measurement in feet from a ship's waterline (qv) to the lowest point of its keel (qv).
drag. The aerodynamic force that slows a plane in flight.
dram shop legislation. Any law regulating the sale of alcoholic beverages in bars and restaurants.
draw. An amount paid to a salesperson on a regular basis and deducted from his or her commission earnings. Also referred to as a "draw against commission."
drayage. The charge assessed for transporting goods.
dress circle. The mezzanine (qv) or first balcony of a theater, especially an opera house.
drill. A practice exercise, as a lifeboat drill on a cruise ship.
drive-away company. A company that transports automobiles and other vehicles by finding people who will drive them to their destination.
drive-in. 1. n. An outdoor movie theater where people watch from their cars. 2. adj. Any service designed to be provided to customers in their cars.
drop-off charge. An add-on fee that may be assessed when a rental car or other rental vehicle is dropped off at a location other than the one where it was rented. Usually a flat amount.
DRS. CRS. Direct reference system.
dry dock. 1. n. Dock (qv) that can be emptied of water while a ship is being repaired. 2. v. To put into dry dock.
dry lease. The rental of a boat, or other vehicle, without a crew or supplies.
DSM. Abr. District sales manager (qv).
DSO. Abr. District sales office. May also be called a DMO (qv).
DSPL. CRS. Display.
DTIA. Dive Travel Industry Association.
dual designated carrier. Air carrier that uses another airline's code in flight schedule displays. See also code sharing.
duck boats. World War II-vintage boats that are sometimes used for river tours.
DUI. Abr. Driving under the influence (of alcohol or another drug).
dumbwaiter. A small, hand-operated elevator system used to transport food and dishes from one level to another, as between the kitchen and dining room.
dump store. In a theme park, a shop so located that everyone exiting a ride or attraction must pass through it.
dungeon. A prison or chamber that's dark and usually underground.
duplex. 1. A two-family house. A house that contains two separate dwelling units. 2. An apartment with rooms on two floors. 3. Separate accommodations that share walls.
dutiable. Subject to duty (qv).
duty. A tax; most often applied to imported goods.
duty-free. adj. Being exempt from import tax. Most often applied to goods bought in special airport shops just before boarding for a trip to another country.
DWB. CRS. Double (qv) room with bath.
DXA. CRS. Deferred cancellation area.