P, p

PA. 1. CRS. Via the Pacific. 2. Public Announcement System
PAC. CRS. Personal accident coverage. See also PAI, PIP.
pacing. The practice of making travel arrangements in such a way that sufficient time will be allotted for various activities.
package.
page. v. To call for a person, especially over a public address system in a public place, as an airport.
PAHO. Pan-American Health Organization.
PAI. CRS. Personal accident insurance (qv).
P&L. Abr. Profit and loss.
Pan-American. adj. Embracing North, Central, and South America, as the Pan-American Highway.
panhandle.
par. 1. Equality or a level of equality. 2. A standard commonly accepted in most instances. 3. The number of strokes allotted to complete a hole in golf.
parador. Sp. A hotel, especially one that has been converted from a historic building such as a castle or monastery.
passenger space ratio. A statistical measure that compares the total public space of a cruise ship to the passenger capacity, resulting in the theoretical amount of public space allotted to each passenger. A high passenger space ratio indicates a roomy ship.
parcel. 1. A piece of undeveloped land. 2. A package.
parish. A geopolitical division, equivalent to a county.
parliamentary procedure. A system for running meetings patterned on the rules of Britain's Parliament.
parlor car. On a train, a car providing more comfortable seating and/or food service.
PARS®. A former computerized reservation system (qv).
partnership. A legal form of business ownership comprising two or more individuals.
passenger facility charge. A fee imposed by a facility owner, as an airport, on those using the facility; typically added to the cost of a fare.
passenger mile. A statistical norm comprising one passenger traveling one mile. Passenger mileage is determined by multiplying the total number of miles flown (for airlines) by the total number of passengers carried.
passenger name record. A file on a computerized reservation system containing all the information relating to a specific booking. Also called "personal name record."
Passenger Network Services Corporation. Former name of International Airlines Travel Agent Network (IATAN).
passenger sales agent. Travel agent.
passenger service agent. An airline employee assigned to assist passengers checking in and boarding.
passenger service representative. An airline employee assigned to providing information and other services, such as wheelchair assistance.
passenger terminal indicator. A one- or two-digit code, administered by IATA, which identifies specific passenger terminals at airports having more than one such terminal.
passenger traffic manager. 1. An airport-based airline manager. 2. Individual in a company who handles travel arrangements for other employees.
passive booking, passive segment. A segment entered in a CRS (qv) that does not result in a ticket being issued. Typically used by agents to generate itineraries or make notes.
passport. A document identifying an individual as a citizen of a specific country and attesting to his or her identity and ability to travel freely.
password. Any alphanumeric string used to identify a specific individual to a computer, computer program, computer network, or similar system.
PATA. Pacific Asia Travel Association.
pavilion. 1. An exhibit hall at an exposition. 2. Any open sided building or tent. 3. A section of a building projecting out from that building.
PAWOB. Abr. Passenger arriving without baggage.
pax. Abr. Passenger. Passengers.
payload. 1. The percentage of total weight, as in an airplane, that represents revenue-producing passengers or cargo.
PC. 1. Abr. Public charter (qv). 2. Personal Computer
PDM. CRS. Possible duplicate message.
PDQ. Abr. Immediately, as soon as possible. (Literally, "pretty darn quick.")
PDR. Abr. People's Democratic Republic (of China).
PDW. Abr. Personal damage waiver. See collision damage waiver.
peak fare. A higher fare that applies during periods of maximum demand for a destination.
PEC. Abr. Personal effects coverage (qv).
penalty fare. Fare subject to a deduction or other fee should the passenger change the itinerary or cancel.
pension. Fr. or Sp. A small hotel or boarding house.
penthouse. 1. An apartment or suite on the top floor of a hotel or top deck of a cruise ship. 2. The top floor of a hotel.
people mover. Any motorized device for moving people over short distances. Typically, a flat escalator-like rubber mat in the corridors of an airport terminal. See also moving sidewalk.
per diem. 1. Lat. by the day. 2. A sum of money paid or given to an employee to cover daily expenses. 3. In the cruise industry, the daily cost of a cruise to the passenger.
perk. Abr. Short for perquisite. A privilege or extra benefit associated with a person's position in a company.
personal accident insurance. Individual coverage for accidents. Also called personal injury protection (PIP) or personal accident coverage (PAC).
personal effects coverage. Insurance covering the loss of personal property from a rented car.
personal name record. See passenger name record.
PETC. CRS. Pet in cabin.
petit dejeuner. Fr. Breakfast.
petrol. Brit. Gasoline.
PF. Fr. Abr. Prix fixe (qv).
PFC. Abr. Passenger facility charge (qv).
photo safari. An excursion designed to bring tourists close to wildlife, a staple of tours to African game parks.
piazza. It. An open square.
pidgin, pidgin English. Any of a number of dialects combining English and a local language, spoken in various parts of the world.
pier. A dock for the mooring of ships or boats.
pier head jump. The practice of booking a cruise at the very last minute, often on the dock, to get a lower fare.
pilgrimage.
pilot. 1. n. The person in control of an aircraft. 2. The person who steers a ship; helmsman. 3. Port official responsible for guiding ships into and out of the harbor. 4. v. To control a plane in flight or a ship in water. 5. n. See pilot program.
pilot house. The enclosed area from which the steering mechanism of a ship is operated.
pilot program. A test or trial of a system or methodology used to detect and correct flaws or to determine suitability.
pinisi. A two-masted sailing vessel or schooner of Indonesian design, accommodating 12 to 18 passengers, used by some soft-adventure tour operators.
PIP. Abr. Personal injury protection. See personal accident protection.
PITA. Professional Internet Travel Alliance.
pitch. 1. n. The measurement between identical points on seats of an airplane; the greater the pitch, the greater the degree of comfort. 2. v. To move sharply up or down, as in an airplane or boat. 3. n. The sharp, uncomfortable up or down motion of a plane or ship.
plate. A metal stamp used to impress the name of an airline on a manual ticket when issuing a ticket for that carrier.
plates. Imprints, usually specific to a supplier, which are distributed to travel agencies and used to create tickets. See also airline plate.
plating away. The practice of avoiding issuing tickets for a particular carrier in the belief that the carrier may be financially unstable and cease flight operations.
Plimsoll line. A line on the hull of a ship indicating the ship has reached its maximum cargo load.
plunge pool. A small pool in a hotel room or in a private courtyard adjacent to a hotel room.
PLVW. CRS. Pool view.
p.m. Abr. Post meridian. Afternoon or evening. The time between 12 noon and 12 midnight.
PMS. Abr. Property management system (qv).
PNR. Abr. Passenger name record (qv). Passenger now recorded. Personal name record.
PNSC. Passenger Network Services Corporation (qv).
podium. 1. A lectern. 2. A raised platform, specifically one used in a public meeting for the speaker or speakers.
POE. CRS. Point of embarkation (qv).
point. A city or other stop on an itinerary.
point of embarkation, point of origin. Where a journey begins.
point of turnaround. The place at which an airplane or other vehicle begins its return journey to its point of origin.
point to point. adj. 1. Referring to fares between two cities. 2. Referring to service between two cities only, without any additional segments or continuation.
political asylum. Sanctuary given by one country to a citizen of another to protect that person from arrest or persecution.
polyglot. A person who speaks many languages.
pontoon. 1. A hollow compartment used to float a flat-bottomed boat. 2. Any boat so designed. 3. The landing pad of a seaplane.
pool deck. The deck on a cruise ship where the swimming pool is located.
pool route. A route on which two carriers equally share revenues and facilities and exchange equipment and crew on an as-needed basis.
poop, poop deck. A raised deck at the rear of some ships.
port. 1. The complex of buildings and facilities where ships dock. 2. In nautical parlance, left. The left side of a ship.
port authority. A local or regional governmental entity that oversees transportation facilities such as airports, ship ports, bus terminals and so forth.
port charges, port tax. A fee levied by the local government on departing or visiting cruise passengers. Typically, listed as a separate charge in cruise brochures.
port-intensive. adj. Visiting many ports; used to describe a cruise itinerary with few or no days at sea.
port of call. Any of the ports at which a ship will be stopping on a cruise.
port of entry. 1. The point at which a person or vessel enters a country. 2. A port or city designated as one at which a foreign ship or other vessel can enter a country's territory.
portal. Door. Tunnel entrance.
porte cochere. Fr. A covered entranceway, as to a hotel, designed to accommodate cars.
porter. A baggage handler. See also skycap.
porterage. The act or process of baggage handling.
porthole. A window, usually round, on a ship.
posada. Sp. A small country hotel.
posh. Brit. Elegant, high-class, as in a posh hotel. Its origins lie in the abbreviation for "port out, starboard home," indicating the best berths on sailings from England to India.
position, positioning. The act of moving aircraft or ships from one location to another so as to utilize them more efficiently or for greater revenue. See also repositioning.
positive space. Seating or rooms that can actually be occupied, as opposed to space reserved on a standby or if-available basis.
post audit. A detailed review of a company's employee's completed travel to determine whether or not the billed amount is accurate. Sometimes conducted by a third party which retains a percentage of any overbilled amount detected.
postal code. Brit. Zip code (qv).
postdate. To place a date on a document, as a check, later than the current date.
POT. CRS. Point of turnaround.
potable. Safe to drink.
pow wow. 1. A Native American meeting or festivity, now frequently a tourist attraction. 2. By extension, any meeting, especially one involving high level people, arranged to conclude business or make decisions.
PP. Abr. Per person.
PPDO. CRS. Per person, double occupancy.
PPR. CRS. Passenger profile record.
PRC. Abr. People's Republic of China.
pre- (or post-) convention tour. A tour or excursion sold in conjunction with attendance at a convention or meeting.
predesignated point. A system of unique telecommunications addresses, administered by IATA, used to ensure that reservations to specific airlines are properly routed.
preferred supplier. A supplier with which a travel agency has negotiated or earned a higher commission rate.
preferred supplier agreement. An arrangement between a corporation and supplier in which, in return for discounts or other advantages, the corporation requires its employees to use the products and services of the supplier.
premiere class. First-class or an elaboration thereof. The precise definition varies according to supplier.
prepaid. Paid in full in advance.
prepaid ticket advice. The form used when a person is buying a ticket that will be issued at the airport of the same or another city.
preregistration. A service offered for some conventions, whereby room assignments and other arrangements can be made prior to arrival.
preserve. An area set aside by the government, or other entity, specifically to conserve animal life or vegetation.
press release. A formal printed announcement by a company about its activities that is written in the form of a news article and given to the media to generate or encourage publicity.
pre-trip auditing. Review of proposed travel itineraries, usually by a corporate travel manager, to spot potential savings or avoid excessive or unauthorized expenditures.
PRF. CRS. Partial refund message.
price fixing. An illegal practice in which competing companies agree, formally or informally, to restrict prices within a specified range.
price signaling. The practice, now declared illegal, in which competing companies alert each other to proposed changes in their pricing structure, in order to control pricing within an industry. See also price fixing.
prime meridian. The imaginary line through Greenwich, England, designated as zero degrees longitude.
prix fixe. Fr. Literally, "fixed price." A meal of several courses, with no substitutions allowed, offered for a special price.
PRM. CRS. Premium.
productivity based pricing. An incentive provided by a CRS vendor to encourage maximum use of its service and discourage the agency from using more than one CRS.
professional liability insurance. See errors and omissions insurance.
profile. A record of information about a travel agent's customer used for qualifying (qv).
profit and loss statement. An accounting report detailing revenue and expenses.
promenade. 1. A leisurely stroll. 2. A place designed for taking such strolls. 3. A deck on a ship.
promissory note. A written promise to pay a specified sum either on demand or on a specific date.
promo. 1. Abr. Promotion, promotional. 2. Slang. A promotional announcement or advertisement.
promotional fare. A discount fare designed to increase volume.
proof of citizenship. Any documentation that indicates the citizenship of an individual, including birth certificates, voter's registration cards, or passports.
prop. 1. Abr. Property, proprietor. 2. A propeller. 3. adj. Describing a propeller driven aircraft.
property management system. A computer program used to administer a hotel.
proportional fare. See add-on fare.
proposal. 1. A formal written document soliciting business and spelling out what will be delivered, the costs, terms, conditions, and so forth. 2. A suggestion for a course of action.
proprietary club. A for-profit group, such as a health club, that sells memberships to the general public. See also, equity club.
prorate. 1. v. Adjust proportionally. 2. n. In the educational tour market, the number of paying customers required to earn a tour conductor's pass.
prospect. 1. n. A potential customer who meets certain minimum qualifications. See also suspect. 2. v. To search for potential customers.
prospecting cycle. The period of time after which a travel agent will recontact individuals or groups previously contacted to solicit business.
PROT. CRS. Protected reservation.
protected commission. A commission that will be paid even if the passenger cancels and the travel doesn't occur.
protocol. n. 1. A series of software conventions enabling computers to communicate with one another. 2. The proper form and format for conducting business, ceremonies, and so forth, as in diplomatic protocol.
prototype. A single or limited-edition working version of an aircraft or other device used for testing and demonstration purposes.
Provincial Standard Time. Canadian term for Atlantic Standard Time.
provisioned charter. A charter, as of a boat, that includes food and other supplies but no crew.
prow. The foremost part of a ship.
PSA. Abr. Passenger service agent (qv).
pseudo ARC number. An alphanumeric designator, often a telephone number, used by suppliers to identify travel agencies that do not have an ARC number.
pseudo city, pseudo city code. A CRS code used to identify a travel agency location.
pseudo PNR. A record stored in a CRS that does not contain an airline reservation. See also passenger name record.
pseudo-agent. 1. Someone who claims to be a travel agent but isn't. 2. Derogatory term for an outside sales representative not deemed to have sufficient training in travel.
psgr. Abr. passenger.
PSR. Abr. Passenger service representative (qv).
PST. Abr. Pacific Standard Time. Provincial Standard Time.
PT. Abr. Port taxes. Pacific Time. Physical training.
PTA. CRS. Prepaid ticket advice (qv).
PTHSE. CRS. Penthouse.
PTM. Passenger traffic manager (qv).
PTP. Abr. Point-to-point (qv).
P/U. Abr. Pick up.
public charter. An aircraft or other vessel that may be leased by the general public.
published fare. Any fare specifically listed in the carrier's tariff (qv).
pullman. A sleeping car on a railroad.
pullman berth. A sleeping compartment or pull-down bunk on a pullman train. By extension, any sleeping arrangement that is similarly configured.
PUP. CRS. Pick up.
purser. On a ship, the person responsible for providing a wide array of passenger services, including mail, information, check cashing, safety deposit boxes, and so forth.
PWCT. CRS. Passenger will contact.