To sell series fare inventory online, you load each pre-held block as bookable stock (flight, date, seat count, net fare), set the agent fare and booking rules, and publish it on a B2B portal where approved travel agents can search, hold and confirm seats themselves. The system then reduces the seat count in real time, collects names before the airline deadline, and shows you sell-through against each release date.
Below is the workflow most series fare holders follow when they move from manual selling to an online channel.
Step by step: from airline block to bookable seat
- Load the block. Enter the sector, flight numbers, departure dates, seats held per date, and the airline PNR or group reference behind each date.
- Record the commercial terms. Net fare, deposit paid, release or cut-off date, name list deadline, baggage allowance and change rules as agreed with the airline.
- Set agent pricing. Decide the agent fare per date or per agent group. Peak dates often carry a higher margin than shoulder dates.
- Define booking rules. Maximum seats per booking, hold duration, whether infants are allowed, and how close to departure online booking closes.
- Publish to agents. Make the inventory visible to all approved agents or to selected agent groups only.
- Collect names and issue. Pull confirmed names into the airline PNR before the deadline and issue tickets or name updates according to the contract.
Getting the agent fare right
A series fare is only attractive if the agent fare sits below what the agent can find through live GDS or airline channels for the same date. Check comparable fares regularly, because airline pricing on the same route moves while your net cost does not.
Some holders show a single agent fare and let agents add their own markup. Others publish an all-inclusive selling fare for agents who resell to retail. Both work; the important thing is that taxes, baggage and meal inclusions are stated clearly so agents are not surprised at ticketing.
Holds, payments and credit
Online selling fails if agents can hold seats indefinitely. Set a hold time that matches how quickly your agents normally confirm, and shorten it as the release date approaches.
For payment, most holders use a mix of agent wallets or deposits, credit lines for trusted agencies, and online payment for occasional buyers. The rule of thumb is simple: no ticket or final name update before funds or credit are confirmed.
Protecting the name list deadline
Series PNRs usually need passenger names by a fixed date, and late names can mean lost seats or change fees, depending on the airline. An online channel should capture full names exactly as in the passport, plus any document details the route requires, at the moment of booking.
Build in a buffer. If the airline wants names seven days before departure, closing online sales a day or two earlier gives your team time to transfer and check them.
Measuring sell-through
The value of selling online is visibility. For each date you should be able to see seats held, seats sold, seats on hold and seats remaining, alongside the next deadline.
Illustrative example: a holder sees that a mid-week date three weeks out is less than half sold while weekend dates are full. That is the signal to reprice the mid-week date, widen visibility to more agent groups, or plan a partial release before the cut-off.
| Metric | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Utilisation per date | Whether a date is on track to sell before its release date |
| Holds converted | How reliable agent holds are and whether hold time is too long |
| Sales by agent | Which agencies drive volume and deserve better pricing |
| Days to name deadline | Which dates need urgent attention |
Choosing where to publish
You can publish on your own branded portal for your existing agents, on a shared marketplace that exposes your seats to agents you do not yet know, or both. The first protects relationships; the second adds reach. Contract terms may limit where you can display some inventory, so check before listing widely.
EazyPNR supports both routes: series fare holders can run their own agent channel and also list seats for wider B2B distribution. See the series fare booking platform or, if you hold inventory and want to list it, start with becoming a supplier.
Key takeaways
- Load each block with its net fare, release date and name deadline before you publish it.
- Agent fares must beat comparable live fares for the same date to sell consistently.
- Short, enforced hold times and confirmed payment before ticketing prevent unpaid seats.
- Track utilisation per date against deadlines so you can act before seats are lost.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sell series seats online without a GDS?
Yes. Pre-held series seats are already secured with the airline, so an inventory platform can sell them from a seat count without a live GDS query. Names and ticketing are then completed in the airline system or GDS by the holder.
Should I show net fares to agents?
Usually not. Agents see the agent fare, which includes your margin. The net fare stays internal and is used for margin and reconciliation reporting.
What happens to seats I cannot sell online?
They can be repriced, offered to groups, or returned to the airline before the release date where the contract allows. See the guide on managing unsold series fare inventory.