Freedom - Amadeus GULF

Welcome to “Freedom”,
the new Amadeus Loyalty Club.
With Freedom, our partner members benefit from:
a. A prepaid Visa/Citibank card, offering total freed o m of use at all retail stores accepting
Visa as well as withdrawing cash at any ATM machine.
b. More robust and transparent “points” calculation based on Net Ticketing bookings.
c. The ability to view a detailed report at ticket number granulation level. Agents can easily
reconcile these reports to their Amadeus Ticket Reports (TJQ) and even with the ones in
their Back Office Systems.
d. Added Value retail, entertainment and Travel Industry discounts upon producing a valid
Amadeus Freedom card.
e. Prompt “point” allocation and payment into the individual Citibank eAccount, before the
7th (UAE) working day of the following month.
f. Full Help Desk support on “Freedom” programme related matters during business hours
and up to date FAQs on the Freedom portal available 24/7.
In order to clarify the main aspects and benefits of the new programme, we have put together
answers to the following list of Frequently Asked Questions:
a) The “Freedom” card and system.
Q: How do I access my Freedom account if I am an “Amadeus Premium” member already?
A: You can use your Amadeus Premium Plus username/password at:
http://www.amadeusgulf.com/Freedom/Default.aspx
Q: If I am an “Amadeus Premium” member, when can I collect/receive my new Freedom card?
A: You are welcome to pass by to your local Amadeus Gulf office to collect your new Freedom
card during business hours. Please bring an ID in order to officially receive your envelope.
Alternatively, your Amadeus Account Manager could bring all the cards for users in your office
to your location. Please contact your Account Manager.
Q: What will happen with my old “Amadeus Premium” Visa prepaid card?
A: You will be able to use this for 1 year from now unrestricted.
Ideally, you should withdraw all the funds from your Premium Citibank account and simply
move on to using only your new Freedom card.
Q: How can I use the Freedom card? Does it work similar to the Premium Plus one?
A: The Freedom Visa prepaid card works just like any prepaid card and similar to the Premium
Plus one. It can be used at all retail outlets that accept Visa and to withdraw cash from any ATM
worldwide.
Q: How can I enroll in the Freedom programme?
A: Access the Freedom portal at http://www.amadeusgulf.com/Freedom/Default.aspx
(or access our website and click on “Customer Area”) and create a profile. Discuss the details of
the programme for your Travel Agency with your Amadeus Account Manager and get your
application approved. Subsequent to the approval in the Freedom system, you will start
accumulating points based on your Net Ticketing productivity from the consequent month and
start receiving monthly payments in your Freedom Citibank account from the following month.
b) New “Net Ticketing” calculation method and its benefits
Q: What is the main concept behind Net Ticketed bookings?
A: The “points” are calculated as per a new, more robust concept - the monthly Net Ticketing
(NT) reports. NT is a method of calculation based on “First Owner” concept (while the previous
Net Booking concept was based on “Last Owner” concept). Basically, a NT point (booking or
segment or leg) is awarded when a valid segment in a PNR created in the Amadeus GDS gets
ticketed in any Amadeus location/OID. Segments that are Refunded or Voided naturally result in
deductions for the month. A comprehensive and self-explanatory Quick Reference Guide to the
Net Ticketing calculation method which includes scenarios and examples is available on the
Amadeus Freedom portal.
Q: What is the most important change moving from Net Bookings to Net Ticketed bookings?
A: The most important change is that the so called “Unproductive” (HX, UN, UC, NO status)
segments and “segments cancelled on the day of departure” (CODD) for which airlines send
ADMs to agents are not counted (since they cannot ever be ticketed or produce revenue for the
airline). This way, the “points” awarded display a clean representation of the real
passenger/flight activity of a Travel Agent.
Q: How will the Net Ticketed count compare with the previous method?
A: This depends on the activity of each agent. All valid segments that are ticketed and not
Voided or Refunded will be counted towards the individual Sine-In productivity. CODD and
Unproductive segments are not counted. However, the seasonality of Net Ticketing can be quite
different to previous, Net Bookings one. Hence in some months your count could be higher than
in the previous method and in some other months lower. Across the whole business we see that
Net Ticketing count is close to the booking basis on which we were previously crediting agents.
c) Detailed Ticketing transaction mid-office type report.
For your Username and Sine-In under your Freedom portal profile you will find a report of
the following format:
EXCHANGE
TRANSACTION
REISSUANCE
DATE
INDICATOR
IATA NUMBER
PNR RECORD
LOCATOR
EXCHANGED
PNR
REFUND
TICKET
PNR
REISSUED
BOOKING CURRENT EFFECTING
CREATOR
COUPON AIR OPTION TYPE/MCO STP SITE PASSIVE
CREATION
COUPON
OFFICE
OFFICE
OFFICE
AGENT
NUMBER
TYPE
DATE
NUMBER
SIGN
TICKET
NUMBER
TICKET
NUMBER
SUFFIX
TYPE OF VALIDATING AIRLINE FLIGHT BOOKING
SEGMENT
CARRIER
CODE
CODE
CLASS
ROUTE
DATE OF
TRAVEL
COST
CURRENCY
BEFORE
CODE
TAX
Terms & Conditions apply
d) Value Add-Ons
Q: What kind of value Add-Ons can we expect from the Freedom programme?
A: We are working with various suppliers such as important/regional retail supermarket chains,
hotel chains, entertainment suppliers and more to bring you many additional discounts and
other benefits. You will be kept up to date with the list of benefits via email communications,
the Freedom portal and your Amadeus Account Manager. Watch this “space” for great news
soon 
e) Timely payments commitment
Q: When can I expect the monthly payments to arrive in my Citibank eAccount?
A: With Premium, the reports used for calculating the individual points arrived at the end of
each consequent month. With Freedom and its new method, the relevant reports will be
received much earlier, enabling us to process your payments prompter. We are committed to
finalise the monthly payments by the 7th UAE working day of any month for the previous
month’s productivity rewards. For your benefit, we want to make this the fastest such process in
the market 
Terms & Conditions apply – exceptions may occur due to unforeseen situations.
Q: When will the first payment occur?
A: By mid-September, your new Amadeus Freedom-Citibank eAccount will be credited with the
individual Sine-In booking productivity for the months of July and August 2013.
Simply call Citibank on the number you will find on the back of your card to activate it and start
enjoying your new Amadeus Freedom benefits.
f) Full Freedom system support during our Help-Desk extended business
hours
Q: For Premium Plus we only had access to limited support hours and availability.
A: With Freedom, we are adding the great benefit of having access to our professional, fullfledged Help-Desk to log your Freedom related queries and cases.
You can find these FAQs and other useful information about Amadeus Freedom on
the Freedom portal under Terms & Conditions, Help and FAQs:
http://www.amadeusgulf.com/Freedom/Default.aspx
For any questions related to the F r e e d o m programme, please call our Help-Desk:
Abu Dhabi +971 2 4937555
Bahrain +973 1 7540066
Dubai +971 4 3211911
Oman +968 2 4817816
or send an email to our Help-Desk at “[email protected]”
Additional FAQs
General questions
Q: What if I am using more than one Amadeus Sine In under the same Office ID or even across
different Office IDs?
A: You would need to inform us and we can link all your Sine-Ins in the Freedom system to be
accumulated and displayed under your portal user profile.
Q: When do I start accumulating points?
A: Once your application is approved, you will start collecting points from the month when you
received the confirmation of approval to become a Freedom member.
Freedom eCard related questions
Q: Can I use my Freedom eCard as a credit card?
A: No, your eCard is a Prepaid card and not a Credit Card.
Q: Where can I use my Amadeus-Citibank-Visa Freedom eCard? Is there a withdrawal fee?
A: The Freedom Visa prepaid card works just like any prepaid card and similar to the Premium
Plus one. It can be used at all retail outlets that accept Visa and to withdraw cash from any ATM
worldwide at the small cost of 2 UAE Dirhams per transaction (the same applies for Citibank
ATMs)
Q: Is there any Subscription Fee for the Amadeus Freedom programme?
A: Yes, a 75 Aed one time subscription fee will be levied from your first payment. This fee is to
offset the eCard production and eAccount setup cost. There will be no other charges to your
account thereafter.
Q: When can I collect my new Freedom card?
A: Collecting cards can be done in the Amadeus local offices between 8:30-16:00 on normal
business days.
Q: What is the old Premium Card validity?
A: The Amadeus Premium Plus cards remain valid until their individual expiration date.
Q: If I lose my Freedom eCard what should I do?
A: You can contact the Citibank Call Center (+971 600 541 114) or the Amadeus Help Desk and a
new Freedom card will be issued, with the remaining validity of the old/lost one. A 15 Aed
Citibank fee will be levied from your account for the card replacement.
Q: If I lose my old Amadeus Premium card but still have some funds in my eAccount, what is
the solution to withdraw these funds?
A: You can contact the Amadeus Help Desk and a new Premium card will be issued, with the
remaining validity of the old/lost one.
Q: Is there a minimum threshold for the monthly payments?
A: Yes; a minimum of 50 Aed balance YTD is required in the account for a payment to take
place. E.g. in the month of May you earned 30 Aed worth of rewards. This will get credited to
your account only when your total exceeds 50 Aed.
Q: Can we have a joint eAccount for more than one agent and use only one eCard?
A: Unfortunately no. Freedom eCards are issued individually only. A passport copy with a valid
visa is a mandatory requirement by the Bank.
Q: If I move from one Travel Agency to another in the same market, can I still use my existing
Freedom account/eCard?
A: You will be able to access your eAccount and use your eCard for the length of the validity
written on the card. However, you will not be receiving any new payments on this card, since
Freedom membership is based on you working in an Amadeus Partner Travel Agency.
You can however register again in the Freedom portal and request a new Freedom eCard if the
agreement between your new company/Travel Agency and Amadeus provisions for this process.
Net Ticketing calculation method questions
Q: What is Net Ticketing (NT)?
A: NT is a method of calculation based on “First Owner” concept (while the previous Net
Booking concept was based on “Last Owner” concept). Basically, an NT point (booking or
segment or leg) is awarded when a valid segment in a PNR created in the Amadeus GDS gets
ticketed in any Amadeus location/OID. Segments that are Refunded or Voided naturally result in
deductions for the month.
Q: If I change the responsibility of a PNR with the RP entry, who receives the credit for the
segments when they are ticketed?
A: The First Owner/PNR creator (Office ID and Sine-In) is always the one receiving the credit.
The Office or Sine-In that owns the PNR at any subsequent moment in time after creation or the
Office or Sine-In that issue the ticket is not relevant in this method.
Q: Does the Office and the Sine-In who issue a ticket get credit?
A: No. It is very important to understand that the First Owner/PNR creator (Office ID and SineIn) is always the one receiving the credit.
The Office or Sine-In that issue the ticket are therefore not relevant in this method.
Q: What happens if I book in Amadeus and then purchase/issue the ticket from an Airline
office?
A: If the Airline is an Amadeus Altea System User (such as Qatar Airways, Egypt Air, Royal
Jordanian, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Saudi Airlines, British Airways, Qantas and other
over 150 carriers) then the segments are counted in the Net Ticketing report.
However, if the issuing airline is not an Amadeus Altea User, the segments cannot be captured
through the automatic centralized counter.
For the benefit of our customers, we have developed a tool that can count segments for such
scenarios even when the airline is not an Amadeus Altea User, provided the airline sends an
“SRTKNE” message back to the Amadeus PNR.
Currently these airlines include, but are not limited to:
Etihad Airways
Jet Airways
Gulf Air
Oman Air
Philippine Airlines
Oman Air
American Airlines
These Net Ticketed segments will be displayed in your Freedom profile separately and will be
added to your individual monthly counter.
If you have specific concerns regarding this matter, please contact your Amadeus Account
Manager.
Q: Since we are using Net Ticketing segment counters do we still have to remove
Unproductive Segments from the face of the PNR?
A: Yes, Net Ticketing does not waive the agents’ responsibility to delete the unproductive
segments for avoiding any debit memos from the airlines.
Q: If I believe that I have issued more Net Segments in a month than what my Freedom report
displays, what should I do?
A: The first check should be against your BSP Sales Report or your Back Office system and you
should identify if any ticket (which was not Voided or Refunded) is not captured in the Report. If
you find any such cases, please report them to the Amadeus Help-Desk with all the supporting
evidence and the Freedom Administrators together with your Account Manager will look into
the case raised.
These Questions and Answers will be updated whenever a pattern of enquiries is identified and a relevant
answer can be provided and you will be notified via eMail when this happens.