F. Abr. Fahrenheit. See Fahrenheit
scale.
FA. Abr. Families.
FAA. Federal Aviation Administration.
Fahrenheit scale. A method of measuring
temperature in which water boils at 212 degrees above
zero and freezes at 32 degrees above zero under normal
atmospheric pressure. Commonly used in the United States.
fair market value. The price something
is actually worth, assuming a free market of willing
buyers and sellers acting in their own best interests.
fait accompli. Fr. An accomplished
fact. Something that has been done and seemingly may
not be reversed.
false booking. See deadend booking.
fam, fam trip. Abr. Familiarization trip
or tour (qv).
familiarization trip or tour. A low-cost
trip or tour offered to travel agents by a supplier
or group of suppliers to familiarize the agents with
their destination and services. Example, a resort property
or group of hotels and restaurants in Aruba might team
up with an airline or tour operator to offer a discount
fam trip to the resort or to Aruba. Generally referred
to as a "fam trip."
family plan. Arrangement under which
family members traveling together are entitled to discounts.
Example: Many motels let children under 12 stay free
in their parents' room.
family style. A style of serving
meals in which food is brought to the table in serving
dishes, for people to help themselves, rather than put
on individual plates in the kitchen.
familymoon. A post-wedding trip,
typically after a second or third marriage, in which
children or other family members are included.
fantail. The rear or overhang of
a ship.
FAP. Abr. Full American plan. See
American plan.
fare. 1. The price charged for transportation.
2. A paying passenger on a plane, train, or other public
means of transport. 3. Range of food, for example, the
fare served by a restaurant.
fare basis. The specific fare for
a ticket at a designated level of service; specified
by one or more letters or by a combination of letters
and numbers. Example: The letter "Y" designates coach
service on an airline.
fare break point. The destination
where a given fare ends. Example: The fare break point
for a passenger flying from Washington DC to Kansas
City via Cleveland is Kansas City.
fare bucket. An allocation of a certain
number of seats at a certain fare, as on an airplane.
fare code. The code used to make
a booking on a CRS (qv) for a specific fare. See also
booking code.
fare construction unit or point.
See fare break point.
fathom. n. A unit of length equalling
six feet, primarily used to measure the depth of water.
FCCA. Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association.
FCU. Abr. Fare construction unit
(qv).
FDOR. CRS. Four-door car.
feasibility study. Research carried
out to determine whether to go ahead with a project
that is under consideration, based on such factors as
the marketplace, the competition, available technology,
manpower, and financial resources.
Federal Aviation Administration.
An agency of the federal government that administers
and monitors airline safety regulations.
Federal Trade Commission. An agency
of the federal government that monitors and regulates
trade within the United States.
fee-based pricing. A compensation
plan in which a corporation pays its travel agency a
portion of the commissions generated by the corporation's
travel volume, according to a negotiated schedule.
feeder airline. An air carrier that
services a local market and "feeds" traffic to the national
and international carriers.
ferry. 1. n. Abr. Ferryboat. A boat
that carries people, and/or vehicles and other cargo
across a body of water. 2. v. To carry by boat over
a given body of water. 3. v. To cross a body of water
by ferryboat.
FET. Abr. Foreign escorted tour.
See escorted tour.
fete. Fr. A party.
FFP. Abr. Frequent flyer program
(qv).
FHTL. CRS. First-class hotel.
fictitious point principle. A technique
used in constructing international fares, whereby the
travel agent uses a fare to a city to which the passenger
is not actually traveling in order to obtain a lower
fare.
fiduciary. adj. Relating to financial
guardianship, as in "a fiduciary relationship."
field. In computer programs, an area
for recording specific information, such as the client's
name, address, phone number, destination, travel date,
and so on. The software generally provides one field
for each item of information.
fifth freedom. See freedom rights.
FIJET. French acronym of the World
Federation of Travel Writers.
file. 1. n. A collection of related
information, for example, about a specific client or
destination. 2. n. A PNR (qv) in a CRS (qv). 3. n. An
item of furniture designed to hold files. 4. v. To put
records into a file.
FIM. Abr. Flight Interruption Manifest.
final payment. A payment that brings
the balance owed to zero. Example: If a client pays
a deposit and then two installments, the second installment
is the final payment.
firm up. To confirm what has been
discussed. Example: A travel agent will "firm up" the
itinerary for an upcoming trip before booking space
for the client or ticketing transportation.
first class. Top quality seats or
services. Generally, first-class service is the best
(and the most expensive) the supplier has to offer.
However, some vendors offer an even more expensive "luxury
class" (qv).
first sitting. On shipboard and in
some restaurants, the earlier of two times a given meal
is served.
first-class hotel. A hotel offering
top quality services and, usually, a prime location
and extensive amenities (qv).
fiscal year. A twelve-month period
used for accounting or taxation purposes, which may
or may not coincide with the calendar year.
FIT. Abr./CRS. Foreign independent
tour. Now generally used to indicate any independent
travel, domestic or international, that does not involve
a package tour.
FITYO. Federation of International
Youth Travel Organizations.
fixed costs. Costs that remain constant
independent of income. Example: Rent and utilities are
fixed costs for business owners, while the cost of processing
orders varies with the number of orders received. To
stay in business, the owner must be able to cover his
or her fixed costs.
fjord. A narrow inlet from the sea,
usually bounded by cliffs.
flag of convenience. The flag of
a country with easy or lax maritime regulations and
low fees and taxes, flown by ships that register their
vessels in such countries, even though their ownership
and main cruising areas are elsewhere.
flagstaff. On a ship, a pole at the
stern (qv) where the flag of the ship's country of registry
is flown.
flambé. Fr. Literally, "flaming."
A cooking technique in which liquor is added at the
last minute and then lit before serving.
flaps. Surfaces on the wing of an
airplane that can be raised or lowered during takeoff
or landing to increase lift (qv) or drag (qv).
flat. Brit. Apartment.
flat rate. A fixed rate that may
include fees for several different services.
fleabag. Slang. An inferior hotel
or motel.
FLIFO. Abr. Flight information.
flight attendant. 1. A trained person
who is responsible for looking after the passengers
on an aircraft. In addition to serving food and drinks,
the flight attendant is responsible for seeing that
safety regulations are obeyed and passengers know what
to do in case of emergency. 2. A gender-neutral alternative
to "steward" or "stewardess" (qv).
flight coordinator. An employee of
a cruise line responsible for arranging air travel for
cruise passengers paying air-inclusive fares.
flight crew. All the employees —
pilot, co-pilot, and flight attendants — working on
an aircraft.
flight deck. On a commercial airliner,
the cockpit of the airplane.
flight kitchen. Where food is prepared
for serving on an airplane.
flight number. A unique alphanumerical
designator that identifies a specific airplaneÕs journey
from one destination to another in a single direction,
sometimes with intermediate stops.
float. n. 1. A floating platform
that's anchored near the shore for the use of boats
or swimmers. 2. The sum of money represented by checks
outstanding that have not yet been cashed. 3. The time
between writing a check or charging a purchase on a
credit card and the actual withdrawal of funds to cover
it.
floatel. A vessel, that may or may
not be permanently docked, that has been converted into
a hotel.
floodplain. 1. An area of flat land
that may be covered by flood waters. 2. A land area
built up by deposits from a stream or river.
floppy disk. A small, portable magnetic
disk that is used to store and transport computer data.
Sometimes called a diskette.
flotilla. A fleet of ships.
flowchart. A diagram that's used
to illustrate the logical or chronological sequence
of tasks in a job or process. May also be referred to
as a "flow sheet."
flt or FLT. CRS/Abr. Flight.
fly-by-night. 1. adj. Shifty, shady; operating
on the fringes of or outside the law. As in "a fly-by-night
operation." 2. n. A company or person that exhibits
such traits or conducts business in such a manner.
fly-drive package. An offering that
bundles airfare, car rental, and sometimes, land accommodations
into a single package, offered for a fixed price.
flyer. A single-sheet, printed advertisement.
FMC. Federal Maritime Commission.
F.O.B. Abr. Freight on board (qv).
FOC. Abr. Flag of convenience (qv).
foghorn. Any device that emits a
deep booming sound as a warning to shipping.
folio. The written record of a hotel
guest's account.
FONE. CRS. Telephone.
FOP. CRS. Form of payment.
force majeure. Fr. Literally, "superior
force." An occurrence that cannot be anticipated or
controlled by the travel agent, airline, cruise ship,
or whatever and for which, therefore, the agent, etc.
is not legally responsible.
fore and aft. adv. Lengthwise of
a ship: from stem to stern.
foredeck. The forward part of a ship's
main deck.
foreign exchange rate. See exchange
rate.
foreign independent tour. A foreign
itinerary that is individually constructed and does
not involve a package tour. See also FIT.
foreign-flag vessel. A ship owned
by or registered in a country other than the United
States.
fortnight. Brit. A period of two
weeks.
fortress. A fortified place, especially
a large, permanent fortification.
fortress hub. See concentrated hub.
forum. 1. A public place or marketplace
in an ancient Roman city. 2. A public meeting place,
radio or TV program, or area in a newspaper or computer
bulletin board in which two or more people may openly
discuss ideas.
forward. Toward the from of a ship.
forward transaction. The purchase
or sale of an item or service at a specified price for
delivery at a future date.
FOTL. Abr. Front of the line,
used most frequently to refer to priority access programs
at theme parks.
FP. CRS. Final payment (qv) or full
pension (qv).
FQTV. CRS. Frequent traveler.
FRAG. Abr. Fragile.
franchise. A business contract in
which an independent business (the franchisee) sells
or markets the products and/or services of a larger
firm (the franchisor). The franchisee receives training
and marketing support from the franchisor and pays a
fee for ongoing support.
FRAV. CRS. First available.
free hits. The number of times an
agency can access and query a CRS before triggering
per-use charges.
free port. A port where no customs
duty or regulations are imposed on goods shipped in
and out.
free pouring. The dispensing of alcoholic
beverages without using any measuring devices, which
typically results in generous servings.
free sale. Indicates that reservations
may be made without checking the availability.
free trade. The untrammeled international
exchange of products and commodities with tariffs used
to produce reasonable revenue and not to hinder commerce.
freebie. A product or service that
is given away without charge.
freeboard. The distance from a ship's
deck to the waterline.
freedom of the seas. The right of
a commercial ship to cruise any waters, except territorial
waters of other nations, in either peace or war.
freedom rights. A set of guiding
principles governing air-service rights under international
agreements. The seven freedom rights are: 1. The right
to overfly another country. 2. The right to land in
another country. 3. The right to carry revenue traffic
to another country. 4. The right to carry revenue traffic
from another country. 5. The right to carry revenue
traffic between two foreign countries. 6. The right
to use one's own country as a transit point when exercising
other freedom rights. 7. Cabotage. (qv).
freedoms of the air. See freedom
rights.
freestanding. adj. Describing an
independent organization or business that is not affiliated
with another establishment.
freestyle cruising. A cruise ship
policy that allows passengers to dine where and when
they choose.
freight. 1. Cargo; goods to be shipped.
2. Shipment by common carrier as opposed to by an express
service, as in "Ship it freight."
freight on board. A term used in
shipping to refer to the place where the buyer becomes
responsible for the shipment and the shipping charges.
Example: If the buyer lives in Des Moines and buys a
product F.O.B. New York, the buyer must pay the shipping
charges from New York to Des Moines and is responsible
for seeing that it is properly insured during that shipment.
freighter. A ship designed primarily
to carry cargo. Some also carry passengers.
French service. A style of serving
meals in which the waiter brings the serving dishes
to the table and dishes up the food there, rather than
serving plates prepared in the kitchen.
frequency. The number of flights
by a given airline or other carrier on a given route
during a given period of time.
frequency marketing, frequency marketing
program. Any marketing plan designed to reward customers
who buy on a regular basis or to encourage customers
to do so, as in a frequent flyer program (qv).
frequent flyer. A person who flies
frequently. Specifically, a person who is enrolled in
an airline's frequent flyer program (qv).
frequent flyer program. A program
offered by various airlines to promote passenger loyalty.
Participants earn credits good for free travel or upgraded
service based on the number of miles they fly with the
carrier. They are also entitled to special services.
Participation is optional.
frequent lodger. A person who frequently
stays at a property or at properties belonging to a
particular hotel chain. Specifically, a person who is
enrolled in a hotel's frequent lodger program (qv).
frequent lodger program. A program
offered by various hotels and hotel chains to promote
customer loyalty. Participants earn credits good for
free lodging or upgraded service based on the number
of nights they stay at the hotel. They are also entitled
to special services. Participation is optional.
front desk. The reception desk at
a hotel.
front office. adj. Referring to those
activities that take place with customers or the general
public. See also back office.
FS. CRS. Free sale (qv).
FTC. Federal Trade Commission (qv).
fuel charge. The amount charged by
a rental car company to refill the tank of a returned
vehicle.
fuel surcharge. An additional per-ticket
fee added to a fare by an airline or other carrier,
ostensibly to cover the increased cost of fuel to the
carrier. Fuel surcharges are seldom quoted in the fare.
full house. 1. A theater, restaurant,
or lodging in which all the seats or rooms are taken.
2. A poker hand consisting of three of a kind and a
pair.
Full Pension. See American plan.
full service agency location. A branch
of an agency that provides customers both reservations
and ticketing.
full service hotel. A hotel with
a restaurant.
fully appointed agency. A travel
agency that is accredited to sell airline, cruise, and
other travel services.
function book. In a hotel or conference
center, the official record that controls room assignments
for meetings and other events.
function sheet. See banquet event
order.
functional image. For a tourist destination,
the activities that tourists associate with that destination.
funnel. A ship's chimney or smokestack
funnel flight. 1. A flight on a feeder
airline (qv) that connects with another flight on a
larger aircraft. See also change of gauge. 2. The use
of a single flight number for an itinerary that actually
involves an online connection (qv) with two separate
flight numbers, with the presumed intent to make the
itinerary appear to be a direct flight with a change
of aircraft as opposed to a connection.
fuselage. The main body of an aircraft
to which the wings, tail, and landing gear are attached.
FYI. Abr. For your information.
|