3. Terminology

3.1. Interface

Interface generally refers to an abstraction that an entity provides of itself to the outside. This separates the methods of external communication from internal operation, and allows it to be internally modified without affecting the way outside entities interact with it, as well as provide multiple abstractions of it.

Interface in Practice - A piece of software provides access to computer resources (such as memory, CPU, storage, etc.) by its underlying computer system; the availability of these resources to other software can have major ramifications for its functionality and stability. A key principle of design is to prohibit access to all resources by default, allowing access only through well-defined entry points, i.e. interfaces.

3.2. Web API

API is an Application Programming Interface.

When used in the context of web development, an API is typically a defined set of Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) request messages along with a definition of the structure of response messages, usually expressed in an Extensible Mark-up Language (XML) or JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) format.

Web APIs allow the combination of multiple services into new applications known as mashups.

3.3. SOAP

SOAP, originally defined as Simple Object Access Protocol, is a protocol specification for exchanging structured information in the implementation of Web Services in computer networks. It relies on Extensible Markup Language (XML) as its message format, and usually relies on other Application Layer protocols (most notably Remote Procedure Call (RPC) and HTTP) for message negotiation and transmission. SOAP can form the foundation layer of a web services protocol stack, providing a basic messaging framework upon which web services can be built.

3.4. Supplier (Partner)

A supplier is someone whose business is to supply a particular service or commodity, in this particular case the car rental service.

3.5. Car Rental Company

A car rental company offers its own fleet at its own locations. Car rental companies are getting their fleet from the car manufacturer directly and selling under their own brand, e.g. Hertz.

3.6. Client Partner

A Client Partner is a partner hosting any kind of website, either B2B (business to business) or B2C (business to customer), for providing rental car offers. This can be a travel web portal, a tourism service provider, wholesaler, travel agency network or any kind of tour operator.

3.7. Net Price

Net price is the defined purchase price given from the car hire supplier partner to the tour operator. The tour operator creates a markup on top of the net price in order to end up with a final selling price. This markup can also be done on behalf of Carnect in their database.

3.8. Gross Price

Gross price is the predefined selling price by the car hire supplier. The tour operator receives a fixed percentage of commission.

3.9. Prepaid

Prepaid refers to services paid with reservation prior to the pick-up of the car rental

Prepaid to client partner (PPTO)
Prepaid to Carnect (PPMN)

3.10. Postpaid

Postpaid refer to services which needs to be paid at time of pick-up of the car at the location

Postpaid to Supplier partner (POA)

3.11. Commission

Commission is a form of payment by supplier partner to the tour operator. Commission can also be paid by supplier to Carnect. In this case Carnect pays a subcommission (its amount is negotiated between the tour operator and Carnect) to the tour operator. The amount is calculated by a certain percentage to the selling price and will be applicable only in the gross price section.

3.12. Margin

The margin defines the result of purchase price less selling price and will be applicable only in the net price section.

3.13. Samples of Payment

Prepaid to client partner using net rates The customer does pay at the reservation the price offered for the car by the tour operator.

_images/prepaid_to_client_partner_using_net_rates.png

Prepaid to Carnect using gross rates The customer pays the price offered by Carnect with reservation to Carnect

_images/prepaid_to_carnect_using_gross_rates.png

Postpaid to supplier partner using gross rates When picking up the car at the rental station the customer pays the price defined by the supplier partner (car rental company)

_images/postpaid_to_supplier_partner_using_gross_rates.png

3.14. Destination

Refers to a geographical destination, most often an airport or a city. As this is not specific to a single car rental supplier, most users of the API prefer to use destinations for searching offers, not locations.

3.15. Airport Identifiers

By IATA Code IATA airport codes are trigram letter designations for airports.

By Airport_ID Airport_ID is defined by Carnect.

Sample

IATA	Airport_ID	Name
LHR	974	London Heathrow Airport
CDG	2640	Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport
MUC	1407	Munich Franz Josef Strauss Airport

You can find a sample of IATA airport codes and airport ids in the GEO (Destination) API.

3.16. City Identifiers

By IATA Code

IATA city codes are trigram letter designations for cities.

By City_ID

City_ID is defined by Carnect.

Sample

IATA	City_ID	Name
SHA	4411	Shanghai
MLB	1026	Melbourne
DXB	2453	Dubai

You can find a sample of IATA city codes and city ids in the GEO (Destination) API.

3.17. Location Identifiers

Supplier GDS code+ location code

The location code is a supplier specific code defining its location.

Supplier GDS code is the unique two digit code of the supplier.

Location_ID

The Location_ID is defined by Carnect.

Sample

Location_Code	Supplier_Code	Location_ID	Name
CQFX63	Hertz	29081	CALAIS EUROTUNNEL
TRST71	Alamo	2657	TRIESTE - RONCHI DE’LEGIONARI APT
162464	Autocandia	162464	Athen Office

You can find sample locations in appendix.

3.18. Rental Location

A rental location, also known as ‘rental station’ or just ‘location’ can be found at airports or in cities. It is used by a single car rental supplier.

Rental locations in cities (multiple locations per supplier possible)

City locations are understood as downtown locations, not located at the airport. When speaking of multiple rental locations a single supplier is having more than one downtown rental location in that city.

Rental locations at airports (single location per supplier)

Airport rental locations are understood as rental locations with a counter in the arrival hall, meet & greet representative or shuttle bus to the car hire area within the airport compound. Any offer at the airport is in 99% of the cases unique to a specific location.