The major global distribution systems appear to have solved anlooming crisis for travel

management companies caused by the approaching withdrawal of neutral paper tickets as part of the International Air Transport Association’s drive to 100 percent electronic ticketing.

Although IATA will not let travel agents issue tickets on neutral paper stock after May 31, not all airlines will be capable of providing agents with e-tickets for all bookings.

This left TMCs and other agents with the prospect of issuing a cumbersome workaround known as a Multiple Purpose Document.  TMCs say the MPD duplicates data input, creating more work, wrongly issued tickets and inaccurate management information.

Now Sabre, Galileo, Worldspan and Amadeus have told TMCs they will install a much more efficient solution by June 1.

Known as a virtual miscellaneous charge order, it allows TMCs to issue an electronic MCO that the passenger can swap at the airport for a paper ticket. The V-MCO can also be used for more traditional MCO functions, such as infant tickets and excess baggage, which also can prove problematic issue as e-tickets.