Correctly entering passenger types is one of the most fundamental skills in any Galileo GDS workflow. A single error in passenger categorization can cause ticketing failures, seat mismatches, and costly rebooking fees. This guide walks you through every passenger type, the exact commands you need, and the rules you must never break.
What You Will Learn
This lesson covers every passenger category you will encounter day-to-day as a Galileo agent, from standard adults to lap infants. By the end you will be able to add any passenger type to a PNR with confidence.
- Adult (ADT) passengers
- Child (CHD) passengers
- Infant without a seat (INF)
- Infant with a seat (INS)
- Age category rules
- The N. command for names
- Child date-of-birth entry
- Infant gender and DOB entry
- Updating seats with @ command
- Seat-count matching rules
Passenger Type Codes at a Glance
Galileo uses standardized Passenger Type Codes (PTCs) to classify travelers. Each code determines fare eligibility, seat assignment, and ticketing rules. Getting these right from the start prevents cascading problems at every later stage of the booking.
Passenger Age Category Reference
The table below summarizes the age boundaries that define each passenger type. Airlines measure age on the date of the first flight in the itinerary, not the booking date.
| Code | Category | Age Range | Seat Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADT | Adult | 12 years and above | Yes |
| CHD | Child | 2 years to under 12 years | Yes |
| INF | Infant (lap) | Under 2 years | No |
| INS | Infant (seated) | Under 2 years | Yes |
Adding Passenger Names Using the N. Command
In Galileo, the N. command is used to add passenger names to a PNR. The name field is mandatory and must exactly match the traveler’s official travel document. The general format is shown below.
-- Adult name entry N.SMITH/JOHN MR -- Child name entry (with date of birth) N.SMITH/EMMA CHD/15JAN15 -- Infant without seat (lap infant) with gender and DOB N.SMITH/LILY MSTR INF/F/10MAR23 -- Infant with seat (INS) N.SMITH/LILY MSTR INS/F/10MAR23
Name Entry Rules to Remember
Always enter names in the format SURNAME/GIVEN NAME TITLE. Titles for adults include MR, MRS, MS, and DR. For children use MSTR (master) or MISS.
Date of birth is entered in the format DDMMMYY โ for example, 15JAN15 means 15 January 2015. Gender for infants is entered as M for male or F for female, separated by a forward slash.
Updating the Number of Seats โ The @ Command
When you add passengers who require a seat after the initial availability sell, Galileo’s booked seat count must reflect the actual number of seats needed. The @ command is used to update or correct the segment seat count within the PNR.
-- Update segment 1 to reflect 3 seats @1/3 -- Update all segments to 4 seats @*/4
Why Seat Count Must Match
Galileo calculates the number of seats to reserve based on the passenger count entered during the availability and sell process. If you later add a CHD or INS passenger โ both of whom require a physical seat โ without updating the segment count, the system will hold fewer seats than the group actually needs.
This mismatch can cause:
- Ticketing errors during end-transact
- Rejected bookings from the airline’s inventory system
- Passengers being waitlisted on a flight they believe is confirmed
- Additional fees for manual queue corrections
The golden rule: The number of booked seats must always equal the number of passengers who require a seat (ADT + CHD + INS). An INF (lap infant) does not count toward the seat total.
Complete Worked Example
Below is a full name-entry sequence for a family of four: two adults, one child, and one lap infant. Note how the seat count reflects only three seat-occupying passengers.
-- Step 1: Sell seats for 3 (ADT x2, CHD x1 โ INF has no seat) SS3Y1 -- Step 2: Add first adult N.JOHNSON/MICHAEL MR -- Step 3: Add second adult N.JOHNSON/SARAH MRS -- Step 4: Add child with DOB (age 7 at travel) N.JOHNSON/OLIVER MSTR CHD/22APR18 -- Step 5: Add lap infant with gender and DOB N.JOHNSON/GRACE MISS INF/F/03SEP23 -- Step 6: Verify seat count matches (3 seats for ADT+CHD, 0 for INF) *R -- Step 7: End-transact and retrieve ER
Continue Your GDS Training
GDSHub offers structured Galileo courses for travel agents at every level โ from basic PNR creation to advanced ticketing and queues.
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