How to Master Galileo Encode & Decode Commands (.CE, .CD, .AE, .AD, .LE, .LD)
When working on Galileo GDS, you’ll often need to convert between names and codes for cities, airports, airlines, and countries. This is where Encode / Decode commands become essential for faster and more accurate booking.
Whether you’re a new agent learning Galileo or an experienced consultant looking for a quick reference, these commands will speed up your daily workflow and eliminate manual lookup errors.
What Is Encode & Decode?
Encode โ Convert a name into its system code.
Decode โ Convert a code into its full name.
These commands save time and help avoid mistakes when handling PNRs and fares.
Good to know: Galileo encode commands start with a dot (
.) followed by the command letter. The dot is mandatory โ without it, the system won’t recognise the entry.
Encode Commands in Galileo
Use Encode when you have the name and need the code.
Encode a City
GALILEO ยท .CE
.CE CAIRO
Returns: CAI
Encode More Than One City
GALILEO ยท .CE
.CE LONDON/CAIRO
Separate multiple names with a slash
Encode an Airline
GALILEO ยท .AE
.AE AIR CAIRO
Returns: airline code
Encode Multiple Airlines
GALILEO ยท .AE
.AE AIR CAIRO/EGYPTAIR
Separate multiple names with a slash
Encode a Country
GALILEO ยท .LE
.LE EGYPT
Returns: EG
Decode Commands in Galileo
Use Decode when you already have the code and want the full name.
Decode a City or Airport Code
GALILEO ยท .CD
.CD CAI
Returns: Cairo
Decode Multiple Cities
GALILEO ยท .CD
.CD CAI/ASW
Separate multiple codes with a slash
Decode Airline (2-Letter Code)
GALILEO ยท .AD
.AD SM
Returns: airline name
Decode Airline (3-Digit Numeric Code)
GALILEO ยท .AD*
.AD*381
Returns: airline name
Decode Multiple Numeric Airline Codes
GALILEO ยท .AD*
.AD*381/077
Separate multiple numeric codes with a slash
Decode a Country Code
GALILEO ยท .LD
.LD EG
Returns: Egypt
Related reading: If you work with Amadeus as well, compare these entries with the Amadeus equivalents in How to Master Amadeus Encode & Decode Commands.
Why It Matters
- Speeds up daily operations โ no more switching to external reference sites
- Reduces manual errors โ the system confirms the exact code or name
- Helps new agents learn system codes quickly โ a hands-on way to memorise codes
- Essential for ticketing, pricing, and PNR handling โ correct codes prevent fare and tax mismatches
Pro tip: Practise the encode commands daily during your first weeks on Galileo โ within a few days, you’ll start memorising the most common city and airline codes without needing the commands.
Quick Reference Table
Bookmark this table for quick access during your daily work.
| Command | What It Does | Example |
|---|---|---|
| .CE | Encode a city (name โ code) | .CE CAIRO โ CAI |
| .CE | Encode multiple cities | .CE LONDON/CAIRO |
| .AE | Encode an airline | .AE AIR CAIRO |
| .AE | Encode multiple airlines | .AE AIR CAIRO/EGYPTAIR |
| .LE | Encode a country | .LE EGYPT โ EG |
| .CD | Decode city or airport code | .CD CAI |
| .CD | Decode multiple cities | .CD CAI/ASW |
| .AD | Decode airline (2-letter code) | .AD SM |
| .AD* | Decode airline (3-digit numeric) | .AD*381 |
| .AD* | Decode multiple numeric airline codes | .AD*381/077 |
| .LD | Decode a country code | .LD EG โ Egypt |
Related reading: For the complete Galileo command reference, see the Ultimate Galileo Commands Guide. For fare shopping, see Galileo FS: Essential Commands for Finding the Best Airfare.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the .CE command do in Galileo?
The
.CE command in Galileo is used to encode a city name into its 3-letter code. For example, .CE CAIRO returns CAI. You can encode multiple cities in a single entry by separating them with a slash, like .CE LONDON/CAIRO.What does the .CD command do in Galileo?
The
.CD command in Galileo decodes a city or airport code into its full name. For example, .CD CAI displays Cairo. You can decode multiple codes by separating them with a slash, like .CD CAI/ASW.How do I encode an airline in Galileo?
Use the
.AE command followed by the airline name. For example, .AE AIR CAIRO returns the airline code. To encode multiple airlines at once, separate them with a slash: .AE AIR CAIRO/EGYPTAIR.How do I decode an airline code in Galileo?
Use
.AD followed by the 2-letter airline code to get the airline name (example: .AD SM). For 3-digit numeric codes, use .AD* followed by the number (example: .AD*381). You can decode multiple numeric codes with a slash: .AD*381/077.How do I encode and decode country codes in Galileo?
Use
.LE followed by the country name to encode it into the 2-letter code (example: .LE EGYPT returns EG). Use .LD followed by the 2-letter code to decode it into the full country name (example: .LD EG returns Egypt).What is the difference between encode and decode in Galileo?
Encode converts a name into its system code (Cairo โ CAI). Decode converts a code into its full name (CAI โ Cairo). Both directions are essential for fast and accurate PNR building, fare calculation and ticketing in Galileo.
Can I encode or decode multiple items at once in Galileo?
Yes. Galileo supports multiple-item lookups by separating entries with a slash. For example,
.CE LONDON/CAIRO encodes two cities, .CD CAI/ASW decodes two codes, .AE AIR CAIRO/EGYPTAIR encodes two airlines, and .AD*381/077 decodes two numeric airline codes.๐ Related Guides
Galileo
How to Master Galileo Encode & Decode Commands
Amadeus
How to Master Amadeus Encode & Decode Commands
Reference
The Ultimate Galileo Commands Guide
Galileo
Galileo for Beginners: Flight Availability Search
Galileo
Galileo FS: Essential Commands for Finding the Best Airfare
Galileo
A Simple Guide to Galileo Queues for Agents
Practise Galileo Encode & Decode in a Safe Simulator
Create a free GDS HUB account and practise .CE, .CD, .AE, .AD, .LE and .LD commands in a simulated Galileo environment โ no live data, no risk.
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