Airline API Integration
Most airlines provide GDS (Global Distribution System) APIs or direct APIs for flight availability. Common providers include Amadeus, Sabre, and Travelport. You'll need to handle authentication, rate limiting, and error responses.
- Implement OAuth 2.0 for secure API authentication
- Handle rate limits with exponential backoff
- Cache API responses to reduce calls
- Monitor API health and response times
Inventory Management
Maintain a local cache of flight inventory synchronized with airline systems. Update availability in real-time as bookings are made. Implement a booking lock mechanism to prevent overbooking.
- Sync inventory every 5-10 minutes for popular routes
- Lock seats during booking process (2-5 minutes)
- Release locks on timeout or cancellation
- Handle inventory conflicts gracefully
Booking Confirmation Flow
The booking confirmation process involves multiple steps: seat selection, passenger details, payment processing, and airline confirmation. Implement idempotency keys to prevent duplicate bookings.
- Generate unique booking reference numbers
- Use idempotency keys for payment processing
- Send confirmation emails asynchronously
- Handle partial failures with compensation transactions
Conclusion
Real-time flight availability requires robust API integration, efficient inventory management, and reliable booking confirmation flows. Focus on error handling, caching, and user experience to build a production-ready system.