EDIFACT message guide · Travel and tourism

RESRSP Reservation response

The UN/EDIFACT interactive message that conveys the result of a reservation request for a travel, tourism or leisure service.

Sent by
Travel service provider
Received by
Customer, travel agent or booking system
Standard
UN/EDIFACT · Interactive (I-EDI) message
X12 equivalent
No direct equivalent

What is the EDIFACT RESRSP message?

RESRSP is the UN/EDIFACT interactive travel, tourism and leisure reservation response. The directory describes it as conveying the results of a reservation request for a travel, tourism or leisure service, and it is used together with the interactive reservation request (RESREQ).

The response confirms the booking with a reference, reports the changes made or explains why the request could not be fulfilled. Because it arrives within the same dialogue, the booking system can tell the traveler at once whether the reservation succeeded.

How the EDIFACT RESRSP message worksDiagram of the UN/EDIFACT RESRSP Reservation response message. Travel service provider sends it to customer, travel agent or booking system. It usually follows RESREQ. Inside the UIB and UIH envelopes, the directory D.21A requires, in the . 7 conditional segment groups are listed by their trigger segment.How the EDIFACT RESRSP message worksReservation response: who sends it, where it fits and what the directory marks mandatory1 WHERE IT FITSUSUALLY FOLLOWSRESREQReservation requestRESRSPSENDERTravel service providerRECEIVERCustomer, travel agentor booking systemUSUALLY FOLLOWED BYNo business reply expected2 WHAT DIRECTORY D.21A REQUIRESInteractive interchangeUIB … UIZMessage RESRSPUIH … UITBODY AND SEGMENT GROUPS+ 7 conditional groups, starting with:NMESSRERIRULTIFTVLODIBlue box: mandatory segment group. Conditional groups are listed by the trigger segment that starts them; a group is sent only when its data applies.Conditional segments outside groups are not drawn.Structure: mandatory segments and groups in the UN/EDIFACT directory D.21A listing for RESRSP. Your trading partner's implementation guide adds itsown requirements.
How the EDIFACT RESRSP message worksDiagram of the UN/EDIFACT RESRSP Reservation response message. Travel service provider sends it to customer, travel agent or booking system. It usually follows RESREQ. Inside the UIB and UIH envelopes, the directory D.21A requires, in the . 7 conditional segment groups are listed by their trigger segment.How the EDIFACT RESRSPmessage worksReservation response: who sends it, where itfits and what the directory marks mandatory1 WHERE IT FITSUSUALLY FOLLOWSRESREQReservation requestRESRSPSENDERTravel serviceproviderRECEIVERCustomer, travelagent or bookingsystemUSUALLY FOLLOWED BYNo business reply expected2 WHAT DIRECTORY D.21A REQUIRESInteractive interchange (UIB … UIZ)Message RESRSP (UIH … UIT)BODY AND SEGMENT GROUPS+ 7 conditional groups, starting with:NMESSRERIRULTIFTVLODIBlue box: mandatory segment group. Conditionalgroups are listed by the trigger segment thatstarts them; a group is sent only when its dataapplies. Conditional segments outside groups arenot drawn.Structure: mandatory segments and groups in theUN/EDIFACT directory D.21A listing for RESRSP.Your trading partner's implementation guide adds itsown requirements.

How to read this diagram: the top row shows who sends RESRSP, to whom, and which messages usually come before and after it. The lower part shows what the directory D.21A itself requires: the envelopes around RESRSP and the segments and segment groups it marks mandatory. Conditional groups are listed by their trigger segment rather than drawn in full. This is the directory's minimum, not a trading partner's requirement: a message implementation guide usually makes some conditional groups mandatory, restricts the codes and may use an older directory.

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When it is used

  • Confirming a real-time reservation
  • Confirming modifications or cancellations
  • Reporting that a request could not be fulfilled

Where it fits in the message flow

Usually follows RESREQ Reservation request
This message RESRSP Reservation response

Structure

Mandatory segments in RESRSP (directory D.21A)

In UN/EDIFACT directory D.21A, the RESRSP message has 106 segment positions arranged in 19 segment groups. These are the segments and segment groups marked mandatory at message level, in order; a mandatory group is shown with the segment that starts it. Segments inside conditional groups are needed only when the group is used. This is the directory’s requirement, not your trading partner’s: each partner’s message implementation guide names the directory it uses, often an older one such as D.96A or D.01B where the structure can differ, makes some conditional segments mandatory and restricts the codes. This structure comes from one published copy of the directory and has not been independently verified: confirm it before you build a map.

  • UIH
  • UIT

Practical example

RESRSP in practice

A rail operator receives a RESREQ for two first-class seats. It reserves the seats and returns a RESRSP with the booking reference, seat numbers and fare. The travel agency's system shows the confirmation to the agent, who issues the tickets.

Implementation

Implementation considerations for RESRSP

  • Return clear error reasons when a request fails.
  • Include the booking reference for later changes.
  • Respond within the time the requester's system waits.
  • Keep inventory consistent with confirmed responses.

Need help with RESRSP?

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