While the V-MPD is a step forward in removing paper transactions from the BSP system, management of the V-MPD will involve a number of significant challenges including maintaining security and tracking access to BSPlink for V-MPD issuance and same day voiding, refunding V-MPDs via GDSs, and creating handoff and interface records compatible with back-office systems.

To help travel agencies better manage handling of the Virtual MPD, ATC, in cooperation with ARTA Canada, will be offering a series of V-MPD Webinars. The V-MPD Webinar Program is interactive and conducted in English only, néamoins, des questions en français sont encouragées.

V-MPD Webinar
The V-MPD Webinar is a 90-minute (one hour and a half) web-based training program, with a live training instructor, and designed for all travel agents, regardless of their experience level, in order to assist with the understanding and implementation of the many considerations and processes affected by the implementation of the V-MPD and the end of paper (OPTAT) ticketing. Topics covered include:

• Implementation and Cutover to the V-MPD
• BSPlink Access and Security Considerations
• Basic and Enhanced Level Agent Sub-User Management
• Airline Implementation and V-MPD Restrictions by Agency
• Compendium of Carrier Specific V-MPD Instructions
• General Overview of Sabre V-MCO with AC
• V-MPD Reason for Issuance Codes
• Foreign Currency and Equivalent Amount Designations
• Form of Payment Handling
• Same Day Voids via BSPlink
• Refunds via GDSs
• PTA Refund Considerations
• Exchange Transactions
• Tax Exemptions
• Back-Office and Interface Records
• Question and Answer Forum

Tuition
Tuition for the V-MPD webinar is CAD 95.00 for each PC log-in/teleconference dial-in. Given the nature of this training, and to keep log-in costs down, it is recommended that attendees call from a conference room where facilities are in place for a group of agents to share a single connected PC and speakerphone. Multiple log-ins from different PCs and dial-ins from more than one telephone line require separate tuition payment.

ARTA Canada member travel agencies receive a CAD 30.00 discount on the V-MPD Webinar tuition fee provided that registration is before the enrollment deadline. Tuition must be paid online using ATC's secure web payment system, and only VISA and MasterCard are accepted. We regret that the American Express card is not accepted.

Webinar Sessions
The V-MPD Webinar is 90 minutes long in its entirety. Registration in the session of your choice below is the full program, repeated identically on various days.

*Registration after the enrollment deadline indicated above is subject to a late registration fee of CAD 30.00 (plus applicable taxes). Please register on-time. Space is extremely limited.

Online Webinar Requirements
The V-MPD Webinar is an online web-based seminar. Participants will be required to have access to an Internet-connected PC and a regular telephone (U.S. long distance charges apply). ATC recommends using a $1.00 Looney Call at www.looneycall.ca to keep long distance charges minimal. Technical requirements include:

»» Minimum technical requirements to attend the webinar using a PC:

. Required: Internet Explorer 5.0 or later, Netscape Navigator 6.0 or later or Mozilla Firefox 1.0 or later

. Required: Windows 2000, XP Home, XP Pro or 2003 Server, or Vista

. Required: Stable 56k, cable modem, ISDN, DSL or better Internet connection

. Recommended: Minimum of Pentium 400 with 256 MB of RAM

. Recommended: Java Virtual Machine enabled

»» Minimum technical requirements to attend the webinar using a Mac:

. Required: Mac OS X 10.3.9 (Panther) or newer

. Required: Safari 1.3 or newer, Firefox 1.5 or newer on PowerPC G3/G4/G5 or Firefox 1.5.0.2 or newer on Intel (JavaScript and Java enabled)

. Required: Stable 56 k, cable modem, ISDN, DSL or better Internet connection

. Required: Power PC G3/G4/G5 or Intel processor (G4 450 MHz with 256 MB of RAM)

This is an interactive session between participants and the webinar leader. Please register early to assure confirmation in the session of your choice.

Webinar Leader - Bruce Bishins, CTC
One of the most accomplished technical trainers in the travel industry, Bruce Bishins has been a respected and well-known consultant to travel agencies for over 30 years. He has held positions at Air Canada, Swissair, Air France, and Austrian Airlines, and was Manager-Travel Industry Training at Trans World Airlines for nearly eight years. He developed and implemented the travel agency training program for PARS. In 1978, he was appointed by a joint airline task force to the position of Manager-Procedures Training for the Air Traffic Conference (the predecessor to the ARC Area Settlement Plan in the U.S.). In 1981, he joined the Airline Training Council as Executive Director. In 1991, while still at ATC, he was contracted by the International Air Transport Association to provide technical support and training for travel agents and air carriers participating in the IATA Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP Canada). He managed the IATA/BSP and Air Canada agency training programs for nearly seven years.

How to Enroll
Please complete the above Online Enrollment Form with all requested information. Tuition fees include only the cost of instruction. Please enroll early to assure participation in the session of your choice and to avoid a CAD 30.00 late fee if enrolling after the published deadline.

Cancellations/Changes to Sessions
Tuition fees are non-refundable. Please consider carefully your intention to attend prior to enrollment. To discourage changes, a change fee of CAD 30.00 (plus applicable Canadian taxes) will be levied for changes to session dates after enrollment.

Session Confirmations
Approximately one week prior to the webinar session requested, a confirmation will be e-mailed to all enrolled and confirmed participants. If for any reason a participant has not received a confirmation at least one week prior to the webinar date, it will be the full responsibility of the participant to contact ATC by sending an e-mail by clicking here or calling ATC at 416-920-3242 immediately. As such, non-receipt of e-mail confirmation is not a valid reason for failure to attend.