How Much Does Sabre GDS API Cost? Complete Guide for Travel Businesses

In the fast evolving travel technology landscape APIs are truly the backbone of innovation. For many travel agencies, online travel agencies or tech companies entering the travel space integrating a global distribution system like Sabre is a major step.  Sabre is one of the top GDS platforms in the world providing real time access to airline seats, hotel rooms, car rentals and much more.

But Sabre API Cost is not publicly standardized. The cost of integrating and using Sabre API is likely to vary depending on multiple factors like your business model, transaction volume and the specific APIs you want to access and whether you go through separately directly or via technology partner.  

What is Sabre GDS API?

Before you dive into Sabre API Pricing  it’s very important for you to understand what the API offers. Sabre connected travel agents websites and apps like you with real time inventory data flights hotels or car rentals.

Sabre also allows developers to integrate The inventory windows platforms allowing you to search for flights and hotel rooms making reservations modifying or cancelling bookings and also managing PNRS. These APIs are modulars meaning you can just integrate only what you need.

Key factors that affect Sabre GDS API Cost

Ideally Sabre API Cost is built on a modular urge based model. There is no one-size-fits-all cost because your business structure, volume and integration pathway all influence the final price tag.

1. Type of API module

Sabre offers a huge range of APIs. The Sabre API Pricing  Is likely to vary depending on what modules you use like air shopping API air booking API hotel API’s car rental API trip management API and ancillary services. Each API has its own structure depending on the complexity features and frequency calls.

2. Transaction volume

Sabre typically follows A tiered pricing volume. The more transactions you perform the lower your cost per transaction if you have low volume then you might pay higher rates per quarter booking. High volume accounts often receive custom Sabre GDS API Cost and bulk discounts.

3. Your business model

Sabre might offer different pricing and contracts depending on your business category like online travel agencies, travel management companies and traditional travel agencies. Large OTAs with high volume generally get better rates as compared to new or small scale businesses.

4. Contract duration and volume commitment

Pricing can just differ greatly based on monthly booking commitments and long term versus short term contracts. If you commit to higher booking volumes or longer contracts than you often receive new pricing.

5. Certification and developer access fees

to integrate with Sabre you need to pay one time setup fee and go through sandbox testing. Get access to the production environment. Each of these steps can incur separate charges especially for startups or small tech teams.

6. Support and SLA options

Basic support is usually included in Sabre API Cost but if you need 24/7 Technical Support dedicated account managers or service level agreements you are likely to pay more. Premium support can be a major cost for mission critical platforms.

Typical Sabre API Pricing

What is the estimated Sabre GDS API Cost?

No doubt Sabre API Cost is not published officially but here are some rough estimates based on the market insights and partner information.

Air Booking APIs

• 2–4% of the total ticket value
• May include additional fees for cancellations, changes, or refunds
  
  

 Hotel Booking APIs

• Flat per-room fee ($0.50 to $2.00)
• Or percentage commission (3–5%) based on hotel contracts
  
  

API Call Usage Estimates

• First 10,000 API calls/month: $0.03–$0.05 per call
• 10,000–50,000 calls: $0.01–$0.03 per call
• 50,000+ calls: Custom pricing (as low as $0.005 per call)
  
  

Support Options

• Basic: Free or included
• Premium: $300–$1,000+/month based on SLA terms
  
  

 Certification & Setup

• Developer account & sandbox access: $500–$2,000
• Production credential activation: May require booking volume commitment or business verification
  
  

Working through technology partners

A lot of businesses don’t integrate directly with Sabre. Instead they work with travel tech partners. These partners might bundle Sabre access with

• UI/UX tools
• Booking engines
• Multi-GDS support
• Back-office integration
  
  

How to get accurate Sabre API Pricing?

Firstly you need to sign up with Sabre directly or a certified partner.

Provide some major information like monthly booking or search volume besides target regions like Europe Asia or others. You also need to provide the API models needed at the company type.

Next you need to negotiate contract duration, monthly minimums and premium support. Consider some add-ons like real time pricing engines, multi language support and custom filtering.

Questions to ask before signing the contract

Before you commit to anything, ask the following:

• Are there hidden fees for cancellations, changes, or booking failures?
• What happens if I don’t meet minimum transaction thresholds?
• Can I upgrade to more APIs/modules later?
• How soon can I go live after certification?
• What is included in the support plan?
• Are there any refund policies for failed ticketing?
  
  

Tips for Startups & New Entrants

If you’re just starting out:

• Start with sandbox access only
• Limit API usage while testing
• Use a tech partner to avoid high upfront costs
• Focus on one module (e.g., flights) before scaling to others
• Gradually increase volume to negotiate better pricing tiers
  
  

Scalability & Future Costs

As your platform grows, so do your integration needs. You need to ensure that your contract:

• Allows for adding hotel, car, NDC content, and ancillaries
• Includes APIs that support mobile and multi-channel distribution
• Provides access to real-time pricing and dynamic packaging tools
  
  

So above all you need to know that Sabre GDS API integration offers powerful tools to build competitive travel platforms but it also comes with Sabre GDS API Cost. The pricing will depend on what modules you need, how much volume you generate and whether you could direct or through a travel tech partner. There is no fixed online or fee calculator. The best way to know your exact cost is to initiate a conversation with Sabre or an authorized partner and request a customized quote.

Need help with Sabre API integration?

At Traveltekpro  we specialize in GDS and other integrations for OTAs travel startups and enterprise platforms. From certification to product setup our team can help you go live faster and reduce cost while scaling effectively. Let’s build your travel platform the right way. 

Read More: What is the Sabre Global Distribution System | Sabre GDS

FAQ’S

1. What is the Sabre GDS API and how does it work?

Sabre GDS API connects travel businesses to real-time airline, hotel, and car rental data worldwide. It allows agencies and OTAs to search, book, modify, and manage travel inventory through one integrated platform—simplifying operations and delivering instant, accurate booking experiences for customers.

2. How much does it cost to integrate the Sabre GDS API?

Sabre API integration costs typically range from $500 to $2,000 for setup and certification, with additional charges per transaction or API call. Depending on your booking volume and selected modules, monthly usage fees can range from $300 to several thousand dollars, especially for enterprise-level platforms.

3. What factors affect Sabre GDS API pricing?

Sabre API cost depends on several factors—your business model (OTA, TMC, or startup), transaction volume, selected API modules (flights, hotels, cars), contract duration, and support plan. Higher booking volumes or long-term contracts often qualify for discounted pricing tiers.

4. Can small travel startups afford Sabre API integration?

Yes, startups can begin with limited modules like Sabre Air Shopping API and work through certified tech partners like Traveltekpro, who offer bundled pricing and pre-built solutions. This helps reduce upfront certification costs and accelerates go-live timelines without compromising functionality.

5. Is there a difference between Sabre API and other GDS providers?

Compared to Amadeus or Travelport, Sabre offers highly scalable APIs, strong airline connectivity, and cost-efficient solutions for OTAs. It’s especially popular for global flight booking platforms due to its real-time pricing, reliable uptime, and developer-friendly integration environment.

6. How can Traveltekpro help reduce Sabre API integration costs?

Traveltekpro offers certified Sabre GDS integration with pre-configured booking engines, multi-GDS connectivity, and API optimization to reduce call costs. They streamline certification, setup, and automation—helping travel businesses launch faster, scale globally, and save significantly on overall Sabre API costs.