Sabre for Developers Getting Started: Account, Keys, First Request (2026)

Getting started overview

To begin developing with Sabre for Developers, the process typically involves several key steps. Developers first register for a Sabre Dev Studio account, which grants access to the sandbox environment. This environment provides simulated data and allows for API calls without requiring a production agreement or live travel bookings. After account creation, developers generate API credentials, including an API key and a secret, which are essential for authenticating requests. The final step in a basic getting started flow is to make a successful API call to a sandbox endpoint, confirming that the setup is correct and credentials are valid. Access to production APIs generally requires a commercial agreement and a certification process, as outlined in the official Sabre developer guides.

This guide focuses on the initial steps to get a basic development environment set up and make your first successful API request using the Sabre Dev Studio sandbox. This quick reference table summarizes the initial setup:

Create an account and get keys

To begin, navigate to the Sabre Dev Studio registration page. You will need to provide basic contact information and agree to the terms of service. After submitting the registration form, Sabre will send an email to the address you provided. You must follow the instructions in this email to verify your account and complete the activation process. Without activation, you cannot access the developer portal's full features or generate API keys.

Once your account is active, log in to the Sabre Dev Studio portal. Navigate to the "My Applications" section. Here, you can create a new application. Each application you create will be assigned a unique set of API credentials. For sandbox testing, you will typically generate an API Key and an API Secret. These credentials are used to authenticate your application when making API calls. It is critical to store these keys securely and avoid hardcoding them directly into your application's source code, especially for production environments. Best practices for API key management often involve using environment variables or a dedicated secret management service, as described in general cloud security documentation.

The API Key is a public identifier for your application, while the API Secret should be treated as a password. Both are necessary to obtain an access token, which is then used in subsequent API requests. The sandbox environment provides a testing ground where you can experiment with various Sabre APIs without incurring costs or affecting live travel data. Developers can find more specific guidance on registering and managing API keys within the Sabre Dev Studio getting started guide.

Your first request

After acquiring your API Key and Secret from the Sabre Dev Studio portal, the next step is to make an authenticated request to a sandbox endpoint. Sabre APIs predominantly use OAuth 2.0 for authentication. This means you first need to exchange your API Key and Secret for an access token.

Here's a typical flow for obtaining an access token and making a first call:

1. Encode Credentials: Combine your API Key and Secret in the format V1:{API_KEY}:{SECRET}. Then, base64 encode this string.
2. Request Access Token: Make a POST request to the Sabre OAuth endpoint (e.g., https://api.sabre.com/v2/auth/token for the sandbox). The request body should include grant_type=client_credentials and the Authorization header should contain Basic {base64_encoded_credentials}.
3. Receive Access Token: The response will contain an access token and its expiration time. This token is what you will use to authenticate subsequent API calls.
4. Make an API Call: Choose a simple sandbox API endpoint, such as a low-fare search or an airline lookup. For example, you might use the Low Fare Forecast API. Include the access token in the Authorization header of your request, typically as Bearer {access_token}.

A basic example using curl to obtain an access token (replace placeholders):

export SABRE_API_KEY="YOUR_API_KEY"
export SABRE_API_SECRET="YOUR_API_SECRET"

# Base64 encode the combined key and secret
AUTH_STRING=$(echo -n "V1:${SABRE_API_KEY}:${SABRE_API_SECRET}" | base64)

# Request an access token
ACCESS_TOKEN_RESPONSE=$(curl -X POST \
  'https://api.sabre.com/v2/auth/token' \
  -H "Authorization: Basic ${AUTH_STRING}" \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded' \
  --data-urlencode 'grant_type=client_credentials')

# Extract the access token (requires a JSON parser like jq)
ACCESS_TOKEN=$(echo ${ACCESS_TOKEN_RESPONSE} | jq -r '.access_token')

echo "Access Token: ${ACCESS_TOKEN}"

Once you have the ACCESS_TOKEN, you can use it to make a request to a sandbox API. For instance, querying a simple endpoint like the airline lookup:

curl -X GET \
  'https://api.sabre.com/v1/lists/utilities/airlines?limit=10' \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer ${ACCESS_TOKEN}" \
  -H 'Accept: application/json'

This request should return a JSON array of airline codes and names, confirming your credentials and token are working correctly within the sandbox environment. Detailed API specifications and example requests for each service are available in the Sabre API reference documentation.

Common next steps

After successfully making your first API call, several common next steps can help you further integrate with Sabre for Developers:

• Explore More APIs: Review the extensive Sabre API references to understand the breadth of available services, including flight search, hotel booking, car rental, and more. Each API has specific request and response formats.
• Understand Data Models: Familiarize yourself with the data models used across Sabre APIs. Understanding concepts like Passenger Name Records (PNR), air segments, and pricing components is crucial for building robust travel applications.
• Review SDKs and Tools: While Sabre does not provide official SDKs in the entity payload, developers often create their own client libraries or use generic HTTP client libraries in their preferred programming language to interact with the RESTful APIs.
• Implement Error Handling: Develop robust error handling mechanisms for your application. The Sabre APIs return specific error codes and messages that can help diagnose issues. Refer to the Sabre error code documentation for details.
• Consider Production Access: If your project requires live data and real bookings, begin the process of obtaining production access. This typically involves a commercial agreement with Sabre and a certification process for your application to ensure compliance with industry standards and Sabre's operational guidelines. Details on this process are available in the Sabre pricing and resources section.
• Stay Updated: Keep an eye on the Sabre Developer Portal for updates, new API releases, and deprecation notices. The travel industry is dynamic, and APIs evolve to reflect changes in services and regulations.

Troubleshooting the first call

Encountering issues during your first API call is common. Here are some typical problems and their solutions:

• Invalid Credentials: Ensure your API Key and Secret are correct and that the base64 encoding for the OAuth token request is accurate. Double-check for typos or extra spaces. The format should be V1:{API_KEY}:{SECRET} before encoding.
• Expired Access Token: Access tokens have a limited lifespan. If you receive an "Invalid Token" or "Unauthorized" error, try requesting a new access token.
• Incorrect Endpoint: Verify that you are using the correct sandbox endpoint for both the OAuth token request (e.g., https://api.sabre.com/v2/auth/token) and the subsequent API call (e.g., https://api.sabre.com/v1/lists/utilities/airlines). Production endpoints differ from sandbox endpoints.
• Missing Headers: Ensure all required HTTP headers are present in your requests. For OAuth token requests, the Authorization header (with Basic scheme) and Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded are crucial. For API calls, the Authorization header (with Bearer scheme) and often Accept: application/json are necessary.
• Rate Limiting: While less common in initial sandbox testing, exceeding rate limits can result in errors. If you are making many requests in a short period, space them out.
• Network Issues: Check your internet connection and any firewall settings that might block outgoing requests to Sabre's API endpoints.
• API-Specific Errors: If the OAuth token is successful but an API call fails, consult the specific API's documentation within the Sabre API reference for expected request formats and possible error codes related to that particular service.
• Developer Portal Status: Occasionally, the Sabre Dev Studio or API endpoints might experience downtime for maintenance. Check the Sabre Developer Blog or community forums for status updates.