Qantas has launched an agency portal to simplify access to
its New Distribution Content platform, providing some shopping functionality
for the carrier that is no longer available through traditional EDIFACT
channels.
To date, travel management companies have been able to
access the
Qantas Distribution Platform, through which the carrier provides NDC
content and offers, only via one of Qantas' "certified technology
partners," which includes Sabre,
Travelport and Amadeus as well as TravelSky and technology providers
including Serko, TPConnects, Travelfusion, Duffel and Aeronology. The new
portal gives access to agencies that are unable to work feasibly with one of
those partners, according to the carrier.
In its FAQs for the portal, Qantas said it is an
"option to access NDC content in a quick and easy way without technical
set-up or fees," though it noted that "it may not be an appropriate
solution for travel agencies with complex technical requirements and customer
needs."
To participate,
agencies must register with Qantas Agency Connect and have a valid IATA, ARC or
TIDS number. As such, they will bypass Qantas'
channel fee and will earn the same commission base applicable to their
point of sale.
Agents also can book corporate fares via the portal, though
Qantas cautioned it will have "limited reporting capabilities" since
the portal cannot be integrated with mid-back-office systems, and Qantas
currently has no plans to do such an integration.
"Booking agents who do not ticket bookings will be
unable to view bookings in this sales report," Qantas said in its FAQs. "Ticketing
agents will be able to identify the booking agency when they ticket the
booking, but not within the sales report itself, so will need to maintain their
own booking agent level reporting."
Qantas already had announced
that certain discounted fares—up to 4 percent lower on domestic Australian
fares and up to 5 percent lower on trans-Tasman fares—are available only
through NDC channels and not through traditional EDIFACT channels.
Other discounts listed by Qantas as unavailable to agents
via EDIFACT channels include frequent flyer discounts, paid seating discounts
and bonus savings for Qantas Business Rewards members. EDIFACT channels also do
not enable agents to shop by Qantas Corporate Identifier or Australian Business
Number, thought that capability also is not yet available through the portal as
opposed to the Qantas NDC API. Qantas last year announced it was
working with Spotnana for a redeveloped platform for Qantas Business
Rewards.
While codeshare flights are available through the new
portal, interline flights are not, as they are not yet in the Qantas
Distribution Platform. That should happen "mid-2024," according to
Qantas.