FareChase will not be the only Web fare aggregator capable of helping American Airlines' EveryFare agencies use aa.com, according to Atlanta-based AgentWare. AgentWare is "in final discussions with AA" and already has signed a "similar agreement" with an undisclosed major U.S. airline, said a spokesperson. AgentWare already accesses a handful of "agent-only" airline sites, some of which pay commissions. AA and FareChase last week
(BTNOnline, June 13) said they had cleared up a legal dispute over FareChase's use of aa.com, in part by limiting it to only those agencies participating in AA's EveryFare program
(BTN, Oct. 7).
AgentWare is working with such distributors as Galileo, Sabre's GetThere and WorldTravel BTI. WorldTravel also uses Web fare solutions from TRX, whose company officials were not available for comment. Asked about talks with the likes of AgentWare and TRX, an AA spokesperson said, "At this time, the FareChase tool is the only one approved and agreed upon for use with EveryFare agencies."
AgentWare would not disclose which other major airline it was working with on access to some form of Web-based agency channel that does not rely on the GDS front end for bookings. American, Delta and Northwest airlines--the three Worldspan owners--are among the major carriers offering Web site agency booking services. In general, AgentWare works with most major players except Southwest Airlines.
Interested agencies prefer a central point from which to reach into multiple sites, such as the Web aggregating tools, but travel agencies speaking with
Business Travel News cited a handful of challenges such products do not answer. In moving toward airline Web site bookings, for example, agencies dilute their performance capabilities in GDS contracts. Also evident are productivity issues surrounding en route customer service, for which the traveler or agent would need to interact with the ticketing carrier.
"This is compelling for those agencies interested in transferring their business model," said Ricks Tucker, AgentWare marketing director. "It's the first step in agencies becoming retailers instead of brokers."
Meanwhile, Galileo yesterday said its Momentum program
(BTN, April 28)--which seeks to keep airline bookings in the GDS by discounting their cost to the carriers in return for Web fare access--added Aloha Airlines and Traveline Travel, which said it booked about $120 million in volume through ARC. "Agencies with the vision to join take advantage of long-term airline commitments to the best fares, availability and the real opportunity to increase profits, while carriers benefit from reduced fees," said Mitch Gross, executive vice president of Galileo Americas.