Northwest Airlines later this month will launch a new Web site enabling travel agencies to book directly the carrier's full range of fares, including published, Web-only and negotiated fares at no cost. The site, two years in development and one of several possible approaches by airlines to lower distribution costs, includes crucial Airlines Reporting Corp. tracking and reporting.
The carrier expects to announce details of the new site this week, which it will call World Direct. Initial beta tests are scheduled for next week, with an official launch planned for Oct. 22.
"This site just would not work without reporting and without Web fares," said Fay Beauchine, Northwest vice president of passenger sales and customer relations. "It allows us to target special offers to agencies, reach them easier than we can today and help us move share."
Though the site ties in with Northwest's preferred agency agreements, corporate negotiated rates will not be available through the channel until a later date. "When corporations sign up with Prism, we will load corporate fares at nwa.com, which is linked seamlessly to this agency site," Beauchine said. "But Web fares won't count toward corporate agreements until the company signs up for CorpNet
(BTN, June 24).She added that Northwest this winter plans to link CorpNet contract performance reporting capabilities to the agency site. Also in the works is new functionality enabling agents to refund and reissue tickets on World Direct.
World Direct is backed by a 24-hour support center. In the months ahead, access will be expanded beyond ARC-accredited U.S. agencies to include those in Canada and Mexico.
Other airlines have built agency booking sites, including Delta Air Lines. The carrier's Online Agency Service Center last year began providing agent access to Delta's Web fares
(BTN, March 12, 2001) and since has added UATP as an acceptable form of payment. The carrier now is working to add ARC reporting to the site, as well as individual agent recognition. The OASC as of Jan. 1 will be the only source for agency information as Delta pulls that functionality from the global distribution systems.
Delta also recently expanded its corporate online booking site to include associations, meetings and other specialized fares. The expanded product is called the Exclusive Discount Program.
American Airlines plans to offer agent access to direct bookings through its Web site as part of its new EveryFare program
(see story).Continental also is working to enhance agency access, including an improved booking site and enhanced extranet connectivity.