TechBriefs

Automated Reissues Taking Steps At GDS Cos.

Global distribution system vendors are making further strides in the provision of automated exchanges and refunds. According to a Worldspan announcement this month, its Rapid Reprice technology (BTN, Jan. 20, 2003) for automatically recalculating fares and rules on ticket exchanges has processed more than 3.8 million successful exchange transactions. Worldspan said United Airlines by year-end would join the list of carriers using the technology in their own customer services, including Aeromexico, Delta and Northwest airlines. Carriers participating in Rapid Reprice for distributors include Aeromexico, America West, American, Continental, Delta, Hawaiian, Midwest, Northwest, United and US Airways. A Galileo International executive recently said the GDS provider was seeking to develop automated reissues by the fourth quarter. Sabre is in the midst of bringing on new components. "The change fee component of Automated Exchange for airlines became available for all airlines at their choice in November 2002," a Sabre spokesperson said. Other components were expected by the end of last month. Sabre's Quick Refunds and Exchanges was released for all U.S. agencies in June 2002 for full refunds and exchanges. "In July, we will offer a first—a structured data stream for full refunds and exchanges and a structured data stream for agents to query the Sabre system ticketing database and receive current status of electronic ticketing coupons."



GDSs Market MIDT Data To Agencies

Sabre is selling to Robustelli World Travel—among other agencies using its eVoya Webtop—Marketing Information Data Transfer booking data as part of its Sabre Magnify suite of products. The data—including bookings made in Sabre and other statistics, though not data from other GDSs—primarily are sold in combination with Sabre's Revenue Messenger, which guides agents to maximize performance-based revenues. "We've now contracted for more than 2,500 agency locations and will soon add new, bigger customers that will double that," a spokesperson said. "The product soon will include multi-GDS data, export tools and enhanced targeting features."

"Agency companies have now begun using MIDT-based systems on a full-time basis," said Galileo's Shepherd Systems MIDT data division president and CEO Mike Malik.

Malik, who appeared at a May U.S. Department of Transportation hearing on GDS regulations (BTN, June 9), would not name any of Shepherd's agency users. During his testimony, Malik sought to neutralize the argument that carriers abuse the data by showing agencies can access it.

DOT's current GDS rules require the data to be made available, but GDS companies only recently have customized MIDT programs for travel suppliers other than the major network carriers. DOT is considering whether to ban or limit sale of the data. In a related move—as part of a sweeping initiative dubbed the Empowering Agenda (BTN, May 13, 2002)—Sabre in December implemented its Corporate Identification Codes program, partly to restrict airlines' access to specific corporate accounts' bookings. Ongoing accusations of airline poaching (BTN, June 9) partly are based on their access to such data.



CWT Offers Client-Defined Reports To Airlines

As part of its latest release of the Discovery reporting tool, Carlson Wagonlit Travel is offering clients the ability to give their airline partners password-based Web access to the client's booking data on that carrier for monitoring contract performance. Such access streamlines the export of booking data to such systems as Prism Group's airline tools that are designed for corporate contract analysis and to supplement, if not replace, the aforementioned MIDT data. "Making it available in Discovery allows the client to give the carrier direct access without having to get the agency be the middle man," said Leisha Lindsay, Discovery product manager. US Airways and Delta are the two primary carrier participants.