Travel industry online sales have exploded over the past decade and as a result, choosing the right online booking engine a critical decision for anyone selling travel today. With airline online ticket sales increasing year over year, making sure your travel business has the right flight booking software is even more important than ever. The right flight reservation system can serve as B2B, B2C and B2B2C applications which will automate processes increase your agency’s revenues and reduce the amount of time and effort required to complete an airline reservation. These online applications should be easy to use Easy to Use for Consumers and travel agents alike.
Most flight booking software can provide “live” connectivity with airlines so that the most up to date pricing and availability is used. Some flight reservation systems even have the ability to search multiple content sources simultaneously for the best price, allowing agency owners the ability to combine their own content with content from other sources.
Most travel agents look for a Flight Reservation System that allows them to customize the branding such as headers, footers and style sheets to reflect their agency’s unique brand identity and provide a seamless online experience for their customers shopping online. Complete customized versions are also available for those agency owners who are looking to design a complete customized layout of the flight reservation system to match their own specific requirements. There are even state of the art Air Mobile Apps available that allow any agency to expand the reach of their travel booking engine to hand held devices. The most advanced online airline booking applications utilize innovative responsive technology to provide support of various mobile device screen sizes so customers can easily view and navigate through the booking process regardless of the device they are using.
The business management tools that any application includes is an important factor and something which can vary greatly from system to system. Most applications include the ability to adjust a products selling price up or down, but the level of flexibility defining business rules is where systems can vary tremendously. Most have the ability to adjust a fare by airline, but some go much further and allow for Rules to be defined by itinerary, class of service, travel or booking dates and much more.
The ability to easily run reports to track your business and help you make adjustments along the way is also important. Who are your top customers? What are the top city pairs being shopped by your customers? Are your customers finding what they are looking for on your website? Many applications include reporting tools that track your bookings, but some can even provide search statistics to easily let you know what customers are looking for on your website. This can be valuable information for a business owner to consider when reviewing their negotiated airfare agreements with their preferred airlines.
Finding flight booking software with the right combination of options for your business can be a critical decision. Finding the right technology company to partner with can be just as important.
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