Air travel has exploded over the past few decades with more of the population traveling much more frequently than ever before. For many, hopping on a plane to go visit a friend, attend a quick meeting or just to enjoy a show has become as the common place for some of us as taking a bus or train.
I was reminded of this while on a recent weekend trip. I was settling in my seat on a flight to New York when the lady seated next to me said hello and asked if I lived in New York. I said no, but that I was going there for the evening to have dinner and attend a show with a friend. We had a nice conversation about the show I was seeing and where I was planning to stay, etc. She even recommended a few places to eat and go for a drink after the show. We had a nice conversation during the flight and she shared some good suggestions on how I might spend my time in New York. We said our good-bye at the end the flight and headed our separate ways.
I was in ta cab headed to my hotel when I began to think of how casual taking a trip to New York had become. My friends had just called me the day before letting me know they scored tickets to a great show and here I was in New York City the very next day heading to my hotel to get ready before the show. Planning the trip was simple using the air booking engine available on my travel agent's website. I was able to quickly find and book a flight that fit my schedule and the application even included the option to book a hotel room at a reasonable rate. I was all set!
Access to an airline booking engine is a critical part of any online travel business, so you'll want to research the options available in the market. And there are plenty of options out there, so be prepared to do your homework. First, you'll want to understand your customer and determine their travel needs and shopping preferences. Next, do some quick research on the different booking engine options available. For example, consider using an air booking engine that can also help your clients book a hotel room. This may be an excellent way for you to expand your overall sales volumes while helping you serve your customers better and build up customer loyalty in the process.
The airline booking engine you choose needs to be able to provide your travel business the access the airline content your customers need at the price they are looking for. It needs to include business rules capability for you to easily adjust a product's selling price and offer special targeted promotions. And most of all, it needs to be easy to use and mobile ready to meet the demands of today's consumer.
Finding an air booking engine with the right combination of options for your business can be a critical decision. Finding a technology partner that will help you reach today's mobile consumer where and how they shop for air travel can be just as important.
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