Flight Booking Software Started It All

The marketplace for travel products online continues to advance as more and more consumers use some type of online travel technology when making travel arrangements.  There is online travel software available to research and book just about any type of travel product.  Whether someone is booking airline tickets for a quick business trip or they are booking the annual family vacation, there are online travel booking engines that can help guide a user through the entire research and booking process.

One of the most popular online travel products available today is airline reservations. The flight booking software the airlines developed years ago became the backbone of today’s Global Distribution Systems (GDS’s) and many of today’s online travel applications.  There are countless airline reservation systems and booking engines in the market today, so the choice can be somewhat overwhelming even for the most seasoned professional. 

It is always a good idea to start by evaluating the way you currently make airline bookings and identify any improvements that can be made there.  Is your business operating as efficiently as it could when making airline reservations? Is your product priced competitively and easily available for your clients to book?  Has your technology kept pace with your competitors?

This is where a little research on the options available will pay off in the long term. There are airline booking systems designed to meet the requirements of just about anyone selling travel online, but finding flight booking software with the right combination of content sources, price and product features for your business will be key to your success. 

And as today’s consumer continues to shift just about all their purchases online, you will want to make sure your online booking engine is mobile-ready so you can avoid the need to develop a separate, expensive dedicated Mobile APP in the future.  For this, you will want to make sure the flight booking software you choose is using responsive technology that will automatically adjust the screen size based on the type of device being used. 

Next, consider how your customers like to research and book their travel arrangements.  Whether your customer prefers to research and book their flight arrangements online or speak with an experienced travel professional, travel technology should be designed to make it quick and easy for travel agents as well as consumers to use.  Applications should be simple to use and not require the user to input or remember complicated formats. Researching and booking travel online today should be as easy as just a few clicks of the mouse.

You will also want to ensure that any application you choose provides the business management tools that you will need to properly control and manage your business.  At a minimum, you’ll need the ability to adjust the selling price as well as offer targeted sales promotions or include “value adds” to customers using your services.

Finding flight booking software with the right combination of content and product features for your business can be a critical decision, choosing the right technology partner can be just as important.

Cruise Booking Solutions Have Options

The cruise booking solutions that are available in the market today are the result of years of technological improvement.  As the travel industry scrambled to move sales to online channels, the complexity of selling a cruise brought unique challenges.  The initial online cruise booking engines launched in the market had limitations not only with functionality but with the ability for a cruise line to differentiate their brand in the crowded marketplace as well.  These applications have evolved over the years and have been driving the force behind the increasing sale of cruises online today.

Today’s cruise booking engine can provide live access to cruise content and provide Users with the most up to date content, availability and pricing. However, the support for modification of cruise bookings can vary by cruise line and can further vary by booking status, fare code and sailing. The modify options available in today’s cruise booking solutions can vary by feature and most modify options are only available to a “logged in” agent User and typically not a consumers using online cruise booking solutions. Fare code, cabin category or actual cabin/stateroom, dining options and guest details are all booking elements where modifications are commonly supported.  Many of today’s cruise booking engines even makes it easy for a User to review booking activity by maintaining a detailed history.

Cruise lines have turned ships into destinations in their own right, so today’s cruise booking software requires the integration of detailed photo galleries, deck plans and even videos to highlight their distinct features and amenities.  Cruise line, cruise ship and cabin descriptions need to be part of the cruise online booking system and linked to media files & rich content such as cabin photos, ship images and deck plans to assist Users during the research, shopping, and booking process.

And with so many competitors offering so many deals, cruise booking solutions need to provide an easy and efficient way for you to manage the various special pricing or value add offers for a business to remain competitive.  The travel technology solution you choose should include the ability to easily define pre-set business rules so you can manage specific products’ selling price and include any value add the offer you may have.   To reach today’s mobile consumer, you’ll want a mobile-ready online application so you can serve these clients regardless of the type of device they choose to use or when they choose to shop.

Fast and easy to use applications can help reduce the amount of time it takes your agents to research and complete a travel booking.  Today’s travel technology solutions provide quick, live access to supplier content and use the most up to date availability and pricing. The application you choose should have a quick response time and supported by a technology partner that is responsive to the needs of your business.  Finding a technology solution that will help your travel business reach today’s online consumer is an important decision. Finding the right technology company to partner with can be even more important.

An XML Booking Engine May Be the Solution

Today’s online technology solutions need to be fast, easy to use and flexible.  With so many competitors offering so many special deals, your online booking solution needs to provide an easy and efficient way for you to manage the various special pricing or value add offers in order for your business to remain competitive.  Sometimes this requires that you use an XML booking engine that will allow you the ability to customize the application as you choose.

The XML booking engine can provide fast and easy access to content such as live schedules, availability, and pricing for hundreds of airlines.  Some of the more sophisticated include the ability to easily define pre-set business rules to help you manage a specific products’ content source as well as adjust a selling price or include any value add offers.  Some of today’s online booking engines allow Users to build a package shell to be sold online and manage business rules with full flexibility occupancy dates, sale dates, block hold milestones, etc.

And with today’s competitive marketplace, it has become increasingly critical for today’s business manager to track their business and identify trends quickly.  Not only will you need basic booking reports to track your sales revenue, but you’ll need to keep track of your costs to properly manage your business as well.  Many of today’s travel technology solutions come with reporting tools easily available to track not only the inventory you have available along with associated bookings, but can also track individual Supplier sales as well to assist you with booking payments or managing inventory.

And to reach today’s mobile consumer, some use an XML booking engine to power dedicated mobile applications.  Others skip over the APP and choose an online application that is “mobile-ready” so they can serve these clients regardless of the type of device they choose to use or when they choose to shop.  Using an XML travel technology solution can also provide you the flexibility to be easily customizing your User Interface to support your own brand identity and unique selling style.  And if you are looking to expand your reach with affiliated agents, you’ll want a solution that can quickly add affiliate users and websites, perhaps with the ability to easily customize the look and feel for each as well.

You should also ensure that any application you choose provides the business management tools that you will need to properly manage your business both online and off-line.  At the minimum, you’ll need the ability to adjust the selling price as well as offer targeted sales promotions or include “value adds” to customers using your services.

Any XML the booking engine you choose should have a quick response time and supported by a technology partner that is responsive to your needs.  Consider a travel booking solution that uses a secure, scalable online booking platform that can easily expand with your business as it grows. Finding travel technology with the right combination of content, product features and flexibility for your business can be a critical decision, choosing the right technology partner can be just as important.