Airline Reservation Systems Should Be Easy To Use

There are so many different places that consumers can go to purchase the same product, ever wonder why someone would choose to purchase an identical product from one vendor versus another?  The answer usually comes down to price, service or convenience.  Whether you are selling a bottle of designer cologne or a ticket on the airline, odds are consumers will base where they make their purchase based on one or all of these criteria.   Choosing one airline reservation system over another is no different for today’s online traveler.

If you want to reach price-driven consumers, make sure you offer the best value and price.  Your online booking engine must be able to search the best sources for content quickly and cost-effectively for you to offer a competitive price.  This includes the ability to adjust the selling price quickly and easily as well as offering value add offers right in the fare availability display.  Accessing the low rates offered by air consolidators is another way to get the best fares for your clients.  Different air consolidators specialize in different regions however, so you may look for an airline reservation system that allows you simultaneously search multiple air consolidators for the best fares.

Travel agents can be a great resource to consumers trying to make sense of all the options available and find the best deal possible.  To provide the expertise and service that only a professional travel agent can offer.  Your customers look to you for your expertise in travel, so make sure your clients get the VIP treatment they deserve.  Make sure your application allows them to select seats, request meals and add loyalty program information to their airline reservation.  Be sure to negotiate the best fares possible with the airlines and promote any special deals or amenities that are made available.

Make sure your airline reservation system is convenient for customers to use how and when they choose.  Today’s consumer has become accustomed to shopping using a variety of devices.  Some exclusively use their smartphone to research and purchase travel online.  Others may start their initial search using their handheld device but switch to a tablet or laptop to complete the purchase.  And you will always have the more traditional consumer who may research options online, but prefer to speak with a travel agent to make the actual booking.

To serve all these customers, your airline reservation system must allow you to distribute your products and serve your customers via several online channels.  For applications that support customers via a call center, you will want to consider an application that is easy to use and requires little agent training.   For those consumers shopping via your website, you’ll need an application that allows you to promote special deals and value add offers.  And for those “on the go” mobile consumers, you’ll need a mobile-ready application that adjusts the screen display to fit various devices.   Ease of use and convenience are important when deciding on the right airline booking solution for your travel business, choosing the right technology partner can be even more important.