How Travel Agents Get the Best Airfares

[Adam]

Getting the best airline tickets prices is one of the main compoents of the travel agents and one of the most important and basic factors for the success of tourism companies, whether it involves religious prilgrimages such as Hajj and Umrah or leisure trips.

A Look at the Players in the Distribution & Sale of Airline Tickets

• The three main reservation systems companies are Amadeus, Sabre, and Travelport-Galileo
  
  
• There are also products from Information technology companies such as Google Flights
  
  
• Meta search companies such as Skyscanner, which operate mostly as search engines specializing in tourism services by directing customers to where to find the best prices
  
  
• Online travel agencies (OTAs) like Expedia, Momondo, and Travelociity
  

A New Development

Since 2005, tourism companies have relied on these global distribution systems, but recently, and in light of the changing tourism-industrybusiness environment, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) adopted a new application system called New Distribution Capability, new communication standards that allow airlines and any other interested party to market combined travel products with rich content.

How this Application Affects Amadeus, Galileo & Sabre

These three have been the most experienced in dealing with tourism services for decades, and are the most important aggregators for the listings of airline services, but it cannot be said who will settle their ongoing competition. But each of them have begun to change their strategies to keep pace with the new changes. For example, Sabre signed an agreement with Google to display some of its content, Amadeus has concluded a strategic agreement with Accor Hotels, and Galileo pacted with automated-information-technology company TTS.

Recommendations for Travel Agents to Get the Best Airfares

• Review prices for the same trip on the three reservation systems Amadeus, Galileo, and Sabre. It is not possible to rely on a single system at all.
  
  
• Review the prices of the same trip on two meta-search engines to make sure that there is no lower price.
  
  
• Review the websites of online tourism companies that may have lower prices than an airline.
  
  
• Review terms of sale and additional services available for each price.
  
  
• Choose the most appropriate price and services according to the client's needs.

     

By Amr Elleithy