Implementation allows Worldspan travel agencies and their clients to benefit from more comprehensive and accurate fare and rule data
CARIBE, November 01, 2006—Global travel technology leader Worldspan, L.P. has completed implementation of the SITA Automated Rules platform in the Worldspan global distribution system (GDS). Completed in September, the implementation substantially increases the level of automation and fare data accuracy available through a GDS.
“Automated rules processing, including negotiated fare rules, is critical to our ability to provide travel agencies with the most comprehensive and accurate information from airlines that distribute fare and rule data through the world’s major fare sources,” said Sue Powers, Worldspan CIO and senior vice president – Worldwide Product Solutions.
Integration of SITA Automated Rules increases Worldspan’s distribution speed, accuracy and efficiency by eliminating manual loading of rules data from approximately 120 airlines into the GDS. Coding errors associated with manual coding of rules instructions are eliminated, as are time lags inherent to manual processing. By electronically updating its fares database several times daily with information retrieved directly from SITA, Worldspan helps travel agencies increase performance and revenues using the most accurate and timely fare and rule information.
“As our international business continues to grow, Valerie Wilson Travel utilizes the power and accuracy of Worldspan’s fares and pricing tools,” said Jennifer Wilson-Buttigieg, co-president of New York-based Valerie Wilson Travel, Inc. “We are very pleased that Worldspan has once again taken fares and pricing accuracy up to a new level.”
In addition to its work with SITA, Worldspan has launched multiple landmark developments with Airline Tariff Publishing Company (ATPCO), including being the first GDS to introduce full automation of ATPCO’s Automated Rules. Worldspan was also first to integrate fare and rule data from ATPCO’s Voluntary Changes, Voluntary Cancels, Net Fares, Private Fares and Fare-by-Rule categories, and first to integrate data from these categories into the airline ticket repricing process (Worldspan Rapid Reprice®) and Web-based negotiated fares management process (Worldspan SecuRate® Air Plus).
Powers also attributes Worldspan’s leadership in global fares and pricing to the company’s proprietary IntellicacheSM technology, which is helping to achieve the most
reliable sell rates in traditional and online airline sales worldwide. “By offering a sophisticated intelligent data caching and availability system, the only system of its kind that accommodates the algorithms of individual airlines, Worldspan is ensuring travel buyers worldwide receive the most accurate information when shopping for air travel.”
Worldspan has championed the development of numerous travel industry firsts in global fares and pricing technology:
1993: Introduction of full automation of ATPCO’s Automated Rules platform and 100 percent dynamic processing of automated rules
1995: First functionality to search lower airfare options worldwide from an existing itinerary—Worldspan Power Pricing®
1996: First functionality to search lower airfare options worldwide prior to booking an itinerary—Worldspan Power Shopper®
1998: First to offer 13 full months of historical fare and rule information
1999: First fully automated solution for repricing and reissuing airline tickets when passenger itineraries change—Worldspan Rapid Reprice®
2000: First negotiated fares redistribution tool—Worldspan SecuRate® Air Net via ATPCO
2001: First deployment of ATPCO Category 15 Private Fares
2002: First intelligent airline data caching solution—Worldspan’s patented Airline Source® e-Certified
2002: First low-fare shopping and pricing engine in a GDS distributed server environment—Worldspan e-Pricing®
2002: First global deployment of ATPCO Category 35 Net Fares
2002: First deployment of ATPCO Category 31 Voluntary Changes
2003: First global deployment of ATPCO Category 25 Fare by Rule
2003: First Web-based negotiated fares management tool—Worldspan SecuRate® Air Plus
2004: First waiver processing capability for airline use (via Worldspan Rapid Reprice)
2004: First GDS with flexible low-fare shopping tools—Worldspan Flex Shopping Options
2005: First global deployment of ATPCO Category 33 Voluntary Cancels
2005: First global deployment of ATPCO YQ/YR (Fuel and Insurance Fees) solution, and first to guarantee accurate fee collection
2006: First solution to combine repricing and low-fare shopping into one tool—Worldspan Rapid Reprice® Select (patent pending)
Worldspan and all other Worldspan marks identified with a ® or SM contained herein are either registered marks or service marks or trademarks of Worldspan, L.P. throughout the world.
CONTACT: Patricia Cooledge, 770-563-4827, e-mail: patricia.cooledge@worldspan.com |