SOUTHLAKE, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–March 27, 2006–Travelocity Business(SM) today announced that it has automated the ‘split ticketing’ process, a procedure that is often required in order to fulfill a reservation after a traveler selects multiple air carriers for a single trip.
The new process, available to all customers at no additional cost, is designed to help companies streamline travel by increasing their ‘touchless’ transaction rates, or the number of trips booked by travelers that do not require additional follow up or help from an agent. It also aims to help companies get the most out of pre-negotiated air programs by automatically identifying and applying the appropriate trip segments to the right air contracts.
Equally as important is Travelocity Business’ dedication to automating processes like split ticketing to create the most efficient agency model that results in even better customer service for business travelers.
“Make no mistake about it, our strategy is to continue enhancing our technology, but not just for technology’s sake,” said Joel Bailey, director of Product Marketing at Travelocity Business. “As we continue to apply technology to different types of fulfillment processes, it frees our agents to dedicate more of their time to helping travelers with special travel needs that can’t be automated.”
The Split Ticketing Process
In the past, when a traveler made a single booking that involved multiple carriers and at least one of the carrier segments reflected a corporate negotiated rate, it produced the need for the creation of a split ticket so that the rate could be applied. This required a manual process, leading the agent to take time to handle the processing and fulfillment of the trip, and at times involving multiple calls to the traveler.
With the new process, travelers can continue to shop and book trips as they normally would, while choosing multiple carrier itineraries when the option best fits their travel needs. The Travelocity Business mid-office system, based on Sabre QIK technology, automatically cross-checks the combined cost of the separate segments to ensure they do not exceed any company-specific cost thresholds that can be pre-configured within the system.
The system then identifies when contracted rates are involved that require the creation of a split ticket, applies the appropriate segments to a company’s pre-negotiated contracts, and fulfills the transaction — all without the involvement of an agent. The new functionality is available to all Travelocity Business customers at no additional cost.
About Travelocity Business
Travelocity Business is a full-service corporate travel agency that helps companies easily manage travel and reduce costs, while providing more choices to travelers. Travelocity Business combines the savings and convenience of online with the full service of dedicated agents available 24/7 who typically answer the phone in 20 seconds, and within 60 seconds guaranteed (see site for guarantee details).
Travelocity Business combines the expertise, service and travel choices of Travelocity(R) with corporate experience gained from serving more than half of the Fortune 200 companies. For more information, companies can visit www.travelocitybusiness.com.
Sabre Holdings Corporation (NYSE:TSG) is a world leader in travel commerce, retailing travel products and providing distribution and technology solutions for the travel industry. More information about Sabre Holdings is available at http://www.sabre-holdings.com.
CONTACT: Travelocity Business
Mary Kate Smither, 972-488-4790
marykate@vollmerpr.com
or
Noel Bilodeau, 415-932-1292
noel.bilodeau@travelocity.com
SOURCE: Travelocity Business
