Travelport and United agree new distribution deal for fares and ancillaries

Travelport and United Airlines have agreed a new long-term distribution deal for airfares and ancillaries.

Travelport and United Airlines have agreed a new long-term distribution deal for airfares and ancillaries.

The American carrier will adopt Travelport’s air Merchandising Platform and Rich Content and Branding capabilities.

This offers travel agents the ability to sell seats and add-on services and products in much the same way as the airline does itself direct on its own website.

Travelport said United joins well over 40 other carriers that have already signed up to use this solution which goes live in the next version of the Travelport Smartpoint agency desktop due this year.

Simon Ferguson, managing director, Travelport UK and Ireland said: “United is one of the world’s leading airlines and we are delighted to expand our longstanding partnership with them and see them take advantage of the investments we have made in our pioneering merchandising technology, which has been designed to meet the changing needs of the global travel distribution chain.

“United will be able to leverage Travelport’s leading technology to grow their global reach, promote their brand to travelers all over the world and most importantly maximize the revenues they are able to generate per seat sold.”

Travelport-connected agents have the ability to access Economy Plus seat availability and prices within the Travelport travel commerce platform with real-time booking and automated integration into the trip built for the travelling leisure or corporate consumer who has elected to use the services of a travel agency.

This includes United’s complimentary Economy Plus seats for qualified MileagePlus customers and their companions.

Tom O’Toole, United’s senior vice president of marketing and loyalty and president of MileagePlus, said: “United’s array of travel offerings continues to expand and evolve into dynamic products tailored to our customers.

“United is pleased this agreement enables us to offer the choices our customers value through additional shopping channels. We look forward to continuing to improve the shopping experience for our customers and their agencies through Travelport’s solutions.”