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Air Tickets® launches its world-first ticketing innovation, enabling Australian agents to issue RTW and Circle fares online 24/7; a process previously relegated to the “too-hard” basket due to complexities of integrating disparate airlines, rules, fare types, tiers and surcharges. Agents can now access this innovation as a standard option in the SmartTickets Online suite of ticketing services. “Just tick a box and you’ll have a Round the World or Circle ticket issued in less than 80 seconds” says Diana Mufic, Air Tickets Business Systems Manager, “And SmartTickets will even suggest cheaper fares if they’re available. Any changes that need to be made will be automatically highlighted so the agent can correct and re-book seamlessly”. The ground-breaking feature was quietly introduced to the industry on August 21 at 10 pm with the only indicator a red-highlighted RTW option in the SmartTickets Online booking screen. The world’s first online RTW ticket was a Business Class Global Explorer was issued next day by veteran consultant Lyn Rowlands of JBR Travel in Pakenham Vic. Lyn tells Travel Daily she had manually calculated the fare and clicked on the RTW option out of curiosity, and the system immediately checked and corrected some calculations and updated the tax as well. ”It was just so easy and only took about a minute to issue the ticket” she said. Another early-adopter is Amanda Karcher of Coffs Harbour who told us she “Just went through the normal procedures” and was “amazed when the correct fare suddenly appeared in the payment box”. User response to the RTW ticketing process has been resoundingly positive with agents feeding back on the ease and accuracy of issuing complex tickets that match or sometimes better GDS pricing. Others comment on the simplicity and time-efficiency of the product which allows them to focus on customer service and selling rather than time-consuming paperwork. Until the end of November, Air Tickets are offering all travel agents the chance to win back the cost of their Round the World or Circle Trip fares by simply issuing them online. Interested agencies should contact their Air Tickets BDM or visit airtickets.com.au for more details. Air Tickets® has a 60 year track record as Australia’s market leading airfare distribution and ticketing services consolidator, selling airfares on behalf of over 100 international airlines to some 2,500 travel agencies nationally. Air Tickets® empowers retail agencies, providing in-depth knowledge of international airfare requirements to locate, book and ticket airfares, significantly increasing agency efficiency by providing agents with 24/7 ticketing, airfare and ticketing rule validation. Air Tickets recently won the inaugural “Best Travel Agent Technology Innovation” and for the third year running the “Best Agency Support Service” at the 2012 AFTA National Travel Industry Awards, held in Sydney in July. |
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