GOQUO'S NEW AIRLINEDP SOLUTION TO HELP LCCs
London, 3 July 2007 - Low cost carrier airlines (LCCs)
using dynamic packaging technology to offer more travel choice and value
to their booking passengers can enhance revenue potential and customer
loyalty, says online and dynamic packaging technology specialist GoQuo
(www.gouo.com). GoQuo is launching its latest dynamic packaging
solution, thought to be one of the first in the travel world, which has
been designed specifically for low cost carrier airlines (LCCs).
The new solution, AirlineDP (www.airlinedp.com), can help an LCC lift
non-flight revenues by offering customers the opportunity to book travel
add-ons such as hotels, car hire, insurance and tours when they book
flights through the airline's web sites.
According to GOQuo founder and managing director Ron Ramanan, continuing
intense competition between LCCs, and in the wider travel industry,
means airlines should make every effort to retain their customers
through all phases of their online purchasing experience. "Travellers
today expect an easy-to-use, fast and secure booking experience," he
said, "with as much as possible available on the one site. AirlineDP
lets airlines give them that."
Supplier Links Can Erode Customer Stickiness
Ramanan argues that a major business and customer service issue for
budget airlines currently offering non-flight products is a reliance on
links to external suppliers' web sites.
He explained: "Passengers who book flights on an airline's web site and
then want to book a hotel or rental car are usually transferred away
from the airline's core site to the supplier's web site. They have to
expend more time and more clicks to interrogate the supplier's inventory
database, make a choice and then book, and then get a totally separate
confirmation. Anecdotal evidence suggests they often get frustrated and
abandon the booking process, which means a lost sale, lost revenue and
some lost credibility for the airline."
One Site Visit For All Bookings
By integrating AirlineDP with its flight booking site, a low cost
carrier can make its web site 'stickier': customers are likely to stay
on it longer if they can 'look and book' all their flight and non-flight
travel needs in one visit, saving personal time and effort, and
enhancing the LCC's customer service image. All booking confirmations
can also be integrated into one master confirmation.
Ramanan believes that as well as improving the overall customer
experience and therefore the likelihood of repeat bookings, AirlineDP
can help airlines earn better margins from non-flight product bookings.
They can actively promote attractive discount offers, while intelligent
software for applying business rules helps control mark up in real time
according to popularity and availability.
He explained: "The airline can offer inventory from its own preferred
suppliers, from the many accommodation, car hire and tour suppliers
available through GoQuo, or from a combination of both. If someone is
only booking a flight, AirlineDP can automatically provide sales prompts
for other products, all without the customer leaving the airline site."
GoQuo is currently in negotiations with several low cost carriers keen
to explore the benefits of AirlineDP.
- ends -
