WHO PAYS THE PRICE WHEN A CORPORATE BOOKING PLATFORM DOESN'T DELIVER NDC CONTENT?
"NDC isn't easy and it isn't perfect. But it's already delivering lower fares, more choice, and better capabilities for self-service. And we've only scratched the surface on what's possible."
- Jeff Klee CEO
Understanding new distribution capability (NDC)
New Distribution Capability (NDC) is an airline industry initiative to modernize the way intermediaries (like TMCs and corporate booking tools) connect to airlines and access their content through XML-based data transmission standards. It’s been controversial within the industry because it asks travel service providers to invest time and money and ditch comfortable workflows and processes. But AmTrav has embraced NDC since the very beginning because of its promise to deliver richer offers, facilitate shopping for “extras” like roomier seats or WiFi, and make it easier to make changes mid-trip.
WHAT NDC MEANS FOR AIR TRAVEL: AMERICAN AIRLINES AND NDC-ENABLED CHANNELS
American Airlines is currently limiting around half of their lowest fares to NDC-enabled channels. If your program isn’t set up for this, you’re missing out on savings, control, and visibility. That’s the bottom line.
Where it’s at now: NDC is far from perfect. That’s why we’re tracking the data and reporting on it openly. There are some operational challenges that a lot of TMCs simply aren’t prepared to handle. We’ve been ready for NDC since 2019, and we can even see areas for improvement. That said, it is imperative that we don’t make our problems our customers’ problems. Any challenges we face will be behind the scenes and will not bring any disruption to our clients.
LOWER FARES THROUGH NDC TECHNOLOGY
To spur the adoption of NDC technology, more and more airlines are withholding their lowest fares from TMCs and corporate booking tools that still use legacy connections. AmTrav is one of the few who has built an NDC connection to American Airlines and, as a result, our customers are getting lower fares almost 40% of the time.
The Honest AmTrav difference: NDC in Airline commerce
At industry events and in industry forums, we’ve been debating NDC for over a decade. But we haven’t lost sight of the fact that, as a traveler or a company, you just want low fares, lots of options, and a really easy experience for both booking and changing. You don’t care – and shouldn’t have to – what technology your booking tool uses under the hood.
We’ll keep working hard to find new and better ways to improve your experience, even if change gets a little messy behind the scenes. Either way, we’ll deliver NDC and other new capabilities to you in a way that is seamless, at worst, delightful, at best, so you can stay focused on your own work.
SAVINGS, CHOICE, AND SERVICE: NDC INTEGRATION WITH AMTRAV
Savings
Be confident you’re getting the lowest fares, like on the 40% of American Airlines trips which are cheaper when booked through an NDC-connected corporate travel platform. With AmTrav, optimize your travel budget and make the most of every dollar spent on airfare.
Choice
See and compare all options in one place including upsell brands or bundles that give nice perks for just a little bit more. Some corporate booking tools that use legacy technology expect travelers to book with them and then go straight to the airline to pick their seat. NDC integration ensures your travelers have everything they need for a seamless journey.
service
Changing flights should be as easy as booking them but for so long our industry has peddled tools which make that difficult. With NDC technology, you’ll be able to reliably make changes in minutes without having to contact an airline or travel advisor.
EXPLORE OUR DATA ON AMERICAN AIRLINES NDC FARES
NDC FARES ARE LOWER THAN NON-NDC FARES ON 48% OF BOOKINGS (56% since August), AVERAGING $114 LOWER
American Airlines NDC and non-NDC fares on bookings made in AmTrav since April 3, data is updated regularly. Basic Economy fares excluded. NDC and non-NDC fares are recorded at time of pricing for this comparison (we price the itinerary in NDC and non-NDC technology simultaneously to make this comparison, inventory is not decremented), fares are reported at the whole-itinerary level.
AMTRAV CUSTOMERS DON’T HAVE TO WAIT: NDC AND DIRECT AIRLINE CONNECTIONS
AmTrav doesn’t rely on a series of middle-men to deliver travelers the latest and greatest fares, options, and capabilities. We’re one of the few who are willing to connect directly to the airlines that are most important to our customers. This allows us to innovate faster, provide more reliable service, and deliver real-time information.
future-proof your organization's travel program
Don't get left behind. Outdated technology forces your company to sacrifice savings, control, visibility, and service. Trust our experts and technology to deliver what your travel program needs. Embrace the NDC revolution and experience the future of corporate travel by partnering with us today.
Get Started with AmTrav and NDC
Ready to unleash the full potential of NDC for your corporate travel program? Contact us today to discover how our cutting-edge technology can transform your travel management experience. Our dedicated team of travel experts is here to guide you every step of the way as you navigate the exciting world of NDC-enabled corporate travel.
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