Air France e-ticketing planned for UKagents

Bookings

Air France e-ticketing planned for UKagents

Report by LOUISELONGMAN

AIR France is planning to launch an electronic ticketing service for UKtravel agents before the end of the year.

The airline is also planning to introduce electronic ticketing via the Internet.

Air France has been trialling the system via its call centre in Wembley since June and it is currently available out of the UK between Heathrow and Paris, Lyon and Toulouse and between Manchester and Paris.

Air France general manager UK and Ireland Marc Benedetti said electronic ticketing was cheaper for the airline and for passengers.

He said: “The next step for us is to take e-ticketing onto the Internet and out to all travel agents selling Air France tickets. All customers have to do is go to the airport and show their passport to get a boarding pass. If customers want a back-up document, they can get a print-out of the ticket.”

Air France first launched electronic tickets in France in 1998. They can now be sold by all French travel agents using the Amadeus global distribution system.

Meanwhile, Air France will open an exclusive lounge for Air France and Delta passengers at Manchester airport in January.

The new lounge follows the airline’s move at Manchester earlier this month from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 in a bid to be closer to Skyteam partner Delta (Travel Weekly September 11).

The joint lounge will be the first in the UK and joins similar lounges in Paris Charles de Gaulle and Atlanta.

Air France will also announce a revamp of its medium and long-haul services next month. Plans include the installation of new seats in aircraft and improvements to its in-flight catering.

New ground: the airline has been trialling the system since June