GLOBAL distribution system supplier Galileo UK is to launch its latest Internet-based product WebFare next week, three months earlier than planned.
The early launch has been timed to capitalise on the demise of leisure airline booking system EasyRes and to capture some of EasyRes’ travel agency customers.
EasyRes has been one of the most successful and popular leisure-booking systems since its launch 10 years ago but is due to close in June 2000 with the loss of 14 jobs.
Giles Harper, publishing director of parent company OAG, said EasyRes had fallen victim to factors such as consolidation in the travel agency market, the growth of the Internet and direct-sell airlines who do not need to use the EasyRes system.
James Turrell, marketing manager new media for Galileo UK’s parent company Travel Automation Services, said: “We were going to launch the product in the first quarter of next year but we are ahead of schedule so we want to get it out into the marketplace. We hope to be targeting those travel agents who are currently users of EasyRes, as the functionality is extremely comparable.
“We will also be targeting ABTA-bonded agents as well as those agents who use a rival GDS to Galileo. The system is mainly aimed at the leisure agent, who is likely to be a small independent agent who makes air bookings over the telephone.
“Generally we are aiming at the agent who does up to 50 air bookings a month and for whom a GDS is not cost-effective.”
Galileo UK has spent four months fine-tuning flight-booking tool WebFare, which it will market at leisure agents who do not have access to a traditional GDS. It will replace Galileo’s View Fare system, which is already used by some independent agents.
However, while View Fare requires dedicated technology and agents have to learn complicated codes to make bookings, WebFare is available to any agent who has access to the Internet. Agents do not have to pay Galileo to access the system and, once they are on-line, they can make bookings using simple point-and-click technology.
James Turrell said: “For the travel agent, it couldn’t be simpler. It is easy to set up and the system has been developed in the most user friendly way possible.”
To find out more about the product, agents can visit the Galileo Web site at www.webfare.co.uk and click on a button called new user to see a demonstration of the system.
If agents want to register, they have to go through an on-line registration process by filling out a form, listing company details and any trade associations to which they belong. Next they need to specify a password they want to use as well as the ticketing and servicing agent they use for their bookings.
Once they have inputed that information, they submit it on-line to get a service agreement.
Within half an hour, they get confirmation by e-mail of user ID and password. From that point on, they can start making air reservations. The system allows agents to search for a fare or check availability, obtaining a quote for the price afterwards.
A series of prompts have been set up which take the agent through the whole booking process.
To use the system, agents must already have a PC, Web browser and modem to enable them to access the Internet. Galileo can supply a list of preferred Internet service Providers to any agent who is not yet on-line but wants to use WebFare.
At the moment, the system can only be used to book air fares but Turrell said Galileo is looking at adding hotel and car-hire booking functionality if that is what agents want.
He said: “Next year we will be doing some research among those agents who decide to take this up. We want to gauge market reaction and feedback to the system before we implement any modifications.”
However, Turrell added that WebFare is not a proper substitute for the Galileo GDS which is used by thousands of agents in the UK.
He said: “Registered users get access to other products, such as our hotel mapping service and information pages.
“They can also use the Galileo GDS to book other products such as Eurostar.”
WebFare
What is it? an on-line reservation system for leisure agents who have access to the Internet.
Launch date: mid-December.
What can you book on it: currently 550 airlines on the Galileo system. The company is looking at expanding WebFare at a later date so that agents will be able to book hotel and car hire.
Cost to agents: free – as long as they have access to the Internet. If not, Galileo has a short list of Internet Service Providers it recommends to get agents on-line.
Key advantages: the product is easy to set up and easy to use as it is based on point and click technology.
Equipment: ideally agents should have a Pentium PC, a 56k modem and version 4.0 of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator.
Target market: existing EasyRes users and the 7,000 ABTA-bonded agents, many of whom primarily deal in booking leisure travel and who do not have access to a global distribution system.
For more information: contact Galileo’s parent company TAS on 01628 822123 or visit the Web site at www.webfare.co.uk.