easyJet, a UK-based airline and operator of a European air transport network, and global technology company, Sabre Travel Network, have announced a partnership that is intended to improve the travel booking experience for agents using the Sabre travel marketplace.
Starting this Monday, Sabre-connected travel agents can select and pay for specific seats at the same time as making a flight booking for their customers. With the new arrangement, agents are not required to visit the easyJet website to select a seat after the fare is purchased on Sabre.
Besides scheduled fares and availability, agents can now also select and book easyJet fares when performing low-fare searches for the cheapest possible itineraries. The low-fare search at Sabre claims to allow agents to find the lowest fares across a broad range of dates, giving travellers more options and choices.
Andrew Hodges, easyJet’s director of Sales, Distribution & Business, said: ‘Over the last few years easyJet has been successfully growing its share of the managed corporate travel sector. Much of this has been achieved by making improvements with partners like Sabre helping to make the process simpler and more seamless for travel bookers.
‘We know that corporations and travel management companies will welcome this move as they will derive excellent value by being able to book our fares and ancillaries through Sabre’s travel marketplace.’
Harald Eisenaecher, senior vice president for Sabre EMEA, said: ‘These latest enhancements are great news for all agencies connected to the Sabre travel marketplace. Online and traditional agencies, and the corporations and travellers they serve, will reap the benefits of being able to shop easyJet’s fares and bags in one request.
‘The ability to shop, book and pay for seats at the point of sale is also a huge step forward. It will save agents time, make agencies more efficient, and mean travellers receive even better levels of service.
‘We recognise how important the agency channel is for easyJet, and by providing these new options in our marketplace we remain focused on helping it reach its targets.’
Sabre Travel Network’s technology connects 350,000 travel agents to more than 400 airlines, 100,000 hotels, 25 car rental brands, 50 rail providers, 13 cruise lines and other global travel suppliers. easyJet, one of several airlines at Sabre Travel marketplace, flies over 200 aircraft on more than 600 routes between over 130 airports in 30 countries.
