Oneworld customers will soon be able to book their round-the-world Explorer tickets online.
The alliance says it is on track to offer an online booking facility “in the next few months”. Until now passengers could plan their trip using Oneworld’s website, but would have to contact the airlines or a travel agent to complete the booking process and pay for their ticket.
The new online service will verify flight availability, display seats available for the date and routes selected, and automatically check that the itinerary meets all fare rules and conditions, before displaying a ticket price. Customers will then be able to pay online, and have their e-ticket sent to them via email.
Says Nicolas Ferri, Oneworld vice president commercial:
“Our new, easy-to-use on-line booking and payment facility will simplify the entire operation, saving our customers a huge amount of time and providing them with far more flexibility in planning their trips. It will also reduce costs for our member airlines and free up time of airline and travel agency reservations agents to handle other tasks."
However customers should note that round-the-world e-tickets can currently only support a maximum of 16 flights, which is less than the 20 allowed with current paper tickets (see Ask Alex, April 1 for more information on this).
For more information visit oneworld.com, and to read more about round-the-world ticket options, see the March 2008 edition of Business Traveller.
Report by Mark Caswell
