FULL CONTENT & BEYOND!

Sabre and United Airlines have signed a new long-term, full content deal. The GDS and the airline indicate that they’re planning to work together to make United’s material ancillary products and services, including its Economy Plus seats, available in Sabre. United’s published fares and inventory, as well as its material ancillary products and services that are distributed through Sabre, will be available to travel buyers worldwide who use the Sabre travel marketplace. Sabre and United currently are working to make United’s premium seat option, Economy Plus, available once again through Sabre. United joins other global airlines that sell or expect to sell their ancillary products and services in the Sabre travel marketplace. They are also planning to co-develop solutions using next-generation technology that will permit United to offer more relevant personalized offers to their loyal customers. These advancements will also better promote and disclose the unique value of the airline’s different fare and ancillary products and services to travel agents with additional descriptive text and graphics for enhanced on-screen merchandising within the Sabre Red Workspace and through Sabre Web Services. David Gross, senior vice-president, Sabre Global Supplier Distribution, said that: “Sabre will merchandise United’s complete range of fare offerings, including material ancillaries, into our marketplace in a way that will help differentiate them.” And he continued: “Sabre is committed to helping United more effectively market and sell its products and services to the broadest number of travellers.” Doug Leo, United’s senior vice-president of strategy and business development, commented: “We look forward to this next chapter in distribution, where United and Sabre are better able to promote the airline’s growing portfolio of products and services through our travel agency partners where many of our highest value customers shop.” Lei added: “Our new agreement with Sabre will support more personalization for travellers who wish to receive tailored offers, give travellers and agencies a richer experience, promote revenue growth, and improve United’s ability to connect with our customers.”