Skift Take
The freshly broadened partnership in between Southwest Airlines and Sabre GDS is now live, bringing the airline company to a higher operating level via Sabre: an advantage for business travel supervisors and take a trip management business industry-wide.
Southwest Airlines
After much anticipation and cooperation between the 2 business, Southwest Airlines went live with their recently expanded partnership with Sabre GDS as of July 26, 2021.
As part of Southwest’s expanding GDS technique, the progressed alliance will see the airline operating at a greater level of involvement by means of Sabre and with richer abilities, like complete ARC ticketing and settlement: something corporate travel supervisors and travel management companies have been patiently anticipating.
“It’s been a long journey with Sabre, however we are thrilled to provide on this long-desired ask from our customers,” stated Eric Hall, director, B2B Channels and TMC Technique, at Southwest.
Ahead of a potential company travel rebound in the 2nd half of 2021, and on top of the already strong leisure market, the new collaboration opens the door to brand-new protocols, greater performances, and a smoother booking experience.
“Driven by a shared desire to better service our consumers and agency partners, Southwest and Sabre rekindled the discussion in late Q4 2020 and resolved the vacations to get a deal signed,” said Hall.
The alliance marks a strong step for the airline company’s 2021 strategy. It’s a win-win for all parties involved, especially business flyers and decision makers.
SMOOTHER, STRUCTURED RESERVATIONS
In previous decades, reserving Southwest through Sabre was a cumbersome procedure for business travel managers and take a trip management companies. It meant additional training and workflow actions, leading to lost efficiency– consumers needed to cover extra fees from Sabre if they wanted to book Southwest via their travel management company.
“Our collaboration evolution with Sabre could not have actually come at a better time,” added Hall. “With our basic connectivity now in place, a lot of the historic inefficiencies scheduling and handling Southwest tickets have been eliminated.”
The developing partnership with Sabre advances extra fare content and more robust booking abilities such as last seat availability, recyclable and refundable ticket management, ability to change and customize bookings, and more.
“Now, travel management business will be able to book Southwest in more standard workflows, with the biggest win having the ability to self-service Southwest tickets in the GDS, getting rid of the requirement to call Southwest for GDS ticket management,” he stated.
THE MARKET’S RESPONSE
Naturally, the broadened performance has full assistance from corporate travel supervisors and take a trip management business– and their consumers stand to benefit directly.
“Formerly, we had to rely heavily on Southwest or take advantage of APIs through the online reservation tools,” said Jeff Ochaita, Adelman Travel’s director of consumer technology and global services.
Ochaita highlighted the truth that Adelman clients have constantly been aware that Southwest content was more limited than other airline companies, and that they have actually constantly wanted much better access to all Southwest’s material and fare options.
“This brand-new alliance with Sabre will permit us to process reservations far more effectively … (offering) us more control and permitting Adelman to much better manage customer expectations and the tourist experience,” he discussed.
THE BROADER METHOD
The progressed partnership marks a core piece of Southwest’s ‘Channel of Option’ strategy, which the airline is focused on throughout 2021 and beyond. “We’re all in,” said Hall: “… buying and progressing each of our B2B channels (SWABIZ, our API, GDS) to much better satisfy the requirements of customers and company partners who prefer to use various channels for various factors.”
With travel advisors now able to research and book Southwest bookings more seamlessly, travel management business partners will also see a significant boost to performance, helping in reducing costs to their organizations.
“This broadened performance will permit us to enhance and enhance our exclusive products to handle Southwest reservations as we do other providers by applying specific processes such as pre-trip approval, unused ticket management, and fare recheck, to name a few,” added Ochaita.
The alliance likewise dovetails with the potential recovery of business travel in Q3 and Q4– as a reward to return to the skies, business customers can expect to see less errors and declines when requesting travel on Southwest, as well as a decrease in extra costs to book or get travel management business service on a Southwest appointment.
Eventually, business tourists across the board are set to gain from the improved functionality and experience of the Southwest and Sabre alliance: a prompt and much needed upgrade, and an advantage for all parties involved.
This article was produced collaboratively by Southwest Airlines and Skift’s branded material studio, SkiftX.