Best Technology for Online Low-fare

Amadeus, a global leader in technology and distribution solutions for the travel and tourism industry, today announced the results of a study into the effectiveness of a number of low-fare search tools. Data for the study was gathered using world leading online fare analysis technology and services provided by an independent third party, SITA. The study found that online travel agencies using Amadeus technology were much more likely to find the lowest fares for their customers.

In 55% of searches, Amadeus low-fare technology returned the lowest fare compared with 52% from the closest competitor and only 18% from the poorest performer. Furthermore, in 69% of cases, the Amadeus fare was within 5 Euros (pounds sterling in the UK) of the lowest fare. On average, Amadeus returned fares €50 cheaper than the most expensive alternative. The results are more impressive because the study was skewed against Amadeus: the Amadeus data did not include negotiated fares but there was no way of knowing if the competition’s fares were negotiated or not.

Moreover, Amadeus low-fares are the most reliable of those compared. Reliably bookable fares increase consumers’ trust in the online travel agency and improves the look-to-book ratio. The study compared the results of low-fare searches performed in France, UK and Germany on Amadeus’ own GDS using Amadeus Master Pricer with the results from online travel agencies known to be using other GDS low-fare search products.

Amadeus Master Pricer is a low-fare search tool for online travel agencies, which offers cheaper fares and extended shopping capabilities. The tool, which returns over 200 low-fare search options from a single query, brings unprecedented speed and flexibility to an online portal. Customers whose travel dates are flexible can broaden their search to include a greater range of dates; those with a flexible itinerary can extend their search to multiple airports or cities. Both these innovations increase the online travel agency’s yield by allowing their customers to quickly find the option that best suits them.

Master Pricer will be available with Amadeus Selling Platform 2.3 from January 2006. It will allow agents full shopping functionality integrated with a new Calendar display to sell the best date-price combinations in a single view.