Star Alliance, of which United, US Airways and several foreign carriers are members, has become the first global airline alliance to offer online booking and ticketing to convention delegates. The new booking tool allows convention organizers to direct their participants to a dedicated online booking and ticketing site for all air travel contracted under Star Alliance Conventions Plus.
The new online booking tool complements the existing traditional fulfillment channels. Organizers can use the new tool to inform the delegates of travel options offered by the participating airlines for the selected convention. Delegates can then check real time availability and fares for their required itinerary, book the appropriate flights, and purchase the corresponding ticket.
A test phase of the tool with selected customers began in October 2011 as part of the Alliances’ presence at IMEX in Las Vegas.
Said Roswitha Clement, senior manager of conventions and meetings at Star Alliance, “We have now successfully completed booking and ticketing for several events using the new tool and the feedback we have received from customers is very positive.”
