As per a report by SimpleFlying, 48% of people conducted destination research on mobile phones before planning their air travel. Flight booking portals and other such online tools are frequently used to book international and domestic flights. Though travel agents have a strong network of air suppliers, it is prudent to book them online with the help of a B2B flight booking tool due to their numerous benefits. These portals take user preferences into account and, after a comparative analysis, return with the best fit. Let us explore the top ways in which a flight booking portal increases productivity for travel agencies.
Benefits of B2B flight booking portals
1. Customized booking solutions
As the name suggests, the B2B flight booking portal provides comprehensive options to travel agents for booking flights as per their customers’ preferences. These tools support the integration of GDSs and NDCs to offer a conclusive list of flights across the world with real-time booking details. Travel agents can understand the latest flight schedules and airplane pricing, choose seat preferences, in-flight meal options, etc., to increase the comfort of their customers. Personalized travel bookings not only increase the ticket price of each bucket but also develop the crucial trust of the customer in the travel agency.
2. Secure online payment options
Flight booking platforms come with different payment options to pre-pay for the services without having to leave the portal. Integration of payment gateways into booking portals helps decrease a considerable number of steps to be performed before making the booking. Additionally, booking portals use PCI-DSS and other compliance measures to secure the payments made on the platform. Travel agents can generate invoices against any bookings through the portal for easy management of expenses.
3. Comprehensive rules and baggage information
Almost every airline has a long list of terms and policies to ensure safe flights and quick resolution in case of a conflict. However, some of these policies are not in favor of the travelers but help airliners safeguard their interests. Most often, these policies are ignored during the booking process, and hence, at the time of conflict, reduce customer rights. B2B flight booking platforms automatically highlight important policies to save time and ensure customer rights are preserved. This solidifies the immense trust and loyalty of customers in the travel agency.
4. Flight performance evaluation tool
The experience of the travelers depends upon the timely arrival and departure of the flights. Though most flights are expected to reach their destinations at the scheduled time, not all of them are reputed for the same. The tool helps travel agents evaluate the performance of a particular flight in comparison to others and choose the suitable option. Apart from on-time performance, these tools can analyze cancellation to delay stats, customer satisfaction ratings, crew performance, baggage handling capabilities, aircraft maintenance records, and much more. These details are important to offer a pleasant travel experience for clients.
5. Generate financial and reservation reports
Generating invoices and keeping track of the financial records is essential for travel agents with a large customer base. Manual filing can be a tedious and error-ridden process. Therefore, to enhance the productivity of travel agents, they should automate the recording. Further, AI-powered portals analyze each report based on data and booking nature to offer specific flights as per customer historical data and preferences. The analysis saves time for the travel agents by segmenting the customer base and providing tailored solutions to each of the clusters.
6. Supports frequent flier programs
To increase the average lifetime value of a customer, airliners run frequent flier promotions. Travel agents can avail these discounts for their customers, providing excellent cost-saving opportunities. This feature is particularly important for business travelers and frequent flyers, as it helps them maximize the benefits of the loyalty programs. All a travel agent has to do is input the frequent flier number of customers, and all of the discounts will be visible on the booking engine. This saves time while checking the available discounts with the supplier and getting approval from the customer for the same.
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7. Email push notifications
Automated email notifications for booking confirmations, updates, and reminders keep clients informed throughout the booking process, reducing the need for agents to manually communicate these details. This feature ensures that clients are always up-to-date with their travel plans and any changes that may occur.
Conclusion
In conclusion, B2B flight booking portals are a game-changer for travel agencies. By streamlining bookings, securing payments, and offering features like performance evaluation and loyalty program support, these portals empower agents to work smarter, not harder. This translates to happier customers, increased sales, and a thriving travel agency.
Pratyush Kumar Srivastava is a seasoned expert in B2B travel writing with years of experience in the industry. With a deep understanding of the intricacies of travel technology, supplier relationships, and market trends, Pratyush offers valuable insights to help businesses optimize their travel booking strategies. Passionate about innovation and efficiency, he is dedicated to guiding travel agencies through the complexities of modern distribution channels to achieve growth and success.
