Northwest Airlines is giving non-Sabre agents in the US, Caribbean and Canada access to its webfares for a $1 per segment fee.
The airline announced the move at the same time as revealing that it had signed up for the Sabre Direct Connect Availability (DCA) three year option, a move which will give Sabre subscribers access to its internet fares.
In effect agents get access to webfares in return for absorbing one-dollar per segment of Northwest’s booking fees up to a maximum of three dollars. According to the airline its booking fees actually average around $4.40 per segment. Northwest say the moves all form part of its strategy of addressing GDS costs, which it says have been rising at 7% per year and cost the airline almost $200 million in 2002.
The system is similar to American Airlines’ EveryFare scheme, however while American Airlines ties agencies in until 2007, the Northwest scheme has a minimum 30 day commitment.
Agents also have the option of accessing Northwest’s WorldAgent Direct website which gives agents access to webfares and pays agents $5 for each booking made through the site.
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