Galileo International
has announced that United Airlines
has joined the Company’s Preferred Fares Select program, providing Galileo-connected travel agencies and their customers with complete access to all published fares.  This competitive content includes all fares the airline sells through any other GDS, third-party Web sites or their own Web site and reservation offices.  Northwest Airlines, Continental and US Airways already participate in the program, which locks in rates for three years on all US-originated bookings.  Galileo expects to add additional carriers to the program in the short term.

“We are excited to participate in Galileo’s Preferred Fares Select product,” said Greg Taylor, United Airlines’ Senior Vice President - Planning.  “It will provide our mutual customers with a full range of United’s fares in a cost-effective manner for all parties, while allowing United to significantly reduce our distribution costs at the same time.”

 

“Preferred Fares Select provides significant and immediate cost savings for all parties,” said Mitch Gross, executive vice president and managing director of Galileo Americas Client Services.  “United gains a three-year rate lock and lower distribution fees while Galileo-connected agents secure greater access to all published fares, including Web fares, through the channel of their choice. Preferred Fares Select stabilizes the distribution model and dramatically reduces cost for carriers - just when they need it most.”

 

Galileo introduced its Preferred Fares Select Prog
ram in July to combine the strengths of its previous Preferred Fares and Momentum programs.  The participating P
referred Fares Select airlines represent nearly 50 percent of Galileo’s U.S. bookings.  The expanded content will be automatically available to all Galileo U.S. point of sale travel agencies and other subscrib
ers, such as corporations utilizing Galileo or its affiliated Travelport corporate booking tool.
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