TQ3

Maritz Travel Solutions is the first global travel agency to offer its clients American Airlines`

popular Web fares through the new EveryFare program. 
TQ3 Maritz was a launch partner for the EveryFare program, which provides participating traditional travel agencies with access to American’s popular Web fares via the Global Distribution System (GDS), while providing American with substantial reductions in its distribution costs.

“Our corporate clients want and deserve to see all fares, including ‘Web-only’ fares,” said Jack O`Neill, president of TQ3 Maritz Travel Solutions.  “Their first priority is to use the lowest fares that work for business travelers.  Our first priority is to help them and we have the technology to do that. 

“We`ve had a lot of client interest in the American Airlines EveryFare program.  In fact, we`re already beta-testing the Web-fare access with several key accounts,” O`Neill added.

“TQ3 Maritz Travel Solutions and American have worked closely together for years to provide great service and find new ways to bring added value to our mutual customers,” said Craig Kreeger, American’s vice president-Sales.  “Now TQ3 Maritz offers an ever broader range of American’s fares for the first time via their GDSs, while at the same time helping us reduce overall distribution costs.”

Kreeger added that, unlike the programs recently announced between another major carrier and two of the major GDSs, EveryFare participants and their clients benefit from American’s much larger global network and a much wider range of fares.  The EveryFare program also provides American with meaningful long-term distribution cost reductions.
The innovative EveryFare program provides Web fares in exchange for effectively shifting the responsibility for the cost of global distribution system booking fees from American Airlines to the travel agency.  American initially gives travel agencies an allowance credit of approximately US$4 per flight coupon.  Travel agents then pay to American an amount equal to their own GDS fees, based upon their own choice of GDS services and products. 

The allowance paid to agencies gradually declines during the term of the contract, to allow EveryFare program participants time to seek lower GDS fees. 
The result will be lower distribution costs for American on all fares distributed via participating EveryFare agencies. 
Related stories on ITN:

(09/10/2002) AA Launches Launches AAdvantage Cruise Program

(26/09/2002) AA to Offer Customers `Web Fares` Via Travel Agencies

(10/09/2002) AA Co-Sponsors Round 4 Comparative Biometric Testing

——-