Ten years ago, almost every flight an agent sold came through a Global Distribution System (GDS). Today, the same seat might be available through the GDS, through an airline’s NDC connection and through a direct API, each at a different price and with different extras.
The three main channels
GDS
The traditional route. One connection gives you content from hundreds of airlines in a standard format. It’s reliable and familiar, but some airlines now hold back their best fares or add surcharges for bookings made this way.
NDC
New Distribution Capability is a standard created by IATA that lets airlines send richer offers: seats, bags, meals and bundles, with photos and descriptions. You can access NDC content directly from airlines or through aggregators and many GDS providers.
Direct connects
Some airlines, especially low-cost carriers, offer their own APIs. These often have the lowest fares but each one works a little differently.
Your agents shouldn’t need to know which channel a fare came from. Your booking engine should.
What it means for your agency
- More content, more complexity. Comparing offers across channels by hand is slow. A good booking engine searches them together and shows like-for-like results.
- Servicing matters. Changes, refunds and schedule changes work differently on each channel. Check that your system handles them, not only the initial booking.
- Commercial terms vary. Commissions and fees differ by channel, so reports should show where each booking came from.
Where to start
If you’re adding NDC content, begin with the two or three airlines your customers fly most and make sure your servicing processes are ready. Our travel team can help you plan the rollout.
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