Southwest Airlines has established a direct connect to the
TripActions platform via ATPCO's NDC Exchange, enabling travelers to access the
carrier's content with TripActions' website and app.
The connection also lets travelers change reservations
through the platform, buy EarlyBird
Check-In and have unused credits automatically applied, TripActions VP
of product Anique Drumright said. The capabilities will be fully live for all
TripActions customers by the end of the week.
"It's a little bit like Christmas around here,"
Drumright said. "Southwest is an innovative and beloved brand, and all of
their loyalists will be very excited with this enhanced corporate booking
solution."
Southwest kicked off a
significant shift in its distribution policy this summer with an
announcement that it would provide content and full booking capabilities
through the Travelport and Amadeus GDSs by the middle of 2020. Earlier this
month, it began
providing content to AmTrav via NDC Exchange, negating the workarounds
necessary for AmTrav to handle Southwest bookings and servicing.
TripActions, meanwhile, did its
first NDC implementation with United Airlines earlier this year, making such
content as Wi-Fi, premium seating, United Club access available through
TripActions either as individual items or part of bundled fares.