Breakthough!!! KD/AN now to include Agents in the loop!
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Dont get me wrong please JTMM - In the overall picture we are minimally affected. I do appreciate your sensitivity to this.
I have taken what my mate from the local KD handlers has said on board and will have the LAN capable of booking KD/AN flights for a $12.00 service fee by the end of the week.
I just cant stand back and wait - it isnt fair to my mates at KD and AN. Being proactive is the only way to unglue the feet of the phoenix.
Commission will come I am sure - and the company owned Travelands will eventually rise again under a new brand.
Interesting to see Harvey World flogging off franchises previously costing $25,000 minimum for $1.00 upwards.
There are a few of our brand too that the owners have just walked away from. Yours if you pick up the lease. More to come too I feel.
EWL
I have taken what my mate from the local KD handlers has said on board and will have the LAN capable of booking KD/AN flights for a $12.00 service fee by the end of the week.
I just cant stand back and wait - it isnt fair to my mates at KD and AN. Being proactive is the only way to unglue the feet of the phoenix.
Commission will come I am sure - and the company owned Travelands will eventually rise again under a new brand.
Interesting to see Harvey World flogging off franchises previously costing $25,000 minimum for $1.00 upwards.
There are a few of our brand too that the owners have just walked away from. Yours if you pick up the lease. More to come too I feel.
EWL
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Also - I will NOT discount the $12.00 per passenger fee to undercut a rival. Gawd - I am getting a touch '89 ish here - but will never take such a time as an opportunity to bury a rival. It just isnt right or Australian to do so.
The Travelands locally - all still trading safely thankfully - had the staff wages covered by the monthly override cheque from AN - as would many on the big island. Those and the Thomas Cooks that didnt have the revenue turnover - and Jetsets that leaned towards AN (dual preferred) would be the saddest cases. The next 2 months will be very very sad in our industry.
The upturn in New Zealand enquiries as well as short haul Pacific Basin traffic is amazing!!! There is a light at the end of the tunnel - let us all hope that it isnt the 3.17 from Frankston.
EWL
The Travelands locally - all still trading safely thankfully - had the staff wages covered by the monthly override cheque from AN - as would many on the big island. Those and the Thomas Cooks that didnt have the revenue turnover - and Jetsets that leaned towards AN (dual preferred) would be the saddest cases. The next 2 months will be very very sad in our industry.
The upturn in New Zealand enquiries as well as short haul Pacific Basin traffic is amazing!!! There is a light at the end of the tunnel - let us all hope that it isnt the 3.17 from Frankston.
EWL
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Absolutely correct on all points - I will however say I do hope (probably forlornly)that this will remove the desire by some of the unlicenced cowboys and girls to enter or stay in the fray.
As the saying goes the only certainity is change and I suggest we all prepare ourselves for a US type commission cap scenario if competition in the skies dies. Unfortunately even a re-emergance of a strong AN might not prevent it. Can you afford to discount the service fee.
As the saying goes the only certainity is change and I suggest we all prepare ourselves for a US type commission cap scenario if competition in the skies dies. Unfortunately even a re-emergance of a strong AN might not prevent it. Can you afford to discount the service fee.
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EWL-
Further to the saga of commissions - my friendly travel agent was able to ask someone very high up in KD's about commissions (HER name shall be anonymous) to which the answer is no.
However, it appears there is a plan in to give travel agents "rewards", whatever that means - (can you pay people with a free set of steak knives?)
I won't comment any further. Hopefully this is better and more meaningful to you than me.
Cheers NTLBD
Further to the saga of commissions - my friendly travel agent was able to ask someone very high up in KD's about commissions (HER name shall be anonymous) to which the answer is no.
However, it appears there is a plan in to give travel agents "rewards", whatever that means - (can you pay people with a free set of steak knives?)
I won't comment any further. Hopefully this is better and more meaningful to you than me.
Cheers NTLBD
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Interesting ducky - a formula that was tried by Impulse with their Fright Centre deals. Ie: tickets to sell for free. Collect what you want.
If there is one bright light in this whole damned mess - the rival factions within aviation are as one again. It may be short term - but God love you all - we are a family again if only for a brief moment in time.
EWL
If there is one bright light in this whole damned mess - the rival factions within aviation are as one again. It may be short term - but God love you all - we are a family again if only for a brief moment in time.
EWL
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JTMM - I will never discount fees for service - but will resist the urge in the general trade as it is now. It may well come to that as a standard - but I believe I read in Travel week early this week that QF has discounted this on general principle.
The fact is that if QF kill off too many T/As the extra number of staff they would have to employ is just simply scary - at a time that they are eager to lose as many staff under their responsibility as they possibly can. Strong said it all when he said that all QF wanted was pilots - aeroplanes and contractors.
EWL
The fact is that if QF kill off too many T/As the extra number of staff they would have to employ is just simply scary - at a time that they are eager to lose as many staff under their responsibility as they possibly can. Strong said it all when he said that all QF wanted was pilots - aeroplanes and contractors.
EWL
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Interesting - Hazelton is back in the GDS and saleable again. If one can do it - the rest surely can too. Does anyone know the reasoning or difference between ZL and AN/KD in this instance?.
They are limited access but direct connect guaranteed sales and reliable availibity display.
Best all and GO HAZO !!! Sold a return SYD BHQ today.
EWL
They are limited access but direct connect guaranteed sales and reliable availibity display.
Best all and GO HAZO !!! Sold a return SYD BHQ today.
EWL
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EWL,
Verrrry interesting. What's the reloc you're getting back from (presumably) Merlin? I'll check it out tomorrow morning - I can't imagine that ZL have left the fold, so things may be on the move.
Cheers
Verrrry interesting. What's the reloc you're getting back from (presumably) Merlin? I'll check it out tomorrow morning - I can't imagine that ZL have left the fold, so things may be on the move.
Cheers
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Hope so 32 bits - RELOC is res jargon for record locator - that identifies to the system where to look on the disc at the Central Reservations System for this particular booking. Very curious that ZL have appeared and others havent.Maybe the crew at ZL have picked up the ball and are running with it again.
Godspeed if they are.
EWL
Godspeed if they are.
EWL
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Most Interesting - It appears AN MKII must be using Merlin as the core reservation engine but only making seats available via Internet. I went into Merlin via my Tias link and all Internet schedules are there as a Merlin style availability. Can't work out if it is being used as a schedule control only or full reservations as all flights show max numbers still available (even for tomorrow). But it appears Merlin is running in a form which could switch over quite easily.
Would suggest that maybe Hazelton could get back on line quickest because they were the most recently absorbed and might still have had ticket stock or such hidden away. Made a dummy booking on ZL and came back with a definite MERLIN reloc. Then checked in MERLIN and found ZL schedules are live and availability nos flucuating as normally one would expect.
EWL - Didn't mean to suggest you should discount (if thats what you read) - more a hypothetical - Can we afford to discount the service fees or any part of our business? Not likely!
JTMM
Would suggest that maybe Hazelton could get back on line quickest because they were the most recently absorbed and might still have had ticket stock or such hidden away. Made a dummy booking on ZL and came back with a definite MERLIN reloc. Then checked in MERLIN and found ZL schedules are live and availability nos flucuating as normally one would expect.
EWL - Didn't mean to suggest you should discount (if thats what you read) - more a hypothetical - Can we afford to discount the service fees or any part of our business? Not likely!
JTMM
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Hang in there schlonger!!And JTMM - how does one get into Merlin via TIAS?? I have tried regular avenues and failed.
Sabre bulletin today stated that ZL AN etc had been withdrawn from any ticketing activity by IATA - using any plate - so even if we can get a sale on ZL - we cant ticket it - even if plated on QF NZ PX -anyone.
This is so bloody negative.
As for the discounting - I know you did not go anywhere near suggesting that I should do so.
What I was saying is that I would never take advantage of a comparitively strong position considering the circumstances to undermine my competition. That just isnt the Aussie way.
best
EWL
Sabre bulletin today stated that ZL AN etc had been withdrawn from any ticketing activity by IATA - using any plate - so even if we can get a sale on ZL - we cant ticket it - even if plated on QF NZ PX -anyone.
This is so bloody negative.
As for the discounting - I know you did not go anywhere near suggesting that I should do so.
What I was saying is that I would never take advantage of a comparitively strong position considering the circumstances to undermine my competition. That just isnt the Aussie way.
best
EWL
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EWL - It all depends on your access - we use what is called transparent access via the old tias "crisp' technology which is internet based. The new "traveltools" and the old crs @@tia access doesn't cut it. While I can tell you the theory and probably even give you the access pages, without the airline access authority to tias you can't get access. But believe me what I stated is fact.
From what you say now it is obvious they are using it as a schedule control only and have to use their own inhouse ticketing system for the rest. I must admit after the hoops we have to jump through and guarantees we must provide to get IATA ticketing as an agent it would be a worry if they gave an airline, with what you must admit is a cloud over its viability, was given a go ahead without substantial guarantees. I don't think the governments would or should suffice.
32bits - If EWL's booking came up the same as mine it was prefixed AN* definitely out of Merlin.
Why ZL availability is in the GDS/CRS system without allowing sale as EWL says is curious. Is it an error? or has EWL found out before they've made alternate arrangements?
Cheers
From what you say now it is obvious they are using it as a schedule control only and have to use their own inhouse ticketing system for the rest. I must admit after the hoops we have to jump through and guarantees we must provide to get IATA ticketing as an agent it would be a worry if they gave an airline, with what you must admit is a cloud over its viability, was given a go ahead without substantial guarantees. I don't think the governments would or should suffice.
32bits - If EWL's booking came up the same as mine it was prefixed AN* definitely out of Merlin.
Why ZL availability is in the GDS/CRS system without allowing sale as EWL says is curious. Is it an error? or has EWL found out before they've made alternate arrangements?
Cheers
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B772 -
Thanks - 100% for comprehension!
EWL -
I have direct Merlin access and a very personal interest in how to help agents book flights in Merlin (I am not an AN employee - search the archives on YC topics for clues). Can you give me the reloc - via email if you're reluctant to commit here?
JTMM -
The AN internet booking engine is TIAS, so your experience makes sense. I'd guess your ZL booking was via that route - if you can advise the reloc I'd appreciate it.
Regards
Thanks - 100% for comprehension!
EWL -
I have direct Merlin access and a very personal interest in how to help agents book flights in Merlin (I am not an AN employee - search the archives on YC topics for clues). Can you give me the reloc - via email if you're reluctant to commit here?
JTMM -
The AN internet booking engine is TIAS, so your experience makes sense. I'd guess your ZL booking was via that route - if you can advise the reloc I'd appreciate it.
Regards
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32bits -
No ZL booking was via Galileo. Made a new booking via my crs to assist you - reloc is P8IMVF. I don't know how it will help though.
Spoke to mate today with presumably similar direct Merlin access as yourself and he confirms Merlin has been on consistently since AN MKII emerged and that he has been able to make dummy bookings on all flights. He also advise ZL say they will be paying 5% comm but not sure what ticketing arrangements will be yet. I don't recall, did IATA include the ZL plate when they cancelled AN's membership?
No ZL booking was via Galileo. Made a new booking via my crs to assist you - reloc is P8IMVF. I don't know how it will help though.
Spoke to mate today with presumably similar direct Merlin access as yourself and he confirms Merlin has been on consistently since AN MKII emerged and that he has been able to make dummy bookings on all flights. He also advise ZL say they will be paying 5% comm but not sure what ticketing arrangements will be yet. I don't recall, did IATA include the ZL plate when they cancelled AN's membership?
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JTMM and 32 - Hi again.
The booking tag in sabre was tagged DCZL - which is direct connect Hazo - reloc was a 6 alpha numeric starting with N which is the series used by AN.
Would be interesting to see what would happen if I tried to ticket it on QF or an overseas carriers paper.
JTMM - I am ex Traveland - between Ansett and where I am now and assume the old transparent access is still in position. Good thing - at least you can keep a handle on things.
We are running blind at the moment. Second hardest thing is to get to anyone in NZ agency!!! Constantly engaged or you are overflowed to AKL - and they cant help.
I would think that the O/S carriers would have withdrawn ticketing agreements but must try that on Monday.
Incidentally - Korean Air is about to open their BNE SYD 744 services to the Oz traveller at $77 a seat. Three services weekly.
I am not sure if that is a good thing just now but 600 plus seats when you account for the thru traffic may help a little.
Regards
EWL
The booking tag in sabre was tagged DCZL - which is direct connect Hazo - reloc was a 6 alpha numeric starting with N which is the series used by AN.
Would be interesting to see what would happen if I tried to ticket it on QF or an overseas carriers paper.
JTMM - I am ex Traveland - between Ansett and where I am now and assume the old transparent access is still in position. Good thing - at least you can keep a handle on things.
We are running blind at the moment. Second hardest thing is to get to anyone in NZ agency!!! Constantly engaged or you are overflowed to AKL - and they cant help.
I would think that the O/S carriers would have withdrawn ticketing agreements but must try that on Monday.
Incidentally - Korean Air is about to open their BNE SYD 744 services to the Oz traveller at $77 a seat. Three services weekly.
I am not sure if that is a good thing just now but 600 plus seats when you account for the thru traffic may help a little.
Regards
EWL
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Would suggest there are very few if any NZ agency staff in Australia. As I understood it Ansett sales staff took on the dual role of AN/NZ sales exec and presumably the agency team were very much cross utilised as well ie. AN Intl and NZ. And their wages probably entirely taken from AN bucket as well. Any staff that were still solely on NZ duties and payroll in Aussie probably completely overloaded without AN staff assistance.
You could issue tickets on QF or other A/L paper till the cows come home but if AN MKII doesn't have a ticketing agreement with them (which they don't - IATA has cancelled AN's membership so this would cancel any BSP based ticketing agreements) they AN MKII won't accept the tickets and the other airlines wouldn't pay them anyway
What with ON, JL and now KE carrying BNESYD, SQ and BI ex DRW we'll have a multicultural air service. What next TG MELBNE or MK MELPER.
Won't stay for long - Only until QF get all planes on deck, VIRGIN stops complaining and gets more equip and AN MKII or TTENSA or ANstaff or "PHOENIX" get a solid financial footing with Australian infrastructure and crew etc.
I must say that I have had no trouble getting pax BNESYD or BNEMEL if they're prepared to pay the fare for short notice bookings. For advance bookings usual story find availability after an hour or so searching and sell cheap seats - no different than before but without the option to check AN as well.
Cheers
JTMM
You could issue tickets on QF or other A/L paper till the cows come home but if AN MKII doesn't have a ticketing agreement with them (which they don't - IATA has cancelled AN's membership so this would cancel any BSP based ticketing agreements) they AN MKII won't accept the tickets and the other airlines wouldn't pay them anyway
What with ON, JL and now KE carrying BNESYD, SQ and BI ex DRW we'll have a multicultural air service. What next TG MELBNE or MK MELPER.
Won't stay for long - Only until QF get all planes on deck, VIRGIN stops complaining and gets more equip and AN MKII or TTENSA or ANstaff or "PHOENIX" get a solid financial footing with Australian infrastructure and crew etc.
I must say that I have had no trouble getting pax BNESYD or BNEMEL if they're prepared to pay the fare for short notice bookings. For advance bookings usual story find availability after an hour or so searching and sell cheap seats - no different than before but without the option to check AN as well.
Cheers
JTMM
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Same here JTMM - the flights are available generally, but solidly loaded so discount seats are all sold.
MK MELPERMEL is not unlikely, albeit once weekly. They have as you would have known cut the op from 1 MRUPER and 1 MRUMEL op to MRUPERMELPERMRU - upgraded to A340.
Incidentallty how in hell did they squeeze MELMRU - about 11 h 35 min out of a 762??
The thing must have mods to the fuel capacity.
I have also confirmed that Merlin is indeed operating. A Mate of mine at DPO KD traffic confirmed this.
Regards EWL
MK MELPERMEL is not unlikely, albeit once weekly. They have as you would have known cut the op from 1 MRUPER and 1 MRUMEL op to MRUPERMELPERMRU - upgraded to A340.
Incidentallty how in hell did they squeeze MELMRU - about 11 h 35 min out of a 762??
The thing must have mods to the fuel capacity.
I have also confirmed that Merlin is indeed operating. A Mate of mine at DPO KD traffic confirmed this.
Regards EWL