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Lufthansa has become the first airline to earn IATA One Order certification.
The certification came after the completion of a one-year pilot project.
One Order is an IATA-backed IT initiative under which airlines will consolidate a passenger’s personal information and purchases (fare and ancillaries) within a single record.
At present, when a customer books a ticket, the airline creates the passenger name record (PNR) document, which houses information such as the traveler’s identity and itinerary. The PNR does not record payment information, however; that’s the function of the e-ticket, which is issued at the time of purchase.
In addition, if a flyer purchases an ancillary product, such as an assigned seat, it too is recorded separately in what is known as an electronic miscellaneous document (EMD).
A manifestation of the current complexity is that the average airline ticket contains multiple reservation codes. In a One Order world, there would be just one confirmation code, making problem-solving for both agents and passengers simpler.
Once fully developed, One Order will also enable the inclusion of third-party services, such as hotel reservations and car rentals, under the single confirmation code.
Lufthansa joins Sabre as trailblazer when it comes to One Order. In February, Sabre earned IATA certification as One Order-capable for flight transactions, making its passenger service system (PSS) the first to obtain that designation.
“We congratulate the Lufthansa Group on becoming the first airline group to earn our One Order certification,” IATA director of industry distribution programs Yanik Hoyles said in a prepared statement. “With their [New Distribution Capability] and One Order involvement, the Lufthansa Group is helping to take our industry further along the road to a modern digital retail experience.”
Source: travelweekly.com
