Airlines' grand plan to send frequent flyers special deals through travel agencies
Skift Take
If NDC ever comes to be, it will be years away. It is a move by the world's airlines to reduce their distribution costs and get greater control of passengers who don't happen to book through airline websites.
If you are a road warrior who books flights through your corporation's self-booking tool or through a travel agency, online or off-line, then the world's airlines have a grand plan to send you the kinds of personalized offers for premium seats and upgrades that they currently serve up to frequent flyers who buy tickets on airline websites.
IATA, the global airline group spearheading the effort, calls its initiative, a New Distribution Capability, which doesn't exactly roll off the tongue.
[caption id="attachment_31330" align="alignright" width="385"] Image courtesy IATA.[/caption]
What this means is that IATA will take the next couple of years to develop -- or borrow from existing -- XML standards that would enable airlines to merchandise to their customers through global distr
