Worldspan’s Rate Runner Brings Airlines’ Web-Fares into Travel Agencies

A new search engine from Partners Software supplies the worldwide Worldspan system with Internet fares of selected service providers. Worldspan’s travel agency clients can search for, book and modify bookings via the Worldspan Go! user interface in one step. Thus, the Bremen-based software house, Partners, has entered into a close partnership with one of the four global reservation systems (GDSs). The new technique will initially be activated by Worldspan for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Worldspan has therefore introduced its new Worldspan Rate Runner product. Rate Runner is a supplied search and booking engine, which offers travel agencies access to Internet fares from selected suppliers worldwide, including important low-cost carriers. Worldspan travel agencies within Europe, the Middle East and Africa can search for, display and book service provider sites’ travel products, without having to leave the Worldspan Go! for travel agencies' desktop.

The new solution’s supplier is the Bremen-based Partners Software IT company. “Via our system, bookings are possible for at present 60 to 80 airlines," explains Partners’ Managing Director, Wolfgang Brinker. Worldspan has activated a new one-step booking tool for all travel agencies within Europe, the Middle East and Africa. “Partners’ LOW.FARE product, upon which the new Worldspan solution is technically based, is currently being used by around 10,000 travel agency employees in approximately 2,000 travel agencies worldwide,” according to Mr Brinker.

“Via Rate Runner, Worldspan travel agencies can automatically browse numerous websites from our portal in one step and book flights—all within the Go! interface,” says Graham Nichols, European Worldspan Vice President and Managing Director. “This integrated interface offers clients access to more contents, fares and availabilities for their clients.” We are very happy that our travel agency clients are in turn becoming even more competitive,” according to Mr Nichols.

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