Passenger service system/distribution technology provider WorldTicket (W2) has combined its W2 global distribution system (GDS) aggregation product with railway operator Deutsche Bahn’s Rail&Fly intermodal interline and codeshare offering.
The codeshare also includes seat reservation options, making the travel experience more seamless and convenient for passengers connecting between air and rail services.
As a result, passengers will be able to seamlessly book rail and air travel on the same itinerary, adding Deutsche Bahn rail tickets to air itineraries with over 50 global full-service carriers, such as Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Lufthansa, LATAM, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, Vietnam Airlines, and others.
The solution has been well received by customers, as it provides improvements as well as benefits. For example, prior to the WorldTicket system, airlines had to process incoming invoices from Deutsche Bahn, which could prove a burdensome process. They are now integrated via WorldTicket, making higher processing volumes possible.
Expanding airlines’ reach using rail
Deutsche Bahn’s Rail&Fly is a flexible train ticket for travelling to and from the airport. Passengers can combine international flight tickets with a train ride to or from the airport, through multimodal itineraries that can be found with participating airlines or travel agencies such as Expedia, Opodo, and Etraveli, and travel aggregators such as Skyscanner
A new check-in page, offering early check-ins for passengers has also been introduced. Once the check-in is complete, the barcode can be downloaded to a smart phone and shown to the conductor on the…