SAN FRANCISCO - Switchfly, a travel commerce company for direct channel booking, and WestJet, a leading Canadian airline, are partnering to better manage and expand WestJet's ability to dynamically package flight and hotel to all destinations. WestJet will offer its guests a more complete travel experience while increasing ancillary revenue.
"Switchfly will enable WestJet to offer our guests the freedom to create their own unique travel experiences through access to a global selection of hotels and travel products seamlessly bundled into an easy to book trip," said Ed Sims, WestJet Executive Vice-President, Commercial. "Switchfly complements our strategy of becoming a global carrier, serving the needs of today's traveler and increasing our ancillary revenue opportunities."
Airlines miss out on significant ancillary revenue because they are not equipped to manage the vendor relations and distribution of third-party inventory such as hotel rooms. Switchfly, however, manages this for them – with over 410,000 unique and verified hotel properties in one booking engine. WestJet can now package its own fares and existing WestJet hotel contracts with a global network of hotel inventory, without having to manage thousands of new contracts or costly new IT systems.
Travel technology and deeper customer loyalty
Switchfly offers a fully hosted white-label booking engine that is completely brand-matched – meaning airline customers will have the same branded website experience with Switchfly inventory as they do with their preferred airline. WestJet can set any business rule in the booking engine to get the right package to the right customer at the right time, and adjust for different channels, languages, currencies, business units and selling countries.
Switchfly offers a fully hosted white-label booking engine that is completely brand-matched – meaning airline customers will have the same branded website experience with Switchfly inventory as they do with their preferred airline. WestJet can set any business rule in the booking engine to get the right package to the right customer at the right time, and adjust for different channels, languages, currencies, business units and selling countries.
The partnership also creates significant new value and benefits for loyal WestJet guests. Members of the WestJet Rewards program will have expanded destinations and opportunities to earn WestJet dollars on customized trips, vacation packages and more. Members use WestJet dollars towards the purchase of flights and vacations packages to any WestJet destination with no blackout periods, and have access to Member Exclusive fares offering deals to WestJet destinations throughout its network and those of partner airlines.
"We are excited to engage in a partnership with WestJet for growth on the Switchfly platform, through expanded travel options that will drive enhanced value and additional benefits for their loyalty program members," said Daniel Farrar, CEO of Switchfly.
As travel complexities increase – new ancillary channels, new business units, new routes – airlines need outside help to manage and connect all systems and drive maximum loyalty and revenue. WestJet has partnered with Switchfly to make those connections -- helping sell more flight and hotel packages, increase ancillary revenue and capture more share of travel wallet as WestJet grows destinations in North America and internationally.
