Qantas Adds Agency Portal as NDC Content Access Option

Qantas has launched an agency portal to simplify access to its New Distribution Content platform, providing some shopping functionality for the carrier that is no longer available through traditional EDIFACT channels.

To date, travel management companies have been able to access the Qantas Distribution Platform, through which the carrier provides NDC content and offers, only via one of Qantas' "certified technology partners," which includes Sabre, Travelport and Amadeus as well as TravelSky and technology providers including Serko, TPConnects, Travelfusion, Duffel and Aeronology. The new portal gives access to agencies that are unable to work feasibly with one of those partners, according to the carrier.

In its FAQs for the portal, Qantas said it is an "option to access NDC content in a quick and easy way without technical set-up or fees," though it noted that "it may not be an appropriate solution for travel agencies with complex technical requirements and customer needs."

 To participate, agencies must register with Qantas Agency Connect and have a valid IATA, ARC or TIDS number. As such, they will bypass Qantas' channel fee and will earn the same commission base applicable to their point of sale.

Agents also can book corporate fares via the portal, though Qantas cautioned it will have "limited reporting capabilities" since the portal cannot be integrated with mid-back-office systems, and Qantas currently has no plans to do such an integration.

"Booking agents who do not ticket bookings will be unable to view bookings in this sales report," Qantas said in its FAQs. "Ticketing agents will be able to identify the booking agency when they ticket the booking, but not within the sales report itself, so will need to maintain their own booking agent level reporting."

Qantas already had announced that certain discounted fares—up to 4 percent lower on domestic Australian fares and up to 5 percent lower on trans-Tasman fares—are available only through NDC channels and not through traditional EDIFACT channels.

Other discounts listed by Qantas as unavailable to agents via EDIFACT channels include frequent flyer discounts, paid seating discounts and bonus savings for Qantas Business Rewards members. EDIFACT channels also do not enable agents to shop by Qantas Corporate Identifier or Australian Business Number, thought that capability also is not yet available through the portal as opposed to the Qantas NDC API. Qantas last year announced it was working with Spotnana for a redeveloped platform for Qantas Business Rewards.

While codeshare flights are available through the new portal, interline flights are not, as they are not yet in the Qantas Distribution Platform. That should happen "mid-2024," according to Qantas.