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New York (AirGuide - Travel Technology News) Oct 25, 2009

A common theme emerging from surveys into the use of travel websites is that there is a lot of scope for improvement in the customer experience. Frustrations with planning travel online featured highly in the latest Which? Survey. The most cited grievance was the issue of hidden costs or surcharges not shown in the original price, followed by the fact that booking online took too long. How a travel company uses its web presence for promotion and selling is hugely influential. As consumers make more and more of their travel decisions online, it is ever more critical for travel websites to be easy to navigate, inspire confidence and be clear about taxes and other charges. Trustworthiness has also emerged as a key factor for successful online travel. In a study by Yahoo! of 11,000 Internet users in Europe, it emerged that they want and expect more social media and user-generated content. Just over 38 percent said they preferred recommendations and advice from other users when planning a holiday online. Oct 20, 2009

AirTran Airways

AirTran Airways expanded its mobile Web services to allow customers to book, change or cancel flights from their Web-connected phones or PDAs. Oct 20, 2009

Amadeus

Amadeus has signed an agreement to provide its full Alta Customer Management and ecommerce suite to Royal Jordanian Airlines. Under a ten year deal, the travel IT company will provide software for the Middle East carrier to manage all reservations, inventory and departure control. Alta will also provide a common platform to integrate with its fellow members of the oneworld alliance. Amadeus has now supplied its full suite to more than 60 carriers. www.amadeus.com www.rj.com Oct 22, 2009

Amadeus

In a similar matter involving Amadeus earlier this year, the International Chamber of Commerce Court of Arbitration ruled in favor of the GDS in a confidential decision and ordered IATA to stop using data stored in Amadeus in its PaxIS product. An IATA spokesperson said, "We believe the well-reasoned Travelport decision will become the leading case on EC database protection law." There is one outstanding case involving Sabre, filed in Canada, but it is not expected to head to trial until later in 2010. Oct 21, 2009

Amadeus

Amadeus and Travelport have been holding talks on a possible merger, according to a report in a UK newspaper. The IT and GDS companies both declined to comment on what Travelport said was "market rumour and speculation". Amadeus and Travelport, which owns Galileo and Worldspan, are the two biggest GDSs in Europe with Amadeus particularly dominant on the continent. In its report, The Times said a merger would create an "industry giant" worth more than GBP7.4bn. Both Amadeus and Travelport are owned by private equity companies. Amadeus' majority owner is WAM Acquisition which bought a 53.6% stake in the IT company in 2005. Oct 19, 2009

Braathens IT Solutions

Braathens IT Solutions will provide its Ticketless Travel Platform to SAS Group. The product will be integrated with the Amadeus Altea suite and become part of SAS's new distribution platform scheduled for implementation in 2012. Oct 22, 2009

China

The China Guide http://www.thechinaguide.com/ is taking tourists on the road less traveled via the ancient water town of Tongli near Shanghai. This old style Chinese village has been referred to as the Venice of the East, famous for its water canals and folk culture. Aside from its own cultural charm, Tongli is home to the China Sex Museum. Tongli has an array of canals twisting through the town. While its size is not very big, travelers can still get lost wandering around the many corners exploring and discovering the city's offerings. Travelers can enjoy a pleasant lunch or cup of tea canal side and watch the people and boats drift past. There are lots of boutique shops to poke your head into and...

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