Sabre will offer United Airlines' Economy Plus seats under a new long-term agreement.
Sabre and United will work together to make United’s published fares and inventory, as well as its “material” ancillary products and services, available to Sabre subscribers worldwide.
The companies said in joint press release that they will “co-develop solutions using next-generation technology that will permit United to offer more relevant personalized offers to their loyal customers.”
These enhancements will use descriptive text and graphics for on-screen merchandising within the Sabre Red Workspace and through Sabre’s Web services.
“Sabre will merchandise United’s complete range of fare offerings, including material ancillaries, into our marketplace in a way that will help differentiate them,” said David Gross, senior vice president, Sabre global supplier distribution. “Sabre is committed to helping United more effectively market and sell its products and services to the broadest number of travelers.”
Doug Leo, United’s senior vice president of strategy and business development said: “We look forward to this next chapter in distribution, where United and Sabre are better able to promote the airline’s growing portfolio of products and services through our travel agency partners, where many of our highest-value customers shop.
“Our new agreement with Sabre will support more personalization for travelers who wish to receive tailored offers, give travelers and agencies a richer experience, promote revenue growth, and improve United’s ability to connect with our customers.”
Sabre sells ancillary services for several airlines, but the only U.S. carrier is US Airways with its Choice seats.
Sabre
did have United's Economy Plus seats available for about three years,
but United pulled that inventory when it migrated to a new technology
platform.
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