Lufthansa launches group booking tool for agents

LUFTHANSA has launched a
new online portal – ‘Book a
Group’ – for agents booking
ten or more passengers
on one journey. The portal
is currently available to
registered Iata agencies
in Germany, Austria,
Switzerland and Japan, and
will become available in
South Africa early next year.
“Until now, travel agents
have used an online form or
sent an email to Lufthansa
to enquire about offers
for groups – therefore
the offer could only be
created after a time delay
and usually included only
one travel option and one
rate,” Lufthansa said in a
statement. “On the new
portal, travel agents can
independently manage each
process up to departure and
can immediately comply with
all customer requirements
with different options
available on the portal.”
According to Lufthansa,
registered Iata agencies
using the portal will be
able to find suitable flights,
request availability and
prices, book with instant
confirmation and change or
manage existing bookings
for tour groups consisting of
at least ten passengers that
take at least one journey
together.
“As the participants
of a group booking are
usually not yet definite, it
is possible to change the
group members and their
names, even after booking,”
the airline said.
The travel agent will
ultimately remain the
contact person for the
customers who have booked
with them because the
agent can independently
manage all the processes,
Lufthansa stressed. “The
travel agency can also make
enquiries in real time to
check on flight connections
with the Lufthansa flight
number, to be able to offer
interested customers what
they want without delay.”
Special rates will also be
available, in addition to all
regular rates, Lufthansa
added. “The portal also
provides time-saving
opportunities by easily
increasing or decreasing
the number of passengers
in a group and a practical
upload of the passenger
names directly from an Excel
list.