PAL launches on-line booking, payment

 Philippine Airlines will start offering customers real-time electronic flight booking and payment on April 1, 2001 – a major step in the flag carrier’s foray into the electronic marketplace.

The new service, which can be accessed through the airline’s web site, is a “one-stop shop” facility that allows the passenger to check air fares, select a flight, have his credit card validated and then book a seat on-line.

Confirmation of the booking is relayed instantaneously, making PAL the only domestic carrier to offer on-line booking in real time.

Other domestic carriers’ on-line facilities require at least 24 hours to confirm the reservation.

“Now, anybody with access to the Internet anywhere in the world can make his own PAL flight arrangements in the comfort of his home or office,” said PAL president Avelino L. Zapanta.

“The transaction takes only a few minutes to complete. The only thing left to do is pick up the ticket at any PAL ticket office or at the airport on the day of the flight. This is the convenience of anytime, anywhere booking.”

The passenger can accomplish on-line booking by logging into the PAL web site at www.philippineair.com. The system then guides him through the booking process, from fare search to flight display to payment to log out.

The system allows the user to book flights for up to four people with a single credit card transaction. Sensitive personal and credit card information is protected by globally accepted Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology.

Acceptable credit cards are Visa, MasterCard and American Express.

The introduction of on-line booking represents a bold thrust by the flag carrier to tap into the booming travel market in cyberspace.

It also lays the groundwork for a comprehensive electronic commerce system in the airline – a strategic investment PAL expects will yield long-term benefits.

Apart from its business-to-consumer (B2C) platform exemplified by on-line booking, PAL is working on a number of business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-employee (B2E) solutions.

Some of these services are expected to come on stream in the airline’s new 2001-2002 fiscal year starting April 1.

Said Zapanta: “With our e-commerce strategy, PAL is once more redefining the way things are done. We are moving from conventional person-to-person dealings to high-speed electronic transactions.”