AirPlus And Galileo Establish Partnership

AirPlus and Galileo establish partnership to offer customers enhanced billing data through a new real-time interface.

AirPlus International and Galileo International, Inc., a leading global distribution system (GDS) and subsidiary of Cendant Corp. (NYSE: CD) today announced the release of a real-time interface between AirPlus systems and Galileo. The new interface will provide all Galileo subscribers who book airfare through the Galileo reservation system using the AirPlus Company Account with AirPlus Descriptive Billing Information (DBI), which includes customer specific information with all tickets, MCOs and service fees such as cost center, employee ID number, billing reference and project number. The DBI that is delivered to the customer in the form of an electronic or paper invoice from AirPlus will expedite travel cost reconciliation time and support travel supplier negotiations.   

“The interface with Galileo further strengthens the superior AirPlus data provided to its customers and gives agencies an added benefit that they can pass on to their clients,” said Richard Crum, AirPlus International president and CEO. “AirPlus’ DBI and electronic invoicing save our customers both time and money by cutting reconciliation time in half, and through our unique flight data that provides leverage in travel supplier negotiations.”

All unique AirPlus DBI collected through the Galileo interface is defined by the customer at the point of AirPlus account setup, with full functionality of the interface now available for all Galileo-connected agencies globally. 

“Through our relationship with AirPlus we are able to provide enhanced efficiencies for our customers by enabling them to easily consolidate the invoicing and tracking of flights booked with an AirPlus account,” said Mike Ihle, vice president of Product Management, the Americas, Galileo. “This is yet another way that we are trying to simplify the booking and billing processes for our agency partners, while increasing their efficiency and productivity.”

About AirPlus International:
AirPlus International is a global leader in business travel payment solutions, offering central payment accounts, corporate cards and online management information tools.  AirPlus is the preferred payment partner of Continental Airlines (NYSE:CAL), Northwest Airlines (NASDAQ: NWAC), British Airways (NYSE:BAB), Lufthansa German Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines and TAP Portugal. AirPlus is the world’s largest issuer of UATP.

About Galileo International:
Galileo International is a global technology leader. Its core business is providing electronic global distribution services for the travel industry through its computerized reservation systems, leading-edge products and innovative, Internet-based solutions. Galileo is a value-added distributor of travel inventory dedicated to supporting its travel supplier, agency and corporate customers and, through them, expanding traveler choice. A subsidiary of Cendant Corporation (NYSE: CD) and part of Cendant's Travel Distribution Services Division, Galileo is headquartered in Parsippany, NJ, and has offices worldwide. Visit www.galileo.com.

About Cendant Travel Distribution Services:
Cendant Corporation’s (NYSE: CD) Travel Distribution Services Division, is one of the world’s largest and most geographically diverse collections of travel brands and distribution businesses. The division, employing nearly 9,000 people in approximately 120 countries, includes: a leading (GDS) global distribution system (Galileo), serving more than 44,000 travel agencies and over 60,000 hotels; hotel distribution and services businesses (Neat Group®, THOR®, TRUST and WizCom®); leading online travel agencies (CheapTickets®, ebookers.com®, HotelClub.com, Lodging.com, Orbitz®, and RatesToGo.com); an airline market intelligence company (Shepherd Systems); an international travel technology and software company (Travelwire); a leading international provider of long-haul air travel and travel product consolidator (Travel 2®/Travel 4®); online global corporate travel management solutions (Orbitz for Business® and Travelport®); and a leading wholesaler and global online provider of hotels, destination services, travel packages and group tours (Gullivers Travel Associates, OctopusTravel.com® and Travel Bound, Inc.).