Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02564927 2006-10-23
1 METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR VENDING AIR TRAVEL SERVICES
2
3
4 FIELD OF THE INVENTION
6 The present invention relates generally to the vending of air travel
services and, more
7 specifically, to methods and systems for providing greater price
predictability and
8 transparency to customers during the process of purchasing air travel
services.
9
BACKGROUND
11
12 Recently, airlines have come under pressure from discount carriers offering
13 passengers an ability to travel with virtually no services on-board.
Recognizing that
14 this level of travel is below their standard economy cabin class, incumbent
airlines
have begun the process of splitting their economy cabin class offering into a
"lower-
16 service-level" economy cabin class and a"higher-service-level" economy
cabin class.
17 The lower-service-level economy cabin class and the higher-service-level
economy
18 cabin class provide different levels of service (e.g., with respect to
change policy,
19 advanced seat selection, etc.) while vying for the same inventory of seats
on an
aircraft. By offering multiple service levels within economy cabin class, an
airline is
21 able to compete with discount carriers while increasing profitability, and
without any
22 impact on the cabin design of their aircraft.
23
24 Assuming therefore the existence of a lower-service-level economy cabin
class and a
higher-service-level economy cabin class, consider two hypothetical passengers
26 sitting side by side on an aircraft. If the tickets were purchased at
different service
27 levels, the two passengers will expect to have paid a different amount for
their
28 respective tickets; however, because the two passengers are still seated in
economy
29 cabin class, both passengers will tend to be sensitive to price
differences, and will
expect some degree of price predictability and transparency between the two
levels of
31 economy cabin class.
32
33 However, airlines currently do not offer adequate price predictability or
transparency
34 to passengers in this regard. In other words, the price difference between
a lower-
1
CA 02564927 2006-10-23
1 service-level economy cabin class ticket and a higher-service-level economy
cabin
2 class ticket remains arbitrary from the perspective of the passenger, and
the manner in
3 which it is derived is perceived by passengers as mysterious at best. As a
result,
4 passengers may tend to feel that they are overpaying when purchasing a
higher-
service-level economy cabin class ticket, and hence, over time, may become
less
6 likely to purchase higher-service-level economy cabin class tickets. This
will tend to
7 drive down the profitability gains and competitiveness that incumbent
airlines were
8 hoping to achieve with the introduction of multiple levels of economy cabin
class.
9
Against this background, there is clearly a need in the industry to provide
greater price
11 predictability and transparency to customers during the process of
purchasing air
12 travel services, while maximizing an airline's flexibility in offering
multiple price
13 points for economy cabin class travel.
14
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
16
17 A first broad aspect of the present invention seeks to provide a computer-
implemented
18 method of vending air travel services, comprising: determining a plurality
of
19 published fares each associated with a respective one of a plurality of
root booking
classes, said published fares being applicable to the purchase of air travel
at a root
21 service level; determining a plurality of derived fares each associated
with a
22 respective equivalent booking class that is one of the root booking
classes, said
23 derived fares being applicable to the purchase of air travel at a non-root
service level,
24 the derived fare for which the equivalent booking class is a particular one
of the root
booking classes being computed from the published fare associated with the
particular
26 one of the root booking classes by applying a price differential that is
common across
27 multiple ones of the root booking classes; and offering the sale of air
travel at a
28 plurality of price points that includes at least a first one of the
published fares and at
29 least a first one of the derived fares, wherein the equivalent booking
class associated
with said first one of the derived fares corresponds to the root booking class
31 associated with said first one of the published fares.
32
2
CA 02564927 2006-10-23
1 A second broad aspect of the present invention seeks to provide a computing
device
2 suitable for use in facilitating the purchase of air travel services, the
computing device
3 comprising: means for determining a plurality of published fares each
associated with
4 a respective one of a plurality of root booking classes, said published
fares being
applicable to the purchase of air travel at a root service level; means for
determining a
6 plurality of derived fares each associated with a respective equivalent
booking class
7 that is one of the root booking classes, said derived fares being applicable
to the
8 purchase of air travel at a non-root service level, the derived fare for
which the
9 equivalent booking class is a particular one of the root booking classes
being
computed from the published fare associated with the particular one of the
root
11 booking classes by applying a price differential that is common across
multiple ones
12 of the root booking classes; and means for offering the sale of air travel
at a plurality
13 of price points that includes at least a first one of the published fares
and at least a first
14 one of the derived fares, wherein the equivalent booking class associated
with said
first one of the derived fares corresponds to the root booking class
associated with
16 said first one of the published fares.
17
18 A third broad aspect of the present invention seeks to provide a database
suitable for
19 use in the vending of air travel services on a given flight, said database
comprising a
plurality of logical records storing data pertaining to a first service level
and data
21 pertaining to a second service level. The data pertaining to the first
service level
22 conveys information indicative of: a respective published fare provided to
a gathering
23 and redistribution entity in association with a respective one of a
plurality of root
24 booking classes for the given flight; the respective published fare being
applicable to
the purchase of air travel on the given flight at the first service level. The
data
26 pertaining to the second service level conveys information indicative of: a
respective
27 equivalent root booking class that is one of said plurality of root booking
classes; a
28 respective derived fare; a corresponding second published fare provided to
a gathering
29 and redistribution entity in association with a corresponding non-root
booking class
for the given flight; the respective derived fare being applicable to the
purchase of air
31 travel on the given flight at the second service level; the respective
derived fare being
32 derived from the corresponding second published fare by applying an
adjustment that
33 is a function of the respective equivalent root booking class.
3
CA 02564927 2006-10-23
2 A fourth broad aspect of the present invention seeks to provide a computer-
3 implemented method of vending air travel services, comprising: receiving air
travel
4 parameters from a user; identifying at least one flight that is in
accordance with the air
travel parameters; and providing the user with an opportunity to purchase a
ticket for
6 at least one of said at least one flight at either a respective first fare
associated with a
7 first service level or a respective second fare associated with a second
service level;
8 wherein the respective first and respective second fares are selected from a
database
9 of fares as a function of prevailing purchase conditions; wherein the
respective first
and respective second fares differ by an amount that is independent of the
prevailing
11 purchase conditions.
12
13 A fifth broad aspect of the present invention seeks to provide a system for
vending air
14 travel services, comprising: means for receiving air travel parameters from
a user;
means for identifying at least one flight that is in accordance with the air
travel
16 parameters; and means for providing the user with an opportunity to
purchase a ticket
17 for at least one of said at least one flight at either a respective first
fare associated with
18 a first service level or a respective second fare associated with a second
service level;
19 wherein the respective first and respective second fares are selected from
a database
of fares as a function of prevailing purchase conditions; wherein the
respective first
21 and respective second fares differ by an amount that is independent of the
prevailing
22 purchase conditions.
23
24 A sixth broad aspect of the present invention seeks to provide a method of
vending air
travel services, comprising: determining for a given flight a plurality of
published
26 fares respectively associated with a plurality of booking classes, said
published fares
27 being applicable to the purchase of air travel on the given flight under
different
28 purchase conditions associated with the plurality of booking classes; and
offering the
29 sale of air travel on the given flight at a number of price points that
exceeds the
number of published fares in said plurality of published fares.
31
4
CA 02564927 2006-10-23
1 A seventh broad aspect of the present invention seeks to provide a computer-
2 implemented method of vending air travel services, comprising: receiving air
travel
3 parameters from a user; identifying a flight that is in accordance with the
air travel
4 parameters; providing the user with an opportunity to make a first decision,
said first
decision being a decision to purchase a ticket for said flight at either a
first fare
6 associated with a first service level or a second fare associated with a
second service
7 level; responsive to said user conveying an intent to purchase a ticket for
said flight at
8 the first service level, compelling the user to make a second decision, said
second
9 decision being a decision to accept or reject an opportunity to purchase a
ticket for
said flight at the second service level instead of at the first service level;
and selling
11 the ticket at the first fare or the second fare as a function of an outcome
of the second
12 decision.
13
14 An eighth broad aspect of the present invention seeks to provide a
computing device
suitable for use in facilitating the purchase of air travel services by a
user, the
16 computing device comprising: means for receiving air travel parameters from
a user;
17 means for identifying a flight that is in accordance with the air travel
parameters;
18 means for providing the user with an opportunity to make a first decision,
said first
19 decision being a decision to purchase a ticket for said flight at either a
first fare
associated with a first service level or a second fare associated with a
second service
21 level; means responsive to said user conveying an intent to purchase a
ticket for said
22 flight at the first service level, for compelling the user to make a second
decision, said
23 second decision being a decision to accept or reject an opportunity to
purchase a ticket
24 for said flight at the second service level instead of at the first service
level; and
means for selling the ticket at the first fare or the second fare as a
function of an
26 outcome of the second decision.
27
28 These and other aspects and features of the present invention will now
become
29 apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following
description
of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying
31 drawings.
32
5
CA 02564927 2006-10-23
1 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
2
3 In the accompanying drawings:
4
Fig. 1 is a block diagram depicting the configuration of an architecture for
vending air
6 travel services, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
7
8 Fig. 2 illustrates an example of an introductory page for allowing a user to
specify air
9 travel parameters;
I 1 Fig. 3 illustrates an example of a select page for allowing the user to
select a flight
12 from a plurality of flights for one or more origin-destination segments;
13
14 Fig. 4 illustrates an example of a review page for allowing the user to
proceed with
payment for a selected set of flights, or to make a service level change based
on a
16 price incentive, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
17
18 Fig. 5 illustrates an example of a dialog box for compelling the user to
make a
19 decision as to whether or not to effect a service level change, in
accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention; and
21
22 Fig. 6 illustrates a fare database that is suitable for use in the
architecture of Fig. 1.
23
24 It is to be expressly understood that the description and drawings are only
for the
purpose of illustration of certain embodiments of the invention and are an aid
for
26 understanding. They are not intended to be a definition of the limits of
the invention.
27
28 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF NON-LIMITING EMBODIMENTS
29
In order to give an airline a certain degree of flexibility in charging for
air travel and
31 thereby to optimize management of the airline's revenue, the pricing
structure for
32 seats on a given flight is characterized by a set of "booking classes". It
is customary
33 in the air travel industry to allocate single letters of the alphabet to
the booking
34 classes.
6
CA 02564927 2006-10-23
1
2 The booking classes are divided amongst one or more cabin classes and,
furthermore,
3 amongst one or more "service levels" in each cabin class. A "service level"
is
4 characterized by a collection of core service attributes that apply to all
travel effected
at that service level. For example, a same-day airport change may be a feature
that
6 incurs a fee at one service level, while being a core service attribute at
another service
7 level. Other features that may be core service attributes at some service
levels but not
8 at others include, without limitation: flight changes, possibility of same
day standby,
9 entitlement to a refund, priority check-in, advance seat selection,
surcharge for sports
equipment, frequent flyer miles multiplier (e.g., 0.5, 1.0, 1.5), and the
like. In
11 addition, certain service levels may be associated with "privileges" that
are not core
12 service attributes in themselves, but instead are obtainable at those
service levels by
13 paying a surcharge. More specifically, a privilege refers to a feature that
is available
14 by paying a surcharge at one service level, but otherwise remains
unavailable at
another service level, even if one were willing to pay the surcharge
associated with
16 the privilege in question. Examples of such privileges include, without
limitation:
17 VIP lounge access, meal vouchers and parking, to name a few.
18
19 In addition, each booking class is associated with a respective "published
fare" and
has a number of available seats allocated thereto. The rules that govern the
number of
21 available seats per booking class and the published fare associated with
each booking
22 class can be provided by an inventory management function. Various factors
may be
23 taken into consideration by the inventory management function when
determining the
24 published fare associated with a given booking class for travel on a given
flight.
These include, without limitation: day of the week, seasonality (e.g.,
Christmas,
26 Spring Break, etc.), whether the time period between the outbound and
inbound
27 flights spans a Saturday night (particularly for international flights),
how close the
28 date of purchase is to the date of travel, whether there is a connecting
flight through a
29 certain preferential airport, and so on. Thus, the number of published
fares and
booking classes for the given flight can account for a wide range of purchase
31 conditions.
32
33 The airline chooses how to distribute the available booking classes amongst
the
34 service levels it offers and allocates a published fare to each of the
booking classes.
7
CA 02564927 2006-10-23
1 The airline sends the published fare associated with each booking class to a
fare
2 gathering and redistribution entity, a non-limiting example of which is the
Airline
3 Tariff Publishing Company (ATP) (for more information, see
http://www.atpco.net).
4 At the fare gathering and redistribution entity, the published fares
received from
various airlines are compiled, monitored and redistributed among member
airlines.
6 The published fares for a given flight may be updated and republished on a
daily or
7 weekly basis, for example.
8
9 Due to the twenty-six (26) letter limit of the alphabet, which may
practically amount
to an even smaller number of available letters due to certain booking classes
being
11 reserved, airlines need to provide different price granularity at different
service levels
12 competing for the same inventory of seats. Typically, one service level
will be
13 allocated greater price granularity than any other service level, and as
such there will
14 be an unequal proportion of booking classes allocated to different service
levels.
Thus, a one-to-one correspondence may not exist between the booking classes
16 allocated to one service level and the booking classes allocated to another
service
17 level.
18
19 In fact, where there are N service levels, and the number of booking
classes allocated
to a single service level exceeds 26/N, one cannot ensure a one-to-one
correspondence
21 between all booking classes amongst all service levels. For example, if it
is assumed
22 that a total of five (5) or more out of the available twenty-six (26)
booking classes are
23 unusable, obsolete or reserved, it follows that when the number of service
levels
24 competing for the same inventory of seats is three or more, then there are
not enough
available letters to allow more than seven (7) respective booking classes to
be
26 allocated to each of the three service levels.
27
28 It should also be appreciated that the airline is not bound to quote a user
the published
29 fare associated with the booking class most applicable to the purchase
conditions
prevailing at the time of purchase. In fact, the airline may discount the
published fare
31 by an amount, hereinafter referred to as a "discount". More specifically,
and as will
32 now be described in greater detail, by determining plural booking classes
that apply to
33 the purchase conditions prevailing at the time of purchase (i.e., one for
each existing
34 service level), and by applying a discount to the published fare associated
with one or
8
CA 02564927 2006-10-23
1 more of these booking classes, the airline can compute a "derived fare" for
each of the
2 other booking classes, which are ultimately quoted to the user. (In other
cases, not
3 discussed in further detail, the airline may increase rather than decrease
the published
4 fare, and therefore it may sometimes be appropriate to refer to the amount
generally as
an "adjustment" to the published fare.)
6
7 To this end, embodiments of the present invention provide a set of "root"
booking
8 classes allocated to a "root" service level, as well as sets of "non-root"
booking
9 classes respectively allocated to one or more non-root service levels. In
accordance
with a specific non-limiting embodiment, each of the one or more non-root
service
11 levels can be higher or lower than the root service level. In accordance
with a non-
12 limiting embodiment, the number of non-root booking classes per non-root
service
13 level can be less than the number of root booking classes, thereby to allow
the root
14 booking classes to achieve sufficiently fine price granularity at the root
service level;
in fact, it is within the scope of the present invention to provide even only
a single
16 non-root booking class per non-root service level, thereby maximizing the
available
17 number of root booking classes (and enhancing the price granularity).
18
19 It should therefore be appreciated that a mapping exists whereby each of
the non-root
booking classes is associated with one or more "equivalent" root booking
classes for
21 that non-root booking class. As shown in Fig. 6, it is convenient to use a
table of
22 logical records to represent this mapping for a given flight. The table of
logical
23 records may be stored in a fare database 160 for the given flight.
24
In this specific non-limiting example of the fare database shown in Fig. 6, it
is seen
26 that the root service level is "silver" with twelve (12) root booking
classes (B, R, H,
27 K, V, N, Q, G, L, E, A, T). Each root booking class is associated with a
respective
28 published fare (ranging from $400 down to $235).
29
It will be noted that a first non-root service level is "bronze", which is
deemed to be
31 "lower" than the root service level of "silver". It is seen that the
"bronze" non-root
32 service level has a single non-root booking class (P) which is associated
with a single
33 published fare ($350). However, there are twelve derived fares (ranging
from $260
9
CA 02564927 2006-10-23
1 down to $95) associated with the single non-root booking class (P), one for
each of
2 twelve (12) equivalent root booking classes (B, R, H, K, V, N, Q, G, L, E,
A, T).
3
4 In an analogous fashion, it will be noted that a second non-root service
level is "gold",
which is deemed to be "higher" than the root service level of "silver". It is
seen that
6 the "gold" non-root service level has two (2) non-root booking classes (Y,
U) which
7 are associated with respective published fares ($700, $600). While there is
one
8 derived fare ($700) associated with the non-root booking class (Y), there
are eleven
9 (11) derived fares (ranging from $585 down to $435) associated with the non-
root
booking class (U), that is, one for each of eleven (11) equivalent root
booking classes
11 (R, H, K, V, N, Q, G, L, E, A, T).
12
13 The derived fare associated with a given non-root booking class and a given
14 equivalent root booking class is computed by applying a discount to the
published fare
associated with the given non-root booking class. The actual amount of the
discount
16 depends on the published fare associated with the equivalent root booking
class.
17 Thus, it is possible to achieve the scenario where the difference between
the published
18 fare for a given root booking class and any derived fare associated with a
non-root
19 booking class for which the equivalent root booking class is the given root
booking
class, is kept constant as one migrates among root booking classes as a
function of the
21 purchase conditions prevailing at the time of purchase. In other words, a
"fixed price
22 differential" can be maintained between the fare quoted to the user at the
root service
23 level and the fare quoted to the user at a given non-root service level,
regardless of the
24 purchase conditions prevailing at the time of purchase. It is noted that
the fixed price
differential can be positive or negative, depending on whether the given non-
root
26 service level is higher or lower than the root service level. Naturally, a
different fixed
27 price differential can be used for each non-root service level. For
example, in the
28 non-limiting embodiment of Fig. 6, the fixed price differential between the
"bronze"
29 and "silver" service levels is -$140, while the fixed price differential
between the
"silver" and "gold" service levels is $200.
31
32 As a result of the above, during the purchase of air travel services, the
airline can offer
33 the user a degree of price predictability when considering the migration
between two
34 service levels. Specifically, the present technique allows the airline to
honour a fixed
CA 02564927 2006-10-23
1 price differential, irrespective of the purchase conditions prevailing at
the time of
2 purchase. Meanwhile, the airline does not need to change the way that it
advertises
3 fares, that is, it can continue to send published fares and associated
booking classes to
4 the fare gathering and redistribution entity in the traditional manner.
6 With reference to Fig. 1, a non-limiting process for vending air travel
services to a
7 user 102 will now be described in the context of a travel services
architecture
8 comprising a travel reservation system 110 including a server 104 that is
accessible
9 over a network 106. The server 104 acts as a gateway between a computing
apparatus
108 connected to the network 106 and a remainder of the travel reservation
system
11 110.
12
13 The computing apparatus 108 and the network 106 are not particularly
limited to any
14 specific implementation. For example, the network 106 may comprise a
portion of
the public switched telephone network, a public data network (such as the
Internet), a
16 private data network (such as Galileo, Sabre, etc.), a wireless network,
etc. Also, the
17 computing apparatus 108 may be a desktop PC, a laptop, a smart phone, a
networked
18 wireless personal communication device (such as Treo, BlackBerry, etc.),
and so on.
19
The computing apparatus 108 is configured to execute a client software
application
21 adapted to interact with the server 104. The software application may be a
web
22 browser or a customized program designed specifically to communicate with
the
23 server 104. The server 104 is configured to cause the software application
to run a
24 graphical user interface (GUI) 112 for the server 104. The server 104
cooperates with
the GUI 112 running on the computing apparatus 108, to allow the user 102 to
convey
26 information to the remainder of the travel reservation system 110, and to
allow
27 information from the remainder of the travel reservation system 110 to be
conveyed to
28 the user 102.
29
In addition to comprising the server 104, the travel reservation system 110
comprises
31 the requisite functional components to allow a seat or seats to be booked
on a desired
32 flight or flights based on interaction with the user 102. To this end, the
travel
33 reservation system 110 includes, among other components and in addition to
the
11
CA 02564927 2006-10-23
1 aforesaid fare database 160, a flight schedule and inventory database 114
and an
2 inventory management function 116.
3
4 With reference now to Fig. 2, there is shown an example of a graphical
element 200
displayed by the GUI 112 running on the computing apparatus 108. The graphical
6 element 200, hereinafter referred to as an "introductory page", allows the
user 102 to
7 convey air travel parameters. To this end, the introductory page 200
comprises a
8 region 202 that permits the user 102 to enter, for example, origin and
destination
9 information (such as by city name or airport code), as well as schedule
information
(such as a departure date and a return date). Of course, other regions may be
provided
11 on the introductory page 200 (and/or other pages provided), thereby
allowing
12 additional air travel parameters to be specified, without departing from
the spirit of
13 the present invention. Such additional air travel parameters may include,
without
14 limitation: a number of passengers, a specific airline, a country of
residence, a range
of dates instead of a specific date, whether the trip is one-way or return,
etc.
16
17 The introductory page 200 further comprises a user selection conveyance
mechanism
18 208 (e.g., button, hyperlink, arrow, etc.) that can be actioned by the user
102 via an
19 appropriate input device (e.g., mouse, keyboard, stylus, touch sensitive
input screen,
speech recognition utility). When the user selection conveyance mechanism 208
is so
21 actioned, this event is detected by the server 104, which then initiates a
search in a
22 flight schedule and inventory database 114 of the travel reservation system
I10 for
23 availability of a seat on a flight (or sequence of flights) that meets the
air travel
24 parameters specified by the user 102. There may be more than one flight (or
more
than one sequence of flights) meeting the air travel parameters specified by
the user
26 102. Where the travel parameters specify a return trip, a separate set of
one or more
27 flights (or sequences of flights) may exist for each of two "origin-
destination
28 segments".
29
Assuming the existence of at least one flight for each origin-destination
segment on
31 which the requisite number of seat(s) is available, the travel reservation
system 110
32 returns to the server 104 certain flight information related to each
flight, including a
33 confirmation of the origin and destination, as well as flight time, flight
number,
34 aircraft data, connections, etc. In addition, the travel reservation system
110 may or
12
CA 02564927 2006-10-23
1 may not temporarily reserve the requisite number of seat(s) on each flight,
for each
2 origin-destination segment.
3
4 In addition, the travel reservation system 110 returns to the server 104
certain price
information related to each flight. The price information related to a given
flight
6 comprises one or more price points related to the given flight, each
associated with a
7 respective service level, in this case from the set of "bronze", "silver"
and "gold".
8 The price point associated with a given service level and related to a given
flight
9 indicates the price to be charged to the user 102 for air travel on the
given flight, at the
given service level.
11
12 The one or more price points related to the given flight correspond to the
fares that are
13 stored in the fare database 160 for the given flight. More specifically,
and according
14 to a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, the one or more
price points
related to the given flight correspond to the fares in a single row of the
table in the
16 fare database 160 for the given flight, as can be seen in Fig. 6.
17
18 Exactly which row is applicable will depend on the purchase conditions
prevailing at
19 the time of purchase. In this example, the applicable row will contain one
published
fare (corresponding to the root booking class) and two derived fares
(corresponding to
21 the two non-root booking classes). Thus, one published fare and two derived
fares are
22 returned to the server 104. It is noted that the server 104 need not know
which of the
23 three price points returned by the fare database 160 is the published fare
and which
24 are derived fares. All three will appear to the user 102 simply as price
points for
travel on the given flight at different respective service levels.
26
27 It is noted that although different rows of the table in the fare database
160 for the
28 given flight will be applicable under different purchase conditions, the
difference in
29 the price points between two different service levels is constant (i.e., it
corresponds to
the aforesaid "fixed price differential") regardless of such purchase
conditions. This
31 allows for greater price predictability from the user's perspective, which
may have
32 beneficial effects. For instance, the airline can advertise the fixed price
differential in
33 advance, thereby to give the user 102 a priori knowledge of the fixed price
13
CA 02564927 2006-10-23
1 differential. This, in turn, may have the effect of causing the user 102 to
feel that he
2 or she has a greater flexibility in effecting service level changes.
3
4 The above process of obtaining price information is repeated for each other
flight (if
applicable), for each origin-destination segment, by accessing a similar fare
database
6 for each such other flight, thereby to produce the requisite price
information.
7
8 Based on the flight information and price information from received from the
travel
9 reservation system 110, the server 104 changes the page displayed by the GUI
112
running on the computing apparatus 108. Specifically, with reference to Fig.
3, a
11 graphical element 300 is displayed, hereinafter referred to as a "select
page". The
12 select page 300 may comprise a region 302A that displays the flight
information
13 related to each flight for an outbound origin-destination segment, and a
region 302B
14 that displays the flight information related to each flight for an inbound
origin-
destination segment. The information displayed in regions 302A and 302B
includes
16 the respective origin and destination, as well as flight times, flight
numbers, aircraft
17 data, connections, etc. For convenience, and in accordance with a specific
non-
18 limiting embodiment, the flight information for each origin-destination
segment may
19 be displayed in the form of a matrix, where each row of the matrix is
associated with a
respective flight for the origin-destination segment in question.
21
22 The select page 300 may further comprise a region 304A that displays the
price
23 information related to each flight for the outbound origin-destination
segment, and a
24 region 304B that displays the price information related to each flight for
the inbound
origin-destination segment. In a non-limiting example embodiment, where the
flight
26 information is displayed in each of the regions 302A, 302B as a
corresponding matrix
27 of rows associated with respective flights, each of the regions 304A, 304B
displays
28 one or more price points per row of the corresponding matrix. It is
recalled that each
29 price point is associated with a given service level, in addition to being
related to a
given flight for a given origin-destination segment. Accordingly, in a non-
limiting
31 embodiment, the division between service levels can be made evident by
utilizing
32 different columns of the corresponding matrix.
33
14
CA 02564927 2006-10-23
1 In addition, the select page 300 comprises a mechanism that permits the user
102 to
2 specify an available combination of flight and service level, for each
origin-
3 destination segment. In a specific non-limiting embodiment, this may be
achieved by
4 providing a radio button 306 (or check box, etc.) in the vicinity of each
price point in
the regions 304A, 304B. For each origin-destination segment, the user 102 may
be
6 permitted to select only one price point. Thus, as is the case in the
present non-
7 limiting example, where there are two origin-destination segments, the user
102 may
8 be permitted to select only one price point (i.e., one combination of flight
and service
9 level) per origin-destination segment. However, it is contemplated that in
other
embodiments, the user 102 may be permitted to select multiple price points.
11
12 The price point selected for the outbound origin-destination segment is
hereinafter
13 referred to as an "original outbound price point", while the associated
flight is
14 hereinafter referred to as an "original outbound flight", and the
associated service
level is hereinafter referred to as an "original outbound service level".
Analogously,
16 the price point selected for the inbound origin-destination segment is
hereinafter
17 referred to as an original inbound price point, while the associated flight
is hereinafter
18 referred to as an "original inbound flight", and the associated service
level is
19 hereinafter referred to as an "original inbound service level". Naturally,
the original
outbound service level and the original inbound service level may be the same.
21
22 Additionally, the select page 300 comprises a region 308A that displays
"quantitative
23 service level change information", which indicates the difference between
the original
24 outbound price point and the price point associated with at least one
service level
other than the original outbound service level, and related to the original
outbound
26 flight (and possibly other flights for the outbound origin-destination
segment). In one
27 embodiment, the region 308A may comprise the region 304A, in which case the
28 quantitative service level change information can take the form of a
continued display
29 of the price point(s) associated with the other service level(s), and
related to the
original outbound flight (or other flights for the outbound origin-destination
segment).
31 In another embodiment, the quantitative service level change information
can take the
32 form of an explicit display of the aforesaid fixed price differential,
which is the
33 difference between the original outbound price point and the price point
associated
CA 02564927 2006-10-23
1 with at least one of the other service level(s), and related to the original
outbound
2 flight (and possibly other flights for the outbound origin-destination
segment).
3
4 Analogously, the select page 300 comprises a region 308B that displays
quantitative
service level change information, which indicates the difference between the
original
6 inbound price point and the price point associated with at least one service
level other
7 than the original inbound service level, and related to the original inbound
flight (and
8 possibly other flights for the inbound origin-destination segment). In one
9 embodiment, the quantitative service level change information can take the
form of a
continued display of the price point(s) associated with the other service
level(s), and
11 related to the original inbound flight (or other flights for the inbound
origin-
12 destination segment). In another embodiment, the quantitative service level
change
13 information can take the form of an explicit display of the aforesaid fixed
price
14 differential, which is the difference between the original inbound price
point and the
price point associated with at least one of the other service level(s), and
related to the
16 original inbound flight (and possibly other flights for the inbound origin-
destination
17 segment).
18
19 Continuing with Fig. 3, the select page 300 may also comprise a region 310
that
displays qualitative service level change information. The qualitative service
level
21 change information may be displayed persistently or only when the user 102
accesses
22 (e.g., by passing over or clicking) the region 310. The qualitative service
level change
23 information may comprise non-price-related information that concerns at
least one
24 service level other than either the original outbound service level or the
original
inbound service level. In one specific non-limiting embodiment, the
qualitative
26 service level change information may comprise a comparative listing of the
core
27 service attributes in the first and original inbound service levels and in
the other
28 service level(s). In another specific non-limiting embodiment, the
qualitative service
29 level change information may comprise a list of core service attributes
available in the
other service level(s) but not in the first or original inbound service
levels. In another
31 specific non-limiting embodiment, the qualitative service level change
information
32 may comprise a list of privileges available in the other service level(s)
but not in the
33 first or original inbound service levels. Combinations of the foregoing may
be used in
34 still further non-limiting embodiments.
16
CA 02564927 2006-10-23
1
2 It should be noted that the user 102 continues to be free to change the
original
3 outbound service level and/or the original inbound service level, and in
fact remains
4 free to selected an entirely different flight for each origin-destination
segment. In
view of this flexibility provided by the select page 300, let the price point
ultimately
6 selected for the outbound origin-destination segment be hereinafter referred
to as a
7 "final outbound price point", with the associated flight being hereinafter
referred to as
8 a "final outbound flight", and the associated service level being
hereinafter referred to
9 as a "final outbound service level". Analogously, let the price point
ultimately
selected for the inbound origin-destination segment be hereinafter referred to
as a
11 "final inbound price point", with the associated flight being hereinafter
referred to as a
12 "final inbound flight", and the associated service level being hereinafter
referred to as
13 a "final inbound service level". Naturally, the final outbound service
level and the
14 final inbound service level may be the same.
16 The select page 300 further comprises a user selection conveyance mechanism
312
17 (e.g., button, hyperlink, arrow, etc.) that can be actioned by the user 102
via an
18 appropriate input device (e.g., mouse, keyboard, stylus, touch sensitive
input screen,
19 speech recognition utility). When the user selection conveyance mechanism
312 is so
actioned, this event is detected by the server 104, which then effects a
reservation in
21 the flight schedule and inventory database 114 of the travel reservation
system 110, in
22 accordance with (i) the final outbound flight and the final outbound
service level; and
23 (ii) the final inbound flight and the final inbound service level.
24
Based on the information from received from the travel reservation system I10,
the
26 server 104 changes the page displayed by the GUI 112 running on the
computing
27 apparatus 108. Specifically, with reference to Fig. 4, a graphical element
400 is
28 displayed, hereinafter referred to as a "review page". The review page 400
may
29 comprise a region 402 that displays the flight information related to the
final flight for
each origin-destination segment. The review page 400 may also comprise a
region
31 404 that displays (i) the final outbound price point, which is associated
with the final
32 outbound service level and related to the final outbound flight; and (ii)
the final
33 inbound price point, which is associated with the final inbound service
level and
34 related to the final inbound flight.
17
CA 02564927 2006-10-23
1
2 The review page 400 may further comprise a region 406 that displays
ancillary
3 financial data such as taxes, surcharges, grand total, etc. In addition, the
review page
4 400 may further comprise a region 410A that displays quantitative service
level
change information, indicating the difference between the final outbound price
point
6 and the price point associated with at least one service level other than
the final
7 outbound service level, and related to the final outbound flight. In this
case, the
8 quantitative service level change information 410A indicates that an upgrade
from
9 "bronze" to "silver" can be effected by paying a surcharge of $100, but this
example
is of course not to be considered limiting. Additionally, it may be possible
to
11 downgrade to a "lower" service level for a credit, or the option may be
given to
12 upgrade or downgrade, for various amounts of surcharge or credit.
13
14 The review page 400 may further comprise a region 410B that displays
quantitative
service level change information, indicating the difference between the final
inbound
16 price point and the price point associated with at least one service level
other than the
17 final inbound service level, and related to the final inbound flight. In
this case, the
18 quantitative service level change information 410B indicates that an
upgrade from
19 "silver" to "bronze" can be effected by paying a surcharge of $200, but
this example
is of course not to be considered limiting. Additionally, it may be possible
to
21 downgrade to a "lower" service level for a credit, or the option may be
given to
22 upgrade or downgrade, for various amounts of surcharge or credit.
23
24 In addition, the review page 400 may further comprise a region 412 that
displays
qualitative service level change information that concerns at least one
service level
26 other than the final outbound service level or the final inbound service
level.
27
28 The review page 400 further comprises a service level change conveyance
mechanism
29 414 (e.g., button, hyperlink, arrow, etc.) that can be actioned by the user
102 via an
appropriate input device (e.g., mouse, keyboard, stylus, touch sensitive input
screen,
31 speech recognition utility). The service level change conveyance mechanism
414
32 allows the user 102 to effect a last-minute service level change relative
to the final
33 outbound service level and/or the final inbound service level. When the
service level
34 change conveyance mechanism 414 is so actioned, this event is detected by
the server
18
CA 02564927 2006-10-23
1 104, which then causes the review page 400 to be redisplayed, along with the
regions
2 402, 404, 406, 410A, 410B and 414, updated to reflect the chang(s) made to
the final
3 outbound and/or inbound service level.
4
The review page 400 may further comprise a purchase conveyance mechanism 416
6 (e.g., button, hyperlink, arrow, etc.) that can be actioned by the user 102
via an
7 appropriate input device (e.g., mouse, keyboard, stylus, touch sensitive
input screen,
8 speech recognition utility). When the purchase conveyance mechanism 416 is
so
9 actioned, this event is detected by the server 104, which then causes a seat
reservation
to be made on an outbound flight using the flight schedule and inventory
database 114
11 of the travel reservation system 110, in accordance with the final outbound
flight and
12 the final outbound service level. In addition, the server 104 causes a seat
reservation
13 to be made on an inbound flight using the flight schedule and inventory
database 114
14 of the travel reservation system 110, in accordance with the final inbound
flight and
the final inbound service level. In addition, actioning of the purchase
conveyance
16 mechanism 416 initiates a financial transaction, e.g., via conventional or
e-commerce
17 means. The aforesaid seat reservations may be held for a fixed minimum
amount of
18 time to allow the financial transaction to be confirmed.
19
In addition, or alternatively, prior to effecting the financial transaction in
response to
21 actioning of the purchase conveyance mechanism 416, the server 104 may
change the
22 page displayed by the GUI 112 running on the computing apparatus 108.
23 Specifically, with reference to Fig. 5, a graphical element 500 may be
displayed (e.g.,
24 a dialog box superimposed onto the review page 400 or in a separate
window), which
prompts the user 102 to confirm the transaction and, in addition, provides the
user 102
26 with a final opportunity to effect a service level change. Specifically, in
this non-
27 limiting embodiment, the graphical element 500 comprises a service level
change
28 conveyance mechanism 502 and a no service level change conveyance mechanism
29 504 (e.g., buttons, hyperlinks, arrows, etc.) that can be actioned by the
user 102 via an
appropriate input device (e.g., mouse, keyboard, stylus, touch sensitive input
screen,
31 speech recognition utility).
32
33 The service level change conveyance mechanism 502 may indicate various
other
34 service levels for which a price point is available, for the final outbound
flight
19
CA 02564927 2006-10-23
1 (shown) as well as for the final inbound flight (not shown). In this way,
the service
2 level change conveyance mechanism 502 allows the user 102 to effect a last-
minute
3 service level change relative to the final outbound service level and/or the
final
4 inbound service level. Alternatively, the presence of the service level
change
conveyance mechanism 502 combined with the presence of the no service level
6 change conveyance mechanism 504 in the same dialog box can be viewed as a
7 manner of compelling the user 102 to actively render a decision as to
whether or not
8 to make a service level change.
9
When the service level change conveyance mechanism 502 is so actioned, this
event
11 is detected by the server 104, which prevents the financial transaction
from taking
12 place and causes the aforesaid review page 400 to be redisplayed, along
with the
13 regions 402, 404, 406, 410A, 410B and 414. On the other hand, actioning of
the no
14 service level change conveyance mechanism 504, when detected by the server
104,
allows the financial transaction to proceed in the previously described
manner, e.g.,
16 by conventional or e-commerce means.
17
18 Upon confirmation of the financial transaction effected subsequent to
actioning of the
19 purchase conveyance mechanism 416 (and, if applicable, subsequent actioning
of the
no service level change conveyance mechanism 504), the travel reservation
system
21 110 issues one or more tickets.
22
23 In view of the above, and as will be appreciated by persons skilled in the
art,
24 embodiments of the present invention afford an airline the flexibility to
offer a wide
range of booking classes (and price points) adapted to various purchase
conditions,
26 while at the same time demonstrating transparency vis-a-vis the user 102,
having
27 demystified the price dynamics of a service level change, and in some cases
having
28 reduced such dynamics to a fixed price differential. Meanwhile, the airline
may
29 continue to publish twenty-six (26) or fewer fares per flight.
31 It should also be appreciated that it is within the scope of the invention
to provide
32 different fixed price differentials that apply to different origin-
destination segments.
33 For instance, short-haul flights and long-haul flights may be associated
with different
34 respective fixed price differentials.
CA 02564927 2006-10-23
1
2 In addition, it should be appreciated that the airline may modify the fixed
price
3 differential without having to alert the fare gathering and redistribution
entity. All
4 that is required is a recalculation of the discounts using a different value
for the fixed
price differential.
6
7 Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that in some embodiments, the
functionality
8 of the server 104 and various other functional elements of the travel
reservation
9 system 110 may be implemented using pre-programmed hardware or firmware
elements (e.g., application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), electrically
erasable
11 programmable read-only memories (EEPROMs), etc.), or other related
components.
12 In other embodiments, the functionality of the server 104 and various other
functional
13 elements of the travel reservation system 110 may be achieved using a
computing
14 apparatus that has access to a code memory (not shown) which stores
computer-
readable program code for operation of the computing apparatus. The computer-
16 readable program code could be stored on a medium which is fixed, tangible
and
17 readable directly by server 104 and various other functional elements of
the travel
18 reservation system 110, (e.g., removable diskette, CD-ROM, ROM, fixed disk,
USB
19 drive), or the computer-readable program code could be stored remotely but
transmittable to the server 104 and various other functional elements of the
travel
21 reservation system 110 via a modem or other interface device (e.g., a
communications
22 adapter) connected to a network (including, without limitation, the
Internet) over a
23 transmission medium. The transmission medium may be either a non-wireless
24 medium (e.g., optical or analog communications lines) or a wireless medium
(e.g.,
microwave, infrared or other transmission schemes) or a combination thereof.
26
27 While specific embodiments of the present invention have been described and
28 illustrated, it will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that
numerous modifications
29 and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the
invention as
defined in the appended claims.
21
