In a timely move that will help agents, Farelogix has launched www.iflybags.com, a new interactive, online baggage calculator that takes the guesswork, frustration, and mystery out of airline checked baggage allowance and fee information for travelers. The free service is the travel industry’s answer to addressing concerns around checked baggage fee transparency, Farelogix says. Tools also allow integration with agents booking system.
From scuba equipment and oversized luggage to golf clubs and guitars, iflybags provides travelers with instant access to the most up-to-date airline checked baggage allowances and fees based on the specific traveler, number and weight of planned checked bags/items, and airline-itinerary specific information. The user simply enters basic itinerary and bag details into the iflybags website, and it instantly calculates baggage allowances and fees for travelers.
Farelogix uses patent-pending technology to evaluate, optimize, and present the best combination of checked bags for multiple travelers on a single itinerary. It takes into account traveler frequent flyer status.
For example, if one traveler in a family of four has frequent flyer status and benefits from reduced checked bagged fees, iflybags will recommend that traveler check more bags than the others to save money.
“While the majority of airlines today charge for checked bags, baggage allowances and fees differ by airline and often create confusion for travelers. What we’re doing with iflybags is taking the confusion and frustration out of finding out how much baggage travelers are able to take with them on a flight and the related costs,” said Jim Davidson, CEO of Farelogix. “The goal with iflybags is to ensure that no traveler arrives at an airport without knowing what their checked baggage allowance and fees will be.”
iflybags accesses baggage data from more than 300 of the world’s airlines, with new carriers being added all the time, Farelogix reports.
To ensure travelers have access to the most up-to-date baggage allowance and fee information, iflybags is updated every hour. iflybags uses industry-standard data from the Airline Tariff Publishing Company (ATPCO), to calculate baggage allowances and fees.
While travel agents can use the iflybags website themselves, or provide the link to their customers, ATPCO is also providing an XML API that travel agents can integrate directly into their booking tool so they have easy access to the baggage calculator, Farelogix says.
By the end of this year, Farelogix will also integrate its iflybags application directly into its SPRK travel agent point-of-sale application.
iflybags mobile apps for iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, and Windows smart phones will be available in the near future to provide travelers with access to baggage allowance and fee information on the go, Farelogix says.
Visit www.iflybags.com