Volantio Flex-Schedule - excess demand management system

[Strategic Aviation]

This Atlanta Startup Will Help United Fly High Again - Hypepotamus

Volantio, an automation and optimization platform built specifically for the aviation industry, is now working with two of the top 5 (by revenue and passengers) U.S. airlines, along with the top Australian airline.

The platform allows passengers who have flexible plans to identify themselves well in advance of their travel date. If the flight they’ve booked ends up having excess demand, the platform lets the airline send those flexible passengers real-time offers (via a text message) to move to an alternate flight in exchange for a benefit. Rather than happening at the gate, the process can happen up to 5 days prior to departure, giving passengers plenty of time to plan for the change.

This week Volantio launches the pilot with United Airlines. The system, called Flex-Schedule, targets budget passengers and those traveling on a flexible schedule who are willing to switch their flights.

Volantio works on a SaaS model of monthly licensing. Last month the company also became one of a dozen chosen from over 500 applicants for the first class of the Qantas Airlines AVRO accelerator in Australia.

United plans a new way to handle overbooked flights - Bloomberg News

Several other airlines will sign on with Volantio in the coming months: Australia-based Tiger Airways will come online in August, followed by Alaska Air in September and Qantas by October.

 

[serfty]

... thereby enabling to airline to sell the freed up seating at a premium as is the norm for late booking PAX.

Not that that's a bad thing ... I can see upside for PAX.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

I suppose I dare not hope that one of the benefits offered could be an upgrade.

 

[samh004]

Sounds interesting. I’m flexibl

 

[Strategic Aviation]

As far as UA's implementation (other airlines may be different):-

And tweak is the key word: You’ll never be asked to change dates or airports, and your seat preferences will carry over, with clear indicators if you’re taking a downgrade from Economy Plus to regular-old Economy. (Downgrades will be rare, but upgrades will be even rarer.)

 

[moa999]

CEO has a history at Jetstar as well.

I don't quite understand why you need a third party for this. Just ask the pax on booking.

 

[mviy]

I don't quite understand why you need a third party for this. Just ask the pax on booking.

With a large number of flights you want the system to be as automated as possible. Using a system shared by multiple airlines and fine tuning it to QF’s requirements should work a lot better than developing a system in house.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

With a large number of flights you want the system to be as automated as possible. Using a system shared by multiple airlines and fine tuning it to QF’s requirements should work a lot better than developing a system in house.

QF used to have an excellent IT department until it was stripped bare by people who thought bespoke software was the original sin and almost everything (and everyone) could be outsourced.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Doesn't make sense!

Airlines tell us overbooking is extremely rare. That that have years of data to tell them loadings on flights. And only very occasionally, an unlucky soul here or there gets bumped.

Why would you spend $$$ on a system to combat something already working so well?

As serfty says, this is just a way to sell seats at a last-minute walk up fare by freeing up seats for those who are willing to fly later. $$ to the airlines by the sounds of it.

 

[TheInsider]

I really don't understand why Qantas is purchasing this product. Qantas' flights very very rarely get oversold, and the times they do get oversold, the usual amount of no shows apply, therefore not denying anyone to board. This could work in a downgraded aircraft situation, but that also doesn't happen much on day of departure.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I really don't understand why Qantas is purchasing this product. Qantas' flights very very rarely get oversold, and the times they do get oversold, the usual amount of no shows apply, therefore not denying anyone to board. This could work in a downgraded aircraft situation, but that also doesn't happen much on day of departure.

Do we know the oversell numbers? Most bumped passengers wouldn't even make it to the gate.

This is all about profit me thinks. But I guess it's easier to sell to passengers and regulators that this is a tool to reduce over-sales rather than 'a tool to bypass contract and consumer law to maximise revenue by selling the same seat twice to the highest bidder'.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I suppose I dare not hope that one of the benefits offered could be an upgrade.

Err no. This will all be about freeing up seats when they think they can sell tickets for more money. They already have the ability to use up points for upgrades.

 

[mviy]

Err no. This will all be about freeing up seats when they think they can sell tickets for more money. They already have the ability to use up points for upgrades.

If QF needs to provide a free upgrade to get a volunteer they may well do it, but they would likely only try that after exhausting other possible incentives.