Sabre Travel Network announced that three more airlines will be using Sabre for booking ancillary services. Alitalia and Finnair will use Electronic Miscellaneous Document (EMD), to enable travel agents to shop, book and ticket the airlines' ancillary products through the Sabre global distribution system (GDS).

Additionally, South African Airways will offer ancillary products via EMD and has also signed to distribute its branded fares through the Sabre GDS. Electronic Miscellaneous Document (EMD), to enable travel agents to shop, book and ticket the airlines' ancillary products through the Sabre global distribution system (GDS).

Earlier this year, Air New Zealand was the first airline to use Sabre's EMD solution. Travel agents can now help the airline market and sell pre-paid bags to travelers. The airline expects to add more ancillaries to the Sabre GDS in the future. Air New Zealand also uses Sabre's Branded Fares solution, making its fare families available to Sabre-connected agencies.

Such merchandising technology helps agents sell ancillary products. Helping customers simplify the process of booking an airline ticket, which now can be a bundle of options available for different prices, is a way for travel agents to add value to their customers.

In addition to helping airlines quickly bring new products and services to the marketplace, the use of industry-developed technology standards by ATPCO, the International Air Transport Association and ARC also allows travel agents to easily market and sell airlines' offerings by efficiently managing the increasingly complex world of comparison shopping.

“Revenue generated by ancillary products is of critical importance to airlines,” said Chris Kroeger, senior vice president of marketing, Sabre Travel Network. According to the International Air Travel Association, there are now 28 airlines in the world that are EMD capable. For more information, visit www.sabre.com.