SilverRail partners with Fareportal to power rail search on CheapOair

API integration allows customers to compare Amtrak rail routes to flights on CheapOair

 

NEW YORK, October 26, 2016: SilverRail, the technology company powering global rail with its next generation retailing and distribution platform, has partnered with Fareportal, a high-tech, high-touch travel company powering the next generation of travel. This new partnership will expand Fareportal’s offering to travellers in the US by incorporating rail options alongside flights for the first time.

With the simple integration of SilverRail’s API, travelers can now compare and book Amtrak rail tickets online via CheapOair, a subsidiary of Fareportal. For the first time ever, CheapOair customers can find the most convenient and affordable travel options based on their origin and destination with one easy search on one website. Currently, customers can compare and book Amtrak rail tickets on the following routes:

  • New York, NY and Boston, MA
  • New York, NY and Washington, D.C.
  • New York, NY and Buffalo, NY
  • New York, NY and Providence, RI
  • New York, NY and Albany, NY
  • New York, NY and Philadelphia, PA
  • Boston, MA and Washington, D.C.
  • Seattle, WA and Portland, OR

“Fareportal is the 10th largest global travel company according to Travel Weekly’s 2016 Power List and with their brand CheapOair they will be amongst the first leisure online booking platform to offer Amtrak tickets alongside airfare results,” said Cameron Jones, Chief Commercial Officer at SilverRail. “We are excited to support Fareportal as they expand and enhance their offering to customers. This partnership helps raise the profile of rail in the US and provides Amtrak a new marketing channel to attract new customers that might have otherwise flown.”

Werner Kunz, Chief Operating Officer at Fareportal said “Rail carries as many passengers as air between some of the major US cities like Boston and New York, and so it’s a natural fit for us to offer rail options alongside air, allowing customers to comparison shop with one search on CheapOair.com”.

 

About Fareportal (https://www.fareportal.com)

Fareportal is a high-tech, high-touch Travel Company that powers the next generation travel concierge service. Utilising its innovative technology and company owned and operated global contact center, Fareportal has built strong industry partnerships providing access to over 450 airlines, 150,000 hotels, and hundreds of car rental companies that serve millions of customers every year. With a portfolio of consumer travel brands, including CheapOair and OneTravel, Fareportal’s airline partners can benefit from access to a broad customer base that books high-yield international travel and add-on ancillaries.

 

About SilverRail Technologies (www.silverrailtech.com)

SilverRail is powering global rail with its next generation retailing and distribution platform.

SilverRail’s proprietary technology offers a simple and common digital infrastructure for rail. Our product suite spans the rail e-commerce customer experience: journey planning, inventory management, scheduling, pricing, booking, payment, ticketing, reporting and administration.

The SilverCore API is the world’s first unified platform for global rail, it connects the carrier content and retailing to any distribution partner, on or offline.

  • SilverRail is currently processing over 1 billion online rail searches per year.
  • Over 35 providers and carriers are connected via the company’s ‘SilverCore’.
  • More than 25 million bookings are made on SilverRail’s various systems each year.
  • SilverRail is currently serving over 1,500 corporate customers worldwide.

SilverRail was founded in 2009 by Aaron Gowell and Will Phillipson, is headquartered in London, but also has offices in Boston, Stockholm and Brisbane.

 

 

CheapOair Wins Second Consecutive Top Sales Agency Award from Ethiopian Airlines

Next generation travel company recognized as a top performer by Africa’s fastest growing air carrier 

Ethiopian Top Sales Agency Award presentation

Amha Shiferaw (left) and Gregory Onorato (right) of Ethiopian Airlines present Sanjay Hathiramani of Fareportal (center) with the Top Sales Agency Award at the Fareportal Headquarters in New York, NY.

NEW YORK, October 11, 2016: CheapOair, a leading flights-focused, next generation concierge travel service consisting of a traditional travel agency with a digital front end, has been awarded the Top Sales Agency Award for 2016 from Ethiopian Airlines. This award is given annually to recognize the top sellers of Ethiopian Airlines tickets throughout the year.

Ethiopian Airlines operates out of four North American gateways including Los Angeles, Newark, Washington, D.C., and Toronto. CheapOair has been supporting Ethiopian Airlines’ growth in the Americas with a partnership dating back over 10 years.

“We are extremely honored to receive The Top Sales Agency award from Ethiopian Airlines for the second year in a row,” said Sanjay Hathiramani, Senior Vice President of Supplier Relations at CheapOair. “This award is a testament of our commitment to building strong business relationships with our partners such as Ethiopian Airlines. We continue to invest in our staff, products, and technology in order to better serve both our partners and our customers with our ‘next generation travel concierge experience’.”

 “We highly value our partnership with CheapOair,” said Nigusu Worku Wordofa, Regional Director, Sales and Services USA at Ethiopian Airlines. “On behalf of Ethiopian Airlines, I would like to give this recognition award. We also look forward to strengthening our partnership by creating the best value to our joint esteemed customers for years to come.”

About CheapOair

CheapOair is a flights-focused hybrid travel service that enables consumers to book online, on mobile apps, by phone, or live chat. CheapOair (http://www.cheapoair.com, 1-646-738-4820) bridges the gap between an online and traditional travel agency with certified travel agents available to help find deals and offers to destinations worldwide on over 450 airlines, 150,000 hotels, and 100s of car rental companies. Partner airlines benefit from access to CheapOair’s broad customer base that books high- yield international travel and add-on ancillaries at above the industry average. Follow CheapOair on Facebook and Twitter to learn how to travel the world for less.

 

About Ethiopian

Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopian) is the fastest growing Airline in Africa. In its seven decades of operations, Ethiopian has become one of the continent’s leading carriers, unrivalled in efficiency and operational success.

Ethiopian commands the lion’s share of the pan-African passenger and cargo network operating the youngest and most modern fleet to 92 international destinations across five continents. Ethiopian fleet includes ultra-modern and environmentally friendly aircraft such as the Boeing 787, Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 777-200LR, Boeing 777-200 Freighter, Bombardier Q-400 double cabin with an average fleet age of five years. In fact, Ethiopian is the first airline in Africa to own and operate these aircraft.

Ethiopian is currently implementing a 15-year strategic plan called Vision 2025 that will see it become the leading aviation group in Africa with seven business centers: Ethiopian Domestic and Regional

Airline; Ethiopian International Passenger Airline; Ethiopian Cargo; Ethiopian MRO; Ethiopian Aviation Academy; Ethiopian In-flight Catering Services; and Ethiopian Ground Service. Ethiopian is a multi-award winning airline registering an average growth of 25% in the past seven years.

Fareportal and Synchrony Financial to Launch Co-Branded Travel Rewards Credit Card Program

Next generation online travel agency announces consumer financing options and enhanced loyalty program benefits for CheapOair and OneTravel with new credit cards

 

NEW YORK, September 27, 2016: Fareportal, a high-tech, high-touch travel company that powers a next generation travel concierge, is set to launch a co-branded credit card program with Synchrony Financial (NYSE: SYF) in October 2016. The program includes new Visa® and Visa Signature® credit cards for both CheapOair and OneTravel, as well as a private label credit card for each brand.

 

Designed to enhance the existing CheapOair and OneTravel Rewards programs and help customers accelerate earnings, the cards will offer a range of introductory offers to qualifying cardholders1 including:

 

  • Access to special financing for six months on qualifying purchases of $399 or more (after discounts).
  • A $50 statement credit after making purchases of $500 or more in the first 90 days (excludes special financing purchases).
  • Accelerated earning of CheapOair and OneTravel Rewards Program Points.

 

Cardholders get CheapOair and OneTravel Reward’s Program Points plus 6 additional Points per $1 spent using their CheapOair or OneTravel Credit Card on CheapOair.com and OneTravel.com.  The chart below outlines what a cardholder could earn in rewards points:

Rewards Earnings on CheapOair and OneTravel Purchases

 

In addition to earning points faster on all CheapOair and OneTravel purchases, Visa credit cardholders will earn 4 points for every $1 spent on dining purchases and 2 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases wherever Visa credit cards are accepted.

 

CheapOair and OneTravel operate with a business model that bridges the gap between an online travel agency and a traditional travel agency by providing convenient online booking capabilities, as well as a 24/7 personalized trip booking experience.

 

“Travelers are looking for great experiences and also for cheap flights,” said Michael Culhane, CFO of Fareportal. “Our new relationship with Synchrony Financial offers our customers outstanding financing options and an enhanced loyalty program. Additionally, a co-brand card will allow our customers to use their card anywhere in the world to earn rewards.”

 

Fareportal is among the first travel companies to offer its customers special financing options through a co-branded credit card program. A recent survey conducted by Synchrony Financial found that 72% of travelers said they would be “very” or “extremely” likely to apply for and open a travel credit card, and utilize special financing, if their travel purchase was more than $399.2

 

Travelers around the world can find and book their perfect trip on CheapOair or OneTravel’s websites, mobile and tablet apps, and by calling one of thousands of trained travel agents in multiple countries and in multiple languages. Fareportal provides access to more than 450 airlines, 200,000 hotels and hundreds of car agencies worldwide.

 

“Synchrony Financial shares Fareportal’s passion for using innovation and technology to provide a seamless customer service experience,” said Tom Quindlen, executive vice president and CEO, Retail Card, Synchrony Financial. “Special financing can be a key differentiator for travelers looking for flexible payment options while also maximizing the versatility and value of expenditures with a Fareportal credit card.”

 

1 Subject to credit approval

2Crowdtap survey, August 2016

 

About Fareportal

Fareportal is a high-tech, high-touch Travel Company that powers the next generation travel concierge. Utilizing its innovative technology and company owned and operated contact centers; Fareportal has forged strong industry partnerships providing access to over 450 airlines, 200,000 hotels, and hundreds of car rental companies that serve millions of customers every year. To learn more, visit http://www.fareportal.com/.

 

About Synchrony Financial

Synchrony Financial (NYSE: SYF) is one of the nation’s premier consumer financial services companies. Our roots in consumer finance trace back to 1932, and today we are the largest provider of private label credit cards in the United States based on purchase volume and receivables.* We provide a range of credit products through programs we have established with a diverse group of national and regional retailers, local merchants, manufacturers, buying groups, industry associations and healthcare service providers to help generate growth for our partners and offer financial flexibility to our customers. Through our partners’ over 350,000 locations across the United States and Canada, and their websites and mobile applications, we offer our customers a variety of credit products to finance the purchase of goods and services. Synchrony Financial offers private label and co-branded Dual Card credit cards, promotional financing and installment lending, loyalty programs and FDIC-insured savings products through Synchrony Bank. More information can be found at www.synchronyfinancial.com, facebook.com/SynchronyFinancial, www.linkedin.com/company/synchrony-financial and twitter.com/SYFNews.

*Source: The Nilson Report (May 2016, Issue # 1087) – based on 2015 data.

 

CheapOair Wins Two Gold Travel Weekly Magellan Awards for Mobile App and Website

Next generation travel company recognized for innovation in online travel services technology

NEW YORK, September 19, 2016: Fareportal, a high-tech, high-touch travel company that powers CheapOair, a next generation travel concierge, announced it was awarded Gold in two categories at the 2016 Travel Weekly Magellan Awards. CheapOair earned awards in the Online Travel Services category for both its website and the CheapOair app developed for iOS. “These awards recognize CheapOair as a leader in the travel industry for innovation in technology,” said Sam S. Jain, CEO at Fareportal.

 

From design to marketing to services, The Travel Weekly Magellan Awards honor the best in travel and recognize the travel professionals behind it all. Since its beginning in 2008, the awards have been recognized among the top accolades in the travel industry.

 

“This award is very exciting as we have worked diligently this year to enhance the customer experience on our website and mobile app,” said Jain. “Fareportal’s company focus has always been on the continual development of innovative technology. This recognition is a testament to our skilled web and mobile development teams and their capabilities.”

 

In addition to the 2016 Magellan Awards, Fareportal has been acknowledged by Travel Weekly with 15 Magellan Awards in previous years, including:

 

2014: One Gold Award and Three Silver Awards

Gold Online Travel Services: TV Commercial titled “Possibilities”

Silver Online Travel Services:  Advertising/Marketing Campaign for the APP-solute Getaway

 

2013: One Gold Award and Three Silver Awards

Gold Online Travel Services: Print Advertising for CheapOair NYC Campaign

Silver Online Travel Services:  CheapOair website redesign

Silver Online Travel Services:  Geneo Mobile App

Silver Online Travel Services:  Promotional Video for CheapOair’s Mobile App

 

2012: Three Silver Awards

Silver Online Travel Services: App for “CheapOair Flight Search”

Silver Online Travel Services: Mobile Site for CheapOair Mobile Site

Silver Online Travel Services: Websites for OneTravel

 

2011: Three Silver Awards

Silver Online Travel Services: TV commercial titled “Get There for Less”;

Silver Online Travel Services: Promotional Video titled “Crazy in Love”;

Silver Online Travel Services: Blog for “CheapOair Travel Blog”

 

2010: One Gold Award and two Silver Awards

Gold Online Travel Services Promotional Video titled “Lessons Learned”

Silver Online Travel Services: TV Commercial

Silver Online Travel Services: Booking Interface

 

 

About Fareportal

Fareportal is a high-tech, high-touch Travel Company that powers the next generation travel concierge. Utilizing its innovative technology and company owned and operated contact centers; Fareportal has forged strong industry partnerships providing access to over 450 airlines, 150,000 hotels, and 100s of car rental companies that serve millions of customers every year. To learn more, visit http://www.fareportal.com/.