1

NGS Working Group Kick Off

Feb 13th 2019

Agenda

Kick Off

o Housekeeping

o Code of Conduct/Disclaimer

o Goals

How we will work

o Working Group Structure

o Expectations and Schedule

The Next-Generation Storefront

o Definitions

o Data-Driven Process

o Star Algorithm

o Drawer Display Attributes

o Grouping Attributes

o How to Participate in Proof of Concepts

3

IntroductionsNGS Team @ ATPCO

Gianni Cataldo Ellen Runyon Fred Foote

Melanie Dezelak Amber Jabeen Natasha Safronova Seth Anagnostis

The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the Next-Generation Storefront data and data processes, and work toward

establishing this as a standard to increase the efficiency of the airline distribution ecosystem. This meeting will discuss the

potential for adopting industry technology standards that facilitate interoperability while continuing to enable independent

airline decision making. It is important that participants conduct themselves in a manner consistent with this conference’s

industrywide, pro-competitive mission.

Because some, if not all, participants represent companies that compete with one another, we must be careful not to engage in

conduct that could be deemed a violation of the antitrust laws. Accordingly, this meeting will not discuss or take action to

determine any particular fares, rules or ancillary fees, nor will it discuss or take action on remuneration levels of any

intermediaries engaged in the sale of passenger air transportation. Furthermore, participants should not discuss any of their

company’s confidential business plans with other participants. Participants are cautioned that any discussion regarding such

matters, or concerning any other competitively sensitive topics outside the scope of the agenda, either on the floor or off, is

strictly prohibited.

Discussing or reaching any agreement related to these topics could expose meeting participants to liability under the U.S.

antitrust laws as well as liability under the competition laws of other jurisdictions around the world.

Antitrust Disclaimer

ATPCO and the Next-Generation Storefront Working and Advisory Groups will work toward the

development and distribution of standards for Next-Generation Storefront that are impartial and

objective.

• Implementation of a data driven approach will help achieve objectivity and impartiality.

The process for considering and adopting the standards should be transparent and open.

• The process is open to all airlines -- even airlines that do not distribute through ATPCO or Routehappy.

• To the extent feasible, ATPCO will follow its standard procedures for Data Application development and changes.

The standards cannot disadvantage a particular airline or exclude an airline from competing in the

market place.

• ATPCO and the NGS Working and Advisory Groups should not be involved in a discussion among a subset of airlines and

distributors where the action taken would disfavor the presentation of another airline.

Code of Conduct – Next Generation Storefront

The Next-Generation Storefront (NGS) is an industry initiative to

enhance airline retailing capabilities across all channels.

NGS is a data-driven standard that establishes a core set of

capabilities that will simplify consumer choice and drive

confidence through consistent, impartial, reliable data.

Our mission is to create an industry standard that enables

distribution to better present, sort, and find the airline

product/service the customer desires.

Mission

★ ★★★

★★

★★

★★

★★

★★★

★★★

★★★

Goals

1. Standardize data that describes and rates comparable products (Shelves or * rating system)

2. Describe and rate attributes (Good, Better, Best)

3. Create the data/process that would allow a customer to search by attributes

4. Create a standard that can be used as a drill down that describes features and alternative products (Drawers)

5. Establish an advisory body to ensure compliance and consistent filling of data that drives the evolution Next Generation Storefront standards

Next Generation Storefront Structure

• Runs Program

• Schedules / Supports Working Group

• Publishes Standards, Processes

ATPCO Oversight

• Systems and Airlines

• Ratifies the standard and delivers

implementation guides and data

standards for the identified workstreams

Working Group

• Airlines and Systems

• Influencers are responsible for helping

evangelize the standard

Advisory Group

ATPCO Oversight

• Runs Program

• Schedules / Supports Working Group

• Publishes Standards, Processes

ATPCO Oversight

o ATPCO will run the Next-Generation Storefront initiative,

following the established milestone process and ensuring

all airlines and channels have equal input and are not

disadvantaged by this evolving standard.

o ATPCO will

o Organize, oversee and support the working groups

o Provide common data and data definitions to support

the standard

o Work with airlines to close data gaps

o Deliver an API service that will calculate star ratings

based on a set of itineraries

o Deliver new and enhanced data subscriptions that

presents the attributes for the star ratings and publish

associated Data App.

o Work with IATA to extend the NGS data into NDC Offer

and Order Messages.

• Airlines and Systems

• Influencers are responsible for helping

evangelize the standard

Advisory Group

Working Group Structure - Advisory

o The Next Generation Advisory group members are airline

and distribution leaders who represent a significant

balance of each market that the NGS standard will be

applied to

o ATPCO will oversee selection of members.

o The advisory group has oversight of the definition of the

Next Generation Storefront data standard.

o The advisory group will

o Provide guidance and resolve disputes on

data/algorithms via a formal escalation process.

o Work as an advocacy group to drive new members,

adoption

o The Next Generation working groups are made up of airline and

distribution experts who can drive the quality and completeness of

the standard through their hands on experience and knowledge of

both market offerings and consumers preferences.

o The Working Group is tasked with running proof of concepts

(POCs) across multiple sprints to assess, challenge and improve

the NGS standard.

o The Working Group will:

o Review and assess the completeness of the data

o Work to define new data elements where gaps are identified

o Test and prove out the accuracy of shelf algorithms

o Work in support of POCs, sharing analytics on how the

standard improves the overall shopping process.

o Drive a data-driven approach, that presents products

accurately, fairly, and in auditable manner

Working Group Structure - Working

Systems and Airlines

Working group ratify the standard and

deliver implementation guides and data

standards for the identified workstreams

Working Group

Industry Approval

o The solution will work with all distribution methods, traditional and NDC

o ATPCO will ensure that all carriers are notified so that they can file data to take advantage of the service

o Once file formats are established they will be published via ATPCO bulletin process to the entire industry

o Resulting standards will be donated to IATA for incorporation into NDC

o Standards and data application will be approved by the industry via Products and Services

Expectations

o The Advisory group and Working group will meet monthly, virtually and in person where possible.

o Each month we will conduct a defined sprint to improve data quality/validity.

o ATPCO will make available datasets, data definitions and APIs to support each iteration

o Working Group participants will analyze data and run POCs during sprints

o Each POC will have an agreed set of metrics that will be reported and shared with the entire working group to determine success.

o ATPCO will publish monthly scorecard with the entire industry outlining compliance, progress and gaps.

Milestone

1

DRIVER CONCEPT

Develop concepts that we

believe will be beginning of

an industry solution.

Transparency to entire

industry so that no

airline/system is

disadvantaged.

Milestone

2Milestone

3Milestone

4

PROPOSED DRAFT

SOLUTION

ATPCO sanctioned Proof

of Concept, that describe

the solution, outlining

value and drivers.

Enough work completed to

asses scope.

COMPLETE SOLUTION

Final solution design,

defines data, records

described in the data

application with examples.

A blueprint so subscribers

can determine costs and

feasibility.

IMPLEMENTATION

Provides planned date of

ATPCO Implementation.

Support requests for

subscribers to request test

case data

EOY 2019 2020Working Group

Participation agreed

Demo

POC Implementation Guide Market by Market Rollout

Call To Action

Handover to Retail

Developing a Standard

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct

Feb 13th

Working Group

Virtual

Joint

Advisory

Virtual

March 21st

Working Group

Face to Face

Advisory

Virtual

April (mid)

Working Group

Virtual

Advisory

Virtual

May (mid)

Working Group

Geneva

Advisory

Face to Face

June (mid)

Working Group

Virtual

Advisory

Virtual

July end

Working Group

Virtual

Advisory

Virtual

Advisory

Face to Face

Advisory to

Retailing

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct

Domestic US Sprint 1 Sprint 2 Sprint 3 Sprint 4

TransAtl Sprint 1 Sprint 2 Sprint 3

Latam/Canada Sprint 1 Sprint 2

Next Market Sprint 1 Sprint 2

Implementation Guide

API

Data App

NDC

Schema

Next Market Sprint 1

Cadence

The Next Generation Storefront

o Definitions

o Data Driven Process

o Working Group Breakout

o How to Participate in Proof of Concepts

Data Products containing source data used to drive the Next Generation Storefront standard

• Branded Fares

• Optional Services

• Fare Rules/Categories

• Amenities

• UTAs

• UPAs

An industry standard that enables distribution to better present, sort, and find the airline product/service the customer desires.

• Shelf Algorithm - Produces a star rating for an Itinerary

• Attributes – for Drawers display

• Groupings – Good/better/best

ATPCO will present a standard that describes NGS data and manage the internal transformation of data to support this.

• Common Data Sourcing

• Common Data Transformations

• Underlying APIs

• Joint Value

Next Generation Storefront Alignment Routehappy & ATPCO

Subscriptions

NGS vs Routehappy → Retailing

Existing Data Products

Branded Fares

Optional Services

Change Fees

Baggage

Amenities

UTAs

Fare Co

mp

on

ents

1-n

Leg 1

-n

UPAs

NGS Data Standard

Star Rating

Attributes that Drive Rating

Priced

Itine

rary Attributes for Drawers

Grouped Attributes

Traditional NGS Data

Consistent linking of fare

component to brand and

underlying attributes

Consistent alignment to stars

Carrier by carrier complexities in

identify brand to fare to amenities

NGS vs Routehappy → Retailing

• Designed for integration into existing NDC offer engines

• Schema Definition to enhance itin level results with NGS data

• Working with IATA to include in standards

• Designed for integration into shopping / offer engines.

• Data format that contains all data necessary to drive star rating

• Data format that contains all data for drawers and grouping

• Organized by segment/leg/fare component

• Governed by Data App, output of Working Group.

• Designed for integration into existing channels and also to serve as a single point of truth / audit.

• API Built by ATPCO R&D team.

• Input – Priced Itineraries

• Output – Star Rating per itin/leg with all supporting data for star rating

• Output – All Attribute and Grouping data.

NGS Data Subs NGS APINGS for NDC

Data Driven Process – Data Delivery

As we work through the various data sources we will establish

quality guidelines for audit and compliance for each airline.

Our goal is to reach level 1 for all NGS data sources.

Challenges

• How to handle data gaps – discussion → Below 2 is not viable

• Sourcing Content Partner Security ATPCO/Airline maintained.

Data Tracking/Validity, Per Airline, Per Element

1) Airline Created and Maintained

2) Manually Created and Airline Maintained

3) Data Gap

Data Driven Process

Data Acquisition

Key Deliverables

Advisory Group

• Determination of Scope/Plan (markets, airlines, shelf and drawer elements)

• Progress Tracking/Communication/Feedback

• Regulatory Guidance• Notification of standards• Change Management

Process/Governance Framework

Data Definition and Processing

• Determination of element list

• Shelf Algorithm Definition• Definition of new data

elements (i.e. new definition of “suite” product) –

• Data Sourcing Flow/Transformation

• NDC Schema Definitions• Grouping (Good, Better,

Best) definitions• Data Application • Implementation Guide

Content Readiness

• Analysis of UTAs/Amenities/Cat 16 to determine gaps

• Data acquisition plan and execution

• Data Validation

Proof of Concepts

• Participate, Oversee and guide Proof of Concepts.

• Collection of agreed metrics aligned to POC success criteria.

• Drive focus on data gaps and issues with the Star algorithm

Current State

Driver airlines

Goal State

• Successful

delivery of NGS in

determined

markets

Key Milestones

Key Dependencies and Factors for Success

- Participation of top x airlines in Advisory Group

- Regulatory Hurdles overcome

Key Deliverables Activity Status

Charter

Create Overall Scorecard

Determination of data delivery mechanisms (Subs/API/OTHER)

Development and approval of Shelf Algorithm for each market

Report on Regulatory

Advisory Group – US Domestic

ATPCO OwnersGianni

Current State

• Concept documents

• Data samples

• Current Data Flow

Goal State

• End to End

processing flow

• All Data defined for

input and output

including NDC

Schema

Key Milestones

Key Dependencies and Factors for Success

- Advisory Group and Working Group agreement on

algorithm and distribution methodology

Key Deliverables Activity Status

Shelf Algorithm Definition

Determination of elements for shelves and drawers

Data Definitions for all US Domestic elements

End to End Processing Flow for all data elements – US Domestic

Data Application

Implementation Guide

NDC Schema proposal submitted to IATA

ATPCO Owners

• Ellen / Tba

Data Definition and Processing Workstream – US Domestic

Current State• X of X scope airlines

file required data• X% is inaccurate or

incomplete

Goal State• X of X airlines have

required data• X % accurate with X

% coverage

Key Milestones

Key Dependencies and Factors for Success

- Retail/Commercial Solutions team prioritization of NGS

carriers

- Advisory Group and Working Group agreement on airline

and data scope deadline

- Target carriers file UTAs and Amenities deadline

- GIVE TO GET → COMMITMENT

Key Deliverables Activity Status

Data Gap Analysis (OAG, Amenities, UTAs) - Coverage and Accuracy

X% content acquisition by 6/30

ATPCO Owners• Ellen / Tba

Data Acquisition Workstream – US Domestic

Current State• Current state

performance (conversion, upsell, customer sat)

Goal State• Improved

conversion, better consumer feedback, more upsell

Key Dependencies and Factors for Success

- Alignment of POC providers

- Data Source coverage for test markets

- Alignment on POC success criteria based on current

Sprint

- Agreement on metrics used to measure POC succsess

Key Deliverables Activity Status

POC scope and markets/data intended

A/B testing methodology

Intended data source (Api/Data/Other)

Alignment on success metrics and analytics

ATPCO Owners• TBA

POC Co-ordination – US Domestic

Market Proposed Data

Model

Trials Data Driven

POCs

ROI

Measured

Changes Proposed

Domestic YES YES 3 2 agreed NO Better Definition of Pod 6*

Any Seat versus Restricted Seat

Frequency/Recoverability

Latin

America

YES

Trans Atlantic YES In Progress

Trans Border

Canada

YES YES

Trans

Pacific

YES

European

Market Scorecard

Airline Will Participate POC

Involvement

Files Cat 16 Files Amenities

For Shelf

Algorithm

Files all

Amenities

Airline 1 Advisory + Working Sabre/Google

/Expedia

80% 20% 10%

Airline n Advisory + Working Wait and See 20% 0% 0%

Scorecard – Domestic US

Channel Support

NGS

POCs Shelves Drawers Attribute Search

Travelport YES Any YES in Q2 Yes in Q2 Yes in Q3

Sabre YES Sabre Red YES in Q2 Yes in Q2

Expedia YES TBD – Jan 24th

Google YES TBD – Jan 14th

Amadeus YES TBD – Jan 28th

Upside YES Q1 2019 YES in Q2 Yes in Q2

TripActions YES Q1 2019 YES in Q2 Yes in Q2

Scorecard – Channels Domestic US

Definitions

o Star Algorithm by Market

Definitions

o Star Algorithm by Market

o Draw Display Attributes

o Grouping Attributes

★ ★★★

★★

★★

★★★

JFK SEA

7:00a 10:13aA321 (narrowbody)

$127BASIC ECONOMY

$152ECONOMY

$277ECONOMY EXTRA

$950PRECIOUS BUSINESS

Qualification

Seat Standard (31”) Standard (31”) Better (35”) Flat Suite

Carry on Bag

Advance Change $200 $200 $200

Advance Seat Selection

Descriptive

Checked Bags 1st $25 1st $20

Wi-Fi Basic web browsing ($) Basic web browsing ($) Basic web browsing ($) Basic web browsing ($)

Entertainment BYOD BYOD

Power & USB

Food Snack Snack Breakfast Premium Breakfast

Beverage $ $

Boarding Last Standard Priority First

Airline-Specific Mileage and Awards 2,421 2,421 3,631

More...

Example → DrawersA Common Set of Attributes With Consistent Definitions

Grouping Attributes

Show me all itineraries with Streaming quality Wi-Fi and Plugin Power“ ”Good Better Best

Wi-Fi Email/MessagingWeb Browsing/Social

MediaStreaming

Power In seat USB Multiple USB Plug-in + USB

FoodFree Snack/Option

to Buy

Meal Included and

Non Alcoholic

Beverage

Meal and Beverages

Aggregate data for Wi-Fi,

food and power, grouping

common attributes into meta

data tags easing search and

conveying relative quality

• Agencies innovating in Shelves or Drawers using their

own data sources.

• Requires some level of hard coding and exception logic

• ATPCO can assist in identification of elemental data

and algorithms for stars.

• Prove out the vision of NGS.

• Ask

• Share Success Metrics

• Airline by Airline acknowledgment

• Move to POC

Proof of Concepts

• Agreed Proof of Concepts consume ATPCO generated

data for NGS

• Agreed Governance/Tracking Framework –

Transparency on data elements used

• Use API/Data sources from ATPCO.

• Ask

• Share Status

• Share Communication plan (promotion)

• Result Validation

Trials – Alphas

Trials vs POCs

Next Steps – Sign Up – Answer Poll

o Sign Up for Workgroup Streams

o Sign Up to start a POC

o Next meeting: 21 March in Dulles, VA

Contact: gcataldo@atpco.net

WorkAdvisory

- Proposal for AlaCarte offerings to review and pass at next Working Group

- Alignment on Domestic, TransAtl and InterCanada

Data Definition and Processing

- Recommendations for Multiple Leg Journeys, for review at Next Working Group

- Data Elements Sources and Translation

Content Readiness

- Evaluation of Data Gaps – Generating Scorecard

- Trials of APIs and Data Sets

1) EXAMPLE → SHELVESStars align multiple airline products in a shopping display

40

NYC SEA ★ ★★★

★★

★★

★★

★★

★★★

★★★

★★★

7:00a 10:13a $127BASIC ECONOMY

$152ECONOMY

$277ECONOMY EXTRA

n/a $950PRECIOUS

BUSINESS

$1,109PRECIOUS

FIRST

5:48p 9:19p $148BASIC ECONOMY

$178MAIN CABIN

n/a $321CABIN PLUS

$899BUSINESS

$1,145FIRST

7:21p 10:54p $198BASIC ECONOMY

$259MAIN CABIN

From

$294Upgraded seat

n/a SOLD OUTFIRST CLASS

$1,298POWER CLASS

4:00p 7:28p $195BASIC

$213MAIN

$294MAIN PLUS

n/a $859BUSINESS

$1,549FIRST

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Meeting Notes – Q&A

Question/Comment Answer

How does / will his integrate into the NDC standard? Our plan is to add NGS elements as part of an upcoming NDC standard, we have initial discussions with IATA underway.

Will we get a copy of these slides to share internally? Is this meeting being recorded and can we get a copy of that also?

The slides and charter are being distributed to all members of the working group

During the implementation phase, will the working group stay active to discuss feedback that members hear from customers as they implement in the various markets?

Yes, the concept here is give to get, all participants who share results will have access to other experiments, trials and POC results.

Do you have an agenda for the proposed F2F in March? This will be distributed by end of week – Feb 15 2019

How many people are on the call today that will be part of the advisory board and working groups? To be reviewed

Will NGS replace Optional Services ultimalely ? No, NGS is a superset of Optional Services, Branded Fares.

For working group - do you have specific roles or skill sets in mind - what is desirable in terms of makeup of those teams?

Yes, as covered in the presentation.

How will the advosry board members be choosen? You mentined invite only We are looking for key influencers / major channel enablers and key airlines for each market.

Is the longer term intent for the NGS API to replace the current RouteHappy product attribute API? No, NGS is a superset of Amenities and UTAs.

The poll is making me select US POC Domestic POC., so not for me! This is our mistake, we are initially looking at Domestic US, but our intent was to collect carriers who would participate for all their markets. We will follow-up with a sperate call to action

Will NGS be limited to just ATPCO and Routehappy data. NO, the standard s that NGS will be a superset of available data sets, describing stars, attributes and groupings. We will present data definitions showing how we map from source data to NGS. Our first implementations will be based on Routehappy and ATPCO data, but the standard is not limited to these 2 sources, if Travelport will supply mappings for their source we will include this in the standard.

Meeting Notes – Q&A

Question/Comment Answer

Why talking about cat16 instead of cat31/33 ? Cat 16 is where we have started (Cat 16 and Cat 31/33 hold refundability and change data, there is some overlap) While Cat 31/33 should have the most complete data we find coverage is better in Cat 16, this is our starting position we will look at all sources of data.

Will the airlines decide on which content they want the NGS data to be added or not? Airlines control all their own data and can choose to file data that will be represented in NGS, we believe this is a win win for the Airline, but in no way is this compulsory.

Where does getting the buy -in of Canadian and Latin American carriers fit into the timeline of expanding NGS to Canada trans-border and Latin America?

We would look to get their involvement in the steering groups, sharing real world results on the value of NGS will be our starting position.

Currently on domestic flights, some carriers offer "premium economy" as an ancillary, rather than returning that fare as part of their shopping experience. Do any of the airlines (in particular United and American) plan towards moving these offerings as a premium economy fare in the GDS or NDC?

This is the al a Carte problem we discussed on the call. For the first working group ATPCO will present a solution for this challenge for review and comment.

Will NGS be a subscription product ? Model has yet to be decided, but yes NGS will be available as a subscription product and API.

In the NDC model, do you expect the airline IT provider to apply the NGS algorithm or is it up to the seller/aggregator to do it based on new inputs in Offer/Order responses?

We expect the IT provider/airline to comply with the NGS algorithms, this is similar to how fare construction rules are shared today. To ease this process we are developing code based algorithms using groovy script, as an open portable language that can be implemented across multiple platforms. Having a programmatic solution should assist in standardization.

The poll is making me select US POC Domestic POC., so not for me!

This is our mistake, we are initially looking at Domestic US, but our intent was to collect carriers who would participate for all their markets. We will follow-up with a sperate call to action