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
★ ★★★
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★★★
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: [email protected]
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
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