Patent Publication Number: US-2005125267-A1

Title: Method and system for re-accommodating passengers

Description:
BACKGROUND  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      This invention relates generally to the commercial airline industry and, more particularly, to systems and methods for re-accommodating passengers who are unable to travel on scheduled flights.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      Passengers are sometimes unable to travel on scheduled flights for a variety of reasons. Frequently the passenger is scheduled to make a connecting flight and the passenger&#39;s inbound flight is delayed. Other times the originating or connecting flight is canceled because of mechanical problems, crew availability, weather conditions, or other factors. When such flights are missed, passengers must be rescheduled on other flights.  
      Currently, such rescheduling decisions are based only on the availability of seats on alternative flights. In the event that the only suitable alternative flights available are those of another airline, the original airline pays a pre-agreed price for the seat. The re-routing fee is sometimes more than the unflown ticket value. The airline then loses money on the connection.  
      Also, passengers who have proved loyal to the airline through frequent flyer status or the purchase of more expensive fares are treated the same as other passengers who must be re-routed. This can decrease passenger loyalty in the future.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      A method for re-accommodating passengers who are unable to travel on scheduled flights can include the step of obtaining passenger data and flight operations data. At least the passenger data is presented to an airline employee for use in selecting passengers for re-accommodation.  
      The passenger data can include the frequent flyer status of the passenger. The remaining flight ticket value of each passenger can be considered. The rebooking costs for each passenger can be considered, such as payments that may be required to another airline and the cost of meal and hotel reimbursements. The lifetime value for each passenger can be included in the passenger data. The passenger data can also include re-accommodation data. Re-accommodation data can specify whether another flight on the same airline is available or whether the passenger must be re-accommodated on a competitor airline.  
      A system for re-accommodating passengers can include means for obtaining passenger data and flight operations data. A display is provided for at least the passenger data for use in selecting passengers for re-accommodation.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      There are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown:  
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a system according to one embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 2  is an illustration of a screen shot according to one aspect of the invention.  
       FIG. 3  is an illustration of a screen shot according to another aspect of the invention.  
       FIG. 4  is a flow diagram illustrating a method according to another embodiment of the invention.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      There is shown in  FIG. 1 a  system for re-accommodating passengers in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The system  100  includes an information processing system  110 , passenger data  120 , flight operations data  130 , as well as rules  140 . The information processing system  110  can access the passenger data  120 , flight operations data  130 , as well as rules  140 . For example, the passenger data  120 , the flight operations data  130 , and the rules  140  each can be included within a suitable data store. Each data store can be linked with the information processing system  110  via suitable communications links.  
      In one embodiment of the present invention, the information processing system  110  can be a client system configured to access a server. The server can be configured to perform one or more of the functions described herein. For example, the information processing system  110  can be implemented as a dumb terminal. In another embodiment, the information processing system  110  can include processing capability. For instance, the information processing system  110  can be a conventional computer system configured to perform one or more of the functions disclosed herein, with or without the cooperation of a server.  
      The passenger data  120  can include any suitable passenger data, including, but not limited to passenger financial data. The passenger data  120  can include the frequent flyer status of the passenger as the airline may wish to accommodate a frequent flyer. The passenger data  120  can also include the remaining unflown ticket value for each passenger. A passenger having a higher remaining ticket value may be re-accommodated, particularly if the failure to do so would require a less financially optimal flight for the airline or if the passenger must be re-accommodated on another airline. The rebooking cost for each passenger can be considered. The rebooking cost can include payments to other airlines if a passenger must travel on another airline, or the value of meals and hotel charges if rebooking of the passenger will involve an extended stay. The lifetime value of the passenger can also be considered. The airline may wish to accommodate a passenger if the passenger has a history of purchasing profitable tickets for the airline, such as business class tickets. The passenger data  120  can also include re-accommodation data which includes the availability of flights of the same airline, or whether the passenger must be re-accommodated on a competitor airline. The passenger data  120  can also include customer relationship management (CRM) data or other suitable data.  
      The flight operations data  130  can be any suitable flight operations data. The flight operations data  130  can include flight schedule and seat availability on the airline and competitor airlines for rebooking flight candidates. Although the flight operations data  130  and the passenger data  120  are shown as being located in separate data stores, the data can be combined into a single data store or provided in a plurality of data stores. Further, the flight operations data  130 , the passenger data  120 , and the rules  140  can be stored within the information processing system  110  or can be remotely located from the information processing system  110 .  
      An example of the operation of the invention concerns a flight  123  which is late on arrival by 45 minutes, causing 20 passengers to miss connections. The airline only has enough seats to re-accommodate 12 of the passengers on its own. The airline employee must determine which 8 passengers must be re-accommodated on other airlines. According to present methods, the airline employee would randomly select the first 12 passengers for re-accommodation, perhaps on a first come first serve basis, and the last 8 passengers would be required to travel on another airline. According to the invention, the airline employee would be presented with an integrated display of passenger data for all passengers requiring re-accommodation and flight operations data which can include rebooking flight candidates.  
      There is shown in  FIG. 2 a  graphical user interface (GUI)  200  with a section  205  indicating the affected flights resulting in the need for re-accommodating passengers. The GUI  200  can include a section  210  indicating the number of passengers who have been successfully re-accommodated and the remaining passengers, in this case, 6 in first class and 12 in coach, who are unprotected, meaning that they remain to be re-accommodated. A subsequent screen  300 , shown in  FIG. 3 , provides a section  305  with details on canceled flight  123 , as well as a section  310  with details on the remaining unbooked passengers. The section  310  includes an indication of the remaining unflown coupon value for each passenger, the final destination, the frequent flyer status, and the passenger value (PAX) as determined by the CRM system. The airline employee is then able to make a decision as to which passengers should be re-accommodated on the airline, and which passengers should be re-routed to other airlines.  
      It is also possible that rules can be applied to make a selection for the airline employee as to which passengers should be re-accommodated on the airline or on preferential flights, and which passengers should not. Rules  140  can be provided for selecting among the passengers. The rules  140  can be any suitable rules for selecting among passengers according to passenger data  120  and/or flight operations data  130 . In one aspect, the rules can require the selection of passengers according to the descending revenue impact on the airline. In another aspect, the rules can require selection based on the lifetime value of the passenger, which can be a valuation based upon factors such as frequent flyer status and passenger travel history. In another aspect, the rules can weigh various passenger data according to the preferences of the airline and select those passengers with the most favorable scores. Each of the aforementioned attributes, and combinations thereof, can be considered. Further, it should be appreciated that the rules can specify how raw data can be processed to determine one or more of the aforementioned valuation methods if such information is not directly available from one of the data stores.  
      A method  400  is shown in  FIG. 4 . The method begins with the identification of passengers who must be re-accommodated in step  405 . Passenger data is obtained in step  410  for the passengers to be re-accommodated. The passenger data can be scored in a step  415  according to rules  420 . As noted, the rules can take into account passenger data and/or flight operation data. The results are presented to the airline employee in step  430 .  
      The present invention can be realized in hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. The present invention can be realized in a centralized fashion in one computer system, or in a distributed fashion where different elements are spread across several interconnected computer systems. Any kind of computer system or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methods described herein is suitable. A typical combination of hardware and software can be a general purpose computer system with a computer program that, when being loaded and executed, controls the computer system such that it carries out the methods described herein.  
      The present invention can also be embedded in a computer program product, which includes all the features enabling the implementation of the methods described herein, and which when loaded in a computer system is able to carry out the methods. Computer program in the present context means any expression, in any language, code or notation of a set of instructions intended to cause a system having an information processing capability to perform a particular function either directly or after either or both of the following: (a) conversion to another language, code or notation; or (b) reproduction in a different material form.  
      This invention can be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be had to the following Claims rather than the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.