New Distribution Capability
Delivering an enhanced modern and personalized experience
American Airlines leads the industry in New Distribution Capability (NDC) and delivering elevated retail and customer experiences.
In the past, customers who booked travel through third-party distribution partners may have had less access to fares, packages, and an easy booking and travel management experience.
NDC gives customers access to more of American’s enhanced content and functionality through a modern technological infrastructure.
Benefits
NDC technology provides customers with greater choice through access to American’s full suite of products and services and an improved shopping experience with rich, descriptive content. An NDC connection provides a one-stop-shop within customers' channels of choice.
| Elevated offerings | Tailored offers that provide a seamless customer experience |
| Savings | Greater visibility to travel spend and the opportunity to save |
| Convenience | Access to ancillary offers through your preferred channels |
| Policy application | Better control over travel spend with the ability to apply travel policies to ancillary purchases that are typically purchased outside of approved channels |
Elevated offerings
American has a diverse product suite available through NDC that we continue to grow and develop.
Features currently available through American’s NDC Connection:
Connection and implementation options
Agency connection and implementation options
American aims to provide the most comprehensive content available in all of the channels where our customers shop.
How to take advantage of our elevated content:
Travel agency direct connect
Via a travel agency direct connect through which the agency connects directly to the American Airlines API. This connection type will require an ARC/IATA accredited agency for ticketing.
- This may be the right fit for large travel agencies, Travel Management Company (TMC) and technology providers who prefer complete control over their technology and have the IT resources available to complete an integration project with American.
- A typical integration project lasts between 3-6 months but may take longer depending on the complexity of your business.
- American’s dedicated support team is here to assist you in building your project roadmap and answer questions along the way.
- Please fill out our contact form to get started.
NDC aggregator
Via an NDC aggregator. NDC aggregators are third party technology companies such as a Global Distribution System (GDS), TMC, or Online Booking Tool (OBT) that specialize in NDC integrations with airlines, including American.
- This option may be the right fit for travel agencies who prefer an off-the-shelf solution rather than deploying IT resources to integrate directly.
- Here is the list of our approved technology partners.
SPRK
Via SPRK. SPRK is an out-of-the-box web application that offers American’s full range of NDC content and functionality and an easy to use graphical interface. SPRK provides the ability to shop availability, price, create bookings, ticket, shop ancillaries, and manage post-ticketing services.
- Simple to setup and completely free for travel agents to use
- Please fill out our contact form to get started.
Corporate connection and implementation options
American’s goal is to have the best content available in all of the channels that our customers decide to shop in.
How to take advantage of our elevated content:
NDC aggregator
Via an NDC aggregator. NDC aggregators are third party technology companies specializing in NDC integrations with airlines, including American.
- This option may be the right fit for travel agencies who prefer an off-the-shelf solution rather than deploying IT resources to integrate directly.
- Here is the list of our approved technology partners.
Direct booking
Via a direct booking which is the fastest way for corporate, or small medium business customers to access American’s NDC content.
- This option does not require any implementation for the corporate, but you may need to choose an alternative booking tool that is NDC enabled.
- American Airlines will become the agency of record for all ticketing and servicing inquiries.
Agency resources
Becoming a Qualified NDC Channel
What does it take to become a qualified NDC channel?
- The process starts with an IATA NDC Level 3 integration with American’s NDC Connection
- This means integrating at 17.2 PADIS approved IATA NDC Schema
- American’s NDC Connection supports three prior NDC API versions
- All supported NDC API versions will be eligible for 'Qualified NDC Channel' status
- Shop, book, ticket, and post-service American’s NDC content
- Code to and be capable of selling paid seats
- Display, sell, and service American’s content via NDC at the same levels as you do for American in non-NDC content sources
American's NDC Program Expectations
- NDC provides the ability to better merchandise airlines' expanding product lines and to improve the customer's travel experience
- American will share best practices for selling American's fare and ancillary products as well as enhanced functionality
- American expects that travel agencies will use NDC content to better sell American’s products and services and improve the customer experience
American's NDC connection approved technology partners
Please contact the technology partner directly if you are interested in connecting to their API
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Frequently asked questions
General
Implementation
Functionality
Incentive program
Contact us
If you have additional questions, would like to receive additional information, or would like to request access to the NDC connection, please include the information below:
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