Somebody needs to interview the airline guys too now.

second, not sure if hrush is reading these comments, but if he is – what business innovation is he claiming? cleartrip was late to market with a fancy frontend for innovation – makemytrip has caught up to a large extent and so has yatra. so where does that leave them?

I think Ixigo and rang7 have the best chance to compete in this market, if this business model is true afterall.

So now the airlines will create another OTA to compete with them ?

No – I do not have any interest in ixigo or any other startup. Get this and focus on dsicussion – do not try to bring irrelevant topics to derail the discussion.

-Ashish.

The top 3 are NOT competing each other they are competing against the airlines.

Airlines think OTAs are eating the cake while the airline is running into losses (which in a way they are). An offline agent has to do a LOT, in terms of manual work and interfacing with the customer etc.

Now the airlines have there own OTA… this is going to be interesting

Dont we already have 10 OTAs doing that ?

>Whole point of Rang7 is to sell fights and compete with MMT/Yatra.

Best of luck !

>Meta search won’t sell tickets they will direct traffic to OTA, Airline sites. But in India they have not really made an impact as in other markets (hinting Kayak).

too early to comment here.

No I don’t work for but Rang7… in fact looking to find out who is working for them

>Why do the airlines even need a Rang7 to sell cheaper tickets when the lowest price is already on their own website ?

FlyKingfisher.com only sells Kingfisher fights and not SpiceJet, so they require one common OTA site to sell all the tickets…

>Will Rang7 ever price lower than the airline sites ?

I don’t know

>Why would someone choose Rang7 over MMT/Yatra – after all everyone claims to have best prices and give cashbacks.

Whole point of Rang7 is to sell fights and compete with MMT/Yatra.

> won’t metasearch remain the most efficient distribution channel

Meta search won’t sell tickets they will direct traffic to OTA, Airline sites. But in India they have not really made an impact as in other markets (hinting Kayak).

> the orbitz founders must have realized something to leave and start kayak or the ixigo founders to leave amadeus?

What are talking about here…?

Why do the airlines even need a Rang7 to sell cheaper tickets when the lowest price is already on their own website ?
Will Rang7 ever price lower than the airline sites ?
Why would someone choose Rang7 over MMT/Yatra – after all everyone claims to have best prices and give cashbacks.

If not, won’t metasearch remain the most efficient distribution channel ? the orbitz founders must have realized something to leave and start kayak or the ixigo founders to leave amadeus?

1. Payment gateway cost is always there (OTA, Rang7 or airline site) so airline is not adding an additional cost… The guy could have booked it on Kingfisher or on Rang7 (PG cost is same).

PG cost is the single most factor — which can break or make any OTA business model and Rang7 has an advantage here to get a good deal from Via / Master OR do something like irctc.co.in

2. The only *value* that OTA offered was the guy does NOT have to go to 9 airlines site to figure our what the best fare is…now the airlines are giving this feature as Rang7.com In short instead of showing SpiceJet result on FlyKingfisher.com they came up with new OTA…

Rang7 has an advantage over existing OTAs.

Rang7 advantage -
1. No markups – less price (they will always be cheaper or can afford to go cheaper).
2. Deals – So called cash backs and discount deals will for obvious go to Rang7, instead of any other OTA.
3. They can support rang7.com with “free” advertising – image rang7.com printed on boarding pass, on airline magazine, announcement made by the flight crew… or (worst for any OTA) the aircraft itself

The idea is good, execution still matters. Airlines are helping the customer by taking out “the middle” man…More airlines should move out of GDS and support a common OTA..

As a neutral observer (I own a design firm and have not worked with any travel company so far), I think a lot gets written about Airlines by people who know too little. Cleartrip is out telling the airlines what to do to turn the tide. If only all startups could focus on themselves, it would do the world a lot of good.

But these startups afterall have done a good deed – redistribution of wealth – from the VC to the founders/employees. Until the VC stops doling out funds, that is.