航旅纵横，为什么才想起来卖机票？

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the emergence of the "Civil Aviation Official Direct Sales Platform" by the airline travel app "航旅纵横" (Air Travel Companion), which aims to compete with leading online travel agencies (OTAs) by offering direct ticket sales without intermediaries, emphasizing zero markup, zero bundling, and zero tricks [1][3][4]. Group 1: Platform Features and Offerings - The platform claims to provide 100% direct sales of domestic flight tickets, with products directly published and operated by airlines, ensuring transparency and no hidden fees [4][6]. - It has made six commitments to consumers, including price transparency, no bundling, alignment with airline rules, no data manipulation, information security, and consistency between itinerary and payment amounts [4][6]. - The platform has gained support from major airlines, including Air China, China Southern Airlines, and China Eastern Airlines, which recognize it as an equally important direct sales channel [3][4]. Group 2: Market Context and Competition - The launch of the direct sales platform comes in response to consumer dissatisfaction with existing OTAs, which have faced complaints regarding unreasonable refund policies and high service fees [6][7]. - The article highlights that the OTA sector has seen a significant increase in complaints, with over 174,000 complaints reported in 2024, marking a 7.13% year-on-year increase [6]. - Despite its official backing, the platform is still considered an OTA, as it does not own aircraft or seats, and thus may not have the lowest prices compared to other OTAs that offer bundled services [9][10][13]. Group 3: Consumer Experience and Feedback - Users have reported mixed experiences with the platform, with some expressing trust in its direct sales model while others have faced issues with customer service and ticketing processes [19][20]. - The platform's customer service has been criticized for being difficult to reach, leading to frustrations among users who have encountered problems with ticket purchases [19][20]. - Some consumers appreciate the direct sales approach for its simplicity, but they also emphasize the need for improved service quality to enhance the overall experience [20][21].