Building airTRFX URLs using Variables: A Comprehensive Guide
Airlines with complex online marketing needs are increasingly adopting automation solutions like airTRFX to manage their web traffic and campaigns. One essential feature is the ability to create bulk URLs that automatically redirect users to the appropriate landing page.
Explore how to build airTRFX URLs using variables and template redirects efficiently.
How do airTRFX URLs with Variables Work?
In airTRFX, airlines can set up a template redirect URL. This URL will automatically redirect users to the relevant landing page, allowing the bulk URL generation process for online marketing campaigns.
For example, a URL like:
www.airline.com/redirect?edition=en-gb&orig=LHR&dest=JFK&tc=cici
Will automatically redirect to:
www.airline.com/en-gb/flights-from-london-to-new-york
Technical Requirements
For the airTRFX Redirect Rule to work correctly, the Reverse Proxy Rule (/redirect*) at the CDN level must be in place. Failing to do so will result in a 404 error.
SEO Considerations
It's worth noting that this method of URL redirection is not ideal for SEO interlinking. However, these variable-based URLs are perfect for campaign URLs from paid media channels.
How Does the Redirect URL Work?
The Redirect URL is constructed using four essential parameters:
| A | Site Edition (language-market ISO Codes) | Case sensitive. Should align airTRFX site edition structure | en-us, en-US, en (if only global editions are used) or en_us in some cases |
|---|---|---|---|
B | |||
Origin 3-letter IATA airport code | |||
Not case sensitive. Should be a valid airport in airTRFX route list | |||
MIA, EWR, LHR | |||
C | |||
Destination 3-letter IATA airport code | |||
Not case sensitive. Should be a valid airport in airTRFX route list | |||
MIA, EWR, LHR | |||
D | |||
Page template code | |||
Not case sensitive. Template should be active in airTRFX | |||
tc=tci, tc=tco, tc=cici (All available variables in next slide) |
Considerations
- The Redirect URL structure must contain all four parameters, regardless of the page template.
- Both the origin and destination IATA codes should be valid and exist in the airTRFX route list.
Creating URLs in Bulk
The airTRFX system allows you to build URLs in bulk using these redirect rules.
Example application:
The example will resolve in the following URL following the variables for each parameter:
www.airline.com/en-gb/flights-to-newark
Parameters used:
- Site Edition: en-gb (edition=en-gb)
- Origin Airport Code: not used
- Destination Airport Code: &dest=EWR
- Template to City: tc=ci
Note: Because the variable used for the template example is tc=ci the final URL is a to-city page, and the origin is not used.
However, the parameter orig=XXX, regardless of the page template, must still be part of the redirect URL from a valid route in airTRFX .
airTRFX Template URL Parameter Guide
Examples with different templates
| Parameter | Template | Example – showcasing a subdirectory URL |
|---|---|---|
tc=ci | ||
To City | ||
www.airline.com/redirect?edition=en-gb&orig=LHR&dest=EWR&tc=ci redirects to : https://www.airline.com/en-gb/flights-to-newark | ||
tc=cici | ||
City to city | ||
www.airline.com/redirect?edition=en-gb&orig=LHR&dest=EWR&tc=cici redirects to: https://www.airline.com/en-gb/flights-from-london-to-newark | ||
tc=fci | ||
From City | ||
www.airline.com/redirect?edition=en-gb&orig=LHR&dest=EWR&tc=fci redirects to: https://www.airline.com/en-gb/flights-from-london | ||
Country pages work as well with airport codes. Page will be redirected to the country of the city used as the airport code in the URL. | ||
tc=co | ||
To Country | ||
www.airline.com/redirect?edition=en-gb&orig=LHR&dest=EWR&tc=co redirects to https://www.airline.com/en-gb/flights-to-united-states | ||
tc=cico | ||
City to Country | ||
www.airline.com/redirect?edition=en-gb&orig=LHR&dest=EWR&tc=cico redirects to https://www.airline.com/en-gb/flights-from-london-to-united-states | ||
tc=fco | ||
From Country | ||
www.airline.com/redirect?edition=en-gb&orig=LHR&dest=EWR&tc=fco redirects to https://www.airline.com/en-gb/flights-from-united-kingdom |
Additional Considerations
- The URL will automatically redirect to the corresponding airTRFX page, assuming the route and landing page are active in the airTRFX system.
- If the route or airport codes haven't been yet or have already been deleted, the URL will redirect to the global site edition's hub page.
- If you see any additional parameters in your final URLs, please note that an additional “?” is not necessary.
- For adding UTM parameters, simply use the "&" symbol followed by the UTM parameter:
Example:
www.airline.com/redirect?edition=en-
gb&orig=LHR&dest=EWR&tc=ci&utm=123PPC
will redirect to:
www.airline.com/en-gb/flights-to-newark?utm=123PPC
- If airTRFX is hosted in a subfolder, the redirect rule starts after this subdirectory. Example: www.airline.com/deals/?edition=en-gb&orig=LHR&dest=EWR&tc=ci
The airTRFX system offers an incredibly efficient way to manage URLs for airline marketing campaigns. By understanding the nuances of the redirect rules, variables, and template codes, you can craft URLs that seamlessly funnel web traffic to the appropriate destination. However, keep in mind the SEO limitations and make sure that your CDN settings are configured correctly to avoid issues.