Chaos looms for agents over American Airlines’ new GDS charges in the US
American Airlines has sent the US travel industry into a panic after announcing it will charge agents $3.50 per segment for GDS bookings that are not made with its preferred GDS partners.
It is feared airlines and GDS companies are planning the same move in the UK.
Alan Coles, managing director of P&O Travel and chairman of the GTMC Air Working Party, said discussions about similar moves were currently taking place between the airlines and the GDS companies in the UK.
“Our hope is that they come up with a better solution,” he said.
“What we need is access to all content and deals simply and efficiently. It is not a welcome move at all. It’s a case of shifting costs around again, and by passing the cost on to agents ultimately it is the customer that will pay.”
Kathryn Sudeikis, president and CEO of the American Society of Travel Agents, said: ”American’s announcement tells every travel agency in America: if you want to sell us, run your business the way we tell you or you’ll be forced to pay us for the privilege of booking our services.
“American is trying to use its market power to impose its costs on other market players, as a condition to providing what travel agents clearly require to do business efficiently.
“To make matters worse, American did not coordinate with all of the so-called ‘preferred’ GDSs, so travel agents are still in the dark about the financial terms that each option provides.
“American has allowed only six weeks for agents to sort this out after the other GDSs make their financial terms for full-content opt-in clear. As of today, only Sabre has done so and that was a few weeks ago.”
By Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season