United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
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.
Tony from Gatto’s Pizza on Columbus’s Unique Pizza Trail
Sophia Hyder Hock on Global Social Inclusion in Tourism
Sustainable Tourism: Don Welsh on Community Values and Global Collaboration
Jane Cunningham: Enhancing European Engagement in Tourism
Kristin Dunne: Navigating Destination Strategy
Revolutionizing Mobile Connectivity: Boris Bijlstra on HUBBY eSIM
Capturing Glasgow’s Vibrancy: An Interview with Susan Deighan, Chief Executive of Glasgow Life
Lebua Hotel & Resorts: Rajan Khurana on Hospitality and Bangkok’s Charms
Sustainable Tourism and Growth: Insights from Chiravadee Khunsub from Tourism Authority of Thailand
Revolutionizing Travel: SmartSIM USA’s Dale Takio Unveils the Power of E Sims
TravelMole Interview with Hishan Singhawansa, Deputy CEO of Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, Sri Lanka
Unveiling the Essence of Magari Tours: A Dive into Authentic Italian Experiences
EU airports bring back 100ml liquid rule
British Airways passengers endure 11-hour 'flight to nowhere'
CLIA: Anti-cruise demos could cause itinerary changes in Europe
Co-pilot faints, easyJet flight issues ‘red alert’
Gatwick braces for strike