There is a battle brewing between airlines and their main GDS distribution systems. There are two main facets to this struggle. Airlines don’t want to pay anyone any commissions for any transactions (their intent is to have sales agents pay them for access to fares) and they want to keep fees hidden from consumers and maintain control of prices, doling them as out, as needed by consumers, rather than allowing a robust competition between airlines on total cost.
{ 2 comments }
The Consumer Federation of America (CFA) and the Consumer Travel Alliance (CTA) have written a joint letter to the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the Senate Commerce Committee, the House Transportation Committee and the Senate and House Aviation Subcommittee Chairmen urging them to mandate that airlines release all fee information at the same time that they release airfare information.
{ 3 comments }
The Menendez Clear Airfares Act has been submitted to Congress. It is the latest attempt to bring some sanity to airfare pricing and how those airfares are presented to consumers. It is a good start and I’m sure will be improved in committee.
{ 4 comments }
It looks like a-la-carte pricing is here to stay with the airlines. Reservation technology is beginning to catch up with the airlines’ love of fees — fees for baggage, fees for meals, fees for reservations, fees for pets, fees for pillows, fees for blankets, fees for snacks, fees for drinks and more.
{ 4 comments }
Electronic tickets have come a long way. In the early days, it seems like almost any complicated or multi-airline ticket was likely to be an adventure. And not a pleasant one. Now most airlines require e-tickets, and most of the time, those tickets work without a hitch. I do, however, prefer to do separate tickets for separate airlines.
{ 4 comments }
From the Forums