Travel News - Star Alliance aims to shake up distribution

http://www.bangkokpost.com/Business/06Jun2005_biz20.php

Nagoya, Japan _ In an attempt to minimise costs at a time of surging fuel prices, the Star Alliance is shaking up the travel distribution business by encouraging the use of Web-based systems that could slash ticketing costs to US$3 per ticket from about $13 at present.

Darn shame some of their members, especially United, have absolute crap online web presences, especially when it comes to reservations and reservation support (seat changes, etc.). :td:

While I agree that providing more services online is a cheaper way to go, as SEA_Tigger has noted until airlines improve their online systems these kind of initiatives are garbage. How about developing functional and quality websites first and then forcing people to use them.