AA "de-preferenced" by Expedia - "suspension" now lifted April 4, 2011
Dec 23, 2010, 2:32 pm
#46
Join Date: May 2008
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM; UA 1K; AA 1MM
Posts: 4,505
But people BELIEVE WN is always cheaper and, thus, are willing to go to southwest.com, sometimes as their only stop. WN has masterfully branded themselves as cheap, and bolstered this by amazing fare sales (particularly when entering a new market).
AA does not have the price clout to cause people to come to AA.com. I'm sure AA management will be very careful about how far this goes.
Dec 23, 2010, 2:37 pm
#47
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SAN
Programs: Lots of faux metal
Posts: 6,416
My problem with all this is AA.com is not as useful for booking tickets outside the US. Try CMB, for instance. AA files fares for CMB but you cannot book them via AA.com.
Dec 23, 2010, 2:43 pm
#48
Join Date: Mar 2006
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K, F9 Elite, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,319
2. Go to AA.com and try to book said itin
3. ...Enough said
AA's website is just not powerful enough to replace Expedia, Orbitz, et al. If Expedia were smart, it would focus on educating customers on the protections (IROP) a single ticket provides on a multi-carrier itin. In addition, you also have the LHR tax-rape scheme when you buy separate tickets for a connecting journey through LHR.
Now, a customer could call and book a multi-carrier ticket through AA reservations, but of course we know that costs a fee. Lots of pro-consumer benefits would go away if AA gets it's way...
Dec 23, 2010, 2:47 pm
#49
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: NYC/PSP
Programs: AA EXP, A3 Gold
Posts: 4,103
CMB is a special exception. Other sites like Orbitz don't allow ex-CMB tickets either. In general, you can use aa.com to book tickets that originate in non-AA cities outside of the US as long as you choose "All Carriers."
With that said, aa.com is very limited in booking mixed airline itineraries. I'm not happy about all these changes.
Dec 23, 2010, 3:10 pm
#50
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: DL Platinum, AA Lifetime Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Radisson Premium
Posts: 6,638
Official Reaction from AA via Facebook (no press release yet):
We are disappointed that Expedia.com made American Airlines flights and fares more difficult to find. This discriminatory action is unwarranted. You can visit AA.com, KAYAK and Priceline for low AA fares.
We are disappointed that Expedia.com made American Airlines flights and fares more difficult to find. This discriminatory action is unwarranted. You can visit AA.com, KAYAK and Priceline for low AA fares.
Dec 23, 2010, 3:36 pm
#51
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K/MM, AA GLD
Posts: 1,707
Dec 23, 2010, 3:37 pm
#52
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: NYC/PSP
Programs: AA EXP, A3 Gold
Posts: 4,103
sounds like there is a war brewing.
Dec 23, 2010, 4:08 pm
#53
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: ABQ
Programs: Delta Platinum, Southwest A-List
Posts: 1,426
Dec 23, 2010, 4:34 pm
#55
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: AA Lifetime Platnum, Marriott Lifetime Platnum
Posts: 48
Don't Forget that AA and Marriott terminated their relationship this year also. AA seems to be taking a stand on cost etc. Time will tell if these moves were correct or started a customer exodus.
Dec 23, 2010, 5:03 pm
#56
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
Dec 23, 2010, 5:05 pm
#57
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Diamond, UA 1P
Posts: 389
Funny that Expedia is siding with a stiff competitor on this issue... although I guess it's just amassing ammo for their upcoming negotiations with AA.
Dec 23, 2010, 5:23 pm
#58
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: PHL, NYC
Programs: AA PLT, DL SLV, UA SLV, MR LTT, HH DIA
Posts: 10,058
I'm still trying to find the so called moral misconduct in AA's decision to reduce costs and bring more value to the shareholders. How am I, as a consumer, morally offended because I have to buy my AA tickets on any other number of available channels? They still have to compete with numerous other competitors, so it's not like they can price gouge me.
Dec 23, 2010, 5:29 pm
#59
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
That argument would be pursuasive if a large fraction of AA's Expedia-sourced booking were such multi-carrier (and non oneworld, non-partner) bookings. AA has the data.
Dec 23, 2010, 5:48 pm
#60
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: *G, SPG, OW Sapphire
Posts: 2,565
As a frequent user of both Orbitz and expedia, I'm disappointed to see this happen. The biggest hit to me personally is going to be the inability to book flight/hotel packages at significantly reduced prices (esp after a coupon is applied) and use AA as the carrier.
