American Airlines has reacted angrily to an incendiary move by Expedia to limit the airline’s fares from search results, claiming the “discriminatory action is unwarranted”.
The shock decision by Expedia, revealed earlier today, to essentially strip AA’s fares out of the results, leaving it with just a name and link rather than prices, has seen the airline issue question the online travel agency’s motives and accuse it of “favoritism” toward other airlines.
In a statement, an official says:
“While tickets for air travel on American remain available for purchase on Expedia, its favoritism toward other airlines’ airfares may lead consumers into believing that they have fewer choices, even in situations where American’s fares are lower, and schedules are superior, than other airlines that are listed first.”
The airline says the decision has come despite the fact that it has “taken no action against and continues to operate in good faith with Expedia”.
The snub by Expedia has led AA to simply point out that its fares are now available on rival sites such as Priceline and meta giant Kayak.
Interestingly, AA omitted to mention Travelocity. The airline’s fares are still being carried on the site but the OTA’s owner Sabre has issued a statement of support to Expedia for its actions today.
Messy.
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Messy indeed!
Sounds like someone needs to pick up the phone rather that wash their stinky socks in public.
Dear American Airlines,
If you can’t stand the heat (support for those who oppose your policies), get out of the kitchen (change your policies).
Sincerely,
Don Nadeau
The Travelocity snub is really the icing on the cake – great point. Brilliant, slightly childish, and just in time for the holidays!
Couldn’t be because nobody wants to fly American Airlines, could it? Nah!
Well the DOJ might want to frame Expedia’s de-listing of AA against FairSearch claims of potential bias by Google, wouldn’t it?
Expedia is an independent travel agency and should be free to promote any travel brand it likes over another. Supermarkets give preferential shelf space to suppliers who pay a marketing surcharge, and Walmart won’t even sell certain suppliers at all. AA has no automatic right to a certain type of display on Expedia.
yes that’s right. I made a similar reference to slotting fees re Wal-Mart and P&G when discussing Google and its advertisers. The point is that FairSearch argues against potential Google preferential treatment while Expedia and others exercise their right to do the same.