Wednesday, April 17, 2024
The World Travel Agents Associations Alliance (WTAAA), the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies and Travel Advisors (ACTA), and the Foro Latinoamericano de Turismo (FOLATUR) have teamed up with the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) to raise concerns about American Airlines’ latest strategy. They’re worried that American Airlines is pushing travelers to use its new booking tool exclusively, which could limit options and increase costs. These organizations, representing hundreds of thousands of travel advisors across 75+ countries, have issued statements in response to American Airlines’ new policy. They fear that this move could harm the global travel advisor industry.
Beginning May 1, American Airlines will no longer offer AAdvantage rewards to passengers who book through non-American channels. This means that travelers who use travel agencies might lose their ability to earn miles. The statements from these organizations echo ASTA’s previous concerns about the potential impact of American Airlines’ actions.
“American is actively discouraging travelers from booking through the travel agency channel. …This heavy-handed tactic will fragment distribution, drive up costs, and reduce transparency for consumers who seek to compare offerings across multiple airlines. It also demonstrates a troubling disregard for the critical role that travel agencies play in serving travelers, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic when their expertise and personalized service were more valuable than ever.” – WTAAA
“Restricting the ability to earn loyalty points through these channels will undoubtedly disadvantage consumers who value booking through their trusted travel partners. Furthermore, this decision will have far-reaching consequences for the openness and competitiveness of the travel marketplace. By leveraging its position to restrict consumer choice, American Airlines is engaging in practices that will lead to higher prices, stifled innovation, and a less dynamic travel industry.” – ACTA President Wendy Paradis
“If undeterred, AA will continue with its ever-increasing discriminating pattern, and other airlines in the oligopolistic air transportation market will certainly follow … Both air passenger in the US and foreign markets are and will increasingly be negatively affected by these anticompetitive business practices.” – FOLATUR
“It’s clear from the consensus among WTAAA, ACTA and FOLATUR, representing travel professionals around the world, the detriment that American’s decision will have on the travel industry globally,” said Zane Kerby, President & CEO of ASTA. “American is operating in bad faith, looking to pad its bottom line at the expense of our valued clients and the millions of consumers who rely on their trusted travel advisor to help them secure the best price, value and peace of mind when it comes to their business and personal travel.”
ASTA has just initiated the Save My Miles campaign, aiming to enhance awareness and amplify the voices of travel advisors and consumers affected by American’s decision.
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
