Distribution

Getting all the relevant, bookable inventory in front of business travelers is a never-ending challenge. Airlines, hotels and other suppliers constantly tinker with their products and pricing, and usually favor direct distribution over more costly third-party channels. That creates complexity in business travel technology.

Some examples of our coverage
• Commissions and other remuneration
• Industry rules of thumb and trade secrets from the US Airways v. Sabre and U.S. v. Sabre trials
• Such newer concepts as New Distribution Capability and personalization

Archive

‘Seriously, Keep This To Yourself, Tell No One’

New York — U.S. District Judge Lorna Schofield in October told the jury in the US Airways v. Sabre trial here that to prove conspiracy, the plaintiffs must demonstrate Sabre knowingly entered into an agreement not to compete which unreasonably restrained trade and caused injury. In the ensuing weeks, American Airlines attorneys produced several pieces…

Big Four Got About One-Third Of Total Sabre Incentives

New York — Sabre in 2011 paid a total of $647 million in travel agency incentives, according to evidence in the US Airways v. Sabre trial here. About one-third of that went to four big corporate agencies — American Express Global Business Travel, BCD Travel, Carlson Wagonlit Travel and HRG. Newly revealed evidence shows specific totals…

As His Company Sued Sabre, Doug Parker Claimed Scant Knowledge About Travel Agencies

New York — Doug Parker is chairman and CEO of American Airlines, which continued the lawsuit against Sabre that his previous company, US Airways, filed more than five years ago. Two months after announcing a merger with American, Parker in an April 2013 taped deposition admitted to a remarkable lack of knowledge about the sales…

Explainer: IATA’s One Order

Airline reservations and global distribution systems create passenger name records. Airlines issue tickets. Electronic miscellaneous documents account for ancillary sales. This multitude of records, ticket numbers and reservation numbers complicates revenue accounting and can confuse travelers. The International Air Transport Association is working on a better way, which corporate buyers and travel management companies may get a…

Upside Enlisting Travel Management Companies To Support ‘Self-Managed’ Service

[UPDATE, Feb 3, 2017: We published new information related to this article here.] In the words of founder Jay Walker, Upside aims to convert unmanaged business travel to self-managed business travel. So why does the company have a website showing nine corporate travel management company partners? Currently in beta, Upside sells customized air and hotel combo packages. Travelers earn…

Nobel Laureate Opines On Who Should Fund Business Travel Distribution

New York — “Business people are very excited about competition in every sector except their own.” With that quip, Columbia University professor Joseph Stiglitz opened his testimony here this month in the US Airways v. Sabre antitrust trial. Called by the plaintiffs, the Nobel Prize-winning economist Time magazine once named among the 100 most influential…

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