Partnership Travel Consulting

Observers Question How ‘Quickly’ AA Could Reverse Corporate Sales Retreat

While the latest sales reorg at American Airlines appears to dim any hopes for the carrier reversing its shift away from managed corporate travel, an important entity won’t rule out the notion: American Airlines.  “If managed corporate travel becomes a bigger share of the pie, we will quickly add back resources to support that growth,”…

‘Not A Friend’ Of The Travel Manager: AA Turns Another Screw With Auto-Rebooking Ban

“Corporate customers object to American Airlines decision.” Is this even news anymore? This week’s disclosure that the carrier will crack down on automated rebooking when fares drop casts uncertainty over a spend management practice widely used by corporates and travel management companies.  On May 1, AA published revised agreements governing travel agency relationships, with updated…

Game On: AA, Buyers Wield Leverage

Some corporate travel programs are blocking American Airlines now that the carrier has removed many fares from traditional third-party distribution channels. Observations like this one from SAP Concur align with anecdotes from several corporate buyers who are reacting to both the distribution move and AA’s overall de-emphasis of the corporate market. But preventing travelers from…

Southwest To Take Advantage As American Backs Off, Right? Maybe

Are American and Southwest switching places? No, the low-fare flag bearer isn’t going global, adding business class or assigning seats. But in some critical ways for the corporate market, Southwest is behaving more like its crosstown rival, while that rival is moving in the other direction. As it does for Delta and United, American’s strategy…

Notebook: To Outsource Or Not, A Travel Management Question

When McKinsey in 2020 talked about travel management as a candidate for outsourcing, readers shot back.  “Be curious to hear how the travel management team at McKinsey feels about this,” wrote Alō Index co-founder Leanne Turner, between jobs at the time after a pandemic layoff.  “For McKinsey to say [a] full transformation initiative would save…

Amazon Picks BCD Travel, Keeps CWT’s RoomIt For Lodging

Amazon is moving to BCD Travel from CWT, although the latter will continue to provide lodging services to the retailing giant. “We want to thank CWT for their partnership and work,” wrote Hillary Dallas, Amazon director of global travel and events, in a Wednesday email confirming the development. “As part of our regular course of…

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