Argophilia

Αργοφιλία: For the love of the journey.

American Airlines

Practical Techniques for Last Minute Flight-Hunting

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It’s flights and hotels that consume most of our funds when traveling. And it’s usually the plane tickets that we book first – because they set the beginning and end dates, as well as the intermediary stops during our itinerary. This is especially for traveling far away, but even on short routes, it’s often the air travel services that are most expensive. So, fining your way to save on flights, will obviously make your entire trip cost a lot less!

Air Berlin: Trimmed Down & Refined for 2012

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2012 will no doubt be a challenging one for the airline industry. AMR going bust, and even budget carriers feeling the pinch in 2011, many will likely founder in the coming months. One carrier, Germany’s second biggest carrier Air Berlin, looks to be applying lessons hard learned early on in the year.

Selling Soap, Seats, & Other Hospitality Services In 2012

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An article on Tnooz last Friday peaked our interest, Xotels boss Patrick Landman offering up key variables in what will become the biggest online trade war ever. When Google, all the big corporate OTAs, and key independent online travel entities lock horns for a final round, a few will not be left standing.

American Airlines: Darkest Hours Loom

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For years it led the way in air travel innovation, inventing the frequent flyer program, designing the world’s first computer reservation system and filling up its empty seats with the discount Super Saver Fare. But this week’s news that American Airlines have filed for a Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization has brought the US’s seemingly untouchable, de facto national carrier crashing back down to earth with a bang.

Travelport Chief Envisions Better Cooperation With Airlines

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Amidst all the kerfuffle regarding the failed attempt by American Airlines to change the way that global distribution systems operate, one of the key players in the squabble, Travelport CEO Gordon Wilson, has predicted a much more harmonious relationship between airlines and GDS companies in the future.

Billions in Airline Fees – No Laughing Matter

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An article by Hugo Martin in the Los Angeles Times yesterday reveals still more bad PR and just bad business for airlines. At a time when any industry can well afford negative news, over $1.5 billion in nickel – dime baggage charges and reservation fees makes America’s biggest air carriers seem anything but transparent.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts: The Luxury You’d Expect

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Starwood Hotels’ Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts has released a limited edition US destination guide published by Assouline. Part of a set of bound books, the luxuriously crafted books show off the Luxury Collection’s most exquisite properties around the world.

American Airlines Wins Court Round – Travelers Losing Still

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A Texas judge has ruled that Sabre Holdings Corp. cannot stop American Airlines (AMR) from seeking a court order to bar Sabre from diminishing the position of AMR’s flight listings. American is seeking an injunction to stop Sabre from listing the airline’s flights beneath competitors routinely. While AMR has won the most recent court round, passengers may lose in the end.

Orbitz Stock Into Orbit With American Airlines Verdict

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For all those investors who emailed to ask me if the American Airlines slash Orbitz fight would be a game changer, the news today of skyrocketing Orbitz stock prices is as good an answer as any. Orbitz Worldwide Inc. bounced shares upward on an Illinois court reversal of their case against American Airlines. The court ordered American to resume selling flights via the online travel agency.

Travelport Hits Back at American Airlines Lawsuit

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The Travelport flight and fare information portal has asked the US Federal Court in Fort Worth to dismiss an antitrust lawsuit filed against it by American Airlines, claiming that its purpose is solely to gain leverage over them in contract negotiations. The lawsuit is just the latest action in a growing confrontation between global distribution […]

American Airline’s Sues Orbitz and Travelport, BTC Responds

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In response to an American Airlines antitrust lawsuit against Travelport and Orbitz, the Business Travel Coalition (BTC) released a statement saying the travel programs are simply pawns in the airline’s game, and the lawsuit is a symptom of a larger problem. American filed suit against Orbitz and Travelport for discouraging travelers from using the airline’s […]

Online Travel Warfare To End Soon

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The war in online travel over basically who gets what & when continues this week with Delta Airlines snatching seats from Rick Seaney’s FareCompare, American Airlines going hog wild trying to engage on their own, and Google outlining (see Matt Cutts video below) how they can manually crucify websites for SPAM. Meanwhile travelers just want some price break justice.

Cease Fire Called In Online Travel Wars

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The ceasefire between American Airlines and GDS giant Sabre signals an “all quiet” moment on the front lines of the online travel wars we have been covering. The announcement that the two companies would attempt to resolve their differences out of court, at least until June 1st, calmed the churning business cauldron for online travel for some.

A Savory Set of Travel Startups: Book One

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Some really great online travel sites never even get mentioned. What with all the stories about American Airlines, Google, Expedia, Orbitz, Microsoft, even Bing, how is the consumer ever to know who the best is. What we often see is not innovation or anything approaching the best, it’s marketing and big business.