With the Winter travel season almost upon us, news from Sliline, a leading UK ski holiday site, offers the first of this year’s ski news snippets. The company’s launch of a new user friendly site, and other value propositions aims to awaken hybernating snowboarders and skiers to upcoming travel deals.
Orbitz
Orbitz for Business Meetings Launched on the Orbit
The new service will enable meeting planners and other business owners to access thousands of potential venues, compare supplier rates and review project status using an integrated online booking process.
Orbitz Stock Into Orbit With American Airlines Verdict
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.
Orbitz International Flight Deals Celebrate 10 Years
Orbitz continues celebrating their 10 Year Anniversary with some exclusive deals for their customers. For the Summer, Orbitz is offering discounted International Flights, and International hotel deals. Be sure and check out Argo’s “Quick Booking” evaluation.
American Airline’s Sues Orbitz and Travelport, BTC Responds
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
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.
Ticket Prices Skyrocket – Google Shrugs
The online travel war between OTA’s, airlines, and other interested parties has grown into an industry damaging PR nightmare. American Airlines, Google, Expedia, all the major players may not realize how frustrating their power moves are for the little people. These companies are jeopardizing their own future, and that of developers all over the world.
Google’s Probability of Online Travel Success
American Airlines and ITA penned a deal the other day which AA claims had nothing to do with Google’s acquisition of ITA technology. But the suggestion still remains as to what exactly Google is doing to fend off its opponents in the so called “Online Travel War.” Is Google silently orchestrating the downfall of Expedia and the others of FairSearch? Well, probably not anything so diabolical, but winning the ITA acquisition with underlying business relationships? This is not only possible, but probable.
Online Travel Aerial Warfare Update: American Sues Sabre
The online airfare wars escalate as American files suit against Sabre in an attempt to force American’s “direct connect” initiative. With battle lines clearly drawn, can American Airlines win the real or PR war where going back to a closed system is concerned? Not likely, but the story is never the less interesting. Who will take American’s side is the burning question of the day?
Amadeus Enters the American Airlines Ticket Wars
American Airlines started an online ticket war late last year they may not be able to finish. Now Amadeus is firing warning shots across the cockpits of airlines poised to go it via “direct connect” rather than relying on OTA’s to sell seats. In a bold but quiet move, one of the world’s biggest travel players takes sides with Expedia and Orbitz.
Getting There and Carried Away Airlines
The recent war between online travel agents and major airlines heats up still more. But for the travel consumer, how will all this soap opera posturing effect prices and value? The answer is fairly simple, prices will go up, and services will go down. The trend to cut everything from jet fuel to aspirin is in place, and only a paradigm shift can alter that. Comparison pricing is the only consumer weapon for value. Expedia, Google, American Airlines, the customer, what is best for business only the customer can say.
Expedia Dumps American – Can the Airline Still Fly Online?
Now American Airlines’ fares are dropped from Expedia altogether. With the company claiming no effects on sales, and their ongoing posturing to be seen as in control, is American in trouble? America’s 3rd most powerful airline company has entered into an online marketing war it may not be able to win.
Is American Airlines Spinning Out of Control?
The shakeup for air travel bookings online continues today with American Airlines’ contention that their ticket sales have never been better – even without Orbitz and Expedia. The airline neglects to point out an email marketing initiative instigated simultaneously with dumping Orbitz, and the fact that ticket sales for every airline have risen these last few days. What is the customer to make of supposedly trusted travel partners when low blows are the trend?
Are Airlines Unringing the Online Travel Bell?
The war between online travel companies and airlines is heating up. Expedia counters American Airline’s move to dump Orbitz, as Delta begins its abandonment of smaller OTA’s. Can online travel giants win out over the service providers they actually depend on? Much depends on the customer in the end.
Thanksgiving Air-travel in the U.S. – The Orbitz Insider Index
Orbitz released the Insider Index for Thanksgiving air-travel. This year’s index features both time-saving tips at the nation’s busiest airports, as well as a list of the least busy alternatives for Thanksgiving travelers that have not yet booked their flights
American Airlines Gut Punches Orbitz
Travelport and Orbitz sue American Airlines over intended breakup of ticket sale deal. American wants exclusivity and no competition, while online travel companies demand choice for their customers. In what appears to be a move in protest of Travelport’s Southwest deal, AA aims to leverage their position. Meanwhile, Orbitz stocks tumble when they can afford it least.