news about cheap fares and airlines from travel search engine Trabber

A messy legal battle between American Airlines and Sabre, a travel-data provider, is now on hold.

Earlier this month, American sued Southlake-based Sabre Holdings Group after the company said it planned to stop distributing information about American flights later this year.

A statement issued by American on Monday said the litigation is now on hold until June 1 while the companies attempt to work out a new agreement.

source: wfaa.com

Expedia became the second large travel website to fall out with American Airlines in as many months as the online travel company, stopped selling the carrier’s tickets on Saturday.

American and its online partners have struggled for months to agree terms as their contracts expire. American wants to pay the sites less and has pushed them to connect directly with its own computers rather than using intermediaries called global distribution systems.

In December American stopped selling tickets through Orbitz Worldwide, another travel and fare comparison website.

In an effort to dissuade the carrier from taking further steps to undermine online travel agencies, Expedia effectively buried American’s content on its website, as contract negotiations faltered in an effort to press American into a more amicable deal and prepare its own customers should talks fail.

source: FT.com

As Asian economies boom, U.S. carriers are courting long-haul travelers with more frequent service, cushier seats and amenities.

In February, Delta Air Lines will begin flying between the U.S. and Tokyo’s Haneda airport, three months after Hawaiian Airlines became the first U.S. carrier to do so. Delta also plans to resume Atlanta-Shanghai service after suspending it last year, and expand flights between China and Japan. American Airlines is launching flights between New York and Haneda next month, and between Los Angeles and Shanghai in April.

The expansion comes as domestic travel begins to recover, but not as quickly as travel in Asia-Pacific. The region already passed North America last year as the largest aviation market in the world. It remains the “‘most profitable region of the world for airlines'” because of its strong economic growth, according to the International Air Transport Association, which represents 230 carriers.

source: USA Today

American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia are adding more codeshare flights to their trans-Atlantic joint business.

The three airlines teamed up in October to cooperate on trans-Atlantic services without violating U.S. foreign ownership laws. BA combined with Iberia this year to create Europe’s third-largest airline.

Under codeshare agreements, carriers can sell tickets on each other’s flights and frequent flyers can claim points. Airlines say codesharing lets passengers shop around for cheaper fares.

source: Bloomberg

British Airways, American Airlines and Iberia have launched their long-awaited transatlantic tie-up by adding four new routes to their combined network and pledging to create jobs and cut fares.

The revenue-sharing deal, dismissed as a “‘monster monopoly'” by Virgin Atlantic founder Sir Richard Branson, will give passengers access to a joint network serving 433 destinations in 105 countries.

source: telegraph.co.uk

British Airways, American Airlines and Spanish carrier Iberia have signed off on a long-awaited strategic alliance that will see them cooperate on flights between Europe and North America.

The three airlines won approval from the U.S. government and the European Union to work together in July.

Faced with mounting competition from low-cost, no-frills upstarts, the notoriously low-margin airline industry has been going through a period of rapid consolidation and analysts say American Airlines needs a merger partner if it is to keep up amid a wave of mergers in its home market.

source: Reuters.com

Air France, KLM and American Airlines  all launched new mobile travel services this week, proving that the race to add new functionality to mobile travel is far from over.

The new mobile websites from Air France and KLM include the ability to change tickets (for flexible bookings) – something which the airlines say is a world first.

Like competitors’ services, passengers can also check in, choose seats, add bags, check timetables and flight status and receive their boarding pass.

source: independent.co.uk

American Airlines is offering travelers a chance to sit in the front few rows of the coach section and the ability to board early.

But, like so many things in the airline industry today, it’ll cost you.

American Airlines announced that its “‘Express Seats'” option will let passengers pick any remaining seats in the first few rows of the coach section. It also lets them get on the airplane in the first boarding group along with elite frequent fliers, people sitting in first- or business class and full-fare customers.

source: dallasnews.com

American Airlines and British Airways  won final approval on Tuesday to expand a trans-Atlantic alliance on flights between the United States and Europe.

The two carriers were cleared to jointly set prices, sell tickets and schedule international flights through their Oneworld alliance, exempt from antitrust rules, the United States Transportation Department said in a statement.

“‘The transaction will not substantially reduce or eliminate competition,’” Susan Kurland, assistant secretary for aviation and international affairs, wrote in an order. The deal “‘will not be adverse to the public interest.’”

The Transportation Department had given tentative approval to the alliance on Feb. 13, and the European Union granted approval on July 13.

source: nytimes.com

Airlines that lose people’s bags shouldn’t be charging them for the service, says an angry passenger suing American Airlines. Danielle Covarrubias has launched a $5 million class action suit against the airline, complaining that after it lost her bag containing $800 in possessions managers refused to refund her $25 baggage fee.

“‘American Airlines is just another example of how companies have forgotten about customer service,'” said Covarrubias. “‘When American charges a fee for a baggage service it should deliver your bag, unharmed, or give you a refund.'” A spokesman for the airline said the company is reviewing the lawsuit, the first of its kind since American introduced baggage fees.

source: newser.com