The World Journey Brokers Associations Alliance (WTAAA) has issued a press release by which it voices its deep concern over American Airways’ choice to impose punitive measures in opposition to journey companies that select to make use of third-party reserving platforms. This tactic, says WTAAA, will fragment distribution, elevate prices and cut back transparency for shoppers. 

Otto de Vries, Asata CEO, a founding member of WTAAA, is Government Director of WTAAA. 

Says WTAAA: “The airline just lately introduced that solely bookings made instantly with American or certainly one of a small variety of ‘most popular’ companies will qualify for AAdvantage miles accrual, leaving the overwhelming majority of journey company clients at a major drawback. By discontinuing AAdvantage accrual on tickets booked by most companies and imposing stringent thresholds for companies to keep up most popular standing, American is actively discouraging travellers from reserving by the journey company channel.  

“Airline loyalty programmes have lengthy been a cornerstone of the journey trade, offering highly effective incentives that drive repeat enterprise and buyer satisfaction. Journey companies play an necessary position in serving to shoppers maximise the advantages of those programmes. American’s new coverage undermines this mutually helpful relationship, threatening to alienate loyal clients and disrupt the stability of the journey distribution ecosystem.  

“This heavy-handed tactic will fragment distribution, drive up prices, and cut back transparency for shoppers who search to match choices throughout a number of airways. It additionally demonstrates a troubling disregard for the crucial position that journey companies play in serving travellers, particularly within the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic when their experience and personalised service have been extra helpful than ever. 

“WTAAA calls on American Airways to rethink this counterproductive coverage and reaffirm its dedication to sustaining an open and equitable distribution panorama that serves the most effective pursuits of all trade stakeholders, together with journey companies and, most significantly, the travelling public. We urge the airline to interact in constructive dialogue with journey company associations and different companions to seek out options that protect shopper selection and uphold the rules of honest competitors. 

“The journey trade thrives on collaboration, and WTAAA stands able to work with American Airways to develop insurance policies that foster innovation, strengthen loyalty programmes, and guarantee a brilliant future for your complete sector.” 

The American Society of Journey Brokers has began a marketing campaign and launched a toolkit on its web site.  
It advises brokers within the US to protest to their Congressman.  

It advises brokers globally to warn their purchasers of AA’s ways to drive them to ebook direct though they’ll have much less transparency within the reserving course of, and to warn them they’ll lose their miles. It even assists brokers with a pattern letter explaining the that means of AA’s actions to purchasers. See right here https://savemymiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Journey-Advisor-Letter-to-Customer_with-instructions.pdf