Dec 30th, 2010 at 2:00PM: Yesterday, American Airlines announced that it was thanking its customers for their continued loyalty to the airline. It was a fairly predictable move, following the airline's decision to pull out of Orbitz ... which was followed quickly by Expedia's making it more difficult to find American Airlines fares.
At the same time, the company engaged in a bit of chest-thumping – again, expected ...Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
airlineindustry posts
Lies, discrimination and combat: American Airlines claims sales increase post-Orbitz
Dec 30th, 2010 at 2:00PM: Yesterday, American Airlines announced that it was thanking its customers for their continued loyalty to the airline. It was a fairly predictable move, following the airline's decision to pull out of Orbitz ... which was followed quickly by Expedia's making it more difficult to find American Airlines fares.
At the same time, the company engaged in a bit of chest-thumping – again, expected ...Is American Airlines making a "reckless rodeo bet"?
Dec 24th, 2010 at 9:00AM: American Airlines' decision to pull out of Orbitz has triggered a war in the travel industry, as airlines and online travel agencies vie for ownership of the customer. The latest step was Expedia's decision to minimize the exposure of American Airline options in searches on its site, likely a play to reduce the risk of a move by American to pull out of Expedia, too.
According to a statement by ...Expedia demotes American Airlines, airline booking war gets HOT
Dec 23rd, 2010 at 3:30PM:
Could the battle between airlines and online travel agencies have gotten any more intense? This week, American Airlines got the green light in court to yank its fares from Orbitz, and Delta announced that it was pulling out of several smaller sites – CheapOair, OneTravel and BookIt. Travel industry experts are saying it's about time, but that doesn't lessen the shock to the business, ...Are you an impotent traveler?
Dec 23rd, 2010 at 12:00PM: The endless people crowded at gate areas over the next week or so will probably feel what it means to be an impotent traveler. When you're at the mercy of the airlines, there's little you can do to affect change. Sure, they can't control the weather, and legitimate problems do arise from time to time (no business is perfect). But, when you want information, have a legitimate grievance or would ...Airline seat as buffet rebuffed, only take what you buy
Dec 22nd, 2010 at 3:00PM: When you go to a buffet, you know what to expect: take as much as you want. You pay once, and then you can consume all that you like. It's the nature of the environment. This stands in stark contrast to other restaurants, where you pay for an entrée and get nothing more. If you want an appetizer, you have to shell out a few extra bucks – likewise dessert. As a society, we have learned ...Christmas list: five things I want from the airlines
Dec 22nd, 2010 at 1:00PM: 'Tis the season, right? Regardless of beliefs, we're all secretly wishing for something, even if we're not hoping for a big fat guy to slide down a slim chimney to deliver it. And, I don't think I'm unusual in having my own list of wishes. I'm not so naïve as to think the airline industry will turn my Christmas list into its New Year's resolutions, but I can always dare to dream!
So, here ...When airlines pull out of travel websites, who loses?
Dec 22nd, 2010 at 11:00AM: It's been a busy week. The action with airlines and online travel agencies has been brisk, and in the end, it affects you as much as it affects them. Sure, there's plenty of money involved for the travel sites and the airlines, but in the end, it all comes down to what you experience during the buying process. These changes – with American Airlines and Orbitz and Delta and CheapOair – ...Which BIG airline just pulled out of three booking sites?
Dec 22nd, 2010 at 8:00AM: As you've read here on Gadling, the battle between airlines and online travel agencies is poised to heat up. For the past few years, a dismal economy has sent many bargain-hunters to online travel sites with the hopes of finding fantastic deals and minimizing the pain in their wallets. Yet, with the travel market and the broader economy showing signs of recovery, airlines' brand power will gain ...Judge sides with American Airlines in Orbitz pullout [BREAKING]
![Judge sides with American Airlines in Orbitz pullout [BREAKING]](http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2010/12/americanairlines_thumbnail.jpg)
Dec 21st, 2010 at 5:30PM: The verdict is in! In the legal battle between Travelport and American Airlines over the latter's decision to pull its inventory out of Orbitz, Judge Martin Agran decided in favor of American Airlines. Orbitz has been ordered to stop selling the airline's tickets and displaying its fares.
American announced last month that it would be withdrawing its inventory from Orbitz as early as December ...Extra airline fees could mean better service! This is the FUTURE
Dec 21st, 2010 at 3:00PM: Soon, airlines could make all their profits on the extra fees you pay. Seriously. Yesterday, the Department of Transportation revealed that airlines have had their most profitable year since it started tracking the data back in 2002. And, a good chunk of revenue came from baggage fees, reservation change fees and ancillary fees. In the third quarter alone, it was good for more than $2 billion. So, ...Five airline amenities making a comeback ... and the one we want
Dec 21st, 2010 at 9:00AM: Wow, there's a headline I never thought I'd write! Though I suspect it has little to do with actual customer demand – after all, the airlines don't even call us customers – several are starting to bring small, small perks back into the cabin. Two factors help, of course: (1) they aren't expensive and (2) airlines have shown solid profits this year (at least in the United States).
...Airlines have best quarter ever ... thanks baggage fees!
Dec 20th, 2010 at 3:30PM: Every time you pay to check an extra bag you're making someone's life better. The latest data from the U.S. Department of Transportation reveals that the third quarter of 2010 was the most profitable for the U.S. airline industry since the department began keeping score in 2002. The industry's operating profit margin hit 10.5 percent in aggregate. Low-cost carriers, as a class, had an operating ...Delta: single large airline looking for Virgin partner
Dec 16th, 2010 at 12:00PM: I hope you haven't become too attached to Virgin Atlantic. The airline has gotten its share of calls lately about potential mergers, but they are qualified with expressions like "early stages" and "far too early" to say anything about. This isn't all that surprising, given the strength of its brand and the fact that the airline hired Deutsche Bank to help it evaluate its available growth ...Which airline made the most money on baggage fees?
Dec 13th, 2010 at 2:30PM: Last year, baggage fees were used by airlines to make up for lost fare revenue, as the recession kept people on the ground. This year, it's just been a great source of extra revenue, as passenger traffic and fares are up – and the fees haven't gone away. Almost all airlines are getting in on the action, some more egregious than others.
Well, data for the third quarter of 2010 is in, and ...Airlines, airports and passengers: nothing but gains this year [INFOGRAPHICS]
![Airlines, airports and passengers: nothing but gains this year [INFOGRAPHICS]](http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2010/12/airportlounge_thumbnail.jpg)
Dec 10th, 2010 at 12:00PM: There are a whole lot more of us flying this year: 4.3 percent more, to be exact. That's the increase in domestic air traffic from September 2009 to September 2010, according to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Transportation. In that month, U.S. airlines had 57.3 million passengers, leading to the largest year-over-year gain since September 2007. Meanwhile, international passenger ...How much are you really paying for your plane ticket?
Dec 10th, 2010 at 8:00AM: We've heard airline employees gripe ad nauseam about how flying just isn't what it used to be ... because it's so much cheaper than it was back in the glory days. True, we're looking at a much different world post-regulation, but that was so long ago that it isn't relevant any more.
So, what about today? Are airlines still getting hammered in the deal (as they contend), or are consumers giving ...Airlines WRONG: Lengthy airport delays fall to zero!
Dec 8th, 2010 at 1:00PM: Now that the stakes are high enough to matter, airlines are finally getting their collective act together. The U.S. Department of Transportation just announced that there were no tarmac delays of loner than three hours in October for the largest airlines in the United States.
You read that right: none. And, the air transportation industry did not fall apart. It did not fail to operate. Flights ...The death of cheap tickets? Four factors to watch!
Dec 7th, 2010 at 1:00PM: Are the days of bargain pricing over? There's a lot of pessimism around this issue. After getting smacked around in 2008 and 2009, this year has been a good one for air carriers, and USA Today reports: "Airfares are on the rise again and unlikely to fall again anytime soon." Yet, a travel industry recovery comes with advantages, as more people want to fly, and they tend to be willing to stomach ...Brand Wars: The Airline Booking Battle Will Be Televised
Dec 6th, 2010 at 2:00PM:
Online travel agencies have had a solid run over the past two years. They picked up some market share as would-be travelers were willing to poke around a little more to score cheap tickets. High rates of unemployment and under-employment and general economic uncertainty, of course, were enough to make consumers value every dollar a little more. This opened an opportunity for online travel ...Are airlines bad for your health? Five perspectives on plane food
Nov 30th, 2010 at 3:30PM:
Lately, it seems like the easiest way to lose weight is to fly regularly. There isn't much to munch on in the skies, as airlines have cut back on just about anything that looks like an amenity. Fatty foods have been replaced by none at all, which is great for your waistline, right?
It turns out that you can still pork up on a plane, even if you think the dismal state of customer service ...
