American Airlines Pulls Fares From Orbitz Discount Travel Website

By: Michael Stevens
Staff Writer
Published: Dec 22, 2021

American Airlines pulls fares from Orbitz discount travel website. American Airlines made a descision to pull fares from Orbitz. The move could eventually affect the way travelers buy airplane tickets online.

Airline tickets sold through American on Orbitz are still valid. The tickets can still be bought at the the company's own website. The dispute is the latest sign of strains between airlines and the companies that sell their tickets.

Airline carriers have traditionally paid sellers a commission. American also pays fees to the global distribution companies that provide the flight information. However, the company wants Orbitz to get the flight information directly from the airline.

The move will cut the global distribution systems. American has said that the method will reduce costs and also allow it to make more personalized offers to customers such as hotels and car rentals. Travel analysts say the global distribution systems have not moved fast enough to upgrade their technology.