Sabre Travel Network today said it would shield its subscribers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland from a surcharge Lufthansa and Swiss International Air Lines plan to impose for global distribution bookings beginning in July.
Sabre said it is the first GDS to reach such an agreement through which Lufthansa, and its subsidiary Swiss, will waive the fees. The carriers in January said they plan to impose what amounts to a €4.90 per-way surcharge plus value-added tax on fares booked through indirect channels in Germany and Austria beginning July 1 and in Switzerland beginning Oct. 1
(BTNonline, Jan. 22).
All of the carriers' fares in those markets will increase by €15 per way on those dates, but the existing pre-increase fares will continue to be made available as Preferred Fares. Lufthansa and Swiss in announcing the program said, "You will be charged Preferred Fare fees only if you issue a Lufthansa and Swiss Preferred Fare ticket via the computer reservation system." Lufthansa said participation in the Preferred Fare program "is voluntary and free of charge."
A Sabre spokesperson today said the GDS would not levy any fee to access the preferred fares through its GDS. "It's business as usual. Our agencies just need to sign up to the Preferred Fares program directly with Lufthansa and Swiss, then they can book through the Sabre GDS come July without any charges."