Inside Track - 1997-03-17
Buyers To Outline Hotel Data Needs
Travel decision makers who belong to the Association of Corporate Travel Executives and the National Businesss Travel Association can expect to see a survey in their mailboxes in early May asking them to identify the hotel folio data elements that need to be passed through to charge card vendors. Members of the Hotel Folio Data Steering Committee (BTN, Dec. 16, 1996) hope to review responses to the survey at its next meeting June 18 in Chicago, and incorporate them into a white paper to be published soon after the meeting on the associations' Websites. The white paper will detail the need for the hotel folio data, outline the problems that must be overcome to provide it and estimate the cost to deliver it.
At a meeting last week in Dallas, suppliers told the the 38 participants that passing along the rate and number of room nights "seemed to be a hurdle that could be more easily accomplished" than previously thought, said Judie Shyman, NBTA president and manager of training and employee services for GEC-Marconi Hazeltine.
United Offers Conjunctive E-Tix
United Airlines said it expects to make conjunctive tickets--tickets with multiple segments--available on its electronic ticketing service by the end of this year. Currently, a maximum of four segments may be e-ticketed, but many business travelers who take multicity trips need more than four segments. The airline also will begin a test of airport gate readers this summer.
AA In Pilot Talks
American Airlines began mediated sessions with its pilots Friday to try to negotiate a deal that would prevent or delay the delivery of the Presidential Emergency Board's recommendations to President Clinton, due today. The Airline Pilots Association's board of directors will meet on March 21 to review the outcome of these mediated talks as well as the PEB's recommendations. Meanwhile, a group of pilots within APA, calling itself the Voice of Reason, is pressing APA leaders to sign a contract that does not meet all of APA's demands. The current cooling-off period ends April 15, at which time the APA could strike and Congress could step in.
Europe Wraps Up Deregulation
On April 1, carriers in European Union countries will be given the ability to conduct cabotage flying--within each other's home countries--as deregulation becomes official in Europe. While no one downplayed the date's significance, "the effects will be less immediate and less dramatic than they were in the U.S.," said SH&E airline and travel industry analyst Don Garvett. "There could be a flurry of activity in April, but it's not likely." He noted that much of the process of deregulation in Europe already has occurred.
KLM Might Sell NW Stake
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Northwest Airlines are discussing the sale of KLM's 20 percent stake in Northwest. Analysts were not surprised, given the high value of airline stocks. None thought the news is any indication of a breakup of the two carriers' marketing alliance.
American To Expand Bulk Buying
American Airlines is negotiating with two New York financial services firms to expand its corporate AAirpass bulk buying program--previously available only to Goldman Sachs. Sources said the companies could be Bear Stearns and JP Morgan.
Distinguishing these new arrangements from the Goldman deal is that they apply only to designated routes, while Goldman's AAirpass applies to systemwide traffic on American. AAirpass gives companies a substantial discount, as well as special treatment for travelers beyond even the carrier's top frequent flyer membership.