In a move that will threaten customers ability to find and purchase cheap airplane tickets and cheap vacation packages, Delta has pulled its flights from CheapAOAir.com, OneTravel.com, and BookIt.com. Deltas action is seen as a move to increase bookings that go directly through Delta.com.
Delta claims that The most robust experience you (the traveler) should have in that transaction should theoretically be our Web site. Delta compares purchasing through its website as an experience similar to purchasing directly from an Apple store vs. Best Buy.
You can buy components or Apple products at both. Your experience in an Apple store is obviously quite different than it is at a Best Buy store. That model is what we think about when we think about Delta.com, says Glen Hauenstein, Deltas executive vice president of network planning.
Some travel experts claim that the only surprising thing about Deltas decision is that it has taken so long for it to be reached.
Over the last two years the U.S. airline industry has successfully reduced its capacity, restraining its desire to grow, resulting in a huge profit turnaround in 2010 as the economy slowly recovers. Now that they have their inventory under control, airlines are beginning to focus on how to reduce their distribution costs.
The decision by Delta and American Airlines to delist selective travel Internet sites are believed to be only the first of many such moves going forward.
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