Will American Airlines withdraw from the Sabre global distribution system before their amended agreement expires at the end of August? And will Sabre bias the airline's flights if their is no signed renewal at that juncture?
The battle for the hearts and minds of their mutual customers entered a new phase yesterday when Chris Kroeger, Sabre's senior vice president of marketing, penned an email to customers alleging: "Recently, American Airlines (AA), through discussions and presentations with travel agencies and corporations, has indicated that it could be completely out of the Sabre global distribution system as of June 1, 2011."
For the record, Ryan Mikolasik, a spokesman for American Airlines, acknowledges that the airline has been meeting with agency and corporate customers about contingencies if Sabre or another GDS disrupts or removes the airline's content.
American Airlines has been informing agencies that it "will adjust our existing Source Premium Policy to accommodate expected changes in our GDS agreements later this summer," Mikolasik says.
"Despite the confusion created by other parties in this matter, the fact remains we fully intend to uphold our end of the existing agreements," Mikolasik adds.
For its part, Sabre doesn't want or intend to remove American Airlines content from the GDS, Kroeger writes.
Kroeger says Sabre will do everything possible to reach a full-content agreement with American Airlines before Aug. 31, but in the interim, customers should "make sure AA is clear on what you require to efficiently operate your business."
Mikolasik says American Airlines has asked for -- and not received -- confirmation from Sabre that it will forego biasing actions if their agreement expires with no resolution.
The two parties are battling over distribution economics and American Airlines' direct-connect policy,which would downplay GDS distribution.
The jockeying for position with overtures to travel agencies and corporate customers has been ongoing for months.
One Sabre customer made light of the skirmishes: "For the record, I've quit paying attention to all of the bickering. Wake me up when it's over, OK?
Of course, the underlying issue is no laughing matter.