I received this e-mail just moments ago...
Dear JENNIFER KLYSE:
It is with great disappointment that I write this, knowing that many of our customers sometimes purchase tickets via Expedia. However, I felt it only appropriate to immediately notify you that US Airways tickets will no longer be available through expedia.com.
Over the Thanksgiving holiday, Expedia arbitrarily raised the fee it charges customers to purchase a US Airways ticket (from $5 to $8.99). This higher fee only applies to US Airways and our customers. This action - taken without notice - unfairly puts our customers in the middle of discussions with Expedia about its desire to significantly increase the commission it charges US Airways for selling our tickets.
By taking the action it did, Expedia also represented to the public that our fares were higher than those of our competitors because Expedia factored in its higher fee for US Airways tickets.
As a result, we have notified Expedia that, effective immediately, US Airways tickets will no longer be available for sale online through expedia.com.
Customers have every assurance that travel already purchased through Expedia will not be affected. If you need any other assistance with your reservation, please call our reservations department at 1-800-428-4322 and one of our professional sales representatives will help you.
I want to remind you that there are other convenient choices for purchasing US Airways tickets online, including through http://www.usairways.com, where there are no booking fees, where low fares are always listed, and where customers earn bonus Dividend Miles with their purchase.
In the event we can work out an agreement with Expedia that is mutually beneficial, we will quickly restore Expedia's ability to sell US Airways tickets. Meanwhile, like some other carriers, our fares will not be available through Expedia.
Your interests are important to us and we will do everything possible to make our fares and schedules widely available.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
B. Ben Baldanza
US Airways Senior Vice President
Marketing and Planning
Interesting. Is this the first major, non-discount carrier to opt out? I don't even know.
Additional coverage from Puget Sound Business Journal and PR News Wire.
