The Beat ~ a business travel newswire 9/1/04 12:17 PM Sabre 'Turns Up The Heat' In Northwest Fight Sabre Travel Network now is showing in its global distribution system that Northwest Airlines' international business class inventory is sold out, even when it is not. The move adds to Sabre's previously announced actions responding to Northwest Airlines' new fees for GDS bookings, which take effect for tickets issued as of today. Sabre declined to comment on the development, but several travel agency sources told The Beat that in such markets as New York City-Amsterdam, Sabre shows Northwest's business class as sold out, while other GDSs are showing availability. According to one agency source, "We are booking premium international business through Northwest reservations, then 'claiming' the passenger name record in Sabre, and processing the reservations. This allows us to take our upfront commissions. It is a work-around, but it does meet the needs of our corporate clients by still providing managed travel." The source said that by zeroing out Northwest's business product on international flights, Sabre is "turning up the heat." A Northwest spokesperson today said, "We will not make any comment on this matter." Sabre had previously said Northwest fares in its system as of today would show a price that includes the carrier's $7.50 GDS fee on roundtrip tickets. Sabre last week also reduced the prominence of Northwest's inventory in its system. Meanwhile, Sabre competitors Amadeus and Galileo as of today were due to alter their displays in different ways relative to Northwest. A Galileo spokesperson earlier this week said the company has "put Northwest on notice and will take action as appropriate." The spokesperson today could not immediately be reached for comment on whether Galileo has implemented a plan that includes denying Northwest "a more prominent display for Galileo agencies." "Although Northwest has dismissed efforts Galileo has made to resolve this matter, we remain intent on settling this amicably," the Galileo spokesperson said earlier this week. An Amadeus spokesperson today said the company has inserted a ?flag? on Northwest fares in its display "to ensure that travel agents can determine those that are subject to these surcharges." Amadeus last week also said it "plans to enable travel agents to view the 'total cost' of the Northwest fare--inclusive of the imposed fare supplement," but that has yet to take effect. Formerly part-owned by Northwest, Worldspan has announced no such measures. ~ Jay Campbell © Copyright 2004 Business Travel Beat Inc. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Beat is a new, independent newsletter dedicated to relentless coverage of corporate travel distribution, founded by former Business Travel News executive editor Jay Campbell. To subscribe, send a blank email to subscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To be removed, send a blank email to unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx For more information, visit businesstravelbeat.com. Jay Campbell can be reached at jay@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx or 718/777-5808. Please send news releases to jay@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Thank you. --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? New and Improved Yahoo! Mail - Send 10MB messages!