PARIPPANY, N.J -- United joined Galileo's Preferred Fares Select
program, giving Galileo-wired agencies access to all of United's
published fares, including Web fares.
In return, United pays Galileo a locked-in, discounted GDS fee
for the next three years. Galileo didn't disclose how much United
will save.
United had joined Galileo's Momentum program, which discounted
GDS fees but required agencies to accept a cut in GDS incentive
payments.
However, Galileo scrapped Momentum this summer immediately after
Sabre signed up most of the major network carriers for its
fee-discount program, Direct Connect Availability Three-Year
Option.
So far, four majors -- United, Northwest, Continental and US
Airways -- participate in Preferred Fares Select. Sabre has all
four of those airlines in the fold for DCA, plus American and
Delta.
To contact reporter Jerry Limone, send e-mail to [email protected].