DALLAS -- ASTA and its members continued their celebration of a victory over American Airlines on Thursday during the Travel Advisor Conference at the Hilton Anatole here.
The day before, American announced that the airline would reevaluate its strategy for implementing New Distribution Capability (NDC) bookings, which ASTA had adamantly opposed from the start.
After American in April 2023 removed fares from legacy distribution systems to force agencies toward NDC bookings, an acrimonious back-and-forth between American and ASTA began and didn't ease until American a year later gave travel agencies more time to reach a threshold for NDC bookings that would make them "preferred" distributors.
Now, American is abandoning plans to stop awarding AAdvantage points on bookings made via travel agencies that don't qualify as preferred NDC distributors.
And that called for a celebration.
During a general session, CEO Zane Kerby unveiled a slide portraying ASTA and American Airlines as warriors, with ASTA considerably smaller than American. The crowd cheered.
A graphic at the ASTA conference depicting ASTA as the underdog in its battle with American Airlines. Photo Credit: Jamie Biesiada
"Today, I am in complete agreement with American Airlines," Kerby said to laughs and more applause.
Kerby said it was "fitting that we're here in Dallas, right in American Airlines' backyard, as they announced yesterday that they're doing an about-face on NDC implementation, completely scrapping their previously anticompetitive, anti-advisor plans. Everyone who books through you will keep their miles," Kerby said to more cheering.
The celebration really got started the night before at ASTA's Jubilee welcome event, where Kerby rode a mechanical bull. ASTA took a celebratory tone with the video description: "Our fearless president and CEO was feeling confident after yesterday’s big victory for travel advisors in ASTA’s battle against a certain airline," ASTA said.
On Thursday, Kerby said ASTA's victory will benefit every advisor and agency that sells airline tickets. He credited ASTA members for that victory thanks to a large-scale grassroots campaign orchestrated by the Society.
"That's the power of ASTA, and that's why every single travel advisor should be a member of this trade association -- because together, we can and we do effect change," Kerby said.
Conference speakers on Thursday offered their congratulations.
"That's a great David-and-Goliath victory -- very impressive," said Chris Voss, an author and former lead FBI hostage negotiator, who was promoting his educational session on honing negotiation skills.
Carnival Cruise Line president Christine Duffy also talked about the AA news.
"Let me just acknowledge Zane and the board and the team at ASTA for their posture and the work that they did to really, I believe, influence the change that was announced yesterday," Duffy said.