SOUTHLAKE, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Aug. 26, 2004–In an effort to avoid consumer confusion with new Northwest Airlines’ fees, Sabre Travel Network, a Sabre Holdings (NYSE:TSG) company, today announced that it will begin including Northwest’s fare supplement as part of the shopping and pricing displays that are in the Sabre global distribution system (GDS) for tickets issued on or after September 1, 2004.
Once implemented, when Sabre-connected agents shop for fares, the Northwest fares will be displayed at a higher price that reflects the applicable charges. For example, in the case of a Northwest $200 roundtrip in the U.S., the total price listed in the Sabre GDS will now be $207.50, which includes the Northwest imposed fare supplement of $7.50. In the Sabre GDS, this will also apply to searches that check for the lowest-priced available flight. At the time of actual ticketing, the fee will not be shown directly on the ticket, reflecting Northwest’s stated collection process.
With the full disclosure of the total price charged by Northwest, Sabre is ensuring that the fare supplement is fully disclosed. While not required of Sabre, this approach reflects the Department of Transportation’s long-standing policy requiring airlines to include “the entire price to be paid by the customer to the air carrier” in any advertising or solicitation.
This move is in response to Northwest’s recent announcement that it plans to add a fare supplement on domestic tickets issued in the U.S. and Canada through a GDS effective September 1, 2004.
“Travel agencies, corporations and the organizations that represent them have told us, loud and clear, that the Northwest ticketing fee is in reality a fare increase. Sabre agrees with this view and, therefore, we have elected to include these charges in shopping and pricing displays utilized by agencies and corporations,” said John Stow, president, Sabre Travel Network. “We are providing an innovative solution for our customers to manage this issue.”
About Sabre Travel Network
Sabre Travel Network, a Sabre Holdings company, provides access to the world’s leading global distribution system (GDS) enabling agents at more than 53,000 agency locations worldwide to be travel experts. The Sabre GDS, the first system to connect the buyers and sellers of travel, today includes more than 400 airlines, approximately 60,000 hotels, 37 car rental companies, nine cruise lines, 35 railroads and 220 tour operators. Key brands of Sabre Travel Network include GetThere, the leading Web-based corporate travel reservation technology, and Jurni Network, the unique leisure travel agency consortium that enables members to sell more products from preferred travel suppliers using sophisticated market intelligence.
Sabre Holdings Corporation (NYSE:TSG) is a world leader in travel commerce, retailing travel products and providing distribution and technology solutions for the travel industry. More information about Sabre Holdings is available at http://www.sabre-holdings.com.
Statements in this release which are not purely historical facts or which necessarily depend upon future events, including statements about future plans, the expected effects of the action outlined in this release or other statements about anticipations, beliefs, expectations, hopes, intentions or strategies for the future, may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based upon information available to Sabre Holdings Corporation on the date this report was submitted. Sabre Holdings Corporation undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Any forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from the events or results described in the forward-looking statements, including risks or uncertainties related to structural changes within the travel industry, such as travel suppliers seeking alternative distribution models, or Sabre Holdings Corporation’s revenues being highly dependent on the travel and transportation industries. Sabre Holdings Corporation may not succeed in addressing these and other risks. Further information regarding factors that could affect our financial and other results can be found in the risk factors section of Sabre Holdings Corporation’s most recent filing on Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
CONTACT: Sabre Holdings Corporation, Southlake
Michael Berman, 682-605-2397
or
Investor Relations
Karen Fugate, 682-605-2343
SOURCE: Sabre Holdings Corporation
