global distribution system

Tag Archives for global distribution system.

United’s Smisek Apologizes, Front-end Improvements Coming to SHARES

Tidbits of information about forthcoming improvements to SHARES, the reservations system for United Airlines, were revealed during the second quarter earnings call last week. In addition to apologizing for a range of customer disservice issues we’ve all experienced since March 3 (seat assignments falling off, missing upgrades, miles not posting, etc.), CEO Jeff Smisek said,…

Continue Reading »

Positive first United Airlines trip post-system conversion

Yesterday I flew my first trip with United Airlines since the system conversion this past weekend and while I witnessed other people having issues (check-in, upgrade priority, United Club access), I had absolutely no problems. Granted, I called in advance to clear up a ticketing issue a few days ahead of time and was already…

Continue Reading »

United Airlines in the wee hours of March 3, 2012

There have been oodles of articles this week noting United Airlines’ system migration from Apollo to Shares this coming weekend, but very few offer any type of inside scoop as to what exactly will be happening. I found this one from a travel agency perspective that sheds a bit more light on the process and…

Continue Reading »

Hilton, Hyatt & Sheraton news, Economy Plus deactivated, car rental profits, another celeb disses American & idiot of the week

In other hotel and travel industry news last week… Hilton Hotels & Resorts completed renovations of the former International JFK Airport Hotel and officially opened its doors last week as the Hilton New York JFK Airport. This marks the chain’s sixth property in the New York metro area (excluding New Jersey). The JFK hotel features…

Continue Reading »

Preparing for the upcoming United Airlines system conversion

In a little more than two weeks, United Airlines will switch reservations systems from Apollo to Shares, merging all itineraries from Continental and United onto one platform. Other carriers who recently made similar technology shifts were plagued with problems when they flipped the switch, but United is hoping to avoid similar embarrassments. United’s CEO Jeff…

Continue Reading »

Virgin adds PHL, Frankfurt’s growth, Negotiator dies, hotel news and GDS politics

In other airline, hotel and travel industry news last week… Virgin America announced Philadelphia will be the carrier’s newest destination beginning in April 2012. Three daily LAX-PHL flights will commence April 4th and two daily turns SFO-PHL will follow starting April 10th. If history repeats itself, we should see some pretty decent fare wars in…

Continue Reading »

Hotel taxes, fees refunded, DOT rules, Boeing’s orders, vacation packaging, Overstock travel and more travel news

In other hotel, aviation and travel industry news last week… Last year, Chicago took the top spot as being the city that charges the most taxes to travelers in the country and effective January 1, 2012, they’ve raised hotel taxes another percentage point. It brings the hotel portion on par now with New York and…

Continue Reading »

Southwest buys jets, American leads oneworld, Cathay opens SFO lounge, Qantas’ woes, FAA certs, theft, fraud and GDSs

In other airline and travel industry news last week… Southwest Airlines placed a monumental order for 208 Boeing 737 aircraft this week that includes 150 of the manufacturer’s newest Max version, making the carrier the official launch customer. The first delivery to Southwest won’t occur until 2017. At list prices, the order value is $19…

Continue Reading »

Frequently Flying marks one year of blogging!

Happy anniversary to me! I officially launched this blog one year ago today and when I look back at my initial posts I’m a bit embarrassed at their immaturity, but can see how I’ve developed my writing skills and I’m happy with Frequently Flying today. It’ll only get better. This has been an amazing year…

Continue Reading »

Delta layoffs, Qantas strikes, 747-8 livery, Hawaiian Disney, GDS lawsuit, TSA news and 757 replacement

In other airline, hotel and travel industry news this week… Delta Air Lines will be laying off 200 employees, the majority of which from their headquarters in Atlanta. This combined with another 2,000 employees taking voluntary buyouts, the airline claims soft demand, fuel prices and reduced capacity make the workforce reductions necessary. Engineers at Qantas…

Continue Reading »