Quite right- corporate contract rates are a big plus for AA at DFW - but do nothing for those of us in small business.
Corporate rates don't do much for companies, either, unless you're booking competitive routes and last minute tickets. The typical contract will a perecntage off the higher fares, and no discount for lower fares. And, it's by market.
For Hub-Hub (same airline), you will get a nominal amount (say 5% off)
For Hub-competitive non-hub market, you will get 10-15% off
For Hub-other airline hub (say, DFW-IAH), you will get maybe 20% off.
And, the deal is predicated on you giving them >51% market share between competitive markets. So, you'd have to give them 51% or more DFW-IAH.
Because the tracking is required, you are also locked to a certain travel agency. IOW, the deal specifies that you will use Carlson, Amex, or whomever - you can't book around them. That's for tracking the revenue. You also have certain revenue minimums each year.
All in all, a small business is much better off using WN or booking lowest fares.
Myth.
Southwest's principal clientele - their essential core - are business travelers. This is why Southwest does not do like some discounters (Spirit, Allegiant, sometimes Airtran) and open up stations with a couple of flights a day; they only open up markets with the significant frequency, the critical mass and flight times that work for business travelers. One other thing that always helps SWA with business travelers: walk-up fares are not ridiculous, and if your itinerary changes, you never, ever forfeit the value of your ticket.
They also don't do corporate discounts. But the do offer certain other things to businesses. Best of all: no change fees.
When I worked for a Fortune 500 company, I used to get airline tickets sent in from the corporate travel department in Chicago with stern admonishments never to change tickets, and that I would be responsible for any increases in fares if I did. Tickets were nearly always on one particular carrier. Come to find out, the fares were almost always higher than routinely available fares on other carriers, and travel department staff were on the take from the travel agent and the rep for the carrier.
See my comment above on how revenue & market share is tracked. In the old days, travel agents received a commission based on sales. Now the company pays them. But they still can get an override (commission) based on how much business they write for a carrier.
If someone tells you not to fly a carrier for any reason other than (1) they cost more, or (2) they are dangerous, then I question their judgment.
As for me, when I flew a lot commercial, I'd fly whatever carrier got me there quickly, and home quickly.
Well, there are other reasons, but basically you need to understand the complaint.
Or you want to look at the contract you signed. We have a preffered air carrier contract and a corporate policy. We have to give so much business to that carrier per year or pay a penalty.
We also have a contract with a travel agency. SWA does not play with travel agencies. So even if you manage to book on SWA through their web site, you are on your own if stranded. There will be no corporate help.
False. WN does play with agencies. I know folks that book 'em all the time through agencies. What WN does NOT do is provide data thorough the GDS (the global data systems). Agencies must book directly with WN, it's not quite as easy as booking others.
Ok that is utterly bizzare. We are also with Amex and they tell noi way no how can they book SWA. Are you forced to use the Amex online booking tool? That will not even show SWA flights
AmEx can book WN as an agency, but not through the online tool (I don't think) because it uses GDS data. The online tool can be further customized to ONLY show flights that meet the criteria of company policy.
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