Expedia quietly halted the display and sale of beleaguered Frontier Airlines last week. No, it wasn't the increased cost in antler baggage fees that got their ire up. Rather the buzz is that the airline - currently in chapter 11 bankruptcy - tried to renegotiate it's contract. One of the perks of chapter 11 protection is that you are allowed to throw out the bad contracts and/or try to make them better.
But, that doesn't mean Expedia has to take it - and, they didn't. They booted Frontier's listings from their airline display. Can you say ouch? Major ouch. Reportedly online agencies book about a quarter of all Frontier's seats. I suspect Expedia, being the largest of the lot, has to account for 10% on their own. Suddenly removing an agency that sourced 10% of your traffic? Man, that's gotta hurt. Being a cash poor airline reeling from the current fuel crisis? Man, that's really gotta hurt.
I guarantee you the folks in Denver are begging and pleading to get back in Expedia's good graces - at least they should be - and I suspect other weak airlines are also taking notice.
I so love Frontier's product, but I don't envy their position these days one single bit. And, dare I write it - and I really don't want to write it - but from what I'm seeing out there my advice is that you fly them at your own financial risk.
Expedia halts Frontier listings [Denver Post]
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