Tour operator Tauck has announced that its air desk has ceased booking American Airlines and other Oneworld alliance carriers due to a new policy that has made it difficult for Tauck to provide refundable airfares. This decision affects airlines such as British Airways, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, and Qantas.
In a memo sent to travel advisors on May 16, Tauck explained that Oneworld airlines have implemented a series of policy and systems changes that have hindered the tour operator’s ability to offer flights with the same level of service, flexibility, and value. This has prompted Tauck to discontinue booking flights with these carriers.
American Airlines introduced stricter restrictions on cancellations and rebookings by tour operators and cruise lines on May 13. The airline now charges a $50 fee for all cancellations made beyond the 24-hour booking window. Additionally, American has imposed tighter restrictions on churning, where a $50 fee is charged for all subsequent churns beyond the first one per passenger name record, up to a maximum of four charged churns.
Tauck has stated that guests who had bookings with American or other Oneworld carriers prior to May 13 are not affected by this policy change. However, going forward, Tauck will no longer be booking flights with these airlines due to the challenges posed by the new policies and restrictions.