The popular computer software used by many travel agents unfairly highlights the flights of its developer, American Airlines, the government charged Monday.
The Transportation Department charged that software called Preference MAAnager, distributed to at least 650 travel agents, biases the popular Sabre computer system in favor of flights by American and its affiliate, American Eagle.American responded that it will vigorously contest the matter, arguing that the government is trying to block it from providing software that other airlines would be allowed to distribute.
The Sabre system is affiliated with American Airlines, and federal rules ban companies from providing software that biases systems they own. Carriers are not banned from providing software to bias systems they do not own, however.
The Preference MAAnager software rearranges the flight listing display to show American and American Eagle flights before those of other carriers and shows only those flights in some markets during specific times, the department charged.
That, the department said, violates regulations on biases in computer reservation system displays as well as laws prohibiting unfair or deceptive practices and unfair competition.
The complaint, to be heard by an administrative law judge, seeks an order requiring an end to the violations and could include a civil penalty as high as $500,000.
Anne H. McNamara of American Airlines argued that travel agents use the programs to tailor their displays for customers who want to fly on American, to earn frequent flier miles, for example. If the software does not help, she said, the travel agent can simply turn it off and use the basic Sabre display.
The airline said it would not object to a rule banning all providers from creating software that biases computer displays on favor of a particular airline, but it cannot accept a rule that it believes singles it and its customers out for unequal treatment.