Software Favors American, U.S. Alleges

The Transportation Department has charged that the software called Preference MAAnager, distributed to at least 650 travel agents, biases the popular Sabre computer system in favor of flights by American Airlines 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.