The decision, implemented on Jan. 8, applies to domestic business and first class fares and international fares purchased on the U.S. Expedia.com site. American's economy seats are still available on the site.
The move does not affect American's bookings through Expedia Corporate Travel, which are processed through Sabre, or through international points of sale.
American put a somewhat different emphasis on the event, issuing a press release on Jan. 11 saying it "will no longer sell international tickets or domestic first or business class tickets through Expedia.com or any other Web site powered by Expedia.com to customers purchasing travel from the U.S." An American spokesman told TTU that the carrier could not come to terms over the "economics" surrounding the sale of the affected fares.
Expedia issued a statement saying that it "made the decision." It added that "AA has made additional statements in the press that refer to negotiations between Expedia and AA. Expedia made this decision independent of any negotiation issues with AA."
Expedia, which had used Worldspan to process airline bookings since its founding, began processing some bookings through Sabre last year. It also began processing some European business through Amadeus.
Expedia has not disclosed whether it participates in Worldspan's Super Access program, which provides full airline content in exchange for lower travel agency productivity incentive payments.