United Airlines plays hardball with Expedia and JPMorgan Chase

United Airlines has had relationships with JPMorgan Chase and Expedia Group for years, but Wednesday the airline’s executives suggested both companies may need to improve their offers to maintain the carrier’s business. Simply put, it’s not 2009 anymore. Then, with airlines facing higher fuel costs and a recession, they would take cash anywhere they could find it. Now, however, United can be more aggressive with its partners. On the credit card side, executives have been negotiating with JPMorgan Chase on a new contract, asking for terms as generous as Delta Air Lines received earlier this month from American Express. As for Expedia, executives confirmed Wednesday they plan to pull their flights from the group’s consumer sites by Sept 30. United executives said Expedia no longer provides enough value, given its cost. <br/>