When searching for the best fare on a flight, it’s not uncommon for customers to peruse a third-party travel site like Expedia or Priceline and jump at the lowest number they see associated with a flight. But some United Airlines passengers say this tried-and-true method has resulted in the unexpected purchase of a no-frills Basic Economy ticket. [More]
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Expedia Wants To Tune Into Your Feelings About Booking Travel By Reading Your Face
By 1.20.17
If only companies could read shoppers’ minds, they’d know exactly what to provide and when to provide it. Alas, because no such telepathic technology exists (yet), Expedia is taking another tack, tracking facial movements to gain insight into customers’ emotions while they’re booking travel online. [More]
Expedia Apologizes After Customer Says Employee Left “F—k You” Message In Her Itinerary
By 10.19.16 — Updated: 11.1.16
An Expedia customer in Los Angeles was surprised to find that her New Year’s travel reservation had suddenly been canceled — and, adding insult to injury, a nasty message from an employee on her itinerary. [More]
Marriott Preparing To Battle Expedia, Priceline With New Starwood Assets
By 9.22.16
With online travel agency options whittled down following the $1.6 billion Orbitz-Expedia merger in 2015, and hotels already offering customers perks for ditching the third-party travel sites, it might be hard to imagine the rivalry between the likes of Expedia, Priceline, and major hotels could get more contentious. But it apparently can, and is about be thanks, in part, to the completion of a mega-hotel merger between Marriott and Starwood Resorts. [More]
Hotels Offering Perks To Sway Guests Away From Third Party Booking Sites
By 3.21.16
Using an online travel booking site to find the perfect accommodations for your upcoming trip can be a simple and easy way to compare prices and make sure you get the best deal. But actual hotels aren’t exactly fans of such sites, and in a bid to bring customers to their own sites some companies are offering extra perks. [More]
Expedia To Buy Vacation Rental Site HomeAway For $3.9B
By 11.5.15
Just two months after Expedia completed its last big purchase, the travel-booking enterprise has hit the market again, offering $3.9 billion to buy vacation rental company HomeAway. [More]
Expedia Launches “Upgrade Options” Tool To Show Airlines’ Hidden Fees
By 10.20.15
While most consumers know that airlines tack on fees for checked baggage, more leg room, and reservation changes, among other things, it can be difficult to gauge how much those “extras” will add up to when booking your trip on a third-party site. In an effort to be more upfront with customers, Expedia says it will now disclose airline fees right on its website. [More]
Completion Of $1.6B Orbitz, Expedia Merger Further Whittles Down Online Travel Agency Options
By 9.17.15
Despite the protests from the leading hotel industry group that a merger between Expedia and Orbitz would concentrate too much of the travel-booking market in one company’s hands – leading to fewer choices for consumers – the two companies have received regulatory approval and completed their $1.6 billion marriage today. [More]
Hotel Industry Comes Out Against Merger Of Expedia & Orbitz
By 8.6.15
You might think of Expedia, Hotels.com, Hotwire, Travelocity, and Trivago as competitors in the online travel-booking business, but most people probably don’t know that all of these brands fall under the Expedia Inc. ownership umbrella. And so will Orbitz if the pending $1.6 billion merger of the two companies is approved. The leading hotel industry trade group says that this consolidation has gone too far. [More]
Expedia Continues Taking Out Competition With $1.6B Purchase Of Orbitz
By 2.12.15
Expedia appears to be enjoying a shopping spree of epic proportions this year. Less than a month after the online travel agency bought rival Travelocity, it’s taking out another competitor by purchasing Orbitz for $1.6 billion. [More]
Expedia Buys Rival Travel Site Travelocity For $280M
By 1.23.15
Expedia Inc. and Travelocity, two of the most prominent online travel agencies, have decided to take their relationship to the next level by way of a $280 million acquisition that paves the way for continued battles with travel site behemoth Priceline. [More]
Travelers Can Now Use Bitcoin To Book Reservations Through Expedia
By 6.11.14
Planning a trip? Don’t worry about pulling our your credit card to reserve that hotel room, Expedia is now accepting bitcoin as a form of payment. [More]
27 Major Companies That Are Worth Less Than WhatsApp
By 2.20.14
Just how big of a deal is the $19 billion WhatsApp is getting from Facebook in the acquisition announced yesterday? It’s a pretty freaking big deal — especially when you consider that there are a whole lot of major companies –including many that produce physical goods you can reach out and touch — that have been around longer than WhatsApp and are worth a lot less. [More]
Court Throws Out Online Price-Fixing Lawsuit Against Major Hotel Chains, Booking Sites
By 2.19.14
For years, some have accused America’s largest hotel chains of colluding with travel booking sites like Travelocity, Expedia, Orbitz, and Priceline to make sure that the room rates offered to consumers on these sites are the same. This practice, claimed plaintiffs in various lawsuits, effectively allowed the hotel chains to determine their own prices and kept the booking sites from competing against each other; meaning consumers could be paying more than they should. But a U.S. District Court judge feels differently. [More]
How Not To Have The Worst Hotel Stay Ever – Look For Fake Online Reviews
By 2.5.14
So, you’re planning a much-needed vacation to a beautiful destination, but you don’t know any of the hotels in the area. You do like most consumers and turn to online review sites like TripAdvisor or Expedia. But are these hotel sites really trustworthy? [More]
Expedia, United Blame Each Other For $200 Change Fee For Passenger Stuck In LAX During Shootout
By 11.8.13
The recent tragic shootings at Los Angeles International put parts of one of the world’s largest airports on lockdown for several hours, resulting in rescheduled and canceled flights for many travelers. Given the extenuating and unique circumstances, one would think that airlines and hotels would have some level of understanding and not hit people with huge fees, and yet… [More]
Here’s Why You Should Always Read The Rules Before Cashing In A Guarantee
By 7.11.13
Guarantees can be tricky things. If you want to take advantage of a company’s low price guarantee, no matter how widely advertised it is, it’s a good idea to take a minute to read the terms and conditions of that guarantee before taking advantage of it. Even if it’s advertised on TV. Even if you think you know how the guarantee works. Just ask Marc. [More]
Expedia Doesn’t Really Care That The 25-Acre Hawaiian Vacation Rental You Booked Is Now Closed
By 6.11.13
You go online to book a vacation through Expedia.com and there it is — your dream Hawaiian house, located on 25 secluded acres with an ocean view. So you book the 6-day package through the site and jet off with a couple of your friends for fun in the sun. But when you get there, your Pacific island fantasy is shattered. [More]
