Just a few days ago, we covered a story about Lonely Planet’s lovely new E-book, and today the news from the travel guide company is that a good portion of its web staff has been given pink slips. The majority of Lonely Planet’s web team is moving to London, while 17 percent will be looking […]
Expedia Introduces New Android App and Mobile Website
Expedia and its sister company Hotels.com released new mobile apps for Android as well as an upgraded mobile website for Expedia.com. Expedia is showcasing the new apps and features at Google I/O Developer Sandbox. Among the new features in the Android app are: Interactive view of all hotels in an area with multiple sorting options […]
United Airlines and Amadeus Part Ways with $75M Payment
United Airlines will make a one-time payment to Amadeus for $75 million, ending a contract that has been stalled for years. United originally contracted Amadeus to migrate its internal reservation system from Travelport’s Apollo to its own Altéa platform, but the migration never happened. When United Airlines merged with Continental Airlines, it decided to migrate […]
BTC: Hidden Fees from Airlines Increase Managed Travel Cost
Businesses are paying the price for hidden airline fees, according to the Business Travel Coalition. Managed travel programs invariably purchase their airline tickets through travel agencies and TMC (travel management companies), both of which airlines utilize but fail to share their additional service fees. These hidden fees have big implications for corporations that use these […]
Lonely Planet Bloggers Release E-book
Lonely Planet announced this week a photo ebook from 40 bloggers. Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers is a free ebook representing the “love and passion for travel” expressed by members of the Lonely Planet community. In 2008, Lonely Planet began to feature blogs from around the world in program called “Blogs We […]
Creator of Travel iPhone App Says it Helped Find Bin Laden
The world is a safer place tonight, and that is partially due to an iPhone app for adventure travellers, according to the app’s creator. Tactical NAV says its app may have been used to track down Osama bin Laden. Tnooz reports that when Navy SEALs successfully stormed Bin Laden’s house, they were using what Tactical […]
Gogobot Integrates Facebook and Foursquare Check-Ins
You have probably seen them on various websites and even found enjoyment clicking as many as you could, but after the thrill of clicking wears off, it is not exactly clear what purpose Facebook and Foursquare check-ins serve. Gogobot hopes to change that with its check-in integration for user passport profiles. It works rather simply, […]
Smart Destinations Offers Printable Go Select Passes
Smart Destinations is preparing to launch Go Select, a new tool that will allow customers to choose the attractions they want to see, add them to their passes, and then print them. The deal also includes a printable PDF guidebook. It is currently in BETA for New York City only, but Smart Destinations will soon […]
BTC Offers Airlines Advice on Saving Money and Customers
The Business Travel Coalition has offered some helpful advice to airlines that find themselves struggling to pay fuel bills and also please their customers. According to Kevin Mitchell, BTC Chairman, airlines are facing a potential backlash from angry customers who are fed up with increases in airfares and hidden ancillary fees. Airlines around the U.S. […]
Oyster.com Gets $10 million Boost from Travel Channel
The sun must seem a little brighter this week for folks at Oyster.com. In its Series B funding round, Oyster raked in $10 million from the Travel Channel and Bain Capital, a previous investor. The Travel Channel chipped in $7.5 million of the funding, taking with them a minority stake in the hotel-booking website. In […]
Delta Adds Online Checked Baggage Tracker
Delta Air Lines has introduced a baggage tracking system that provides a web-based interface for customers to track their checked baggage. If you like doing your travel preparation, planning, and purchasing online, the ability to also track your bags is a nice addition. Passengers on Delta flights can track their bags using the bag tag […]
Guardian Leverages Google Power for Trip Advisory Map
The Guardian News Datablog has come up with an interesting way to display travel warnings issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), using Google’s Fusion Tables. “The world according to Britain’s diplomats” gives you a visual picture of the world’s most troubling travel hotspots, at least according to the UK government. The most dangerous […]
DOT: Airlines Must Disclose Ancillary Fees
The Business Travel Coalition has expressed its enthusiasm over the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) decision to apply consumer airline protection. The rule would require airlines to declare any ancillary fees along with the standard information provided at all points of sale. Some of the common added fees include checked baggage and ticketing fees. Regarding […]
EasyJet Looks to EU to Fund Ash Cloud Detector
EasyJet has asked the European Union to help fund a new volcanic ash detection system for aircraft. The technology, developed by the Norwegian Institute for Air Research, is designed to do what radars cannot: detect the presence of dangerous dust particles and volcanic ash in the air, giving them time to adjust course. The detection […]
American Airline’s Sues Orbitz and Travelport, BTC Responds
In response to an American Airlines antitrust lawsuit against Travelport and Orbitz, the Business Travel Coalition (BTC) released a statement saying the travel programs are simply pawns in the airline’s game, and the lawsuit is a symptom of a larger problem. American filed suit against Orbitz and Travelport for discouraging travelers from using the airline’s […]