GetThere announced yesterday that it has added some new features to its GetThere Mobile service. The new web interface is built using HTML5, giving mobile users an app-like experience without actually having to download an app. With GetThere Mobile, mobile travel users can do the following: access flight information, including departure and arrival times call […]
US Government Approves Google-ITA Deal
The Department of Justice has approved a $700 million deal that will see Google acquire ITA Software, a travel technology company. The DoJ released a detailed ruling outlining the approval, along with some restrictions. As part of the deal, Google must license QPX software from ITA to airfare websites under “commercially reasonable terms”, continue to […]
British Airways Introduces TripSeeker, Flight Search Tool
British Airways has released the latest version of TripSeeker (formerly WorldExplorer), its new flight search tool. With it travelers can search for the best flights and destinations all from ba.com. The new tool is completely Flash-based (sorry iPad users), and has an interactive interface allowing you to click anywhere on the world map where BA […]
Kayak Acquires Checkfelix, Austrian Travel Search Engine
Kayak has further enriched its European portfolio by adding Checkfelix to its list of acquisitions. Checkfelix is an Austrian travel search engine that offers cheap flights, discounted hotels, and cheap rental cars. In the deal, Kayak will acquire JaBo Software Vetrieb- und Entwicklung, better known as Checkfelix, but the Austrian company will continue to function […]
HotelTonight Now Offers Multi-Night Stays
If you are a traveler and have an iPhone, you probably already have the HotelTonight app that has achieved 250,000 downloads in its first two months. The app now has a new feature offering extended-day options to users. HotelTonight is a free last-second hotel booking app for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad. Users who […]
Greyhound Hires NCR to Install Self-Service Kiosks
Greyhound Lines has chosen NCR Corp. to help it install self-service kiosks to help bus passengers purchase tickets or retrieve tickets they purchased on line. The first bus stations to see the upgrades will be in areas of the Northeast U.S., but the company will eventually deploy 150 throughout the country. In addition to the […]
Lounge Your Next Flight with Air New Zealand’s Skycouch
The next time you want to fly Air New Zealand, you might want to try its Economy Skycouch option, a new economy service it will soon introduce. Skycouch squeezes three economy seats together, providing a couple or family with a sky couch, just as the name implies. Pull out the Skycouch footrest, tuck away the […]
Yapta Releases Airfare Tracker API
Yapta.com has released a beta version of the API for its suite of traveler tools in hopes that bloggers, travel sites, travel agencies, and others will embed the tools in their sites. The current Yapta APIs are available to developers who register and request an API key. The API uses a price-tracking system to give […]
New In-Terminal Augmented Reality iPhone App
Imagine an app that knows exactly where you are in the airport and can give you real-time information about services such as restaurants, shops, and gates. That is what SITA and Copenhagen Airport are promising for iPhone users who visit the airport. Using augment reality technology, via wireless access points strategically placed throughout the […]
Hackers Infiltrate TripAdvisor, Steal Emails
TripAdvisor admitted today that hackers had infiltrated its servers and managed to steal user emails. According to the big-name travel website, only emails were stolen, but all passwords and other member information are safe. Therefore, the only damage done to users will be extra spam, phishing schemes, or anything else the evildoers came come up […]
Expedia Says Hotel App for iPhone Coming
Expedia’s recent acquisition of mobile app developer Mobiata has paid off, and the web-based travel company says it has created an Expedia Hotels app for the iPhone and iPod touch. Within four taps of a finger, Expedia says, a traveler can go from researching hotels to booking a room. The app will also make use […]
WhichBudget Introduces Online Airline Ratings Tool
WhichBudget, a site that makes it easy to search for “cheap flights” around the world, has introduced a new online airline ratings tool so you can more easily complain about your cheap flights. In all seriousness, the tool provides a 5-star rating systems for the airlines featured on the site, allowing users to express their […]
IBM Promises to Squeeze 40 Percent More Bags into Schiphol
Two objects cannot occupy the same space at the same time. It is a simple concept but one that IBM hopes to work around using its technology to squeeze more baggage into an already overflowing Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam. Schiphol is one of the top airports in the world (the 5th largest in Europe), handling […]
Hopper Building Advanced Travel Search System
Hopper, a full-text search engine for travel, is now in early alpha testing for its new natural-language-based search technology. The company is the brainchild of Frederic Lalonde and Joost Ouwerkerk; Lalonde is also the chairman of Tnooz. The developers working on the project are former Expedia geeks, and the tool they are trying to create […]
Google People Finder Helps Locate Japan Quake Victims
The powerful earthquake that rocked Japan and sent 30-foot-high tsunamis crashing into the shores has left many travelers in the region disoriented, frightened, and, in some cases, missing loved ones. Google is now featuring its “People Finder” once again, which has helped some local residents and travelers in the area locate each other. The interface […]