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Priceline.com is another travel website that
offers comparative pricing from a variety of service companies. Like
other popular travel websites, users can book flights, hotels, car
rentals, cruises, vacation packages, as well as activities that include
tours and attractions. Venture Capitalist Jessie Fink and digital
entrepreneur Jay Walker started Priceline.com, hiring William Shatner
as the famous spokesperson. Priceline.com acquired Booking.com and
Agoda.com—websites targeted to the European market— to widen its
international presence in the online travel market. With Priceline.com
as the parent company, all three sites follow the same business model,
with different branding.
Priceline.com first became well known
for its Name Your Own Price system. Travelers could name their price
for airline tickets, hotel rooms, and car rentals. That price would
then be compared to prices in the Priceline.com database. The
purchaser is only given the name and location of the company after the
purchase has gone through, with no option to cancel. The reason they
do not allow users to cancel is because they offer the price to the
hotel, airline, or car rental company with the guarantee that the
service will be sold. Recently, Priceline.com has adopted the model
where users are presented prices and are also given the name of the
establishment. Users still have the option to name their price;
however, the number of companies participating in the program has
decreased. In November of 2007, Priceline.com permanently eliminated
all booking fees on published airlines.
The Priceline.com homepage offers the
user many options when booking travel. Their Shop for Discount Travel
quick search window allows users to research flights, hotels, cars,
vacations, and cruises based on their desired dates. They also feature
Priceline City Guides, powered by the well-known Zagat Survey. You
simply select a city, and are presented with user ratings and reviews
of that city’s hotels, restaurants, attractions, and nightlife. You
have access to photos, numerical ratings, and Priceline.com user
reviews at no additional cost. Furthermore, with their Never Miss a
Deal feature, you simply enter your email address to be notified of the
top deals each week. Finally, their PriceBreakers tab gives you access
to deals that have been “hand-picked by Priceline’s travel experts for
their exceptional value. New deals are added daily…check back often.”
It is no surprise that Priceline.com is one of the top travel websites,
as it offers no flight booking fees in combination with many
interactive tools from which every traveler can benefit.
See if Priceline.com’s services are right for you; post a review of your experience right here on ComparedForMe.com! |
