Where to Book Travel: Making Sense of Online Travel Sites
Making sense of all of the online travel search sites: how are they different and which sites are the best? Evelyn Meier of Trax.com explains the different types of travel search engines, and which sites will offer the most comprehensive airfare and hotel results.
New York, NY, June 11, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Travelers in search of online travel resources have access to thousands of sites offering everything from booking services to destination guides and group trip planning tools. Unfortunately, with innovative travel sites emerging constantly, the online travel landscape is increasingly more confusing for consumers. Where can I find the lowest airfares? What sites should I trust to book a cheap hotel? Evvie Meier, Marketing Manager at Trax.com, sheds light on the fundamental differences between the different types of travel sites.
Direct Suppliers’ Sites
Direct suppliers’ sites are the official websites of airlines and hotels. Some travelers prefer booking directly on an airline or hotel’s site because they can sometimes access special perks and because many travelers have brand allegiance to specific companies. Also, some hotels and airlines do not allow online travel agency websites to search their fares, meaning that users have to book directly with these companies.
Online Travel Agencies (OTAs)
Online Travel Agencies, or OTAs, are sites that search multiple direct supplier hotels and airlines, comparing prices from a range of sources. These sites, like Orbitz, Travelocity, and Expedia, are useful for travelers who are flexible as to which company they ultimately book with and who appreciate the comparison functionality. Meier warns that consumers should be aware that each OTA has a difference set of sources that they search, and no one site is completely comprehensive. Travelers may still want to check direct supplier sites that are not included in OTA searches, or compare across various OTAs.
Meta-Search Engines
Meta-search engines, or aggregators, are one step above OTAs on the online travel booking ladder. Meta-search engines like Trax, Kayak, and Sidestep compare fares across direct supplier sites and OTAs. Aggregators, in theory, let users skip the process of comparing multiple OTA sites by bringing their fares onto one screen. Unlike OTAs, meta-search engines do not actually sell airfares or hotel rooms, but instead direct users out to their chosen supplier to complete a booking. Users should be cautious, since behind-the-scenes exclusivity contracts between some aggregators and OTAs mean that some meta-search engines perform biased searches, only showing fares from partner OTAs.
So who is a traveler to trust? Meta-search engines are the most useful for price comparisons, but users should rely on aggregators that perform unbiased searches and display results from a large range of sources to ensure that they are viewing comprehensive airfare and hotel price results. Meta-search engine sites also allow users to book directly with supplier sites, meaning that travelers can still redeem frequent flier miles and specific company perks. Meier recommends aggregators with advanced filtering options so that travelers can see flights and hotel rates from sources that accept their bonus miles and special coupons.
About Trax:
Trax is a travel search website committed to harnessing the power of meta-search engine technology to find extensive, unbiased search results for travel. Trax has a constantly expanding pool of travel suppliers, including online travel agencies, direct hotels, airlines, and car rental companies. Trax also searches small and medium-sized regional travel companies that have specialty content and products. For more information, visit their website at http://www.trax.com/.
Trax is categorically opposed to entering exclusivity agreements with any supplier because it would contradict our pledge to uncover the lowest travel prices possible. Based in New York and Dubai, Trax continues its never-ending endeavor to bring integrity into the meta-search industry through the power of fair and transparent competition.
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Direct Suppliers’ Sites
Direct suppliers’ sites are the official websites of airlines and hotels. Some travelers prefer booking directly on an airline or hotel’s site because they can sometimes access special perks and because many travelers have brand allegiance to specific companies. Also, some hotels and airlines do not allow online travel agency websites to search their fares, meaning that users have to book directly with these companies.
Online Travel Agencies (OTAs)
Online Travel Agencies, or OTAs, are sites that search multiple direct supplier hotels and airlines, comparing prices from a range of sources. These sites, like Orbitz, Travelocity, and Expedia, are useful for travelers who are flexible as to which company they ultimately book with and who appreciate the comparison functionality. Meier warns that consumers should be aware that each OTA has a difference set of sources that they search, and no one site is completely comprehensive. Travelers may still want to check direct supplier sites that are not included in OTA searches, or compare across various OTAs.
Meta-Search Engines
Meta-search engines, or aggregators, are one step above OTAs on the online travel booking ladder. Meta-search engines like Trax, Kayak, and Sidestep compare fares across direct supplier sites and OTAs. Aggregators, in theory, let users skip the process of comparing multiple OTA sites by bringing their fares onto one screen. Unlike OTAs, meta-search engines do not actually sell airfares or hotel rooms, but instead direct users out to their chosen supplier to complete a booking. Users should be cautious, since behind-the-scenes exclusivity contracts between some aggregators and OTAs mean that some meta-search engines perform biased searches, only showing fares from partner OTAs.
So who is a traveler to trust? Meta-search engines are the most useful for price comparisons, but users should rely on aggregators that perform unbiased searches and display results from a large range of sources to ensure that they are viewing comprehensive airfare and hotel price results. Meta-search engine sites also allow users to book directly with supplier sites, meaning that travelers can still redeem frequent flier miles and specific company perks. Meier recommends aggregators with advanced filtering options so that travelers can see flights and hotel rates from sources that accept their bonus miles and special coupons.
About Trax:
Trax is a travel search website committed to harnessing the power of meta-search engine technology to find extensive, unbiased search results for travel. Trax has a constantly expanding pool of travel suppliers, including online travel agencies, direct hotels, airlines, and car rental companies. Trax also searches small and medium-sized regional travel companies that have specialty content and products. For more information, visit their website at http://www.trax.com/.
Trax is categorically opposed to entering exclusivity agreements with any supplier because it would contradict our pledge to uncover the lowest travel prices possible. Based in New York and Dubai, Trax continues its never-ending endeavor to bring integrity into the meta-search industry through the power of fair and transparent competition.
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Contact
Trax
Evvie Meier
212-201-4572
www.trax.com
Evvie Meier
212-201-4572
www.trax.com
Contact
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