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Expedia to display hidden airline fees
Online travel giant Expedia is on a mission to bring a little more transparency to airline booking.
The OTA will display airlines’ extra fees alongside base ticket prices in a search.
The ‘Upgrade Options’ function lists various price options that include checked baggage fees and relevant cancellation and change fees.
Expedia has started listing the options for Delta Air Lines in the US and Airberlin in Europe, with an aim of adding ‘dozens more shortly,’ said Greg Schulze, Expedia senior vice president of global tour and transport.
"There is a huge amount of data we are collecting, along with information we have to help travellers to make informed decisions. We are starting to be more confident in ourselves in helping travellers compare options," Schulze said.
The ‘Baggage Calculator’ will display baggage fees and checked and carry-on bag policies for different airlines during a flight search.
Expedia is betting more airlines will come onboard despite the fact that ancillary revenue is a big earner that carriers have stubbornly tried to keep for themselves.
"We accept we have two customers: travellers and supply partners. Airlines have seen it is much better to work with us, and not just be out there to sell a bunch of tickets. We want to help with operational issues and provide good info to travellers, and that only helps airlines," Schulze added.
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Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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