New exclusive partnership of Expedia.com with SeatGuru
Expedia.com customers can now select the best airline seats, based on user generated reviews from real flyers, thanks to a new exclusive partnership with
TripAdvisor's
SeatGuru, the Web's most comprehensive source for airline information. The partnership, announced, integrates SeatGuru flyer reviews of airplane seats into the seat maps for most flights sold on Expedia.com. This development marks the first time user-generated airline content is available on an online travel booking site. The availability of SeatGuru's reviews allows Expedia.com customers to travel more comfortably by helping them select better airplane seats, such as those with additional legroom, and avoid bad seats, such as those with limited recline.
"Integrating SeatGuru content enhances our travelers' booking and traveling experience and is a terrific example of our commitment to putting the traveler first," said
Tim MacDonald, general manager of Expedia.com.
"Expedia.com is the only place to buy airline tickets where customers can be assured they're getting the best seat on their flights. Combined with our unmatched selection, flexibility and value, this move underscores why Expedia.com is the best place to book travel."
SeatGuru-enhanced seat maps are available for many flights sold on Expedia.com, dividing flyer comments into three categories: "Good Review," "Poor Review" and "Mixed Review." Examples of actual seat reviews on Expedia.com include:
- Good Review: "Seat 7D has extra legroom because the bulkhead does not extend all the way to aisle."
- Poor Review: "Seats 19 H and J have reduced legroom and limited recline... All H seats have limited underseat leg and storage room due to the presence of an entertainment equipment box."
- Mixed Review: "Seats 20 A and B have a little extra room, but the proximity of the galley can be bothersome."
This is the second significant integration of user-generated content from the TripAdvisor Media Network on Expedia.com this summer. On July 9, Expedia.com launched its Drive Getaway tool (www.expedia.com/drivegetaway), which incorporates TripAdvisor destination content. These collaborations represent strategic efforts within the brand portfolio of Expedia, Inc. - parent company to Expedia and TripAdvisor - to leverage the best of its marketplace for the benefit of travelers.
Theodore Koumelis
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Tuesday, August 04, 2009