Google sets its sights on online travelers
Posted on November 10, 2005, 11:12 am by E-junkieChef under NewsNovember 10, 2005
Google Inc. has set its sights on the travel bookings business with a new feature that lets users search for cheapest fares being offered by travel agencies.
Google said it was still testing the feature. This move puts Google directly in competition with travel search sites like Kayak, Sidestep and makemytrip.com.
A search for New York and London turns up a link to several sites.
The new feature would not compete directly with services offered by online travel agencies. Expedia and Travelocity users are in fact directed to these sites by links placed on the search page.
"It takes you right into the site that's repopulated with departure and arrival information and the dates. It's a very interesting feature." Lorraine Sileo, analyst at travel research company PhocusWright, said of the Google feature.
