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Market Wire - Yapta Launches First Trip Tagging & Airfare Refund Alert Service for Consumers
Yapta, Inc. ( www.yapta.com ) today announced the
public-beta launch of the industry’s only airfare tagging service that
tracks airfare on specific flights and alerts consumers via email when
fares drop or fall below a desired spending limit. By enabling consumers
to “tag” specific flights from online itineraries offered at leading
domestic airline websites or online travel agents, and have pricing
continually monitored thereafter, Yapta assures that users get alerted to
the lowest possible price for airline tickets. Bringing to light
pro-consumer “guaranteed airfare rules” offered by many airlines, the
service helps air travelers obtain travel vouchers — and in some cases,
cash refunds — when the price decreases on tickets that have already been
purchased.
“We’re introducing trip tagging as a new approach to travel shopping,” said
Tom Romary, president & CEO of Yapta. “Airline ticket prices are highly
volatile, making it very difficult for most consumers to be assured that
they are getting the best deal possible. Yapta provides accurate, timely
price tracking, regardless of when or where consumers decide to purchase or
shop for airline tickets online. By enabling travelers to tag the exact
flights they want from leading travel sites and receive email alerts when
prices drop, we’re providing complete price transparency and presenting
them with the opportunity to save a significant amount of money.”
Yapta users track airfares by “tagging” the exact flight itineraries that
they want using a downloaded browser add-on. Additionally, travelers can
also use Yapta on a post-purchase basis by simply entering their
confirmation code or flight information into the Yapta website. The Yapta
add-on serves consumers during their online travel shopping experience
only, and does not engage during other web surfing sessions. Once a trip
is tagged, it is automatically aggregated on the “My Trips” page at
Yapta.com. The website intelligently separates flights that have been
purchased from flights that are being watched.
In December 2006, Yapta initiated a private-beta test of the service,
allowing select consumers to tag flights, receive alerts on airfare price
drops, and capture refunds and travel vouchers. In just three months,
Yapta alerted its 275 test users to approximately $30,000 in eligible
savings and refunds, for an average net benefit of $109 per traveler.
“Customers gain peace of mind when using Yapta to shop for travel,” Romary
said. “Airlines have implemented great pro-consumer policies that can be
difficult for customers to understand. At Yapta, we help to clarify and
communicate these policies that enhance overall satisfaction and reinforce
the reasons to purchase directly from airline websites, including no
booking fees, bonus miles, and price protection.”
“Airfare prices, in large part, are established by sophisticated yield
management systems that allow airlines to make seats available at
fluctuating rates based on supply and demand,” said Robert Goodwin,
transportation industry analyst for Gartner. “While this pricing practice
is presently the most common approach for airlines to remain cost
effective, travelers are often left puzzled by it. Through greater price
transparency and stronger customer loyalty programs — such as issuing
vouchers for future travel — airlines have an opportunity to enhance their
direct relationships with consumers.”
Registration for the Yapta public-beta can be completed at www.yapta.com .
About Yapta, Inc.
Yapta, Inc. was founded in January 2006 with the mission to assure
consumers that they get the most value out of their trip planning, and pay
the lowest possible price for airline tickets. Yapta’s online service
takes advantage of airfare price volatility by continually monitoring
airline ticket prices and alerting consumers when the price on “tagged”
flights decreases. Bringing to light pro-consumer “guaranteed airfare
rules” offered by many airlines, the service helps air travelers obtain
travel vouchers — and in some cases, cash refunds — when the price
decreases on tickets that have already been purchased. For more
information, visit www.yapta.com .
Contact:
Jeff Pecor
Yapta, Inc.
206-948-1482
Email Contact
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