Online Travel Booking and Bidding Agencies - Orbitz promotes higher end hotel choices to Mac users than PC users.

Maybe owning a PC isn't so bad after all. Or maybe Mac users are just considered classier.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304458604577488822667325882.html?m od=djemalertNEWS

Moving this off to Travel Buzz.

According to this article (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304458604577488822667325882.html) in the Wall Street Journal, Orbitz is displaying more expensive rooms to users accessing the site on a Mac.

In response to visitors on Mac computers typically selecting higher end hotels. Orbitz is only responding to that trend and showing higher end properties first.

Nowhere in that article that I found does it say that Mac base visitors are being charged more for the same hotels or that they are unable to find the same high and low end properties that a windows based visitor can find.

Why are they being cheated? Mac users want higher end properties, so they are presented with higher end properties. It's not like they are showing the same property to Mac and PC users and charging Mac users more for the room.

The Mac users probably are happier than to have to sift through all the junk the PC users want.

Maybe owning a PC isn't so bad after all. Or maybe Mac users are just considered classier.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304458604577488822667325882.html?m od=djemalertNEWS

Very shortsighted of Orbitz to show one price to a Mac user and another to a PC user. I double and triple check any rate/hotel on numerous booking websites. I would definitely catch that Orbitz is higher than other websites and would take Orbitz out of rotation/off the list of websites I check. Plus I don't just have a Mac, I have a PC too and I am sure a lot of other people do as well.

Very shortsighted of Orbitz to show one price to a Mac user and another to a PC user. I double and triple check any rate/hotel on numerous booking websites. I would definitely catch that Orbitz is higher than other websites and would take Orbitz out of rotation/off the list of websites I check. Plus I don't just have a Mac, I have a PC too and I am sure a lot of other people do as well.
This could lead to some interesting best rate guarantee claims.

This could lead to some interesting best rate guarantee claims.

Great point! I am sure they could bury it in the T&Cs some vague and completely incomprehensible language to protect them. Just because some one pays more for a Mac vs a PC or an iPad vs a lower cost tablet does not mean they will pay 30% more than the going rate for a hotel.

If you read the article you'll see that they are just (so far) SHOWING higher priced properties and better rooms FIRST, but the room PRICES are same for the same type of room for all users.

squeakr is correct. The Wall St. Jnl. article shows that higher end hotel choices may be served up to Mac users as featured promotions, but there is no evidence that Mac users would be charged more for the same accommodations than PC users. I'll change the thread title accordingly.

As this is already under discussion in the Online Booking and Bidding forum, I'll move this thread to that forum. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.

Main thread from TravelBuzz now here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/online-travel-booking-bidding-agencies/1360455-orbitz-promotes-higher-end-hotel-choices-mac-users-than-pc-users.html

If there is a prominent disclosure (“Because you are using a Mac, here are the more expensive hotels” or something like that) then I guess it's OK.

If they just make the city/dates you're interested in look expensive, I think that's clearly cheating.

Main thread from TravelBuzz now here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/online-travel-booking-bidding-agencies/1360455-orbitz-promotes-higher-end-hotel-choices-mac-users-than-pc-users.html

If there is a prominent disclosure (“Because you are using a Mac, here are the more expensive hotels” or something like that) then I guess it's OK.

If they just make the city/dates you're interested in look expensive, I think that's clearly cheating.

There is a cool little feature in Orbitz (and most other travel sites) called SORT. Dont like the order that the hotels are presented to you, SORT them. Many many websites taylor what they show you from the cookies stored on your computer. I really dont think this is any different.

There is a cool little feature in Orbitz (and most other travel sites) called SORT. Dont like the order that the hotels are presented to you, SORT them.

Yes, exactly. You can no longer trust the default (“Best Values”) sort order, because Orbitz is artificially manipulating it (apparently with no notice to the user).

Yes, exactly. You can no longer trust the default (“Best Values”) sort order, because Orbitz is artificially manipulating it (apparently with no notice to the user).

Orbitz's main goal is not to save you money. It is to maximize their profits over an arbitrary time period. Act accordingly. This goes for pretty much every non-small, non-community-based business. With that being said, they are not "cheating".

Mike....

Yes, exactly. You can no longer trust the default (“Best Values”) sort order, because Orbitz is artificially manipulating it (apparently with no notice to the user).

Expedia uses the Best Value sort to put hotels that pay them more at the top. Are they cheating you? Best value is a subjective term. What is best value to me might not be to you. They are not cheating anyone, and why should they give you any kind of notice on how they decide what is "Value"?

Not fundamentally different than Amazon's recommended products. Have you ever bought something that Amazon recommended?

Take a look at this article better explaining what Orbitz is actually doing.

http://www.maclife.com/article/news/wsj_reports_mac_users_love_travel_stay_fourstar_ho tels

Quoting from the MacLife article, the conclusion is: “What this has to do with anything is perplexing to us. All that this proves is that Mac users have good taste, are willing to spend more money on their computing products, and prefer to avoid bedbugs while on vacation. Ain't nothing wrong with that.”

Obviously “MacLife” exists to promote (and defend) their 9.8% of the market.

On the other hand, my advice to Mac users is the same as my advice to PC users. When dealing with Orbitz, as with many other online retailers, Buyer Beware! (and “Thanks” WSJ).

When dealing with Orbitz, as with many other online retailers, Buyer Beware! (and “Thanks” WSJ).

This is just common sense in every part of your life, not just online retailers. Any good retailer is going to tailor what they show you based upon what they think you can afford. Do you think a real estate agent is going to show you a 1 room cabin if you are driving a Ferarri? Are they going to show you a lakeside Mansion if you are driving a Dodge Dart?

Contrary to conspiracy theorist belief, Orbitz (like most online commerce sites) is trying to improve the visitors experience on their site and drive revenue by delivering targeted and relevant content - ultimately making it easier for the visitor to find what they want.

I realize that I understand this concept better than most (since its what I do for a living) but what I don't get is why people are so afraid of it! Do you go to the grocery store and think that the grocer is out to get you because they have security cameras and have designed their stores and product placement based on statistical studies? No of course not! Do you think that all major airlines don't track visitor traffic and tailor their site to help you accomplish common tasks more easily (ok maybe not the airlines lol)?

In my experience there is nothing sinister here. I'm sure that there are sites that do have sinister motives but there's too much at stake for any major reputable site to act like that!

MAC User's Beware! Orbitz will charge you 30% more because they think you have more moola- simply because you have a MAC? Fair or not fair? :confused::td:

Read more here.
http://bit.ly/Mzz7u7

MAC User's Beware! Orbitz will charge you 30% more because they think you have more moola- simply because you have a MAC? Fair or not fair? :confused::td:

Read more here.
http://bit.ly/Mzz7u7 I'll move this over to our online travel agents forum

Jenbel
Co-moderator Communitybuzz!

How about deleting it altogether, as it is a completely false and inflamatory statement......

Orbitz (and its fans) will say that technically, Orbitz isn't charging more for the same hotel or room, it's just showing you the more expensive hotels or rooms (and hiding the ones they would show Windows users on later pages and under different sort options).

Either way, Orbitz users on Mac computers now have a necessary extra step of checking whether they're really getting the best price.

One easy way to check is by going to the hotel's own site, and then you might as well book directly with the hotel.

Orbitz (and its fans) will say that technically, Orbitz isn't charging more for the same hotel or room, it's just showing you the more expensive hotels or rooms (and hiding the ones they would show Windows users on later pages and under different sort options).

Either way, Orbitz users on Mac computers now have a necessary extra step of checking whether they're really getting the best price.

One easy way to check is by going to the hotel's own site, and then you might as well book directly with the hotel.

As well as this is completely false and misleading. I am not a fan of Orbitz, but I am a fan of truth. They are not HIDING anything. You cannot HIDE something under sort options, and if you look further into this, the same hotels are simply a couple of options down, instead of being the very first thing you see. They are not on a different page. The page that comes up when you seach on Orbitz changes on a regular basis, so you should always look at more than the first option....

If you read further into this, on other websites, as well as this one, you will see.... or maybe you wont. Whichever, I give up. Big bad orbitz is out to get you.

Orbitz (and its fans) will say that technically, Orbitz isn't charging more for the same hotel or room, it's just showing you the more expensive hotels or rooms (and hiding the ones they would show Windows users on later pages and under different sort options).

Either way, Orbitz users on Mac computers now have a necessary extra step of checking whether they're really getting the best price.

One easy way to check is by going to the hotel's own site, and then you might as well book directly with the hotel.

this is absolutely incorrect. Orbitz determined through statistically siginificant data that mac users PREFER nicer properties, so they are showing them nicer properties. If anything, they are making it EASIER on Mac users because now they don't need to fish through junk hotels to find a nicer hotel at a good value. I don't understand why people think this is so horrible:confused:

Join the club - but some people get an idea based on half of the story and won't ever be open to actually understanding.

If anybody wants to understand this I'm happy to explain how this stuff works but I'm not going to encourage those with blinders on.

Orbitz (and its fans) will say that technically, Orbitz isn't charging more for the same hotel or room, it's just showing you the more expensive hotels or rooms (and hiding the ones they would show Windows users on later pages and under different sort options).

Either way, Orbitz users on Mac computers now have a necessary extra step of checking whether they're really getting the best price.

One easy way to check is by going to the hotel's own site, and then you might as well book directly with the hotel.

So when you click on a search in Orbitz you believe you are seeing each and every hotel room in an area? That they don't make any decision based on your past preferences, your browser, your home zip code, or anything else what to present to you?

If that was true, we would all have to go to page 45 before we got past the $15 a night fleabag places.

They are not hiding anything. They are doing what I as a customer would prefer, showing me options that they know I am interested in before any other junk that they know I'm not interested in.

Orbitz will also filter based on whether you've previously favored a particular brand, what other searches you've done in the past, whether you're including children in your search, and probably many other factors.

With any travel agent, I assume that the first things in the sort order are the properties that they most want to sell me, for one reason or another. I always change the sort - usually once to see what the 4 or 5 star hotels are charging and once to see what the cheapest bed among my preferred brands is. Maybe fine tune the sort one or two more times if I need to get a better feel for the market...what premium I'm paying for specific neighborhoods or quality levels.

So I don't really care what Orbitz's first sort is. (What does it say about Linux/Chrome users? What about Android mobile app users?) I'm going to fiddle with the sort no matter what.

solution
Dump the macbook.

i'm seeing totally different pricing for a flight to Europe later this summer if i use the website versus their mobile website on my android tablet. anyone seen that before?

i'm seeing totally different pricing for a flight to Europe later this summer if i use the website versus their mobile website on my android tablet. anyone seen that before?http://rewardslink.info/flash/images/18.gif

As in mobile versions of their site are more expensive? The last thing I need is to have to check prices on 3 different devices now. Ugh

this is absolutely incorrect. Orbitz determined through statistically siginificant data that mac users PREFER nicer properties, so they are showing them nicer properties. If anything, they are making it EASIER on Mac users because now they don't need to fish through junk hotels to find a nicer hotel at a good value. I don't understand why people think this is so horrible:confused:

Actually, they are showing the Mac users MORE EXPENSIVE properties, not NICER properties. My experience is that the correlation between cost and quality tends to be weak when the sales channel is compensated by commission.

In any case, I always alter the search criteria to either sort by location, or sort by price to get what I want using ANY online travel site.

As in mobile versions of their site are more expensive? The last thing I need is to have to check prices on 3 different devices now. Ugh

Actually the mobile version of Orbitz was quoting flights up to $300 cheaper than the website version.

multiple cheaper flights on different airlines were missing from the website results compared to the website.

hopefully it was a temp glitch but who knows.

Actually, they are showing the Mac users MORE EXPENSIVE properties, not NICER properties. My experience is that the correlation between cost and quality tends to be weak when the sales channel is compensated by commission.

In any case, I always alter the search criteria to either sort by location, or sort by price to get what I want using ANY online travel site.

actually you are wrong. they are showing NICER hotels (mainly 4 start as opposed to 3 star) that tend to be higher priced. they are not sorting on price, they are sorting on relative value and quality index.

they are showing NICER hotels (mainly 4 start as opposed to 3 star) that tend to be higher priced. they are not sorting on price, they are sorting on relative value and quality index.

WHO'S relative value and quality index?

From Orbitz back in May (before the WSJ selectively reported on it)

We've identified that Mac users are 40% more likely to book a four- or five-star hotel than PC users. A similar skew applies for iPad users. We can use that information to influence which hotels we recommend to users we see searching on a Mac or an iPad versus a PC for example.

On our website, once you get to the page for a particular property (let's call it "Hotel A") we show consumers a list of alternative hotel recommendations. This list is primarily made up of nearby properties that were ultimately booked by customers who had also viewed Hotel A. That's a pretty useful feature already, but we're then able to personalize that list by taking into account factors such as whether we see that the user is using a Mac or a PC.

Similarly, if you start a hotel search and tell us you want to visit Orlando this summer with your kids, you'd probably hope to see on that first page of results a list of hotels that include options like a swimming pool, rooms with two beds and free breakfast.

On the other hand if you are a romantic couple traveling without kids, you're likely going to want a hotel that has a more stylish feel, and potentially one that specifically doesn't cater to families. We're able to look at the way a given hotel's conversion varies based on whether or not the traveling party includes kids or not. Using this information we can create a "kid friendliness" score for hotels that are particularly preferred by people traveling with kids; similarly we're able to create a "kid avoidance" score for hotels that adults traveling without kids seem to avoid! Those scores are then used by the algorithms that decide which hotels to put at the top of the list of results we show to customers when they're searching on our site, based on whether we see them traveling with or without kids.

These are just a few examples that we're getting started with, but there's so much more opportunity for us to use techniques like this to deliver a more and more relevant set of options for our customers. We know that 90 percent of customers book a hotel from the results they see on the first page of results (typically the first 25 hotels). Furthermore we know that 50 percent of customers book one of the top five properties we show, and a remarkable 25% book the top sorted property. If we're not showing relevant options to our customers, they will look elsewhere to make their selection. Getting a highly relevant set of options into those first five slots is really critical for us, and we think there is huge opportunity here for us to use personalization to improve the trip planning experience for our customers.

WHO'S relative value and quality index?

Sort of begs the question: who assigns the stars to hotels in any given travel site? The 4's an 5's are thrown around like water...we know these aren't Forbes or even AAA 5-star or 5-diamond hotels.

Some countries have hospitality boards that assign ratings. Some don't. Seems like in many cases, Orbitz can perfectly legally gloss any hotel they like as a 5-star. It's in their business interest to remain credible about it overall, but there's still a lot of latitude.

(Not that this has anything to do with operating systems. It's not like Hotel A is shown as a 4-star to a Mac user and a 3-star to an Android user.)