United is partnering with Buy.com to sell discounted travel:
http://www.ual.com/admin/Press_View_...sp?rec_nbr=529

I've used Buy.com for books and computer equipment numerous times, with no problems.

Well, it's a travel site and their will be bargains, but it doesn't look like it will be the "reverse auction" format used by Priceline, which doesn't surprise me since Priceline has the format patented so theoretically no one else can use it without paying royalties to Priceline.

You're certainly correct that it doesn't look like a true Priceline auction structure. My use of a question mark in the topic name was more tongue-in-cheek.

Nevertheless there may be some valid logic to United's venture. As other forums have commented Priceline is a hit and miss proposition, with most of their tickets coming from a couple of airlines (Delta, TWA, and soon-Continental). If United posts a decent selection of deeply discounted (albeit highly restricted) fares they can capture travelers who dislike the uncertainty of the auction concept. If United also allows mileage accumulation, they in addition capture their loyal clientele (please UAL, don't make an error on this point).

This type of concept is also a continuation of UAL's slow methodical attempt to minimize the travel agent distribution network, and its perceived high expense factor.

But then again, I've been wrong before ...

Don't get me wrong, I'll give anything a chance if it means more opportunities for me to travel at a more reasonable cost! I like this too ... but we'll have to see how it works out in practice. This may end up being nothing more than another way to by E-Fares, which as you know we can already do easy enough!

No other sites can use a "true Priceline auction strucutre" as Priceline has applied and received a patenton their business model.

Ken ... you would think that's true ... but the new system Budget is using to bid on rental cars at their site looks suspiciously like Priceline ....

Other sites can use they system, they would just have to pay royalties to Priceline for using their patent ...

Thanks Tom, I didn't think of it that way...