Orbitz Offers User Generated Airport Advice
Duncan Riley
21 comments »
Orbitz TLC Traveler Update is a new service from well known online travel company Orbitz - it provides quick, P2P generated travel reports. That means travelers can get information on delays, cancellations, weather and other issues way before official announcements are made.
Traveler Update starts with the basics; users have access to TSA wait times, weather information, traffic (pulled from Google Maps), and general information including WiFi access and parking details. Where the service is trying to be different is with the remaining feature: user generated advice.
People using any airport in the United States are encouraged to submit airport advice to the site from the airport itself. Tips can be made anonymously or by registered Orbitz members, and the service also includes a mobile version for easy access via cell phone.
Like any service that relies in user generated content, it’s only ever as good as the number of users contributing to it; the service went live Monday so it’s not extensive yet, but it is already seeing contributions from airport hotspots. Earlier today there were delays at Chicago O’Hare Airport and there were several pages of user advice direct from the airport, including details of flight delays and cancellations, where Taxi’s were readily available, security delays and other information that someone heading for the airport, or at the airport might find useful.
It’s a good idea, and if it builds user numbers it will become an even better service. Worth a look the next time you are flying in the United States.
I like Orbitz to begin with, this seems like a great idea. Nice.
oh boy anonymous updates - the fun this will have once the kiddies find it
Isn’t that supposed to be *user generated airport advice Duncan?
It was user before…hmmmm….
“User Generated [Airport] Advice” — like, which bathroom stall might cost you your senate seat…
hey, thats cool, will give it a closer look. Thanks.
Anonymous updates are difficult to be trusted.
Btw,why should techcrunch post new posts daily?If nothing exciting is happening,they can remain silent or invite posts from asian countries
I have never used Orbitz, but what degree of trust can you have on a service like this? How do they apply verification?
Something similar to this, but with a focus on net connectivity, at all the world’s airports, is called atlarge.com, set up by the guys at CNET. Worth a look.
@Fabian
On the Orbitz site (http://updates.orbitz.com) users/contributors’ updates and tips can be rated for how useful/helpful they are. This adds an element of trust among the Orbitz community. A bogus posting isn’t going to get high marks from others for being helpful, just as helpful contributors will be ranked highly for how trustworthy their comments are.
Plus, with the numerous travelers in an airport at any given time, unhelpful comments will be rated as such quickly.
Orbitz certainly appreciates your input and questions. Orbitz has built in as trustworthy a system as possible for use by travelers, and will continue to build on this as the Orbitz TLC Traveler Update grows beyond its beta presence… with help from customers and comments just like this one.
Forget this crap! Use MSN-Car-Airport Advisor!
http://fakesteveballmer.blogspot.com
Please add information for smokers to find the best places to get their fix with most convenience/luxury) (eg. remaining in secured area, purchase of food and drink, etc.) I route my east coast trips through Charlotte instead of D.C. because of their smoking lounges.
Uh oh. We better get to work on our site quick.
it’s a good idea because people will want to complain (or rave) about the airport
Hope they keep it positive. I’d rather know about the best ways to take advantage what the airports have to offer than just read about everyone’s bad experiences.
For a full reveiw of Orbitz TLC from the Mobile Web 2.0 perspective come visit, http://www.mobilepointview.com.....itz-t.html . Through the lense of communities and mobile web, I’ve put it through it’s paces.