Without a doubt, TripIt is one of the best online travel tools I’ve come across. With very little effort, TripIt creates consolidated travel itineraries including air, hotel, and car, enabling automatic calendar integration and sharing. They even introduced an iPhone app, putting the itinerary, along with helpful links to maps and flight tracking, right in your pocket whether online or off. The company cleverly combs forwarded confirmation emails from just about every travel company and web site, extracting the pertinent bits.
I’ve become a TripIt ambassador, inviting all of my co-workers and close friends to join in. But free services have their limits, and I have long wondered how TripIt would monetize their business. The company has been partnering with airlines (like Virgin America) and airport shuttle services, but partnerships don’t keep the lights on. Eventually the company would have to find a way to make money.
The answer arrived in my inbox this morning. TripIt is introducing an optional “TripIt Pro” version which adds automatic monitoring of itineraries, notifying if your flight is delayed, for example, as well as mobile alerts. This version will cost end-users $9.95 per month (once the trial period ends).
Although I love TripIt, I’m not sure if this upgrade is worth nearly $120 per year. Airlines already send alerts of delayed or cancelled flights to my phone via email or SMS. I trust that TripIt’s alerts will be more uniform and helpful, but I doubt they’ll be that much better. For now, I’m holding off on TripIt Pro.
The company does have plans to add alternate flight options in the future, which might start adding serious value. If they can say “go to the Delta counter within the next 10 minutes to get re-booked to Boston” I’d be all over it! I’d also like to see better integration with Exchange and iPhone calendars than the current simple ICS subscription. But let’s think bigger than this.
As a frequent flier, I’d love it if TripIt could help manage my airline and hotel mileage accounts. What if it suggested ways of maximizing their value, keeping track of upgrade “stickers” and the like? What if the company monitored the latest mileage promotions? I’d also love it if they included airport tips, like which restaurant at Chicago O’Hare serves edible food (Maccaroni Grill near gate K2) and where to find a power outlet (in the outermost corridor between E and F). TripIt already points to SeatGuru’s amazing aircraft information, but how about integrating this information right into the itinerary? And I’d love to see a combination of TripIt and Kayak!
What do you think? What can TripIt add to make its Pro service worthwhile to the frequent flier?
WorldMate Live already pushes you flight alerts, and once you get them – you can get alternate flights with one clicks. And that’s just one of many things it does that Tripit doesn’t…
Tripit is good. But if you want to save some money you can rely to LMT or LastMinuteTravel they can have that services too. Also they can book you for a flight and hotel where you can stay in your vacation. Hotels that are good and also with a good price. Try them also as I have always get their good deals when having my vacation to other countries.
That was a great news about Tripit. Yeah it would be more good if they can also provide those that you are suggesting. It would be more easier for the travelers, more easier for them to fix the things needed in traveling.
That would be so great if all that you suggests are included. TripIt has been one of the best online travel tool.It really help a lot to the travelers.
That would be so great if all that you suggests are included. TripIt has been one of the best online travel tool.It really help a lot to the travelers.
I think it is all very interesting. If it is not very expensive with all the best because we’re finding good locations. For the rest of the trip with our family.
this is such a great step to take forward…