Expedia unveils new interface for flight booking app

A new interface has been created for Expedia.co.uk’s mobile app to allow flight bookings on 139 airlines.

A new interface has been created for Expedia.co.uk’s mobile app to allow flight bookings on 139 airlines.

New destination images are being used to support mobile-only hotel discounts of up 30%.

The upgrade comes on the back of a study showing that more than 60% of people using the mobile app are booking within 24 hours of their stay and more than 80% opt for a hotel within 10 miles of their location.

As a result, the app default settings are designed around bookings in the next few days.

UK and Ireland managing director Andy Washington said: “10% of Expedia customers are already using a mobile device to make a booking, and this trend will only continue to grow with Juniper research predicting mobile shopping will increase by 50% by 2014.

“Our job is to make the mobile experience quick and simple for those wanting to make reservations on the go.

“Our app is not just bringing the desktop experience to mobile, but using the platform to create such an intuitive, simple experience it masks the underlying intelligence behind it.”

He added: “We are a marketplace. People come to us to explore a broad range of flight and hotel booking options.

“The ability to refine that choice in seconds is increasingly important to help people to quickly find the right travel options for them, wherever they are. With the new update we’re giving travellers everything they need to book whilst on the go in a rich and engaging app designed with mobile at its core.

“Expedia launched the upgrade to the app in the US at the end of last year and have seen a very positive response so far.

“We see increasing numbers of customers coming to us through mobile channels but with still just over half of regular travellers in the UK owning a smartphone – according to Forrester – there is still enormous potential for growth in mobile for the travel industry.”