SmallBizResource Blog -- Internet

Yapta Stops The Airlines From Taking You For A Ride

Posted by Gayle Kesten Friday, Oct 10, 2008, 12:24 PM ET

What goes up, must come down. No, this isn't a blog about the stock market; conversely, it's about a way you could actually wind up with a few extra dollars in your pocket. I'm serious!

I was bemoaning the cost of flights for the holiday season (those rat-b's really know how to getcha) when a colleague mentioned Yapta.com, an online flight-tracking service that monitors ticket prices for your desired route. The service, which launched last year, follows flights for you based on the parameters you provide, including dates of travel, number of travelers, and preferred airlines (choose three from a choice of 25). Yapta tracks the fares, alerts you to their status, and when you're ready to buy, links you to straight to the carrier.

But, wait! There's more! Yapta continues to monitor your flight's price post-purchase, so should the cost of your ticket come down, you'll know to call in for a refund. Should the price go up, you can bask in the glory of having made your purchase when you did -- which is exactly what I've been doing. Knowing full well that airline tickets were no way going down between now and Dec. 25, I booked a flight for my family literally one month ago today. Since I made those reservations, I've received four weekly "flight activity summaries" from Yapta telling me the ticket price has soared by $165.

In other words, from ridiculously expensive to outrageously expensive.

Just an FYI, Yapta is running a promotion for first-time users who register with the service this month (no purchase necessary). Prizes include a variety of gift cards ranging in value from $10 to $500. For more details, click here.

Internet