TripIt Pro Now Tackles Flight Refunds

Alright, it's time to kick out the jams. We've just added some powerful new benefits to TripIt Pro and the world needs to know. (In the interest of full disclosure, I'm feeling a little feisty after repeated views of the video embedded below, especially the 4 second segment from 1:25-1:29.)

The big news is that TripIt Pro now alerts you if the price you paid for an airline ticket drops enough that you could get a refund or a credit. Refund tracking works for most domestic flights in the US. After a few weeks in beta, we've seen about 1 in 15 eligible air reservations get a refund alert. People have been reporting credits ranging from $10 to $600 or more, net of airline change fees. Here's what one person had to say:

“I’ve had TripIt Pro for about two days. The fare-monitoring feature has already earned me a total of $340 in a refund that I never would have sought without the TripIt notification. At the current annual cost of TripIt Pro, I’ve paid for almost seven years of service. Not bad, huh?”
Gary H., Minneapolis, MN

Not bad at all. :)

In addition to refund tracking, TripIt Pro subscribers now enjoy two additional exclusive benefits:

1. Complimentary one-year Hertz #1 Club Gold membership (value $60)
   #1 Club Gold lets busy travelers take advantage of greater speed and expedited service when renting a car from Hertz at over 1,100 locations. Hertz is also providing special members-only discounted rates to TripIt Pro members.
2. Complimentary one-year Regus Businessworld Gold membership (value $600)
   Membership provides access to over 1,100 business lounges in 500 cities worldwide, featuring office space, free wifi, and support services to stay productive while on the road.

Last but not least, we're thrilled to announce that all of the benefits of TripIt Pro (refund tracking, flight alerts, alternate flights, point tracking, inner circle, Hertz #1 Club Gold, and Regus Businessworld Gold) are now more affordable than ever at a new, lower price of $49 per year. Even more than ever, TripIt Pro pays for itself.

Don't take my word for it, See for yourself! Start your 30 day free trial at http://tripit.com/pro.

Comments

[l myers]

So how do i turn this on???? the Yapta thing was a pain in the backside and not at all worth the hassle. Is there a simpler way now that means i don't have to go monitor and enter, etc?

[Will Aldrich]

@l myers: if you're a TripIt Pro subscriber there's nothing to turn on. It's automatic.

You can learn more about refund tracking at http://help.tripit.com/entries/256606-airfare-refund-alerts-for-tripit-pro

thanks!

[Jq28]

Will you considering adding the same feature outside the US?

[Patrick]

This sounds very cool. I've only used basic tripit until now, but the refund feature sounds too good to pass up (or be true)...

Will the airfare refund feature work with corporate arranged travel through companies like Egencia?

[Abbey]

Are any of the lounges located in airports, or are the 1,000 business lounges at specifically Regus facilities?

[Herb Mann]

The Free version does not show seat asssignments nor gate assignments nor terminal. Does Pro do that?

[Jim]

If you would add WestJet and other Canadian airlines to the service I would become a pro-user for sure (I'm currently in the free trial). Do you have a time line for this?

[Jeff Matthews]

I would like the ability to see seat assignment also. For now I check Tripit for most all information, but must use the delta emails to check seating b

[wharings]

The Pro Version does include seat and gate assignments. It's also handy for connection time and gate change updates right when you land on a connection.

[Robin Wilcox]

Does the refund tracking work in Europe or just the US.

[David Bellaire]

How do I take advantage of the Regus membership? Where can I get more information?

[penny davis]

will this work with southwest flights? yapta wouldn't track those???

[Will Aldrich]

@Jq28 Jim, and Robin Wilcox: We are considering offering refund tracking outside the US, but we're not sure when or if we will roll it out. The fare refund rules and change fees for different airlines and different locales (for both intra- and international flights) vary extensively, so it's not trivial. We will certainly keep you posted on this.

@Patrick: TripIt Pro's refund tracking will compare the price you paid for your air reservation to the lowest publicly available economy-class, non-refundable fare. All decisions about whether you get a credit are completely up to the airline.

@David Bellaire: click the TripIt Pro tab when you're signed into TripIt.com and you'll see links to Regus and Hertz on the right side.

@penny davis: Refund tracking does work with Southwest flights. The complete list of supported airlines is at http://help.tripit.com/entries/256606-airfare-refund-alerts-for-tripit-pro

[John OMalley]

What date commenced fare watching? I have trips already posted. Financial costs were included and it is on approved airlines. Is there an icon designating fare watching is active? Do I need to resubmit the itineraries again? Is fare watching retroactive to what was previously submitted?

[Paula Zarazua]

I'm curious how this works for Travel Arrangers? I have not yet signed up for Tripit Pro, because I don't see the benefit for arrangers that are managing other people's travel. Can you clarify?

Also, if I book for multiple people, how do I prevent trips from combining when I have more than one person traveling to a different destination at the same time?

[Helen Lamothe]

I used Tripit this past summer and it was amazing. I use an iPhone and having all my flight.hotel and cruise info easily available and viewable was critical when working with reservationagents in foreign countries. I just opened the app and showed them my phone and voila, confusion was gone. It also made hotel checkin while on a US road trip a breeze. You just show them the reservation screen and not only are the checkin staff able to see what they need, they smile at how easy it is. Hubby and I were very impressed. Only draw back is once the trip is complete the info is gone - so I push it to TripDeck so the info is available for reference after the trip. Maybe there is an easier way?

[Simon]

is there a way too add the flights times to iCal with an option button? in the pro or free versions?

[Ted Wendel]

I am a TripIt pro account. How do I access the Regus benefit?

[Angie Ryan]

Ted, to access the Regus benefit, go to the TripIt Pro page in your account, and click the Regus link in the box on the right hand side. Enter promo code TripIt Pro when you sign up for Regus businessworld gold.

[Kim]

Hi - What if I am already a member of Hertz Club Gold? Will a new yearly membership through TripIt Pro begin when my personal membership expires?

[Will Aldrich]

@Kim Our friends at Hertz suggested that you wait for your current membership to expire and re-enroll via TripIt Pro. If you were to try to enroll again now, it would be seen as a duplicate and might not work.

[Tammie Helm]

Do you expect to support Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards soon? I use them most often and want to track my kids' RR accounts as well. This would make the difference on whether I need TripIt Pro or not.

[Rudolf]

What would be nice is if you could add a feature that keeps track of the EU rules on refunds for planes that are too late etc. These rules are quite extensive and there is good business to be made from autofiling complaints.

I personally once got a 600 euro refund on a trip AMS-Malaga because of Iberia messing up. Let's say you guys get 10% for helping out

[BBBBBB]

What is a Regus Business Lounge?

The regus website doesn't spell it out. My first thought was that Regus had worked a deal with all of the airline lounges in all of the Airports. I am so greedy because no way in hell that is the case.

My guess is this means you can go to the "lounge" located in any Regus location. My company used to rent office space from Regus. It was top notch and it had a "lounge" which was basically a kitchen with an internet connected computer, snacks, etc. Not bad but when I'm on the road, I doubt I'll go out of my way to visit them. but if they had locations in an airport, whole new ballgame. So what's the deal?

[Antonio]

What are the features available to those of us outside of the US? In the UK and would love to have all the Pro features I am also paying for, but only available across the pond...
If you consider that the EU has now a market of around 400 million souls (though not harmonized it is moving that way) hence an interesting market for you?