Priceline

Priceline.com, founded in 1997 by Jay S. Walker and launched in 1998, revolutionized the travel industry with its patented ‘Name Your Own Price’ system, allowing consumers to bid on airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, and vacation packages.[1][4][6] Backed initially by Walker Digital patents and investments, the company went public in 1999 during the dot-com boom, becoming an overnight sensation with one of the hottest IPOs ever.[2][5] It quickly expanded from opaque bidding on flights to include hotels, cars, cruises, and even non-travel ventures like groceries, mortgages, and telecom services, though it later streamlined to focus on core travel offerings.[1][2][3] Priceline pioneered selling ‘perishable inventory’—unsold airline seats, hotel rooms, and cars—helping suppliers maximize revenue while offering travelers deep discounts on last-minute deals.[4][7] In 2014, it rebranded its parent as The Priceline Group (now Booking Holdings), operating in over 200 countries with partnerships across 400+ airlines and 300,000+ hotels, supporting 43 languages and generating billions in revenue.[4][5][6]

Today, Priceline serves as a leading online travel agency (OTA), blending its original bidding model with transparent search-and-book options for flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and packages.[6][7] Shoppers choose Priceline for unbeatable deals on opaque inventory, where buyers select dates, locations, and star ratings but reveal exact details post-purchase for non-refundable savings up to 60% off retail.[4][7] Its global reach, commission-based model (around 14-15%), and evolution into a one-stop travel shop make it ideal for budget-conscious adventurers seeking flexibility and value, especially during off-peak or last-minute bookings.[4][5] As part of Booking Holdings, Priceline benefits from massive scale, booking millions of tickets and room nights annually while maintaining its disruptive roots.[5]

How to Save More at Priceline

1. Use ‘Name Your Own Price’ for maximum savings on flights, hotels, and cars, but be flexible with exact details as they’re revealed post-purchase.
2. Book Express Deals for known prices with hidden hotel or flight names to get up to 60% off without bidding.
3. Search mid-week or off-peak for better availability in opaque inventory, as airlines and hotels offload perishable seats/rooms.
4. Combine Priceline with price comparison tools before bidding to ensure competitive offers, and avoid peak holidays for best results.

Best Times to Shop at Priceline

Best sales occur during company anniversaries (e.g., ‘Tweniversary’ with $50M savings), mid-week Tuesdays-Thursdays, post-holidays in January/February, and last-minute for perishable inventory; flash sales and Black Friday/Cyber Monday also feature deep discounts.

Priceline Loyalty Program

Priceline does not have a dedicated public loyalty program like VIP tiers or points; savings come via deals, promo codes, and the Name Your Own Price model. As part of Booking Holdings, indirect benefits may tie to sister brands like Booking.com’s Genius levels.

Priceline Coupon Policy

• Stacking: Priceline does not typically allow stacking of multiple promo codes; only one code per booking.
• Exclusions: Coupons often exclude Express Deals, Name Your Own Price bookings, non-refundable rates, and certain high-demand periods or partners.
• Price Adjustments: No standard price adjustment policy; bookings are generally non-changeable, especially for opaque deals.

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