Orbitz Names Travel Partners � Sets Launch Timetable

CHICAGO, IL � September 2000 � Orbitz recently named three new partnerships with leading car rental and cruise companies, and announced a launch schedule that includes what the company claims will be one of the largest online beta tests ever undertaken.

Orbitz, a travel Web site founded and funded by American, Continental, Delta, Northwest and United airlines, also announced agreements with five consumer oriented content providers.

A surprising aspect of the Orbitz announcement today is the delay of almost a year before the Web site will be open for business.  E-commerce, certainly including online travel sales, is evolving rapidly. By the time Orbitz opens its virtual doors, already strong competitors such as Expedia and Travelocity will be even more entrenched in the consumer's mind.

"These partners will help Orbitz become the most comprehensive travel site on the Web, and enable consumers to quickly and easily find the best prices and most unbiased travel information," said Jeffrey Katz, chairman, president and chief executive officer. "We are committed to setting a new standard for customer service. A phased-in launch that includes a monster beta test will ensure that Orbitz can handle the transaction volume and deliver the reliability and service levels consumers deserve."

Katz said that Orbitz' large beta test will include at least 100,000 registered consumers "to ensure the site delivers the highest level of service with the greatest ease-of-use. Each consumer participating in the beta test will agree to provide feedback on site features and functionality, so improvements can be made before the site goes public."

Orbitz will use search engine technology developed by ITA Software, a company founded by engineers from the MIT Artificial Intelligence Lab. Orbitz and ITA have said the search engine will offer greater capability than any other travel Web site because it will scan all airline data to find the lowest fare for you.

Beginning in October, Orbitz will offer consumers free access to an airline fare search engine. Consumers registered to participate in the beta test will be able to book flights through Orbitz beginning in February. In April, the beta will be expanded to include the purchase of car, hotel, cruise and vacation packages. In June, once the site's features, functions and customer service model have been fully tested, the company will launch its consumer marketing campaign and officially launch the site.

"Research shows consumers simply don't trust existing travel sites that dominate the Web today to always show them the best fares and travel arrangements," said Katz. "We are phasing our launch to overcome that distrust and win consumer confidence in Orbitz. By allowing a huge number of beta testers to experience Orbitz, and by making adjustments based on their valuable feedback, we will make sure our site exceeds customer expectations and delivers the highest level of customer service on the Web � before and after they make their travel arrangements."

The rental car and cruise partners announced today include:

Advantage Rent-A-Car, of San Antonio, Tex., which has locations across Texas and throughout the western US. Advantage is the largest independently owned car rental company in the west with more than 100 locations in the US and Mexico and more than 12,000 vehicles.

Hertz, of Park Ridge, N.J., the world's leading vehicle-renting organization. Hertz' Worldwide Reservations System delivers approximately 30 million reservations annually. The company is represented in over 140 countries, operating a fleet of 525,000 vehicles from approximately 6,500 locations.

National Leisure Group (NLG), of Woburn, Mass., has been in business for over 15 years and currently employs over 500 people between its two enormous reservation centers in Woburn, Mass., and Virginia Beach, Va., as well as its 29 retail locations throughout the Northeast. NLG along with its partners are the nation's premier providers of vacation and cruise packages direct to consumers. They sell over $200 million in vacations annually via private label partnerships with leading Internet, retail and credit card companies.

Hertz and Advantage Rent-A-Car join Orbitz as charter associates, meaning the companies will offer a collection of its Internet-only rates on orbitz.com. NLG will be the exclusive reseller of cruise services to Orbitz. NLG will supply trips with the top eight international cruise lines and have access to 80% of all cruise berths.

Orbitz also announced agreements with the following companies, which will provide the site with a variety of consumer-oriented content:

Accuweather, of State College, Pa., the leading supplier of weather on the Web, providing content for more than 1,000 Internet sites.

Lonely Planet, of Melbourne, Australia and in Oakland, Calif., publishes the world's best guidebooks for independent travelers. The Lonely Planet books are known worldwide for reliable, insightful, pull-no-punches travel information, maps, photos, and background historical and cultural information. There are currently more than 200 Lonely Planet titles in print.

MapQuest, of Richmond, Va., a subsidiary of America Online, Inc., is a leading provider of online, voice and wireless mapping, directions and destination information solutions. MapQuest.com is the leading provider of maps on the Internet and utilizes wireless technologies to provide travelers with ongoing access to mapping and driving directions.

OANDA, a leading developer of currency conversion and localization applications, makes essential currency information easily accessible. OANDA has won wide acclaim as the best source for foreign exchange rates.

Zagat Survey, the premiere provider of survey-based dining, lodging and leisure information. Zagat Survey has restaurant guides available in 45 markets across the US and internationally, as well as US and International Hotel and Resort guides Zagat Survey is a privately held corporation.

Katz said Orbitz will become the first Web site to offer travelers a comprehensive, unbiased view of travel fares, schedules, and rates for destinations around the world. The site will be the first to integrate the Web-only fares, flights and available seats for thirty airlines. Orbitz has licensed a host of new technologies to greatly improve consumer travel planning on the Web.

Contact:
Carol Jouzaitis
Phone: (312) 632-1574
Stacey Spencer
Phone: (312) 632-1539
Orbitz Web Site

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