Could Flexible Group Booking Take off Thanks to This Little-Known Airline?

A nationally recognized reporter, writer, and consumer advocate, Ed Perkins focuses on how travelers can find the best deals and avoid scams.

He is the author of "Online Travel" (2000) and "Business Travel: When It's Your Money" (2004), the first step-by-step guide specifically written for small business and self-employed professional travelers. He was also the co-author of the annual "Best Travel Deals" series from Consumers Union.

Perkins' advice for business travelers is featured on MyBusinessTravel.com, a website devoted to helping small business and self-employed professional travelers find the best value for their travel dollars.

Perkins was founding editor of Consumer Reports Travel Letter, one of the country's most influential travel publications, from which he retired in 1998. He has also written for Business Traveller magazine (London).

Perkins' travel expertise has led to frequent television appearances, including ABC's "Good Morning America" and "This Week with David Brinkley," "The CBS Evening News with Dan Rather," CNN, and numerous local TV and radio stations.

Before editing Consumer Reports Travel Letter, Perkins spent 25 years in travel research and consulting with assignments ranging from national tourism development strategies to the design of computer-based tourism models.

Born in Evanston, Illinois, Perkins lives in Ashland, Oregon with his wife.

See recent posts by Ed Perkins

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In the airline business, bad ideas are a lot easier to find than good ones. But a recent development from Hungary’s Wizz Air is, surprisingly, one I’d like to see others copy.

The low-fare line’s Flexible Travel Partner service allows one person to book a flight for up to 10 passengers. Wizz Air requires only the buyer’s name and data, leaving the other firm reservations “open” for adding names and details until three hours before departure. The fare for all travelers is locked in at the time of initial purchase. The service costs about $13 per Wizz Air passenger.

Clearly, this deal won’t affect everyone: U.S. and Canadian travelers aren’t likely to fly with Wizz. But it’s an interesting improvement that could make life much easier for at least a few travelers, and for many more if it catches on.

Bad ideas get copied quickly in the airline business. Let’s hope that this good idea has some legs, as well.

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Consumer advocate Ed Perkins has been writing about travel for more than three decades. The founding editor of the Consumer Reports Travel Letter, he continues to inform travelers and fight consumer abuse every day at SmarterTravel.

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