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Orbitz showing more expensive fares to Mac users

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  • Description

    Travel site steering people to pricier hotels

  • Duration 2:53
  • Date

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-- -- -- story out today about how one website is giving customers different choices.

And perhaps different prices.

Based on the computer they use.

It turns out travelers using an Apple Computer to log on Orbitz dot com for reservations may be paying more.

Then folks who use windows.

Reports say the site -- showing price here packages first to customers who use the apple equipment.

Shibani Joshi with the Fox's network and -- here she's here to explain -- Either make and it sounds strange but it's completely true and it happens all the time in its legal -- Their process called it data mining -- online web sites get information about you.

For example where you may be logging in from and also your search history on your computer -- deliver you a more targeted result.

But online travel website Orbitz taking as -- further -- targeting.

Travelers potential travelers based on the type of computer at that they're logging in from and they're doing this for a very good reason because.

-- their research in their data mining efforts they've been able to glean that Mac users spend about twenty to thirty dollars more per night on a hotel room.

They're also about 40% more likely to book a four or five star hotel and then on average.

They've -- more expensive hotel rooms and PC users now let's be very clear about what's happening there -- gets what is not happening is that a PC user isn't getting cheaper hotel price -- a Mac user what's happening instead is -- a Mac user may be given for example a hotel room at the top of their list.

On the higher.

High higher and price -- site for example being delivered a four seasons option vs a high option are Ritz Carlton option vs a west an option.

If you -- -- be target in this way luckily we do have some choices out there right now for you.

The competition is not targeting new right now based on what type of computer your -- in front.

So if you wanna go -- travelocity Priceline or others you can avoid it altogether though I have a feeling -- Competitions learning a little something from orbit so that difference may not last for too much of this -- very elitist to me.

They're making ulcers and assumptions.

That may or may not be accurate I guess a little guilt by Ritz Carlton right -- now be you know what is amazing.

In the Canadian is that.

Overall on the PC market nine point 8% overall users -- enact.

But on average they -- 20000.

Dollars more than PC users.

They're just richer may be -- -- in that computers are more expensive and they're willing to spend a little bit mark and marketers are getting pretty savvy about how they target.

Unbelievable I don't know they act like Connecticut they appear and everything today than -- that -- like Gmail makes it feels uncomfortable it's like what did you know I wanted to -- need to get get out.

-- -- need to go -- online travel that they need to keep those offices opens you can avoid that altogether survived thank you things.

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