Oct 24, 2000 - San Francisco, Calif. - Consumers seeking the best deals on their travel plans got a big lift today with the launch of Hotwire - a new Web site for price-conscious consumers who want to save money without the usual hassles. Hotwire has partnered with the leading airlines to create a new service that will change the way leisure travelers buy airline tickets on the Web. With Hotwire, the most trusted carriers compete in an open market for consumer traveler's business - creating a quick and easy process that provides travelers with discounts of up to 40% or more over traditional outlets. Hotwire delivers these big savings in just a few minutes versus the multiple hour research process travelers often go through when trying to save money on their travel plans.

"Many people are fed up with the hassles of buying travel online," said Karl Peterson, Hotwire's Co-founder and CEO. "We listened to their needs, and created a site that has the best of everything - trusted brands, the lowest prices, a quick and easy experience, and quality customer service. With Hotwire, we tell you the best price up front, so you won't have to guess or worry about overpaying for your trip."

Airlines use Hotwire to discount and sell inventory that would otherwise go unsold. By allowing the specific airline to remain anonymous during the pricing process, Hotwire helps generate incremental demand and permits the airlines to discount more aggressively than they can in their traditional channels. For example, Hotwire recently sold a ticket from Los Angeles (LAX) to Atlanta (ATL) with only three days prior to departure for $312 round-trip. This same itinerary on a major airline was listed for more than $1,100 at traditional travel sites, including those of the airlines themselves. Hotwire will have incredible discounts for last minute travel planners, but also those who plan well in advance.

To use Hotwire, customers simply enter desired destination, and the dates they wish to travel. Within seconds, customers are quoted a low price and are given 30 minutes to purchase the flight from Hotwire. Unlike other sites, Hotwire customers are not locked into a commitment or asked to submit their credit card before they know exactly how much their purchase will cost - in fact, they are even encouraged to check out other sources to see if they can beat Hotwire's unbelievably low fares before they decide to buy. Hotwire believes that a great trip starts with a great deal, so the company offers only the most trusted brands with none of the usual hassles.

About Hotwire
Hotwire's founding airline partners include American, America West, Continental, Northwest, United, and U.S. Airways, ensuring customers will travel on a quality airline every time. In addition, Hotwire will expand its services to include rental cars, hotels and international travel later this year, enabling customers to get more great deals from trusted brands for all their leisure travel needs. Hotwire was established in 1999 in San Francisco, Calif., with an initial $75 million investment from Texas Pacific Group and its founding airline partners. For more information, visit www.hotwire.com.