UPDATE: When is the launch of a new website not a launch ? When the website actually was launched more than a half-dozen years ago and when a major brand successfully hoodwinks a reporter.
It turns out that AirportRentalCars.com has been in the Priceline.com family since around 2003, when Priceline acquired Breezenet.com, RentalCars.com and associated domains.
So, in a bow to transparency, I confess that I was misled by Priceline and erred this morning when I wrote that "Priceline launches new airport car rental website."
In fact, here's a 2004 press release from Priceline announcing the launch of an enhanced AirportRentalCars.com.
So, why the error?
The following email came in to my inbox this morning from Priceline: "This morning, Priceline announced the launch of AirportRentalCars.com. This is a travel planning and reservations website that was created specifically for the flying traveler who wants a single website where she can get real-time flight information, driving directions and the latest weather forecasts, and book rental cars and hotel rooms."
A little detail missing in the email -- that actually it was a relaunch or redesign, and not a first-time launch.
The Priceline spokesman who sent me the email knows the difference between the two, and I should have been aware about the prior existence of AirportRentalCars.com.
A shoutout to a Tnooz reader who pointed me to the error.
Lesson learned.
The original story follows.
Priceline launched a new U.S. website, AirportRentalCars.com, geared for travelers who want a single website for rental car bookings, flight information, driving directions and weather forecasts, Priceline says.
And oh, by the way, despite the name AirportRentalCars.com, it also has off-airport car rentals and offers hotels, as well.
The site offers 16 car rental brands, the ability to insert promo codes for discounts, and printable terminal maps for major airports, Priceline says.
Visitors to the site aren't bombarded with Priceline branding, although there are ads referring users to Priceline's Name Your Own Price for car rentals if they want to get discounts by pre-paying for their reservations. In contrast, no credit card is required for most reservations on AirportRentalCars.com.
A Priceline spokesman says AirportRentalCars.com was built for a subset of Priceline's user base and has nothing to do with Priceline's acquisition of car rental brand TravelJigSaw in May 2010.