TripIt, the itinerary-management company, expanded its TripIt Pro premium service to support international mobile alerts, international billing and point-tracking for numerous loyalty programs outside the U.S.
As with the U.S. launch of TripIt Pro in the summer, non-U.S. subscribers to TripIt Pro can lock in a charter member rate at $49 per year if they sign on by the end of November, and renew annually at that rate. If they subscribe later, the rate would be $69 per year.
TripIt co-founder and President Gregg Brockway says he was shocked at the volume of requests for the service that came from outside the U.S., and the international launch meets that need.
Supported airline loyalty programs now include: Air Canada Aero Plan, Air France Flying Blue, Alitalia MilleMiglia, Alaska Mileage Plan, American AAdvantage, BMI Diamond Club, British Airways Executive Club, Continental OnePass, Emirates Skywards, Frontier, Delta SkyMiles, Iberia Plus, JetBlue Airways TrueBlue, KLM Flying Blue, Lufthansa Miles and More, Mexicana Frequenta, New Zealand Airpoints, Northwest WorldPerks, Qantas Frequent Flyer, Southwest Rapid Rewards, TAP Air Portugal Victoria, United Mileage Plus, US Airways Dividend Miles, Virgin America Elevate, and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.
Despite the move to expand loyalty program coverage to Europe and Asia-Pacific, Brockway says TripIt has no plans at this juncture to launch websites outside the U.S. That might come, he says, if TripIt decides to supports languages other than English.
Brockway acknowledges that there is a lot of competition these days in itinerary management, which he terms "the hottest part of the travel category."
He says "long term it's good" because competition brings more attention to itinerary management, much as the early brawls among the first online travel agencies helped draw notice and traffic.
Brockway characterizes Kayak's recent entry into the field with Kayak Trips as "incredibly flattering."
Flattering or not, new players and a more pressurized market will keep everyone on their toes.