Orbitz Starts Directing Mac Users to Pricier Lodging
You've heard of the so-called 'Apple Tax' in which Apple branded computers carry a premium for the same or similar parts compared to their Windows-based brethren (we took a detailed examination of whether or not the Apple Tax is real in late 2010), but since when do Apple users have to pay more for unrelated services like hotel lodging? Since Orbitz decided to display higher priced lodging options to Mac users, that's when.
Orbitz reportedly discovered that people using a Mac tend to spend nearly a third more on hotel reservations, and with that being the case, it made the decision to beam pricier lodging options to those who visit its website on a Mac versus a Windows-based PC.
According to Orbitz's own research, Mac users are 40 percent more likely to book a four- or five-star hotel than non-Mac users, and usually end up spending $20 to $30 more per night on lodging. It's an interesting observation, made even more so by Orbitz's decision to show Mac users different options than everyone else.
Could Orbitz be setting a trend? It's too early to tell, but as of right now, competitors like Expedia, Priceline, and Travelocity aren't tailoring hotel reservations to a person's operating system.
Orbitz reportedly discovered that people using a Mac tend to spend nearly a third more on hotel reservations, and with that being the case, it made the decision to beam pricier lodging options to those who visit its website on a Mac versus a Windows-based PC.
According to Orbitz's own research, Mac users are 40 percent more likely to book a four- or five-star hotel than non-Mac users, and usually end up spending $20 to $30 more per night on lodging. It's an interesting observation, made even more so by Orbitz's decision to show Mac users different options than everyone else.
Could Orbitz be setting a trend? It's too early to tell, but as of right now, competitors like Expedia, Priceline, and Travelocity aren't tailoring hotel reservations to a person's operating system.
