By Tarran Street, on April 10, 2015

New look, functionality for Expedia app

If you have updated the Expedia mobile app recently, you probably noticed some changes. On mobile phones around the world, our launch screen now has a brand new look. We kept the great imagery and colorful tiles, and made it more dynamic so we can bring additional content to you in the future.

With that, we’re pleased to announce that U.S.-based travelers now can book a rental car right from the Expedia app.

This is the latest upgrade to our award-winning app; we’ve been adding new platforms to our mobile app since it was first introduced. We started with hotels, then added flights, then itineraries, and now cars. We know travelers are becoming more and more accustomed to booking last-minute from their mobile devices. We’ve seen trends with last-minute hotel bookings increase over the years, and have heard from customers that rental car bookings are another priority for them.

I’m sure you know of someone who has landed at an airport and decided to walk right up to the rental car counter and make a booking. Now customers can do that from their phones and hasten the process! We’re putting the pedal to metal to roll out this feature in other Expedia points of sale soon.

The new icons atop our app

In addition to adding rental cars, we’ve worked a number of other updates into the app. Here is a sampling.

Save even more when you book flight and hotel

We’ve been touting the perks of package deals for a long time, and we want to offer great savings to customers on mobile devices too. Now, save up to 55 percent on your hotel when you book your flight first. If you purchase a qualifying flight, you’re eligible to get deep hotel discounts if you book within the following 10 days.

If your flight qualifies for this extra discount, you’ll see a note in the “Trips” section of your Expedia app. Tapping on that note will take you directly to a search for hotels that correspond with your flight destination.

Book now, pay later

Enjoy more payment flexibility when making hotel reservations on your phone. With “Book Now, Pay Later,” you can reserve your room now (for select hotels) and not worry about paying until you check in. This is another example of a feature available on desktop that we’re happy to bring over to our app experience.

Discover your next getaway

Need some travel inspiration? Look no further than our Expedia tablet app, where we feature travel collections with hand-picked destinations based on popular and seasonal interests. We’re continually updating and adding new collections to help encourage your travel imagination. The most recently added collection is called “Adventure Abounds,” and it comprises global destinations that will satisfy any adrenaline junkie’s appetite.

We also have updated the “Staff Picks” collection. Take a look and see the diverse range of vacations about which Expedians rave. 

The latest version of the Expedia App is now available in the App Store and on Google Play. Download or update the app today and let us know what you think. Also, we have additional exciting updates in the works so stay tuned!