Little by little, we’re starting to test the waters around the world about what it means to travel post-pandemic. And as travelers start to consider their future trips, we want to arm them with the information they need to make smart travel decisions. Here are some of the tools and features we’ve created to help you navigate new normals and get you back in the travel groove – whenever you’re ready.
Flexible Options Filters
Whether you need to travel right now or months from now, our Flexible Options filter shows you our travel partners offering free cancellations (in the form of travel credits) and those waiving their change or cancellation fees. Days after the coronavirus outbreak put travel plans around the world in jeopardy, our Flight and Hotels teams acted quickly to work with our providers and showcase the most relevant policy information directly in our search results. Check out how Anthony Salomone (Team Lead, Product Management) worked with his team to create the filter.
COVID-19 Guide
Another project off the ground just days after travel restrictions were put in place, was the KAYAK COVID-19 Guide. Here, travelers can find the latest airline, hotel and rental car policies. They can also access information about travel restrictions and find resources for essential workers (including a list of partners providing free and/or discounted accommodation for those on the frontline). A true team effort among our marketing teams around the globe, this page was translated into 20+ languages and is continuously updated as things change.
Travel Restrictions
Seeing travelers’ needs for more information on country-by-country travel restrictions, we created an interactive map. We pulled together information on over 160 countries and created state-by-state deep dives for the US. Now, you can get a look at travel around the world – and track progress as countries and states flex their policies. Plus, coming soon, you’ll also be able to set alerts for specific countries and states – that way we’ll let you know when restrictions lift on the destinations you’re interested in.
As we navigate the world through a new lens, at KAYAK we’ll continue to see every challenge as an opportunity to improve our site and app. Because, at the end of the day, we’re travelers too. And our passion for exploring the world has only been magnified by our current reality — and we can’t wait to get out there again.
