Expedia Accepts Bitcoin

[The00Dustin]

a very good move by expedia.

But how they handle refunds etc wrt price change

Like every other merchant that currently accepts BTC. If the item you bought is eligible for a refund, then you will get your full BTC back.

Really?  There is enough misinformation around all things bitcoin in the media, why would you add to it in the forum?  Too much work to actually research but too full of yourself to not answer when you don't know?

TV: So what happens if I were to cancel a hotel reservation that was purchased using bitcoin? Would I still be able to receive a refund?

MG: Of course! Plans change all the time these days and you shouldn’t have to be locked into a hotel reservation just because you paid for it using bitcoin. If a customer decided to cancel a hotel room paid for in bitcoin, she would receive a refund in bitcoin, provided the booking was for a refundable room. The refund would be based on the amount (in U.S. dollars) that was paid for a room, and Coinbase would refund the customer that amount based on the current bitcoin exchange rate. Depending on the bitcoin market place, the amount of bitcoin received in a refund could be higher or lower than what was initially paid, but the dollar amount reimbursed would remain the same. It’s quite similar to other refunds you’d receive from Expedia.com.

emphasis mine.  Source: Expedia's Website

ETA:  Wow, and your personal text is "Knowledge is power"  Just wow...

[Harley997]

a very good move by expedia.

But how they handle refunds etc wrt price change

Like every other merchant that currently accepts BTC. If the item you bought is eligible for a refund, then you will get your full BTC back.

What happens when exchange rates go up/down? Would you get the same about of BTC back or would it be adjusted based on the exchange rate? 

[The00Dustin]

a very good move by expedia.

But how they handle refunds etc wrt price change

Like every other merchant that currently accepts BTC. If the item you bought is eligible for a refund, then you will get your full BTC back.

What happens when exchange rates go up/down? Would you get the same about of BTC back or would it be adjusted based on the exchange rate? 

Nathonas says "full" which implies it would not be adjusted.  However, the post directly above yours, made by me, links to Expedia's website where they say otherwise, and I even quoted what they say...

[Nathonas]

a very good move by expedia.

But how they handle refunds etc wrt price change

Like every other merchant that currently accepts BTC. If the item you bought is eligible for a refund, then you will get your full BTC back.

Really?  There is enough misinformation around all things bitcoin in the media, why would you add to it in the forum?  Too much work to actually research but too full of yourself to not answer when you don't know?

TV: So what happens if I were to cancel a hotel reservation that was purchased using bitcoin? Would I still be able to receive a refund?

MG: Of course! Plans change all the time these days and you shouldn’t have to be locked into a hotel reservation just because you paid for it using bitcoin. If a customer decided to cancel a hotel room paid for in bitcoin, she would receive a refund in bitcoin, provided the booking was for a refundable room. The refund would be based on the amount (in U.S. dollars) that was paid for a room, and Coinbase would refund the customer that amount based on the current bitcoin exchange rate. Depending on the bitcoin market place, the amount of bitcoin received in a refund could be higher or lower than what was initially paid, but the dollar amount reimbursed would remain the same. It’s quite similar to other refunds you’d receive from Expedia.com.

emphasis mine.  Source: Expedia's Website

ETA:  Wow, and your personal text is "Knowledge is power"  Just wow...

You are correct, my mistake. I made an assumption without researching it.

[Bibop]

Another great news for us.
the last month was full of this kind of news and that is the best way for people to accept and recognize btc as a new usable currency!

[counter]

Mutually beneficial for Bitcoin and Expedia I'd say.  It is a win win in my opinion for Bitcoin and at the moment because don't see a down side to this news.  Long term for Expedia who knows it could be a good thing but I'd say short term it will do some good, hey it is some press time any way.  I also wouldn't mind seeing Priceline join in the fun.

[Harley997]

Mutually beneficial for Bitcoin and Expedia I'd say.  It is a win win in my opinion for Bitcoin and at the moment because don't see a down side to this news.  Long term for Expedia who knows it could be a good thing but I'd say short term it will do some good, hey it is some press time any way.  I also wouldn't mind seeing Priceline join in the fun.

It would probably help bitcoin more as it would give it more public exposure.

[BorderBits]

LOL! They're not accepting Bitcoin. They're redirecting 'coiners to a shady site that will then send Expedia USD!  Too. Funny. 

[ShakyhandsBTCer]

LOL! They're not accepting Bitcoin. They're redirecting 'coiners to a shady site that will then send Expedia USD!  Too. Funny. 

That is no different that what most other merchants do behind the scenes to accept bitcoin

[BorderBits]

LOL! They're not accepting Bitcoin. They're redirecting 'coiners to a shady site that will then send Expedia USD!  Too. Funny. 

That is no different that what most other merchants do behind the scenes to accept bitcoin

So then why multiple threads each time some company says, "Sure, we'll take money in the form of USD... go to this shady company who will give us our USD that we accept as payment." 

[Alley]

Why is coinbase "shady"?  Or you just being a Debbie downer?

[ChuckBuck]

LOL! They're not accepting Bitcoin. They're redirecting 'coiners to a shady site that will then send Expedia USD!  Too. Funny.  

I'm sorry, but there's nothing shady about Coinbase.  They're probably one of the most legitimate BTC businesses and payment processors, besides Bitpay out there.

If you're questioning their actual validity and solvency, I'd suggest you do some research before posting nonsense.  Andreas Antonopolous, chief security officer of Blockchain.info, even did an audit of them earlier this year:

http://antonopoulos.com/2014/02/25/coinbase-review/

[bryant.coleman]

I'm sorry, but there's nothing shady about Coinbase.  They're probably one of the most legitimate BTC businesses and payment processors, besides Bitpay out there.

Using Coinbase is absolutely risk free. They are around for more than a year now, and many times they have given away Bitcoins for promotions and similar stuff. Moreover, most of their board members are well known faces with excellent reputation, including Brian Armstrong.

[LiQio]

LOL! They're not accepting Bitcoin. They're redirecting 'coiners to a shady site that will then send Expedia USD!  Too. Funny.  

I'm sorry, but there's nothing shady about Coinbase.  They're probably one of the most legitimate BTC businesses and payment processors, besides Bitpay out there.

If you're questioning their actual validity and solvency, I'd suggest you do some research before posting nonsense.  Andreas Antonopolous, chief security officer of Blockchain.info, even did an audit of them earlier this year:

http://antonopoulos.com/2014/02/25/coinbase-review/

+1 Coinbase and Bitpay - established and trusted payment processors

[ShakyhandsBTCer]

LOL! They're not accepting Bitcoin. They're redirecting 'coiners to a shady site that will then send Expedia USD!  Too. Funny. 

That is no different that what most other merchants do behind the scenes to accept bitcoin

So then why multiple threads each time some company says, "Sure, we'll take money in the form of USD... go to this shady company who will give us our USD that we accept as payment." 

I would not consider the exchange provider that expecia is using (I think it is bitpay) to be shady.

The point of companies accepting bitcoin is that it gets more consumers to use bitcoin

[bryant.coleman]

I would not consider the exchange provider that expecia is using (I think it is bitpay) to be shady.

Expedia is using Coinbase, not Bitpay. Why you would not consider them? Coinbase is run by very trustworthy people, and they have done a lot recently to spread the popularity of Bitcoin, such as their bitcoin giveaway for the college students.

[ChuckBuck]

Expedia uses Coinbase not Bitpay:

http://www.expedia.com/Checkout/BitcoinTermsAndConditions

Bitcoin Terms & Conditions
These Bitcoin Terms & Conditions (Terms & Conditions) apply to your use of Bitcoin as your selected payment method. Please read these Terms & Conditions carefully. By using Bitcoin as your method of payment, you acknowledge and agree to be bound by these Terms & Conditions. These Terms & Conditions apply in addition to the terms and conditions contained in our Website Terms of Use. If there is a conflict between these Terms & Conditions and our Website Terms of Use with respect to Bitcoin transactions, these Terms & Conditions apply. If you do not agree with all of these Terms & Conditions, do not select Bitcoin as your payment method.
Paying with Bitcoin

Powered by Coinbase. Our acceptance of Bitcoin is powered by our partner, Coinbase. We do not guarantee and are not responsible for the availability of Coinbases services. To complete your booking, you will be re-directed to Coinbases website, where you will see the total cost of your booking in Bitcoin, based on an exchange rate set by Coinbase. The Bitcoin price for your booking will remain valid for 10 minutes. If you do not initiate a payment during this time, the Bitcoin exchange rate will be updated and the Bitcoin price for your booking may change.
Bitcoin network transaction fees. As with nearly all Bitcoin transactions, a very small transaction fee (a miners fee) will be added by the Bitcoin network to the total cost in Bitcoin of your booking if you are sending Bitcoin from a non-Coinbase wallet. This fee covers the cost of verifying Bitcoin transactions. Expedia has no control over this fee and does not receive any portion of the fee.
Bitcoin transactions are final. Once you initiate a Bitcoin transaction, you cannot cancel it (provided however that you may seek a refund per our refund policy described below). This is inherent in the nature of the Bitcoin network, not a policy set by Expedia.
Under payments and over payments. If, using a Coinbase wallet, you attempt to initiate a payment of Bitcoins different from the exact cost of the booking indicated by Coinbase, your booking will not complete. If, using a non-Coinbase wallet, you initiate a payment of Bitcoins different from the exact cost (plus miners fees) of the booking indicated by Coinbase your booking will not complete however your payment maybe processed by the Bitcoin network, in which case your payment will be refunded by Coinbase. After a failed payment you will be required to re-submit payment for the correct amount in order to complete the booking and the Bitcoin exchange rate may update.
Transactions complete once confirmed. Once a Bitcoin transaction is submitted to the Bitcoin network, it will be unconfirmed for a period of time (usually about an hour, but sometimes longer) pending full verification of the transaction by the Bitcoin network. A transaction is not complete until it is fully verified.
Refunds

Whether your booking qualifies for a refund is governed by our Website Terms of Use, regardless of whether you pay with Bitcoin or any other payment method. In order to claim a refund on a booking paid for with Bitcoin, you will have to follow certain procedures in order to claim your refund, as explained below.
A valid email address and a Coinbase account are required for refunds. Your refund will be issued through Coinbase, and you must have, or create, a Coinbase account in order to receive the refund. Coinbase will send a refund notification email to the email address associated with your Expedia booking (if you were signed in at booking, your Expedia account email address; otherwise, the email address you provided at checkout). Providing a valid email address that you are able to access is important, as it is a condition for receiving your refund. If you do not have a Coinbase account associated with the email address to which the refund email was sent, the refund notification email will explain how to access a Coinbase account automatically created on your behalf to claim your refund. If you fail to access your Coinbase account and/or complete the steps outlined in the refund notification email within 30 days, the funds will be returned to Expedia. If the refund notification email is sent to an email address associated with an existing Coinbase account, the refund will automatically be credited by Coinbase to the associated Coinbase account. You acknowledge that, if you are unable to (1) access the email address associated with your booking or (2) use the Coinbase service or access a Coinbase account, you will not be able to receive a refund for your booking.
Refunds issued for the USD value of your booking. Your refund will be issued by Coinbase in Bitcoin for the USD value of your booking, less any applicable fees, including any cancellation fees. Your refund will be converted from USD to Bitcoin based on an exchange rate set by Coinbase at the time you initiate the refund through our Website. You acknowledge that if the value of Bitcoin against USD has risen since the time of your purchase, you will receive less Bitcoin than you paid at the time of booking.

[haploid23]

This is good news, just a shame that I rarely find the best offers on expedia

What other travel agencies do you use? I've used expedia on several bookings because I found them to be the cheapest based on a few quick searches.

[bryant.coleman]

What other travel agencies do you use? I've used expedia on several bookings because I found them to be the cheapest based on a few quick searches.

Expedia always offer the cheapest rates. That is why they are having the near-monopoly in online booking for international air-travel, especially in the United States and the European Union.

[Harley997]

Expedia uses Coinbase not Bitpay:

http://www.expedia.com/Checkout/BitcoinTermsAndConditions

regardless of who they use (I personally like coinbase more) they are still using a very reputable service