Expedia launches Comet, an AI-powered travel browser

A new partnership with Perplexity blends conversational search, trip planning, and loyalty rewards into a single interface

Expedia Group has introduced Comet, a free AI travel browser and assistant developed with Perplexity. The launch marks a major step in Expedia’s strategy to merge generative AI with travel discovery, offering travelers personalized recommendations and direct booking options — and even loyalty rewards for trying it.

Key takeaways

• All-in-one travel tool: Comet functions as both a browser and an AI assistant, letting users type natural queries (e.g. “warm European city in December under $1,000”) to get itinerary ideas, destination comparisons, and booking links.
• Perplexity partnership: By combining Expedia’s travel inventory with Perplexity’s real-time AI search backbone, Comet can surface options from across Expedia’s global listings without users needing to navigate separate sites.
• Loyalty incentive: As part of the launch, Expedia is giving Silver status in its OneKey program to users who download and use Comet — the first time loyalty benefits are tied directly to an external product.
• AI ecosystem integration: Comet joins Expedia’s broader AI strategy, which already includes a ChatGPT plugin, Microsoft Copilot Actions, and AI-powered trip matching in the Expedia, Vrbo, and Hotels.com apps.
• Industry alignment: Other players like Tripadvisor, Booking.com, and Uber are also forming AI partnerships (often with OpenAI or Perplexity) to offer more conversational and intuitive travel planning tools.
• Consumer shift in discovery: Expedia is betting that search behavior is migrating toward generative AI engines; Comet is built to meet that shift by offering fast, conversational travel planning.
• Desktop first, mobile soon: At launch, Comet is available on desktop, with a mobile version in development to reach users on the go.
• Expedia’s broader narrative: The move illustrates how Expedia is blending loyalty, advertising, and innovation — and positioning itself to lead in AI-driven travel experiences.

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