AIRBNB'S AI AGENT WILL BOOK TRIPS OUTSIDE AIRBNB TOO $ABNB is building its own AI travel agent that will eventually be able to book both on and off Airbnb's platform. Airbnb plans to launch it in the first half of 2027. It will help travelers plan trips, compare options, manage bookings and get help during their stay. Airbnb $ABNB co-founder says AI agents still send the company only a very small amount of traffic, and he isn't worried about being cut out.

Airline ticket prices have surged this year, especially for travel over the holidays. Don’t expect many bargains if you’re booking flights with miles, either. Tickets bought with frequent flyer miles for flights between large U.S. airports over the Thanksgiving travel period will cost 32% more than last year’s holiday, according to data from a miles and points redemption search site. While fares have skyrocketed this year, airline executives last month said demand remains strong. More:

Airbnb plans to launch an AI travel agent in 2027 that can help plan trips, manage reservations, process refunds, and provide 24 hour safety support. It sounds convenient, but it also raises big questions about what happens when the technology gets something wrong.