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Alaska Airlines is the first to sell airline tickets online. https://blog.alaskaair.com/alaska-airlines/history/alaska-first-to-sell-tickets-internet/
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Expedia was launched first and later in the year 1996, Travelocity is launched to allow travelers online booking capability for air, hotels, and car rentals. https://www.cbtravel.com/blog/2013/10/a-brief-overview-and-history-of-the-travel-industry/
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Smoking on the plane becomes banned on all domestic flights. https://www.burnsmcd.com/insightsnews/insights/aviation-special-report/2011/timeline-of-commercial-aviation
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This marks the release of the first web-based passenger check-in and online boarding passes for the airline industry. https://www.burnsmcd.com/insightsnews/insights/aviation-special-report/2011/timeline-of-commercial-aviation
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The Euro is introduced in non-physical form and all participating countries' currencies are locked at fixed exchange rates, easing travel between participating countries. Physical bills and coins wouldn't be introduced for another three years. https://ec.europa.eu/info/about-european-union/euro/history-euro/history-euro_en
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February 2000 Tripadvisor was created, and changed the way destinations could be found and reviewed.
https://tripadvisor.mediaroom.com/us-about-us -
Dennis Tito becomes the first person that pays to visit space. https://www.space.com/11492-space-tourism-pioneer-dennis-tito.html
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The Travel Security Administration is created in response to the Sept. 11th, 2001 attacks, taking over airline security from private security firms. https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/house-bill/03150
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Hotel WiFi becomes available to more than 6,000 hotel guests and begins to grow in use by guests. https://www.wexinc.com/wex-travel/take-a-trip-down-memory-lane-a-timeline-of-travel-tech-firsts/
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The last Concord supersonic passenger jets in service were retired due to the cost of operation. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/2934257.stm
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Airbus A380 is released for its first flight with a commercial service capable of carrying up to 853 passengers.
Information and interesting video of the Airbus A380's first flight.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4JJ_0lWYRs -
Airbnb gave travelers the option of renting private homes and luxurious spaces, while giving owners a way to rent their space short term
https://www.airbnb.com/about/about-us -
The Transportation Security Administration officially accepts airport scanners as the primary method of before flight screening. https://www.burnsmcd.com/insightsnews/insights/aviation-special-report/2011/timeline-of-commercial-aviation Image and interesting video of 2009 TSA body scanners - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrXpAxoHrCo
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The first hotel room iPad, released by the company Apple, is used at The Plaza Hotel in NYC. http://intelitycorp.com/main/brief-look-history-hotel-technology/
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Airlines begin eliminating meals from being included as part of the flight.
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/39619072/ns/travel-business_travel/t/free-meals-planes-fly-sunset/#.WhISiM9hgaI -
Meet & Seat is an innovative way for travelers to choose their seat and find out who they are sitting next to based on social media profiles.
https://www.klm.com/travel/us_en/prepare_for_travel/on_board/your_seat_on_board/meet_and_seat.htm -
Flight 370 from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing disappears midflight, only minor pieces of the plane are recovered. This event prompts major reforms in airline tracking technologies and standards. https://phys.org/news/2016-03-airlines-safety-technologies-mh370.html
