NYT: Blackout Challenges Online Travel Industry

Travel bookings have proved a big success story in the funneling of media and commerce dollars online, but the leading brands in the field are finding that the category does not lend itself to much consumer loyalty. Customers generally went online in the first place for price, and they'll jump ship for price, despite the fact that many online companies have "strong" brands by traditional metrics. The recent blackout that stymied the Midwest, Northeast and parts of Canada shows that the customers, already conducting regular price comparisons, are ready to switch at the flick of a switch.