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JOHNNY JET'S Q & A
With Priceline's ~ Trey Urbahn

PROFILE

Trey is a veteran travel industry executive who currently oversees priceline.com’s Airline product. In his previously role with priceline.com, Mr. Urbahn was Senior Vice President of the Revenue Management. Under Trey’s guidance, priceline’s airline business has grown to exceed $1 billion in annual revenue, and produces over 85% of the company’s gross contribution. Thirty two airlines, including all of the major U.S. carriers are participants in the priceline system, which currently drives over 4% of domestic airline traffic.

Prior to joining priceline in 1998, Mr. Urbahn has held positions as Senior Partner at the Airline Planning Group in Arlington, Virginia and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. He has also held positions as an Executive Director of Marketing Planning at Alamo Rent a Car and was Director of Revenue Development at USAir Group.

Earlier in his career, Trey was Director of Revenue Analysis at Northwest Airlines and Manager of System Pricing and Analysis of United Airlines (UAL Inc.). He oversaw revenue management, pricing, and worldwide marketing at UA.

He earned a M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University in History and Architecture.

Mr. Urbahn now resides in New Canaan, CT with his wife Jenny and their daughter and three sons.

Little known claim: Round the World record holder. Flew to all six inhabited continents via commercial airline in 100 hours (would have been 68 hours if I hadn’t gotten stuck in Cairo). Routing: ORD-SJU-CCS-LHR-CAI-SIN-SYD-LAX-ORD.

TREY'S ANSWERS

HOW OFTEN DO YOU FLY?
A lot less than I used to. I probably make 2 to 3 business trips per month plus 4 to 5 leisure trips per year totaling 75,000 miles or so.
IN A YEAR HOW MANY MILES/POINTS DO YOU EARN?
Most of my trips are on special fares that don’t allow me to collect frequent flyer miles. As a result, I’ve lost my elite status on a number of carriers.
WHAT CLASS OF SERVICE DO YOU MOSTLY FLY IN?
Usually first or business class.
FAVORITE AIRLINE?
International long haul:
First: Qantas, Singapore, British, American
Business: Delta, Air New Zealand, Virgin
Coach: Aeroflot (true!), Air New Zealand
Domestic Long Haul
First: American
Business: Delta
Coach: American
Domestic Short Haul
First: USAirways
Coach: American
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT?
Boeing 747 (first/business), Boeing 767 (coach), Ilyushin 62 (coach legroom, coolest looking aircraft) Worst aircraft: 737 (too slow!)
FAVORITE HOTEL?
Four Seasons, Intercontinental (pretty much anywhere). Hong Kong Shangri-La, Kahala Mandarin Oriental.
FAVORITE HOTEL AMENITY?
Real down pillows, data line for my laptop
FAVORITE AIRPORT?
Westchester County, Singapore Changi
FAVORITE AIRPORT TO PASS TIME IN?
Amsterdam, Frankfurt
FAVORITE CITY?
Ft. Lauderdale, Paris, New York
FAVORITE RESTAURANT?
Churrasceria Plataforma, New York City
AISLE OR WINDOW?
Middle, when the aisle and window are empty
ETICKET OR PAPER?
Eticket.
TRAVEL AGENT OR ONLINE?
Much prefer the personal service of an agent when traveling on business. Much better deals available online, however, when I’m paying myself
FAVORITE TRAVEL WEBSITE?
Priceline, of course. Expedia when I need to know my flight times.
FAVORITE TRAVEL COMPANION?
Actually, I prefer to travel alone. Flying is one of the few times I can have a few hours to myself to read a book, watch a movie, or think.
IF YOU WERE STRANDED ON A TROPICAL ISLAND, WHAT THREE ITEMS WOULD YOU WANT TO HAVE WITH YOU?
Water, food, sunblock
BEST TRAVEL TIP:
If you want to save money when you travel, do your homework. Shop all of the websites, Expedia, Orbitz and yes, Hotwire. Then come to priceline and name your own price below the best price you could find. You’ll never be disappointed.