Away vs KAYAK
Side-by-side comparison of AI visibility scores, market position, and capabilities
DTC premium travel brand best known for its hard-shell carry-on suitcases; raised $181M total with $1.4B valuation (Series D, 2019); no new primary funding since 2019; strong retail and e-commerce presence.
About
Away is a modern travel brand founded in 2015 by Jen Rubio and Steph Korey in New York City, built on the insight that existing luggage was either cheap and poor quality or expensive and over-engineered. The company's flagship product is its hard-shell polycarbonate carry-on suitcase, originally designed with a built-in USB-charging battery (later removed due to airline regulations, replaced with an innovative interior compression system). Away has expanded its product line to include checked bags in multiple sizes, duffel bags, backpacks, packing cubes, travel accessories, and apparel, all designed with a minimalist aesthetic and backed by a lifetime warranty for the original owner.
Leading travel metasearch engine owned by Booking Holdings; searches 100s of sites for flights, hotels, cars. Operates KAYAK, Momondo, and HotelsCombined.
About
KAYAK is a travel metasearch engine founded in 2004 by Steve Hafner and Paul English, acquired by Booking Holdings (then Priceline Group) for $1.8B in 2013. Headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, KAYAK aggregates flight, hotel, car rental, and vacation package results from hundreds of travel sites, enabling one-click comparison shopping. Its product suite includes KAYAK.com, the Momondo brand (acquired 2017), HotelsCombined, and a business travel management platform, KAYAK for Business.\n\nKAYAK's revenue model is primarily CPC (cost-per-click), charging airlines, OTAs, and hotels for qualified referrals rather than taking a booking commission. This metasearch model positions KAYAK as a neutral aggregator rather than a competing OTA, though it also offers direct booking through its platform in select categories. KAYAK for Business targets corporate travel managers with policy controls and expense integrations.\n\nAs a wholly owned subsidiary of Booking Holdings ($26.9B revenue FY2025), KAYAK does not report standalone financials. It remains one of the most visited travel websites globally, with over 300 million monthly searches across its brand portfolio. KAYAK's AI trip-planning features and integration with Booking.com inventory have strengthened its position as a one-stop travel research tool heading into 2026.
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