Sydney-based Startup Set to Challenge How Australians Buy Travel

Sydney-based startup Skybid is changing the way consumers purchase travel through its innovative approach to auctioneering. 

Skybid's first flight auction to Melbourne sold for 53 cents equating to only fifty-three bids. 

Skybid has since sold return flights to Queensland for $0.71 and new Zealand for $1.80. Currently Skybid have Bali and Thailand flight auctions as well as other domestic flight auctions, all for currently under $1.00.

Skybid has only been around for less than one month and is Australia's second travel auction site after two years of Australian consumers having access to only one travel auction website. Skybid provides Australian consumers with more choice and a less competitively saturated alternative. 

Skybid has adopted the innovative and relatively untapped concept of online entertainment shopping, or pay-to-bid auctioneering. These websites are more commonly seen overseas. Skybid combines this business model with travel-related products resulting in airfares that start from $0.01. This is giving the everyday Australian a chance to travel for up to 90% off the retail price of airfares. Skybid saw how this business model could be used to satisfy the insatiable travel appetites of Australians. 

Skybid has taken a user-approach to it's websites, putting the customer first, with social media integration, aesthetically appealing layouts, panoramic shots of local and overseas destinations and a loyalty programme to reward users regardless of whether they win or lose, an uncommon feature for pay-to-bid auction sites. 

More commonly referred to as a penny auction, bidders pay to make each bid and are provided with free bids upon sign up as well as other ways to earn bids through interacting with the brand on social media platforms. Each bid placed results in the price increasing by one cent which results in a bargain airfare for the winner but all those that have bid and not won have done their dough. 

The company is determined to challenge the mainstream channels of purchasing travel by offering a more engaging and exciting way to purchase airfares that provide greater value to travel hungry Australians. 

Skybid was founded by 26 year old Sydney-based Entrepreneur, Karis Confos.

"Skybid is a company built on the idea of wanderlust.. That's a wonderful reason for a company to exist." - Karis Confos

For more information on Skybid please visit www.skybid.com.au