United blocks third-party AI agents, while Airbnb and OpenAI compete for the travel booking gateway

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United Airlines is updating its booking, ticketing, and distribution policies to prohibit unauthorized third-party AI agents from booking flights, while still allowing them to search for flights and display prices. Airbnb plans to launch its own travel agent in the first half of 2027, while OpenAI acquired Odessia, which can plan and complete bookings in a single conversation. Booking volume generated by AI agents remains limited for now, but 70% of consumers are interested in using agents to plan travel, and 58% of users of dedicated AI platforms prefer to complete checkout within the platform.