How Daytrip Overtook Blacklane in AI Search

Overview

Daytrip operates in a highly competitive global travel market, dominated by players like Blacklane and Uber.

With the rise of AI search (ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity), the rules have changed. It is no longer about ranking in search engines. It is about being recommended by AI.

That shift created a new growth opportunity for Daytrip.

About Daytrip

Daytrip is a global platform for intercity travel, connecting travelers with local professional drivers. It offers a premium alternative to trains, buses, and car rentals, focused on comfort and experience.

• Operating in 130+ countries
• Network of 10,000+ drivers
• Door-to-door transfers with optional stops
• 1M+ customers
• ~4.9/5 rating

Website: daytrip.com

The Problem

Despite a strong product, Daytrip faced a visibility gap:

• Low presence in AI-generated answers
• Loss of Share of Voice to competitors
• Weak coverage of high-intent prompts

Result: the brand was missing where decisions are now being made.

The Approach

Together with Ranketta, Daytrip focused on systematically winning AI search.

Key focus areas:

• AI Search Optimization (GEO)
• Expanding prompt coverage
• Strengthening brand and entity signals
• Targeting competitor gaps

Goal: not to drive traffic, but to own AI answers.

What Changed

Within weeks, AI outputs started to shift:

• More frequent mentions of Daytrip
• Higher positions in responses
• Stronger association with relevant use cases

The effect was cumulative. Growth began to accelerate.

Results

• +50% visibility growth
• ~100% increase in Share of Voice
• Overtook Blacklane
• Sentiment stable at ~80+
• Average position ~Top 3 across AI models

This was not an incremental gain. It was a shift in market position in the context of AI search.

Visibility Over Time

Daytrip increased AI visibility by +50% in 4 months, while competitors stagnated.

Share of Voice Comparison

Daytrip doubled its Share of Voice and overtook Blacklane, a clear leadership shift.

Average Position Trend

Moved into Top 3 AI responses across models, critical for the recommendation layer.

Competitive Landscape

Daytrip is moving into the top-right quadrant: high visibility and positive sentiment.

What the Data Shows

• Stable, compounding visibility growth
• Clear inflection point at the start of the year
• Competitor stagnation
• Dominance in Share of Voice

AI visibility behaves as a winner-takes-most system.

Why It Worked

1. Early adoption of AI SEO / GEO
2. Data-driven execution
3. Strong competitive focus

Combined, these created an exponential effect.

Testimonial

Ranketta gave us, for the first time, a clear view of how AI models actually see our brand. That allowed us to systematically improve our visibility and overtake Blacklane, a competitor that had been ahead of us for years.

— Jakub Garstka, Chief Growth Officer, Daytrip

Key Takeaways

• AI visibility is measurable
• Share of Voice is the new SEO
• First movers have an advantage
• AI answers influence buying decisions