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Google Flight Search

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Re: Google Flight Search

#81

Post by kiwidrew »

gyardley wrote: post #69
stingraycharles wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interesting. That makes me wonder: would that really be the optimal approach? Google is able to return search results for previously unsearched queries nearly instantaneously too, so I'm wondering whether it's really a cache that's serving those queries. Would some sort of graph-based index be possible in this situation?

Here's the classic presentation people usually refer to when talking about flight pricing complexity. http://www.demarcken.org/carl/papers/ITA-software-travel-com... I'd love to know how Google's doing it - it's a really hard problem.

Well, if one narrows down the options a bit, it becomes far more tractable. Considering that Google's flight search only works for domestic return trips of 15 days or less (it didn't seem to give me results for anything longer than that?) and doesn't allow stopovers or open jaws, it's entirely possible that the complexity is much reduced.

Re: Google Flight Search

#82

Post by nostromo »

rhygar wrote: post #72
alec wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To see how the map is useful, put in an origin and then play with the price limit.

It's a cool in a geeky sense that destinations drop off the map when I click back and forth. How does this solve my problem as a customer though? I know I need to get from A to B. How does the map help me choose which flight from which carrier on what day?

It's helpful in places like San Francisco or New York, where you have options about which airport you can use.

For example, I looked at a ticket from SEA -> SFO. When I zoomed in on SFO, I can easily see how much it is to San Jose or Oakland as well.

It's also just fun to enter your departure airport and see "where can I fly and for how much?"

Re: Google Flight Search

#83

Post by jonknee »

rhygar wrote: post #55
cletus wrote: post #20

Internally, this has been around for a little while (disclaimer: I work for Google but not on anything related to this). What continues to impress me about Google is: 1. Just how quickly this was built (really, it was quick); and 2. Google wants you to use our services because they're compelling not because we don't give you any other choice (ie "Don't be evil"). Sure there are limits to what it currently does but I…

It looks like it was built quickly. Why is there a giant search bar at the top of the screen? I came here to look for flights, not to search the web. Why is there a giant map at the top of the screen? I already know where I want to go. I don't need to look at a map to decide which destination I want. This part seems like more of a tech demo than anything. The whole UI looks like it was designed by an engineer. For ex…

There's a giant search bar because it's part of Google Search. Like Images, Shopping or any of the other verticals. It's likely under testing, but I would wager at some point soon it will show up automatically in the sidebar as an option when searching for flight related topics.

Re: Google Flight Search

#84

Post by zitterbewegung »

DevX101 wrote: post #75

If your startup is involved with search aimed at the consumer market, watch out...Google is coming. In a few weeks/months Google will be featuring this search result when you type "nyc to sfo" and take a big bite out of orbitz, kayak, and whoever's lunch that's in this space. EDIT: The counterargument to this, is that orbitz, kayak, and friends are some of the heaviest purchasers of PPC ads. So Google be at risk of c…

The counterargument to your counterargument is that google could start taking over what they cannibalize and make more money directly.

Re: Google Flight Search

#85

Post by lee337 »

noduerme wrote: post #67
stingraycharles wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interesting. That makes me wonder: would that really be the optimal approach? Google is able to return search results for previously unsearched queries nearly instantaneously too, so I'm wondering whether it's really a cache that's serving those queries. Would some sort of graph-based index be possible in this situation?

Lol. If I were Google, I'd probably have bought all the tickets in advance ;) Thing that gets me is, do they really send their employees SFO to LA on United?! Southwest's like a third the price... And why isn't SW listed, anyway? Did Herb take issue with something here?

This information is a decade old, but my wife told me that Southwest were the only American airline to make a profit. That could have something to do with it...

EDIT: This recent news article states "Of the five biggest U.S. airline companies, analysts expected only Southwest to report a first-quarter profit":

http://travel.usatoday.com/flights/story/2011/04/Southwest-m...

Re: Google Flight Search

#87

Post by stevenp »

Honestly, the lack of a good API by any provider is one of the biggest barriers to entry in this space. I wonder if the Hipmunk guys might release one? I'd be thrilled to send affiliate traffic to the first company that makes good on this.

Re: Google Flight Search

#88

Post by mlinsey »

kellysutton wrote: post #39

"5 unknown price" Looks like it needs another QA pass.

Were those Southwest flights? I think SWA doesn't let any of the aggregators display prices for their flights - I was pleasantly surprised that I saw Southwest flights at all.

Re: Google Flight Search

#89

Post by rhygar »

awj wrote: post #70

To me, that map seems like a very confusing bit of UI. The cities themselves are really tiny interaction points, I'm a relatively experienced FPS gamer and hitting those points accurately involves more fumbling than it should. You cannot drag departure/arrival pins. Streetview kind of taught me that this should be a mechanism for manipulating this sort of location reference. The big one, though, is that layovers are…

The whole thing has "designed by an engineer" all over it. From hidden UI that reveals itself by clicking/hovering on various elements, to the entire process being limited to one screen which various pop-out elements and transformations. There is little consistency in the design, and poor or no usage of contrast to separate information visually.

When clicking the large blue button to the right of a flight, several rows of return flights drop down below that. The only visual distinction between these specific sub-rows and the other departing flights below is a thin blue/gray border on the sides.

Going from A to B is called an "Outbound flight", while going from B to A is called a "Return flight". Copy is very important in UI design. It should be outbound/inbound or depart/return, not some mix of different terminology.

Durations are always "-- Xh -->". What is the point of the arrow if it is always pointing to the right? Why is the duration a lighter shade than the rest of the text?

The left column is a Gawker/Gizmodo style static column that locks in place when scrolling down. The Google search results page doesn't do that.

These are basics, and a company the size of Google with as many employees as it has should be able to get these things right.

Re: Google Flight Search

#90

Post by goldfish »

marquis wrote: post #71
hugh3 wrote: post #9

That really is good. Hipmunk is still better if you know what days you want to fly, but this is great if you haven't yet decided precisely when, or precisely where, you want to go. A pity it only works within the US so far, but I'm sure they'll add international destinations eventually. Also a shame that Southwest still won't cooperate with any of these guys. I guess it's a rational decision on their part: be cheapes…

Yes, the first site that has JetBlue and SouthWest comparisons with the major airlines will have my traffic. I usually prefer to travel on price when it's not business so I love how Google has made this clear - that's my core problem with Hipmunk and I'm not sure why they don't just tell you the cheapest days to fly, like Kayak at least tries to. I also like how http://skyscanner.com does it.

We (Hipmunk) have Jetblue, and so does Kayak and Google. We also let you figure out the cheapest days to fly: just click "I'm flexible."
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