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Google Flight Search

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Re: Google Flight Search

#131

Post by LogicX »

antimora wrote: post #26

Is it me, or that app is super fast?

Yes, you're looking at ITA's InstaSearch product, which delivers near real-time results, compared to the traditional QPX product.

There were many articles about Google's acquisition of ITA, and various stipulations around InstaSearch:

"As a condition of the deal, Google must continue to license ITA's QPX software for airfare websites on "fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory terms" through 2016. And it must commit to continued investment in ITA's QPX software and in ITA's unreleased InstaSearch product, which aims to provide near instant airline fare quotes."

http://www.informationweek.com/cloud-computing/article/22940...

Disclosure: I worked for ITA until rumors of the acquisition.

Re: Google Flight Search

#133

Post by purplefruit »

bradleyland wrote: post #31
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…

Let's be honest. Google wants us to use their services because the better they understand us, the better they can advertise to us. That's the profit model at Google. I don't begrudge them for it either. You've got to turn a profit if you want to keep the lights on. I don't mean any offense, but the "Don't be evil" mantra is growing a bit tired. Evil is a strong word, and "not being evil" is a pretty low bar, IMO.

Nope, I don't think this one is about advertising. My guess is they want to move into the hotel referral sales game (it's not secret they've been trying to move into this space for a while). Before you can move into hotels though, you have to have a good flight search engine.

Re: Google Flight Search

#134

Post by dnprock »

alec wrote: post #59
rhygar wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

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

The map is misleading when showing result for flights with stops. It should show/highlight intermediary cities in this case

Re: Google Flight Search

#136

Post by poodougnut »

maratd wrote: post #96
rhygar wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

> Why is there a giant search bar at the top of the screen? This will be (if it isn't already) integrated with their search product. In other words, it'll be a part of search. You'll search for "flight from ny to sf" and that's what you'll see. Perfectly natural for them to have a consistent UI in their search product. > Why is there a giant map at the top of the screen? It's interactive. Try pulling the marker from…

> I can also see the exact route that the flight will take.

That's not the exact route the flight will take; it's the quickest (great circle) route. Airliners fly along airways.

Re: Google Flight Search

#137

Post by nutjob123 »

breck wrote: post #62
bradleyland wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Let's be honest. Google wants us to use their services because the better they understand us, the better they can advertise to us. That's the profit model at Google. I don't begrudge them for it either. You've got to turn a profit if you want to keep the lights on. I don't mean any offense, but the "Don't be evil" mantra is growing a bit tired. Evil is a strong word, and "not being evil" is a pretty low bar, IMO.

I strongly disagree. Google wants us to use its services because at its core is a bunch of engineers that simply want to make the world better.

I can't tell if this is sarcastic or not.

Re: Google Flight Search

#138

Post by faulkner »

Decent initial release, but I wish the search was more flexible.

My common use case is "I will spend $X to go anywhere for under Y days any time in the future" and I haven't found a service that makes this easy.

Kayak's "explore" page is the closest I've found, but they rarely have the cheapest flights listed and have no way to set duration. Has anyone found a better solution?

Re: Google Flight Search

#139

Post by goldfish »

geuis wrote: post #25

General question here. Almost all flight search sites default the search dates to about 3 weeks out. Now, I find this annoying but I'm wondering if its done because there is statistical evidence that most customers search in that range of time, or rather if it's just what someone thought would be a good idea by "following their intuition".

It depends on the kind of traveler (business travelers have shorter lead-time, leisure travelers have longer), but 3 weeks is a reasonable guess—probably on the shorter end—for what Google customers will be looking for.

Re: Google Flight Search

#140

Post by laconian »

smackfu wrote: post #42
antimora wrote: post #26

Is it me, or that app is super fast?

It probably is caching data from other people's searches, similar to what Kayak does. This is cool right up until you try to actually book a flight and it sells out or goes up in price dramatically.

Wait, is this actually the case with the Google product?
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