Crowd-Sourced Flight Search • Hacker News Board

Re: Crowd-Sourced Flight Search

#51

Post by sidi » Sat, Mar 31, 2012, 5:21 PM UTC

Since you are asking for fees when a user creates a contest, you should provide case-studies of savings on similar flight searches in the past (also include cost-benefits over other flight search engines). May be, even allow the user to extend the contest duration (with some constraints). Doing this should give a better assurance to the user.

I believe your service has the potential to do well in this market, particularly considering there are many variables involved in flight searches.

Re: Crowd-Sourced Flight Search

#52

Post by ajays » Sun, Apr 01, 2012, 12:23 AM UTC

aes256 wrote: post #50

ajays wrote: post #49

This needs a little more automation (maybe a tie-in with Expedia/Kayak/whatever) so that the flight can be booked and verified booked. Here's my problem (going with one of the examples quoted, flying from Buenes Aires to Toronto): one of the suggestions is to fly to Montreal and take a bus. But what if I _don't_ want the hassle of going from airport to greyhound to bus, only to be dropped into the middle of T'o in th…

Here's my problem (going with one of the examples quoted, flying from Buenes Aires to Toronto): one of the suggestions is to fly to Montreal and take a bus. But what if I _don't_ want the hassle of going from airport to greyhound to bus, only to be dropped into the middle of T'o in the middle of the night? As it stands currently, I can get a refund only if I can find a cheaper flight; but in many cases it's hard to b…

Unless Montreal has become a Toronto suburb recently, I don't think any of the options account for the Montreal --> Toronto bus ride.

Re: Crowd-Sourced Flight Search

#53

Post by redbad » Sun, Apr 01, 2012, 10:39 AM UTC

todsul wrote: post #42

redbad wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm also willing to pay, but only once I know what I'm paying for. I can find the flight I want for (say) $500. If this service can get it to me for $400, great! But I'm only going to enter my credit card details _after_ that's been established. Otherwise, what if your "experts" can only find something for $480? Or $525? This seems totally self-evident to me. Maybe I missed something.

Hi redbad, Keep in mind that real people are searching on the other end, so there needs to be a balance between expended effort and income. We tried what you're suggesting, but it just didn't work. As per your example, let's say I find a flight for $400. Would you pay without seeing details? If not, would you paying seeing the details, but without booking instructions? If not, would you pay after booking even if it m…

    let's say I find a flight for $400.
    Would you pay without seeing details?

Sure. I mean, I would have to trust your system, but you're not emitting any scammy signals, so I basically do.

    we are targeting people who we can help
    the most. That is, people flying to remote
    places, or on complex itineraries, or who
    just want to absolve themselves of the stress.

Fair enough!