Google Flights (ITA Matrix)
One of the best flight research tools you can use online. A decade ago, Google acquired ITA software (a flight software and data firm) to become the foundation of Google Flights. The original site is a free and easy-to-use tool that provides comprehensive search results in an easy-to-understand way.
The advanced search tools and the time bar view (which displays departure times, flight length and arrival times in a visual manner) is so helpful for trip planning. It even displays some technical items like the exact class of service (eg. Y for full economy, etc), fare basis, fare rules and if you’re an ARC-IAR trained fare-geek like me - it even shows the fare ladder and the tax breakdowns.
I often take a snapshot of what I find here and send it to my clients as flight options - it’s just as fast, if not faster than doing it on the GDS (you’re just not holding space). If you work with a centralized booking team in your travel agency - send the snapshot to them and provide the rest of the booking info required to complete the booking - easy peasy.
Google is trying to remake the site into a sleeker one, but I personally prefer the original site which Google said they intend to shut down once they’ve completed the transition to the new site.
If you are querying on a mobile phone or ipad, you can use the Google flights site, which just sits on top of the ITA Matrix tool. It is much faster because it uses cached data, meaning it’s not querying live schedules like the ITA tool does every time you search.
I have also found that these sites, on occasion, find fare or split ticketing opportunities that can save a substantial amount ($100’s to $1,500+) of money.
I know of many GDS users that use these sites to quickly query and narrow down availability and options, and once they get a good idea of what’s available, they switch to their GDS screens and make the bookings there.
Bottom line: If you’re not an uber-GDS expert, Use Google Flights/ITA Matrix to do your flight research, then book them on your GDS, agency online booking tool, preferred consolidator or air package company.
Next week’s newsletter: Travel Judo and the best cruising planning tool available.
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