Promising new search engine for booking by fare class
 

Saw this while cruising r.t.a. tonight:

The site got a very complimentary review in Sunday's Washington Post travel section:
http://washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/tra.../ita120599.htm

As the article says, it's still in beta and it still has some limitations.

The article also tries to warn off novice users (not us, of course http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif) from using the Java Client option but I tried it anyway and was eventually able to pick fares by class. Wahoo!

[This message has been edited by essxjay (edited 12-07-1999).]

Whoa! This is nice. I like the way the information is presented. What's the business model? Are they planning to license the technology or book the flights themselves?

Very nice. I hope they kill the lousy competition currently available online!

------------------
Addicted to airline miles? Check out: The Airline Mileage Workshop

I'm drooling too! This is fantastic! A great new resource! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Samantha, WOW...this is a great find!

This could end up being THE SITE for fares & info...WOW.

I read about this resource sunday. I hesitated to post about it here because after testing it sunday afternoon, I found that I could still find lower fares on the United Connection software. But then again, I am somewhat savvy when it comes to finding low fares out of the DC area. So I suppose that if you are booking cold, it will help.

The Post article (which basically said that it was the greatest thing since sliced bread..and that it may turn travelocity et.al. into buggy-whip manufacturers) noted that it is a product in search of a home (you listening, Randy????). IMHO, the Java feature has the most potential.

In any case, I do recommend trying it, but I would never use it as a sole resource...at least not yet...

[This message has been edited by kokonutz (edited 12-08-1999).]

I was told about this yesterday by a friend in D.C. (now I know why!) and tried it right away. All the advantages previously noted are there, and I'll certainly use it again, but I did have some trouble booking the fares quoted by ita (at least on Continental).

Yes! SX, you rule! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

It helped already.. last minute fare.. found it!! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Thanks guys!

I'm already unimpressed. While the interface seems great, the prices are not nearly competative with what I find by trolling Travelocity and Expedia. For example, on this new site a RT from PHL>SEA over presidents weekend (2/18-21) prices at a best of $425+. However, with out much effort on both travelocity and Expedia I was able to find the same $200 RT on HP for the dates and city pair. This is just the most extreme example of a number of potential itineraries I tried and got high costs for.

Unless the pricing search engine is improved, I will not likely use it except as a 4th or 5th source.

------------------
__________________________________________
Two wrongs may not make a right, but three lefts do.

Agreed, Blade. There are still some knots in it. After all, it's in beta and, by the designer's admission, technically not a commercial product yet.

Also keep in mind that many of us on FT are still grumbling about the demise of easysabre, esp. one of its best features: the ability to shop by fare class. There may be better sites at finding the lowest fares available, but they all suck when it comes to finding the lowest upgradeable fare.

My sole reason for posting this info is b/c it's the most promising alternative to easysabre I've seen and, IMHO, has a lot of potential. I'm inclined to let it play out before calling the jury in. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

[This message has been edited by essxjay (edited 12-08-1999).]

Well, first off... I bookmarked the site for future reference.

Then I tried to book a hypothetical fare: EWR-YUL (actually it's a fare I will book for the Montreal get together!)

On I-T-A: priced out to 263.00 (U.S.)
On United Connection (the website... I DON'T HAVE THE SOFTWARE!!! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif $263.19

Total savings on I-T-A: 19 cents! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

I like I-T-A for listing all the airline and most fare options (DIdn't do it but if I click Details can I find out if fare is upgradable.)

But as you said essxjay... it's another good option to consider. Thanks for the tip! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif




[This message has been edited by Catman (edited 12-08-1999).]

I liked the site http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif but the font is a little small.

I checked the fare for the superbowl weekend YYZ-IAH-LAS-EWR-YYZ and it gave me a fare of $412 on CO but when I called CO the best price for the same flights was $427. The differance may be airport fees etc.



------------------
"Free" without charge or cost, having no obligation.

Just bookmarked it. Don't think it is that user-friendly yet. But it has potential. It still doesn't seem to be as great at easySabre's ability to just booked directly by class.

I couldn't find the way to book by fare class...?

I've also bookmarked it for future use, but have already seen some flaws.

I tried to look for a flight I've already priced via the NW website, and the same dates and cities DID NOT turn up a single NW flight! That concerns me!

It certainly is an interesting site, I'll be checking it out in the future.

Just for fun I tried to price a one way flight for the 109 mile hop between Tucson and Phoenix, the low cost option was on UA and WN connecting at LAX for $125, followed by HP via LAS, the HP nonstops came in at $157, CO via IAH at around $700

Keep in mind that this is still in beta and is not in commerical use yet. Being in the business of testing and working with lots of different software in various degrees of development, I guess I'm pretty forgiving of early flaws when I think there's real potential. I think this could be a very, very good product someday.

The sidebar on The Post story gives the email address of the developer and invites readers to send comments and suggestions. I think they would especially appreciate input from FTers, whose opinions are probably more relevant and useful than the average bear's. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif I've certainly given them my $.02 worth on the booking-by-fare-class issue. I encourage y'all to do the same.

[This message has been edited by essxjay (edited 12-08-1999).]

I was able to select flights, but couldn't get prices.

Blades comments are most telling. This may be just one more site to double check in the future. As everyone of us "experts" know, it is esential to check multiple sites to ensure that you get the best fare. I use Bestfares.com to identify specials then go to the airline sites to confirm. SInce I am CO Platinum Elite, I'll always check CO first, then HP, and finally NW. When there are specials out there, HP among this group usually has the best fare. The old phase Caveat Emptor is still the rule.

I got the following email this morning from Carl de Marcken of ITA software:

Ask and thou shalt receive?? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

I tried it and could not locate business class fares. I like ITN better, but reserve further judgement until the beta testing is complete.

Use the Java client option to select biz fares.

I like it, but with the Java app, it's slow!

In any event, it's a neat planning tool. But why are fares to Hawaii in the summer so high?!

Simple.. go to Hawaii in the Fall http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

ESSXJAY: What were you the second person to request?

I thought maybe it was understood from the previous posts, but I couldn't figure out what you had suggested to the ITA guys.

theorbo,

ITA is seriously entertaining the suggestion to allow booking by fare class.

[This message has been edited by essxjay (edited 12-13-1999).]

Well, it seems that the website the major carriers are putting together are somehow connected to ITA.

=========================================
Tuesday March 28, 7:05 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release

New Travel Web Site Announces Technology Partners

Technology Partners To Help Create Web's Most Consumer-Oriented Travel Site

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 28, 2000--The new travel web site company founded by United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines and Continental Airlines, announced the selection of five leading technology suppliers who have signed agreements to provide services to the site to be launched this summer, Alex Zoghlin, chief technology officer of the new site, announced today.

``These partners will help us build the most consumer-oriented and technologically-advanced travel site on the web,'' Zoghlin said.

``We have promised to make it easier for consumers to shop for and book travel online,'' Zoghlin said. ``These agreements move us closer to creating a web site that consumers can easily navigate to search the broadest array of airfares and find the best prices in the fastest possible time.''


The site's new technology partners include:

- ITA Software, based in Cambridge, Mass., will provide its faring
and shopping engine which searches fare and flight combinations.
ITA was founded by computer scientists from the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. ITA
software's capabilities for searching for the lowest possible
fare greatly exceeds anything on the market today; the software
can search more than a billion combinations a second. ITA
provides complete, accurate and neutral airfare information.

- Datalex, of Dublin, Ireland, and Atlanta, Ga., will provide its
Internet booking engine, BookIt! CONSUMER, that connects to
electronic reservation systems that manage inventories for air,
hotel, car and other travel products and services providers. The
booking engine stores contact information, travel preferences,
frequent-flyer accounts, and other data used to streamline the
reservations experience. Built using Java technology, the Datalex
booking engine is considered best of breed in the industry.

- NOVO, headquartered in San Francisco, Calif., will design the
user interface and information architecture, and will develop and
integrate software systems enabling content management,
personalization and customer messaging. NOVO, a technical
architecture and application design and development firm, is
known for engineering cutting-edge, e-business sites.

- TRX, headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., will ensure superior customer
service and travel fulfillment services. TRX is the largest
customer service and fulfillment provider in the on-line travel
industry.

- WORLDSPAN, based in Atlanta, Ga., will supply the new site with
its global distribution system providing comprehensive access and
availability for airlines, hotels and car rental companies.
WORLDSPAN is the industry leader in developing distribution
systems with applicable scale for Internet based travel sites.

The new travel portal will offer a comprehensive choice of travel products and services at prices equal to or lower than those available from any other public source.

It will offer consumers one-stop-shopping with a complete selection of products and services from over 455 air carriers, 200 hotel companies (approximately 39,000 properties), 44 car rental companies, and a large number of cruise lines, vacation packagers and other travel suppliers worldwide. In addition, all participating carriers will provide their Internet-only fares on the web site, allowing consumers to simply and quickly compare and purchase tickets online at these lower fares.

The site will be managed independently of its suppliers. A search is underway for a management team. Currently, The Boston Consulting Group, a general management-consulting firm, is overseeing the development of the site.

About ITA Software

ITA Software (www.itasoftware.com) has created a radically new platform for low fare searching and planning of air travel. The platform uniquely enables users to easily choose among a very wide range of fare and schedule options. ITA Software's technology can provide high performance and cost effective travel planning solutions to travel web sites, airlines, corporations, computer reservation systems and travel agencies. ITA Software is also developing innovative solutions to a number of travel industry requirements, ranging from solutions to improve reservation center productivity to applications that optimize corporate travel purchasing. ITA Software was founded by computer scientists from the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

About Datalex

Datalex is a leading global provider of full-service, end-to-end information technology solutions to the travel industry. Founded in 1985, the company is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, and maintains offices in Atlanta, Georgia; Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Manchester, England; and Melbourne, Australia. Datalex employs more than 330 professionals. The company's core competence rests on devising solutions for e-commerce, Enterprise Application Integration and Customer Relationship Management. Each day Datalex products and solutions are used throughout the world by major airlines, travel agencies, tour operators and thousands of travel consumers. Major travel customers include Air Canada, Delta Air Lines, KLM, Singapore Airlines, Varig and WORLDSPAN, which are participants in the new travel web site.

About NOVO

NOVO architects and evolves e-Businesses. By delivering an integrated set of services, which include e-Business strategy and planning, application development and technology integration, web design and e-Marketing services, NOVO strengthens relationships between companies and their customers. Founded in 1994, the company is one of the largest privately held Internet professional services firms in the U.S. with offices in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles and Detroit. NOVO's clients include Continental Airlines, General Motors, Procter & Gamble, Nabisco, Toyota, 3Com, America One, Avery Dennison, Capital One, E-Trade, Ernst & Young, Gloss.com, Levi Strauss & Co. and Media One. More information on NOVO can be found at www.novocorp.com.

About TRX

The leader in eCommerce processing through the convergence of proprietary technology and next-generation customer service.

TRX, Inc., is the leading independent provider of transaction fulfillment, customer support, technology, and data management services for the online travel industry. Formerly known as WorldTravel Technologies, TRX represents the combination of Travel Technologies Group, Online Fulfillment Services, and International Software Products. TRX provides a comprehensive suite of Internet-related services to the travel industry including:

- TRANSACTION FULFILLMENT SERVICES: eCommerce processing, quality
control, ticketing, document distribution, transaction
accounting, and management reporting.

- CUSTOMER SUPPORT SERVICES: Travel and technical support through
email, telephone, and real-time chat.

- TECHNOLOGY SERVICES: Applications for online travel reservations,
point-of-sale support, travel management, and automated quality
control.

- DATA MANAGEMENT SERVICES: Consolidation, transformation,
reporting, and analysis of travel transaction data.

Services are provided on an outsourced or private-label basis. TRX's sophisticated technology infrastructure -- a blend of proprietary software and leading-edge processes -- enhances the reliability, productivity and scalability of its operations and allows the company to offer services separately or as a comprehensive, integrated end-to-end solution.

The flexibility and effectiveness of TRX services eliminate the need for clients to allocate valuable resources to build and manage high-quality distribution and customer service networks. This freedom allows them to focus instead on increasing brand awareness, improving service offerings, developing new capabilities, and encouraging customer loyalty -- all essential to survival in the highly competitive online marketplace.

TRX is committed to its core values of Trust, Relationships and Excellence. Its strategic focus as a technology services company enables clients to move quickly with reliability and scalability in the Internet economy.

About Worldspan

WORLDSPAN provides global electronic distribution of travel information, Internet products and connectivity, and electronic commerce capabilities for travel agencies, travel service providers and corporations worldwide. The company's three lines of business are global distribution systems, airline hosting services, and e-commerce for the U.S. and international travel industries. The WORLDSPAN reservations system provides nearly 18,500 travel agencies and other users worldwide with travel data and booking capabilities for hundreds of the world's leading travel service suppliers. WORLDSPAN is the market leader in e-commerce for the travel industry, processing more than 50 percent of all online travel agency bookings. The company maintains world headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, and international division headquarters in London. WORLDSPAN is owned by affiliates of Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines and Trans World Airlines. Additional information is available at www.worldspan.com.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact:
Kemper Lesnik, Chicago
Aaron Brost, 312/755-3583

Fares to HI seem to be fairly high year round. They really don't consider any season to be off-peak here. It seems that whenever there is a special fare, there are so few seats allocated that it's nearly impossible to book at that price. These are just my two cents worth, I make about three trips to the mainland from here a year. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

It would seem that no site has yet implemented ITA yet... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Dorian

Just tried it this morning. Quoted DL CVG-MCO 7/7-7/9 at $510. Delta-air.com quoted $249 for the same flights.

Any idea why the huge discrepancy?

My guess is they're not using realtime data because it's not a commerical site yet. It's online to show the power of the software rather than to be used to a viable option for shopping.

Glad to see this thread brought forward, tho. I've been meaning to email these folks for an update.

Now showing international itineraries...but without pricing data http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Dorian



------------------
Star Alliance RTW Price Chart: http://www.informationlab.com/rtw.htm
Star Alliance Comparison Chart: http://members.home.net/deercroft/starall00.html

This is the beta site; not much realtime data. The live booking engine, Orbitz comes on line later this fall, but you can sign up now to be notified when it's active.

I use itasoftware's beta site all the time. They aren't perfect because the data is not real time. But, they're close enough to get the general gist of things.

I find that the "300 mile" feature is especially helpful - with five searches (LAS, OAK, SLC, PDX, DEN), I can cover all of the AA last-minute one-way fares from ORD west, then either connect them with a cheap HP/AS/WN flight or drive 100 miles to get to my destination for a mid-week trip. Same thing for the Northeast corridor - 300 miles from PIT, HPN, and RIC pretty much covers everything.

I figure that I've saved our company $2000 on airfare this year from info from their site, while still staying on AA for the vast majority of my miles.