Orbitz Launch Countdown
 

New member here. Hello all.

I'd like to start a thread about Orbitz.

I'm participating in the Launch Countdown. In playing with it initially, the interface seems pretty easy to use. Pages are easy and intuitive to navigate, and seem to load quickly.

What I like most is that the flight selection provides options for linking up flights between different carriers to provide not only cheaper fares, but additional segments which are more opportunities to rack up frequent flyer mileage/segment qualification.

Haven't yet booked anything, but that could change in... hours.

Anyone else doing it?

Hi ETOPS! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

If it ever launches! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

See also:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum94/HTML/000805.html

I've been playing with it since my invite on Tuesday, but I find it to be quite slow.

I like a lot about the site, especially the filters and being able to see how the number of connections affects the price. The look at other airports within xxx miles is pretty nice, too.

But it signals the end of civilization as we know it:
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/zd/2001...to_soar_1.html

Orbitz seems to be based on the ITA engine. I've been using their beta version for about a year and it is a superior product. It shows the cities you connect in and permits (and prices) inputs for multiple passengers (icluding seniors) in classes of your choice.
Searching identical itinerares returns identical prices, but ITA provides more data.

You can sign on to use ITA at: http://www.itasoftware.com/

I have used ITA for sometime now and also find it useful.
How is ITA different from orbitz? I have not used orbitz.

Orbitz uses ITA's engine, so, yes, it's the same thing. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Way back last April, I signed up to beta test the engine, and exchanged a lot of emails with the developers over some issues. I just wish they'd pooled all those email addresses and sent a mass mailing when the Orbitz pre-rollout was underway, as until I saw this thread tonight, I hadn't visited the Orbitz.com site since the summer. Oh well.

E

I agree with ahab, the ITA search technology is the best thing I've ever seen or used. I generally use it to search for fares and then go purchase on the airline site(s) for the additional miles. My hope is that Orbitz will be able to offer both the best search technology AND bonus miles (i.e., through their airline relationships). I'm looking forward to the launch.

When you speak of "ITA," do you mean "ITN"?

(I've never heard of ITA)...

[This message has been edited by ETOPS (edited 03-30-2001).]

It seems the ITA only books flights for the US, with no international flight's available, Am I doing something wrong or is it just for U.S. travel?

Nope, ITA is the system and they only handle the US and Canada (which is NOT part of the US).
www.itasoftware.com is a great site for searching.

Thanks, but I'll continue using my fabulous travel agent.

I have been using the beta version and I find it to be quite good. It can search internationally, but not very good yet. That is supposed to change by the time it launches, remember it is stilla beta version! Orbitz's ITA software is powered by Micromuse's Netcool...I am not sure how that all works out, but I believe that Orbitz pumped a lot of money into beefing up the search technoogy ($100 mil?). See:
http://library.northernlight.com/FC2...=1006&sc=0#doc
Orbitz Deploys Micromuse's Netcool Suite