Last edit by: TWA884
ITA Matrix Search: http://matrix.itasoftware.com
You can sometimes see flights, fares and detailed fare rules that may not be reflected on an airline's website. Please read the thread for some tips and tricks, screen shots, etc.
A related thread, ITA-Matrix-PowerTools - Userscript for Orbitz/DL/UA/AA/BA/CZ/IB/LA/LH/LX/TK, discusses a user script which is maintained by fellow flyertalk members to enhance the already powerful Matrix of ITA Software by providing new features and booking links.
Additional details and tips on the use of ITA's advanced routing code feature can be found in the following long-standing Mileage Run Discussion threads:
You can sometimes see flights, fares and detailed fare rules that may not be reflected on an airline's website. Please read the thread for some tips and tricks, screen shots, etc.
A related thread, ITA-Matrix-PowerTools - Userscript for Orbitz/DL/UA/AA/BA/CZ/IB/LA/LH/LX/TK, discusses a user script which is maintained by fellow flyertalk members to enhance the already powerful Matrix of ITA Software by providing new features and booking links.
Additional details and tips on the use of ITA's advanced routing code feature can be found in the following long-standing Mileage Run Discussion threads:
ITA Software Matrix Airfare Search Consolidated Information and Help Thread
#1832
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: DXB
Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, BA Silver, A3 Gold, Sixt Diamond
Posts: 2,811
@ITA Hacker:
The same issue recently came up in a German forum.
You can have a look at
CGN, QKL, DUS, FRA
to
EWR, PHL
Round trip in business class.
Outbound March 11, inbound March 15.
The search is quick (so I'm not sure if it's really the timeout issue), but the cheapest flights ITA Matrix finds are with United for ~4,400€.
Google Flights, however, finds TAP for ~2,300€ (granted, with a long layover), and also a mix-cabin flight with Aer Lingus:
https://www.google.de/flights/?hl=en&gl=de#flt=aCGN,aQKL,aDUS,aFRA.EWR,/m/0dclg.2019-03-11*EWR,/m/0dclg.aCGN,aQKL,aDUS,aFRA.2019-03-15;c:EUR;e:1;sc:b;sd:1;t:f
Manually specifying the connecting airport (DUB or LIS) helps ITA Matrix find the flights.
My understanding has always been that ITA Matrix will try to find the cheapest flights and doesn't do any "convenience ranking" like Google does, right?
My guess would be that flights with long layovers are checked last and that the search times out before the algorithm ever gets around to checking these fares.
But then again, the search is so fast that it doesn't really look like that timeout problem...
Thanks!
The same issue recently came up in a German forum.
You can have a look at
CGN, QKL, DUS, FRA
to
EWR, PHL
Round trip in business class.
Outbound March 11, inbound March 15.
The search is quick (so I'm not sure if it's really the timeout issue), but the cheapest flights ITA Matrix finds are with United for ~4,400€.
Google Flights, however, finds TAP for ~2,300€ (granted, with a long layover), and also a mix-cabin flight with Aer Lingus:
https://www.google.de/flights/?hl=en&gl=de#flt=aCGN,aQKL,aDUS,aFRA.EWR,/m/0dclg.2019-03-11*EWR,/m/0dclg.aCGN,aQKL,aDUS,aFRA.2019-03-15;c:EUR;e:1;sc:b;sd:1;t:f
Manually specifying the connecting airport (DUB or LIS) helps ITA Matrix find the flights.
My understanding has always been that ITA Matrix will try to find the cheapest flights and doesn't do any "convenience ranking" like Google does, right?
My guess would be that flights with long layovers are checked last and that the search times out before the algorithm ever gets around to checking these fares.
But then again, the search is so fast that it doesn't really look like that timeout problem...
Thanks!
#1833
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Poland
Posts: 87
There are relatively low economy fares in some dates for CPH-NYC-CPH (actual route is for example CPH-FRA-YYZ-LGA...JFK-ZRH-CPH). I can find it in many ITAs for $300-$350. It would be convenient for me to have a 23-30 hour stop in Toronto. If I use "minconnect 1300" option in ITA Matrix, it gives me multiple results with the same price. But I can't find them in Bookwithmatrix or any ITA. How would you go about booking this?
#1835
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Poland
Posts: 87
Powertools worked!
I tried to use it some time ago, but installation process put me off. Now I installed it and am amazed Curious thing: after opening the route from ITA Matrix in Momondo, return flight is different (connecting in VIE instead of ZRH), but in general, it works
I tried to use it some time ago, but installation process put me off. Now I installed it and am amazed Curious thing: after opening the route from ITA Matrix in Momondo, return flight is different (connecting in VIE instead of ZRH), but in general, it works
#1838
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: TLL
Programs: LuxExpress VIP
Posts: 220
I currently have flights like so: TLL-HEL-LHR-PHL-YYZ-LGA.
What would be the smart way to split it up so that I could have a longer time in YYZ?
I can't get into the same fare really when doing TLL-HEL-LHR-PHL and then YYZ-LGA.
What would be the smart way to split it up so that I could have a longer time in YYZ?
I can't get into the same fare really when doing TLL-HEL-LHR-PHL and then YYZ-LGA.
Last edited by vanaema78; May 16, 2019 at 1:05 pm
#1839
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
What happens if you split the search into TLL-HEL-LHR-PHL-YYZ and then YYZ-LGA? Or if you split it into TLL-HEL-LHR-PHL and PHL-YYZ-LGA with a minconnect switch for that connection?
#1840
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: DXB
Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, BA Silver, A3 Gold, Sixt Diamond
Posts: 2,811
Maybe there is no possible layover connection (<24h) in that booking class and stopovers aren't allowed in the fare rules?
#1841
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: TLL
Programs: LuxExpress VIP
Posts: 220
You both might be right. Splitting it like Globaliser suggested does not give any good results.
I was trying to recreate a fare that a travel agent quoted to me, but no luck. The fare code itself is quoted between TLL and NYC.
Funny that I even have some training on amadeus, but no longer the opportunity of having fun in the GDS.
I was trying to recreate a fare that a travel agent quoted to me, but no luck. The fare code itself is quoted between TLL and NYC.
Funny that I even have some training on amadeus, but no longer the opportunity of having fun in the GDS.
#1844
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: YWG
Posts: 2,272
Probably asked this before, but does anyone know how Matrix handles married segments?
Looking to book an AC/CA itinerary on AC ticket stock but Matrix constantly shows a cheaper fare than can be found via AC/OTAs
Matrix shows P class availability but can only access Z via AC/OTAs. Even Expertflyer doesn't really show P class availability on the O-D search or the TPAC segment (but does if I search AC Canada-Asia segment without including CA segment).
Is this an issue with Matrix's handling of married segments, failure to search inventory in real-time, or something else?
Would love to ticket at P class but having difficult doing so via AC/OTA (even BookWithMatrix doesn't work). Any thoughts?
Looking to book an AC/CA itinerary on AC ticket stock but Matrix constantly shows a cheaper fare than can be found via AC/OTAs
Matrix shows P class availability but can only access Z via AC/OTAs. Even Expertflyer doesn't really show P class availability on the O-D search or the TPAC segment (but does if I search AC Canada-Asia segment without including CA segment).
Is this an issue with Matrix's handling of married segments, failure to search inventory in real-time, or something else?
Would love to ticket at P class but having difficult doing so via AC/OTA (even BookWithMatrix doesn't work). Any thoughts?
#1845
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
EF is a better guide to true real-time availability in these situations, because it does make a real-time request of the airline for the requested itinerary.
This is one of the reasons that someone who values these travel tools should always be prepared to use them in combination.