Jun 4, 2014, 6:07 pm
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
Dec 2, 2021, 7:16 am
#2057
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Lincolnshire, UK
Programs: BA GGL - maybe only briefly!
Posts: 1,378
There is also a problem in the routing codes field. If I have already put in, say, JFK and then want to add LHR before JFK, I put the cursor in front of the 'J' but as soon as I type 'L', the cursor jumps to the end of the string - so you end up with LJFKHR.
Otherwise, thanks for the efforts to keep it going and improve it too.
Dec 2, 2021, 7:40 am
#2058
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA, UA, GE
Posts: 5,123
I just tried it and while it does not return the same error, it returns no results and eventually times out (using the V5 beta site). It does work much better using the current production version though. Thanks.
Dec 2, 2021, 10:18 am
#2059
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 640
Dec 2, 2021, 10:38 am
#2060
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 640
Yes, please:
1.) bring back multi country origin
2.) could we change the format from:
+cabin 1 --> +cabin first or as in GDS --> kf
+cabin 2 --> +cabin biz or as in GDS --> kc
+cabin 3 --> +cabin eco or as in GDS --> ky
+cabin premium coach --> +cabin premeco or as in GDS --> kw
3.)
could we add searching multi cabin (mixed searchesfor outbound and inbound flights?
i.e.
01DEC HAM-NYC Prem Eco
10DEC NYC-HAM Biz
as of right now this is not possible, even with +cabin since +cabin is a must then on all segments, and when you have a connecting flight, i.e. HAM-FRA-NYC where no Prem Eco is available on HAM-FRA this will not show any results
4.)
higher timeout
ofc lower timeout is required to keep down the costs, a paid version in the price range of AMA Masterpricer / Sabre Bargain Finder Max could be possible
5.)
maybe change the booking class request format?
currently bc=Y | bc=W | bc=...
--->
either as in GDS:
/cy,w,...
or just short
bcy,w,...
6.)
make "add advanced controls" sticky, maybe as a cookie?, so we don't have to click on it every time again for each search
1.) bring back multi country origin
2.) could we change the format from:
+cabin 1 --> +cabin first or as in GDS --> kf
+cabin 2 --> +cabin biz or as in GDS --> kc
+cabin 3 --> +cabin eco or as in GDS --> ky
+cabin premium coach --> +cabin premeco or as in GDS --> kw
3.)
could we add searching multi cabin (mixed searchesfor outbound and inbound flights?
i.e.
01DEC HAM-NYC Prem Eco
10DEC NYC-HAM Biz
as of right now this is not possible, even with +cabin since +cabin is a must then on all segments, and when you have a connecting flight, i.e. HAM-FRA-NYC where no Prem Eco is available on HAM-FRA this will not show any results
4.)
higher timeout
ofc lower timeout is required to keep down the costs, a paid version in the price range of AMA Masterpricer / Sabre Bargain Finder Max could be possible
5.)
maybe change the booking class request format?
currently bc=Y | bc=W | bc=...
--->
either as in GDS:
/cy,w,...
or just short
bcy,w,...
6.)
make "add advanced controls" sticky, maybe as a cookie?, so we don't have to click on it every time again for each search
Last edited by fuyao; Dec 2, 2021 at 10:44 am
Dec 2, 2021, 3:36 pm
#2062
Company Representative - ITA Software
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Cambridge, MA
Posts: 362
We turned off multi-country-origin queries because there were subtle errors (taxes and other issues) in QPX's results. Adding a warning that "prices may be incorrect" is not a good solution here. Don't hold your breath for a better one.
Dec 2, 2021, 3:42 pm
#2063
Company Representative - ITA Software
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Cambridge, MA
Posts: 362
ITA Hacker - it's great to hear that you guys are still working on this in your spare time! Please keep up the great work!
Three requests:
1. I want something closer to a command line tool interface, where I don't want to have to wait for the airport codes or the routing or extension codes to validate before being able to fill the rest of the form. This is a bit annoying from a UX perspective, especially when I'm on a slow connection in some developing country. Maybe this could be an option that would be set as a cookie? From a UX perspective, in this 'advanced mode' I'd fill out the form and have everything validated before the data to the backend to do the search.
2. Any chance you can come up with a shorter URL? Happy to use a URL shortener (e.g. https://tinyurl.com/gmtrx), but you can probably do better there.
3. Time limit to do the search - any chance we can have an option to raise it? You may need to incorporate reCaptcha there to prevent bots from abusing the servers.
Thanks again for doing the update to keep the tool alive so that we can continue using it!
Three requests:
1. I want something closer to a command line tool interface, where I don't want to have to wait for the airport codes or the routing or extension codes to validate before being able to fill the rest of the form. This is a bit annoying from a UX perspective, especially when I'm on a slow connection in some developing country. Maybe this could be an option that would be set as a cookie? From a UX perspective, in this 'advanced mode' I'd fill out the form and have everything validated before the data to the backend to do the search.
2. Any chance you can come up with a shorter URL? Happy to use a URL shortener (e.g. https://tinyurl.com/gmtrx), but you can probably do better there.
3. Time limit to do the search - any chance we can have an option to raise it? You may need to incorporate reCaptcha there to prevent bots from abusing the servers.
Thanks again for doing the update to keep the tool alive so that we can continue using it!
2. Yes, the intention is to host the new Matrix on matrix.itasoftware.com, replacing the old one. We wanted to make sure we didn't miss any big bugs before removing the old version. You all have found some things -- thanks for the bug reports, be assured that they've all been read and that we've fixed some of the bugs already.
3. This is not changing.
Dec 2, 2021, 3:46 pm
#2064
Company Representative - ITA Software
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Cambridge, MA
Posts: 362
Matrix 5 and Matrix 3 are hitting the same backends, so I would not expect differences like that. FWIW I tried out the same query and am seeing results from Matrix 5.
Dec 2, 2021, 3:46 pm
#2065
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: DXB
Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, BA Silver, A3 Gold, Sixt Diamond
Posts: 2,811
Even when you switch to the new version, it would be great if you could keep the old version alive at classicmatrix.itasoftware.com or so for a while, in case we find more bugs.
I also assume that the PowerTools don't work with the new version yet, and they are a lifesaver for me.
I also assume that the PowerTools don't work with the new version yet, and they are a lifesaver for me.
Dec 2, 2021, 3:48 pm
#2066
Company Representative - ITA Software
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Cambridge, MA
Posts: 362
I think this is now fixed -- I can't reproduce this anymore. Give it a try again and let me know if you can still reproduce this.
Dec 2, 2021, 3:52 pm
#2067
Company Representative - ITA Software
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Cambridge, MA
Posts: 362
We're not going to change the language for selecting cabins etc. We have over twenty years of history -- this will be disruptive to many users!
That's a good idea, thanks.
That's a good idea, thanks.
Dec 2, 2021, 3:56 pm
#2068
Company Representative - ITA Software
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Cambridge, MA
Posts: 362
We have no control over PowerTools. Can anyone ping the authors and ask them to update the tools?
Dec 2, 2021, 4:16 pm
#2069
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: DXB
Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, BA Silver, A3 Gold, Sixt Diamond
Posts: 2,811
Yes, that's what I meant. IAkH & Co. will need some time to update the PowerTools. So it would be nice if the old version could still be around in the meantime.
Dec 2, 2021, 5:29 pm
#2070
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
Just a thought that might not be practicable, but maybe have a checkbox that says "show without taxes". If a search has multiple countries, check the box (or require it to be manually checked in order to search from multiple countries). Obviously, without knowing anything about your back end I have no idea if this would be feasible, so just a thought.