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 22, 2012, 2:42 am
#242
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: The Castro, San Francisco, California
Programs: UA, DL, AA, Aegean Air, Cal Alumni (go Bears!)
Posts: 594
Today I searched for a rather simple itinerary: NYC to VIE, one way, Economy, 1 passenger Dec 21st +/-2 days.
Cheapest according to Matrix: AB at $616 (via DUS) (and many other option for various price points, from direct to 2 stops)
Then I did the same search adding "X" as an option.
Cheapest according to Matrix: same as above, AB at $616 (via DUS)
Then I did the same search but with "X:SVO" as an option.
Suddenly a cheaper flight with SU for $ 547 was found. The travel time is not extreme in any way and very comparable to many othe results show before.
Why does the Matrix miss the cheapest result? Bug or feature?
Even after repeating the original search, the cheaper SU connection was missing from the results. It doesn't seem to be a learning system. Not a single SU flight was offered.
Cheapest according to Matrix: AB at $616 (via DUS) (and many other option for various price points, from direct to 2 stops)
Then I did the same search adding "X" as an option.
Cheapest according to Matrix: same as above, AB at $616 (via DUS)
Then I did the same search but with "X:SVO" as an option.
Suddenly a cheaper flight with SU for $ 547 was found. The travel time is not extreme in any way and very comparable to many othe results show before.
Why does the Matrix miss the cheapest result? Bug or feature?
Even after repeating the original search, the cheaper SU connection was missing from the results. It doesn't seem to be a learning system. Not a single SU flight was offered.
Dec 23, 2012, 7:19 am
#243
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: NJ USA
Programs: AA PLAT 2MM, MR TITANIUM 2M, HH DIA, Hyatt EXP, BW DIA, IC AMB, IHG PLAT, UA GLD
Posts: 1,086
Question on ITA software
Sorry if this is incorrect place to post.
Often when I'm searching for business class or higher fares a really cheap price will come up and when I look at flight details, the price is for economy not business.
For example, searching NY-DEL 1/10/13 8-10 nights flexible dates business class
an option is $1458 on delta in economy T class outbound H class inbound. Or $1728 all H class. When searching Delta T and H class they do not seem to be instant upgrade fares. They are upgradable domestic fare classes but this is an international flight.
Same thing happens searching NY-PVG 1/17/13 flex 10-16 nights I get $1393 on US Air economy S class.
I can then hit back button and uncheck that airline to see the real business class fares but what am I doing wrong in the original search that allows these economy fares to come up. Or are these economy fares actually seats in business class (like the Delta S class).
Thanks.
Often when I'm searching for business class or higher fares a really cheap price will come up and when I look at flight details, the price is for economy not business.
For example, searching NY-DEL 1/10/13 8-10 nights flexible dates business class
an option is $1458 on delta in economy T class outbound H class inbound. Or $1728 all H class. When searching Delta T and H class they do not seem to be instant upgrade fares. They are upgradable domestic fare classes but this is an international flight.
Same thing happens searching NY-PVG 1/17/13 flex 10-16 nights I get $1393 on US Air economy S class.
I can then hit back button and uncheck that airline to see the real business class fares but what am I doing wrong in the original search that allows these economy fares to come up. Or are these economy fares actually seats in business class (like the Delta S class).
Thanks.
Dec 23, 2012, 8:07 am
#244
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: PDX
Posts: 2,284
My guess is that this thread will be moved to Travel Tools, but regardless, I don't believe you're doing anything wrong, it's simply a quirk of ITA. ITA seems to default to Economy for flights which may have J-class available, but not in a manner that's always combinable. If you notice, in the initial display of fares, at least when viewing them using the Time Bars format as I do, the detail for those non-Business fares don't display, even though they're in the matrix above.
If any flight in an itinerary is not all in the class you requested, a warning icon appears in gray to the right in the Advisory column to alert you to this situation.
Some time search for First Class instead of Business. It'll return Economy/Coach fares instead of Business for some itineraries, even if the airline offers Business. Those results tell me there's some display quirk having to do with the underlying inventory.
Perhaps someone else has a better explanation, but I've never seen a way to restrict those out-of-desired-class entries from displaying in the calendar.
If any flight in an itinerary is not all in the class you requested, a warning icon appears in gray to the right in the Advisory column to alert you to this situation.
Some time search for First Class instead of Business. It'll return Economy/Coach fares instead of Business for some itineraries, even if the airline offers Business. Those results tell me there's some display quirk having to do with the underlying inventory.
Perhaps someone else has a better explanation, but I've never seen a way to restrict those out-of-desired-class entries from displaying in the calendar.
Jan 4, 2013, 10:58 pm
#246
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: YXY
Posts: 3,506
It seems that Google has "integrated" the Matrix in their systems, which has diminished the quality a lot.
When I click "Help" on a Matrix results page I get a "not found" message from Google. No way to get in touch with the Matrix team any longer.
Today I looked for specific dates +/-2 days on a return flight from YHZ to PRG. Min price is C$ 856. When I look for YHZ to "PRG, OSR" the minimum prize rises (!) over $80. The cheaper connections are lost although they do not have more connections than then more expensive ones.
When I click "Help" on a Matrix results page I get a "not found" message from Google. No way to get in touch with the Matrix team any longer.
Today I looked for specific dates +/-2 days on a return flight from YHZ to PRG. Min price is C$ 856. When I look for YHZ to "PRG, OSR" the minimum prize rises (!) over $80. The cheaper connections are lost although they do not have more connections than then more expensive ones.
Jan 7, 2013, 5:01 am
#247
Company Representative - Superfly
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Menlo Park / Tel Aviv
Posts: 78
HAve you ever tried Superfly?
We use similar seat availability technology (like ITA, Everbread and Vayant) and provide a personalize sorting that includes value of miles earned.
Would love to hear your feedback.
Thanks,
Jonathan Meiri
CEO Superfly
ps. for miles junkies, check review of Superbox.
