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ITA-Matrix-PowerTools - Userscript for Orbitz/DL/UA/AA/BA/CZ/IB/LA/LH/LX/TK

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Old Nov 11, 2014, 10:54 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: IAkH
Welcome to the ITA-Matrix-PowerTools
*** About ***
The ITA-Matrix-PowerTools are a user script maintained by fellow flyertalk members to enhance the already powerful Matrix of ITA Software by providing new features and booking links.

Features added to the itinerary details page:
  • convert times into 24h format
  • translation support
  • open fare rules in new window by default
  • price breakdown (base fare, taxes & carrier imposed surcharges)
  • editor mode (adjust cabin prior extraction)
  • multiple handy links (Seatguru, Planefinder, WhereToCredit)
  • new on page features like detailed mileage breakdown*, GCM-Map* and earned frequent flyer miles*
  • create links to various providers (OTAs / airlines / other tools) to try direct booking of your itinerary

Originally Posted by Error: Unable to find class IR6M2QD-k-i for itinRow.
If you see this error, currently you'll need to manually edit your installed script.

See posts from October 1st, 2018 for more information.
*requires background requests

The script may have lots of bugs and comes without warranty of any kind! Not all fares will be bookable or will price correctly in the booking engines. You are responsible for the money you spend - so double check your flights before purchasing AND use your sanity! Read this and the next two posts as an example: click

*** How it works ***
Using pure JavaScript we are "creating" some sort of hook that is periodically checking for page changes while working with the Matrix. As soon as you reload or leave the page the script stops (leaving the page or using the console-version) or starts from the beginning (using the userscript and perfoming a reload). Also this script is only running in these tabs/windows in which you are looking at the Matrix.
As soon as the script detects the itinerary page it reads its content - unless you activated the editor mode. It's parsing all the information found and creates - based on this information - several links to OTAs, airlines and other tools. Since we are able to remove, replace and add content to the page - we make them visible and clickable in a way you choose. By default there are no background requests.

*** How to get it running ***
There are three methods to install the script. All three below run exactly the same underlying script but are listed in order of installation complexity:

Method 1: Browser Extensions
Method 2: As a UserScript
It takes a moment to get it running but after that it will start automatically everytime you visit the Matrix and we will be able to store your settings. You will need to install a script manager.

Warning: Using a script manager and installing user scripts is a potential security risk - We need to mention it here.
Step 1: Install a script manager Step 2: Install the script
See the FAQ of your script manager how to install the script.
  • Through GreasyFork
  • Through OpenUserJS
  • Through GitHub: you should be asked whether you want to install it - make sure your script manager is running.
Method 3: iOS Safari Shortcut

Get the "Add ITA Matrix Powertools" Shortcut

Instructions much be run each time
  • Open ITA Matrix in Safari on your iPhone or iPad
  • Tap on the Share button in the bottom navigation
  • Scroll down through all the actions
  • Select Add ITA Matrix Powertools

Method 4: Console/Debug mode
You need to access the command line of your browser to execute the script. You can use either the regular version or the minified version. Just copy the entire text.

Chrome:
  1. Open Chrome DevTools: developer.chrome.com
  2. Switch to the console tab
  3. Paste the script into the command line: developer.chrome.com
  4. Run it
Firefox:
  1. Open the web console: developer.mozilla.org
  2. Switch to the console tab
  3. Paste the script into the command line: developer.mozilla.org
  4. Run it
Internet Explorer:
  1. Open the web console by pressing F12
  2. Switch to the console tab
  3. Paste the script into the command line - at the very bottom
  4. Run it by pressing the green triangle

*** How to use it ***
Once the script is running you should see a new line above the ITA logo:
Code:
Passengers (1a) Settings (v0.18) (Cabin: Auto)
As long as you see this line, there is no need to reexecute the script. Make sure to get used to the "Settings"-feature -> just click on Settings. Within the settings menu you can configure the script towards your needs/preferences. Enabling/disabling features and/or setting standard editions of providers on the fly. When using a script manager these settings should be stored and automatically load as soon as you visit matrix.itasoftware.com - but the passengers as well as the cabin detection will not be stored!
Your settings are "reloaded" everytime the itinerary details show up! If you want to use other settings, just get back to the flight selection and reselect your flights - the new settings will be used. This belongs to the passengers and cabin detection as well

Passengers:
The passenger count will not be taken from your search results! Use the passenger config on the upper left and make sure they are set before you get to the itinerary details. We had to do it this way because some providers require the age of children. But always make sure to search for the equivalent passenger count. There might be seat availability for one passenger but not for two!

Cabin detection:
You should set the cabin on the upper right to the appropriate main cabin you are looking for. Sometimes you will have economy/business class segments in mainly business/first class itineraries. These mixed itineraries make it hard to autodetect the main cabin - so you can set it manually.

*** Background requests - Privacy issues ***
Some features require to contact other servers. As long as you do not activate any of the autoload features within the settings there won't be any automatic background requests. You will have to initiate them manually. The following list will tell which features are contacting what server and what information will be transferred. All websites will know you are using this script und you are currently using the Matrix - what by the way applies to the link targets you click as well.
  • GCM-Map in inline mode - contacting gcmap.com (non SSL) providing full route data
  • WhereToCredit.com mileage accrual breakdown - contacting wheretocredit.com (non SSL or SSL - depending on whether you use the Matrix with or without SSL) providing full itinerary
  • Skimlinks affiliate links - loads a js script to adds affiliate ids to some links if and only if the "Support this tool" setting is enabled. If it is disabled, no external scripts are loaded
*** FT-Posts you should read ***
General statement regarding this script: click
How to fix class names yourself: click
Problems and limitations regarding pricing itins: click

*** Contributors ***
paul21, Steppo, IAkH, 18sas, Benchmarc and others!

I'd like to give special thanks to paul21 for starting this idea.

*** Latest Version ***
GitHub Repo

OR install directly: Executable Version minified

FYI
Steppo & IAkH (Adam Hwang) have full access to this repository.

Discussion - written by paul21:
The original posting can be found here, related to building links on delta's booking engine. The script scrapes the flight info from the itinerary (flight numbers, dates, class of service, price) and builds a link string to two booking engines (Orbitz/Delta). These links are the same links used by Google Flights (owns ITA) , Kayak, et. al. to drive purchases. I used the Google referrer codes in the scripts, so they should get the commission. It's beyond me why ITA doesn't have some form of purchase link. This a userscript, and like an ad-blocker, it modifies the way a page is viewed by editing DOM objects in the browser. Keep in mind that this tool is meant to do something you already do yourself, but to save time in the process. Any tickets issued by Orbitz/DL via these links could be issued via phone or web search. If the links work, you are avoiding a phone booking fee potentially.







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ITA-Matrix-PowerTools - Userscript for Orbitz/DL/UA/AA/BA/CZ/IB/LA/LH/LX/TK

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Old Sep 23, 2015, 9:44 pm
  #196  
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: NYC
Posts: 538
Originally Posted by MileStalker
May I kindly ask more experienced folks to help me with booking the following trip?

Both Priceline and Big O links do not work for me, Priceline errors out and Big O shows me only a handful of simplified itineraries.
It seems to price out at ~$465 on Priceline, but only the first time I click on the link from within Matrix. After that, it errors out on me without even giving an itinerary.
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Old Sep 23, 2015, 11:47 pm
  #197  
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: FT Premium Fare Deals
Posts: 74
Originally Posted by atword
That's a great itinerary and super low CPM! The only way I can get the exact flights to propagate is to use the UA or AC links but that kicks the price up to $953.
Thanks, trying to hit AA Platinum with this MR and earn a good chunk of miles along :-) Plus try Finnair for the first time
MileStalker is offline  
Old Sep 24, 2015, 6:31 am
  #198  
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 197
Steppo, first, thanks for the wonder tool!
Any chance this can be extended to aa.com? I've some aa gift certs that can work only on aa.com...Thanks again
GraceC is offline  
Old Sep 24, 2015, 4:51 pm
  #199  
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SAN
Programs: Lots of faux metal
Posts: 6,416
Originally Posted by GraceC
Steppo, first, thanks for the wonder tool!
Any chance this can be extended to aa.com? I've some aa gift certs that can work only on aa.com...Thanks again
I've seen direct links in the MR deals forum to the non-US based AA.com sites. Most of the non-US sites use Amadeus instead of Sabre, which might allow the direct linking. For example: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/25441131-post58.html


That could make it hard for the script to work though.

Last edited by skunker; Sep 24, 2015 at 4:56 pm
skunker is offline  
Old Sep 25, 2015, 2:34 am
  #200  
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Somewhere between if and else
Posts: 142
Originally Posted by skunker
I've seen direct links in the MR deals forum to the non-US based AA.com sites. Most of the non-US sites use Amadeus instead of Sabre, which might allow the direct linking.
Was already working on that one but needed some testing. Should be fine now. Unfortunately no US-POS possible.

Added AA-EAP (Europe/Asia/Pacific) - please test it and report bugs.
As always: use at your own risk
--------------------
Update to v0.14 using https://github.com/SteppoFF/ita-matrix-powertools/ or install/open directly

Installable/Executable Version
Executable Version minified

Happy searching
--------------------
Steppo is offline  
Old Sep 25, 2015, 6:33 am
  #201  
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: MUC
Programs: Compulsory Traveller
Posts: 305
Huge thanks for the script! Makes things possible that weren't before.
ritesa is offline  
Old Sep 25, 2015, 10:07 am
  #202  
IMH
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Berlin
Programs: BA Gold; Accor Plat; IHG Diamond-Amb; Meliá & HH & Marriott Gold
Posts: 5,447
Originally Posted by ritesa
Huge thanks for the script! Makes things possible that weren't before.
+1 I only discovered this thread and script a few days ago and it's already helped me enormously. Thanks very much, guys.

One thing I sometimes do that this tool can't (yet) is to test whether an ITA result can be translated into a bookable itinerary that includes flights > 330 days out. Example: yesterday I booked an trip for late August 2016 that took advantage of a Sweden-Houston fare that has to be ticketed by 30 SEP. I pieced together the itinerary on ITA, using dates two weeks earlier than my actual planned travel, then replicated it on vayama.com to see if the same fare was available. It was.

Any chance of adding "time shift by X days and link to [insert OTA that works more than 330 days out]"?
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Old Sep 25, 2015, 11:58 am
  #203  
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SAN
Programs: Lots of faux metal
Posts: 6,416
Originally Posted by Steppo
Was already working on that one but needed some testing. Should be fine now. Unfortunately no US-POS possible.

Added AA-EAP (Europe/Asia/Pacific) - please test it and report bugs.
As always: use at your own risk
--------------------
Update to v0.14 using https://github.com/SteppoFF/ita-matrix-powertools/ or install/open directly

Installable/Executable Version
Executable Version minified

Happy searching
--------------------
^^
You guys do great work!
skunker is offline  
Old Sep 25, 2015, 3:39 pm
  #204  
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SAN
Programs: Lots of faux metal
Posts: 6,416
Bug report:
Simple MAD-SXM-CDG fare. Linked to AA.eu and got this error:
Connection to the MSE gateway failed

The following error(s) occurred

Fatal API error - Invalid residency and language combination (4000)

Click here to go to AA.com
Using IE, so I can't do an Incognito window. I will try with Chrome.
skunker is offline  
Old Sep 25, 2015, 3:59 pm
  #205  
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Somewhere between if and else
Posts: 142
Originally Posted by skunker
Fatal API error - Invalid residency and language combination (4000)
What POS have you used - what edition? You can see it in the settings section.
Steppo is offline  
Old Sep 25, 2015, 5:05 pm
  #206  
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SAN
Programs: Lots of faux metal
Posts: 6,416
Originally Posted by Steppo
What POS have you used - what edition? You can see it in the settings section.
That was it. It was defaulted to UK. I changed to Spain and reloaded and it worked. ^
skunker is offline  
Old Sep 25, 2015, 6:11 pm
  #207  
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 20,604
Originally Posted by skunker
Using IE, so I can't do an Incognito window. I will try with Chrome.
InPrivate Browsing on IE (Settings | Safety | InPrivate Browsing) serves the same purpose as Incognito mode in Chrome.
Originally Posted by Internet Explorer
InPrivate Browsing helps prevent Internet Explorer from storing data about your browsing session. This includes cookies, temporary Internet files, history, and other data. Toolbars and extensions are disabled by default. See Help for more information.
TWA884 is offline  
Old Sep 25, 2015, 9:03 pm
  #208  
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 747
Originally Posted by MileStalker
Thanks, trying to hit AA Platinum with this MR and earn a good chunk of miles along :-) Plus try Finnair for the first time
I was able to click through on Cheapoair but it drops down to five legs instead of eight. However, it appears to be bookable whereas the Orbitz links return an error saying the flight is not available.

For $434 on Cheapoair it might still be a good deal even if somewhat less miles. The "1 stop" is in Miami.

atword is offline  
Old Sep 25, 2015, 11:09 pm
  #209  
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SAN
Programs: Lots of faux metal
Posts: 6,416
Originally Posted by TWA884
InPrivate Browsing on IE (Settings | Safety | InPrivate Browsing) serves the same purpose as Incognito mode in Chrome.
Thanks, didn't know that. But "InPrivate Browsing" sounds so dirty.
skunker is offline  
Old Sep 26, 2015, 2:30 am
  #210  
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Somewhere between if and else
Posts: 142
Originally Posted by skunker
That was it. It was defaulted to UK. I changed to Spain and reloaded and it worked. ^
Yeah.. while testing the first thing to test was the POS switching feature. Tested and removed many POS myself - but for me GB belongs to Europe. Anyhow it is not supported by AA-EAP.
Thanks ^

Please update AND set a proper POS for AA using the settings section.
--------------------
Update to v0.14a using https://github.com/SteppoFF/ita-matrix-powertools/ or install/open directly

Installable/Executable Version
Executable Version minified

Happy searching
--------------------

Last edited by Steppo; Sep 26, 2015 at 2:44 am
Steppo is offline  


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