Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Travel&Dining > Travel Tools
Reload this Page >

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

Community
Wiki Posts
Search
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.







Print Wikipost

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

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 1, 2023, 1:00 pm
  #1051  
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: NYC
Posts: 1,393
Priceline link down?
Keter likes this.
HumbleBee is offline  
Old Mar 5, 2023, 8:32 am
  #1052  
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: AMS
Programs: KL PFL; BA Gold; A3 Silver; EY Silver; SU Silver
Posts: 2,488
Originally Posted by HumbleBee
Priceline link down?
Please if anyone could help! It is really not working (checked on very simple itineraries).... Thanks in advance!
Keter is offline  
Old Mar 6, 2023, 5:27 pm
  #1053  
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: IAH ↔ PAR
Posts: 777
Originally Posted by Keter
Please if anyone could help! It is really not working (checked on very simple itineraries).... Thanks in advance!
Looks like Priceline removed it. I haven't been able to find an alternative. All sites have switched to a key lookup method. I'll keep looking but let me know if anybody has any other ideas as well
Keter likes this.
IAkH is offline  
Old Mar 6, 2023, 6:10 pm
  #1054  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Programs: DL DM/MM
Posts: 2,273
Originally Posted by IAkH
Looks like Priceline removed it. I haven't been able to find an alternative. All sites have switched to a key lookup method. I'll keep looking but let me know if anybody has any other ideas as well
What does "key lookup method" mean?
UVAhoo06 is offline  
Old Mar 7, 2023, 6:01 am
  #1055  
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: IAH ↔ PAR
Posts: 777
Originally Posted by UVAhoo06
What does "key lookup method" mean?
It means that the details of the flight are no longer present in the URL and only a key is used to lookup what the details were. So without a direct relationship with Priceline and then using their own search tools to get the keys to their search results, there doesn't appear to be a way to create a URL anymore. That's not too say some method doesn't still exist, but all the major meta search engines have transitioned to this new way to deep link and the old one powertools was using no longer works. If anybody has any other thoughts on how to build a deep link, I'm open to suggestions
Keter, HumbleBee and fuyao like this.
IAkH is offline  
Old Mar 7, 2023, 6:03 am
  #1056  
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: DXB
Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, BA Silver, A3 Gold, Sixt Diamond
Posts: 2,811
Wouldn't OTAs want to give out access to creating those keys? I mean, surely Priceline would prefer for people to book through them...?
alex67500 likes this.
ChocolateFactory is offline  
Old Mar 8, 2023, 1:33 am
  #1057  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 640
Originally Posted by ChocolateFactory
Wouldn't OTAs want to give out access to creating those keys? I mean, surely Priceline would prefer for people to book through them...?
No, because with direct links you can always scrape websites much easier and OTAs dont want to be scraped. After all, every flight requests costs money for them, they need to pay $ to GDS for every search. Amadeus Masterpricer (not what priceline uses but expedia group) costs around 1$ / request
fuyao is offline  
Old Mar 8, 2023, 3:15 am
  #1058  
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: DXB
Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, BA Silver, A3 Gold, Sixt Diamond
Posts: 2,811
Why do direct links make scraping easier?

What about creating a second user script for Priceline that shows a form where you can paste some data from ITA Matrix, and then that user script fills out the Priceline search form for you? I guess we can’t directly POST to Priceline from ITA Matrix?
ChocolateFactory is offline  
Old Mar 8, 2023, 2:12 pm
  #1059  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 640
Originally Posted by ChocolateFactory
Why do direct links make scraping easier?

What about creating a second user script for Priceline that shows a form where you can paste some data from ITA Matrix, and then that user script fills out the Priceline search form for you? I guess we can’t directly POST to Priceline from ITA Matrix?
Wouldnt work because then you only get the results list, not the exact fare classes etc.
So its like filling out the kayak search for you, not actually deeplinking an exact itinerary + classes
fuyao is offline  
Old Mar 8, 2023, 3:46 pm
  #1060  
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: IAH ↔ PAR
Posts: 777
In my search for a Priceline fix, I've found some more OTAs that can work. I'll add those in the next few days to give us more alternatives to try. Problem is none of them are as large or reputable as Priceline was 😭
SK, Keter and LCSinTexas like this.
IAkH is offline  
Old Mar 8, 2023, 10:42 pm
  #1061  
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: IAH ↔ PAR
Posts: 777

[0.55.9] - 2023-03-08

Edited by IAkH
  • added JustFly and OneTravel
  • small update to EY
View change log

Latest installation links:
Keter, fuyao and ChocolateFactory like this.
IAkH is offline  
Old Mar 9, 2023, 4:37 am
  #1062  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 640
Originally Posted by IAkH

[0.55.9] - 2023-03-08

Edited by IAkH
  • added JustFly and OneTravel
  • small update to EY
View change log

Latest installation links:

Many thanks for that! Just tested both on a mixed cabin (biz outbound and eco inbound) and both worked.
onetravel does show:
Cabin: Business
Brand Name: Economy
for the eco flight

and justfly Economy for the biz flight, but the fare rules do show the same fare code

So I can confirm both work with mixed cabin class bookings, that was the most important one with being able to deeplink to priceline!
Keter likes this.
fuyao is offline  
Old Mar 17, 2023, 12:28 am
  #1063  
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: IAH ↔ PAR
Posts: 777

[0.55.11] - 2023-03-17

Edited by IAkH
  • fixed preliminary Matrix 5 support (only links and link settings work)
  • fixed LX, OS and added SN link

View change log

Latest installation links:
Keter, CosmicGirl and LCSinTexas like this.
IAkH is offline  
Old Mar 17, 2023, 10:58 am
  #1064  
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: AMS
Programs: KL PFL; BA Gold; A3 Silver; EY Silver; SU Silver
Posts: 2,488
Originally Posted by IAkH
In my search for a Priceline fix, I've found some more OTAs that can work. I'll add those in the next few days to give us more alternatives to try. Problem is none of them are as large or reputable as Priceline was 😭
Looking to other sites (AA, AC specifically) could it be that the request to Priceline is still sent as uncoded (but not seen in the browser address line) and once sent to PL is converted to a key reference?
Keter is offline  
Old Mar 17, 2023, 11:01 am
  #1065  
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: AMS
Programs: KL PFL; BA Gold; A3 Silver; EY Silver; SU Silver
Posts: 2,488
Are Orbitz/ Expedia links also fixable by chance?

Used to land at itinerary (for some trips at least, and at that time it was already cryptic data in the address line). Now the links always lead to one way search starting page regardless of the search complexity.
Keter is offline  


Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.