Posts Tagged ‘air fare’


The Business of Finding you your Lowest Air Fare Just Became a Lot More Crowded

Have you ever tried to check out fares for your travel plans at a website called ITA Software? The answer to that is probably a Yes and No. Even if you don't go to the ITA website directly, this is a company whose technology powers most travel websites. It's been doing well for itself over the last 15 years or so; and now, Google owns it - the Internet giant paid about three-quarters of a billion dollars for it. So what does Google want with it? Well, think about it - Google does search, finding the lowest air fare involve search, it sounds like a pretty well-thought out match. What Google plans is an industry-heaving move. You'll be able to search for the lowest fares around using a great combination of Google's powerful search algorithms, and ITA's travel smarts. Everyone's always said this about Google - when they move into a new industry, the industry closes down, and Google is the only one that's left standing. It happened with the maps business, it practically did with e-mail, Android is taking over the smartphone world, and YouTube marches on practically with no competition. What will happen in the travel industry - to Orbitz, to Expedia and all the other services out there, now that Google has decided to throw its hat in the ring? Enter the way Google does business; this seems like yet another sign that Google is spreading out from merely directing people to other websites for information, to providing that information by itself. Google has two-thirds of the search market in America, and sometimes more - over the rest of the world. Each time they've try to take over a new business, the antitrust regulators and government seem to look more worried. Google Books went and scanned out-of-print books to make available to anyone, and the antitrust people fielded complaints; but when they tried to acquire AdMob for an edge in advertising on cell phones, the FTC put its foot down - until Apple, a competitor, did the same. Everyone's worried that allowing Google to find the lowest air fare for you will be more concentration of power in the same hands. The fare-search business has taken a funny little turn now - Bing Travel has always run on ITA Software's results. So it would seem now, that Bing will actually be displaying Google's results. But why are the airlines worried about it - why are they planning to sue and stop Google from taking over ITA? They worry that if Google is selling tickets on its own, any airline website an get pushed lower down in the search rankings - behind Google's own. It could be a very good thing for travelers though. People have specific requirements for how they want to travel, and up till now, the travel search engines have been pretty inflexible. Google with its famed algorithms, could find you not just your lowest air fare, but the best route, the best airline, the best seat, and all with nothing more than just one question worded anyway you wish. Mouse here for Related LinksHow to Rank Higher in Google’s New Search Engines – iHost Webhosting Websites SEO PanelDidn’t Travel This Summer? Five Trips To Take This Fall!15 Kinds of Alternative TravelIf You Are Posting To Free For All Sites You Should Not Waste Your Time

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Check Around For The Best Airfare Specials

A family friend was recently putting together a fun-filled adventure vacation for a large group of people. She invited my husband and I, to join this adventurous group in traveling with them. Without even hesitating, we agreed to talking to her about it; we desperately could use a vacation. Pretty soon, we found ourselves turning it down. The vacation was a great deal, a great value and the opportunity of a lifetime. However, it was to a foreign country and we have no interest in flying right now. Not surprisingly, the airfare specials for this vacation were amazing. In fact, it used to be difficult to even find a domestic flight for a price that reasonable. Right now, with the economy still being in dire straits, airfare specials are everywhere. Taking a vacation may be more feasible now than they have been in years. Dying to take your kids to Disney? There are packages galore that are giving away free park passes, lodging, and even more. Airfare specials to and from nearby airports may be at an all-time low, depending on how much time you spend doing some price comparisons and shopping around. All-inclusive vacations may be more affordable right now as well because of the price wars going on with airfare. There are a lot of problems facing the travel industry right now. Lack of finances leaves people putting vacations at the bottom of their priority lists. The attempts of terrorism and the threats of terrorism that could be yet to come, makes people cautious about traveling. Even though those airfare specials are incredibly tempting right now, make sure that you know all of the hidden facts that may not be mentioned until after you’re already committed to that airline ticket. Be sure to do your homework and check around for the best airfare specials. When you find a ticket that sounds affordable, check for hidden fees. Some airlines are now increasing their fees for checking baggage. You may find yourself paying an extra $25 to $100 per traveler based on the amount of luggage you just have to take along. Another airline may have been charging a bit more for their airfare specials, which was why you didn’t choose that deal, and they aren’t charging any extra fees. Suddenly, the least expensive airfare deal becomes higher than the deals you didn’t even think of considering. And remember that after you do find the airfare specials that are ideal for you and your travelling situation, become familiar with the new tactics that are being introduced on a daily basis at airports for security. Get all of the facts and details in order to arrive, in plenty of time, to get through security and not miss your flight. If you don’t take the time to know all of those extra facts, your flight may end up leaving without you. If that happens, those airfare specials weren’t such a great deal afterall. Mouse here for Related LinksLast-Minute Family Vacation DealsCollege Student Airfares – How To Find The Best RatesBargain BabeDing, Dong! The Slug Is Dead! (A BBG/Sabres, Not Slugs! Crossover)

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