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2012

GOOGLE INCLUDES DOMESTIC ROUTES IN ITS FLIGHT SEARCH

January 12, 2012 0

Googling a flight itinerary is now much of a pleasure. Google has expanded its Flight Search options, to include a number of domestic routes too. This might come as a surprise to a number of users, as Google Flight Search, since it has been launched in September, has been focusing on bigger cities only.

This service of Google has been useful for a number of users in the past, in getting details such as, finding a ticket and book it directly through an airline. But with the update, it is bound to rope in a number of domestic users soon.

Google, on its part has not let the tech world know about it, as it has quietly expanded the number of U.S. cities it covers. When asked for the same, Google remained tight-lipped. The only detail it noted, was that “since launch we’ve more than doubled the number of domestic (i.e., U.S.) routes available in the feature.”

Another interesting point to note, was that the search engine giant has also integrated flight searches into its authoritative search results, making them easier to find and use.

Sean Carlson, a spokesman for Google said, “Our goal here is to develop the best possible user experience.” The rate at which this service is growing, it seems Google is working harder than the hardest to keep many involved in its various products and services.

This update will help a number of users, who are looking for cheap flights through its slick and blazing-fast search engine. This is possible, as it is powered by recently acquired ITA Software.

From Google’s point of view, this service would only do good, as a more functional site means more bookings. But the company would not detail everyone, as to how many tickets it has sold through this new flights interface.

However, looking at the update from the point of view of the rest of the travel industry, and particularly online travel agencies such as Expedia, Orbitz and Travelocity, it may not be of great help.

There was more at the negative side for the service, as Ben Hammer, a spokesman for FairSearch, a coalition of travel companies that compete with Google predicts, “Consumers would pay higher prices for airfares and other products and services as a result of Google coming to dominate the online travel market.”

To support his statement, one can say that, apart from being a competitor, he might have looking into the specifications and would have thus used the service too. However, he preferred not detailing on the service and the effectiveness of its usage.

One can surely say that Google is trying to extend its dominance in the world of the Internet, rather than improving its service for the users. Users are benefiting from the same, which is more of a by-products of the same.