Google Flights
| Google Flights | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Slogan | Ready for takeoff? Choose a destination to get started. |
| Commercial? | yes |
| Launched | 13 September 2011 |
Google Flights is an online flight booking service which facilitates the purchase of airline tickets through third party suppliers.
History[edit]
In April 2011, the Federal government of the United States approved Google's $700 million purchase of ITA Software.[1] On September 13, 2011 Google launched Google Flights, which used algorithms gained from this purchase.[2]
Features[edit]
An innovation of Google Flights is that it allows open-ended searches based on criteria other than destination; for example, a user may search for flights within a range of times and a budget and be offered various destination choices.[3]
Response[edit]
The service was immediately compared to competitors such as Expedia, Orbitz, Kayak.com, and Bing.[4] Competitor Kayak.com issued a statement that their service was superior to Google's and that they would be competitive.[5]
There was no immediate change in the price of stocks for Priceline, Expedia, or Travelzoo in response to the opening of Google Flights.[6]
Shortly after the site launched counsel for Expedia testified to the Senate Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee that Google failed to keep a promise to rank Google Flight listings below the listings of competitors in a Google search.[7]
References[edit]
- ^ Ryan Singel (8 April 2011). "Feds Clear Google to Buy ITA Travel Search Company, Conditions Apply". wired.com. Retrieved 13 September 2011.
- ^ Ryan Singel (13 September 2011). "Google Upgrades Flight Search to the Jet Age". wired.com. Retrieved 13 September 2011.
- ^ Julianne Pepitone (13 September 2011). "Google launches Flight Search - with a feature rivals lack - Sep. 13, 2011". cnn.com. Retrieved 13 September 2011.
- ^ Rebeccas Greenfield (13 September 2011). "Google Travel: Not a Kayak Killer, Yet". theatlanticwire.com. Atlantic Media Company. Retrieved 13 September 2011.
- ^ Mills, Elinor (13 September 2011). "Google flight-search service takes off | Digital Media". CNET News. San Francisco: CBS. Retrieved 13 September 2011.
- ^ Ivan Hoff (14 September 2011). "Will Google's flight search hurt Priceline and Expedia?". cnn.com. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ^ Forden, Sara (20 September 2011). "Google’s Flight Search Breaks Promise on ITA Deal, Expedia Says". bloomberg.com. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
External links[edit]
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