I've been using the private beta of Farecast for a couple months now and I've really enjoyed it. With the launch of their public beta release today, everyone (in Seattle & Boston at least) can take advantage of the high quality data mining and spiffy GUI that the Farecast team has put together.
The screenshot above shows me the best times to buy tickets from Seattle to LAX to get the lowest fares. My best fare will be available if I buy a ticket that leaves on September 6 and arrives the 12th. They've also got the ability to tell you when you should buy the ticket - today, tomorrow or in 30 days, based on how ticket prices have historically fluctuated and how the airlines price fares.
What has Farecast done right:
- Easy to use
- Useful, high quality information
- Simple, attractive GUI
- Spiffy AJAX functionality (at least in Firefox - IE was giving me trouble with those graphs)
- Strong Information Scent - I know exactly what I can do, where to go and how to interpret the data.
What they have ahead of them:
- The challenge of making a dynamic portal into a site that get attract search traffic
- Marketing the site beyond the web - public relations, mentions in the press, etc.
- Expanding quickly to other markets before a competitor jumps into the space
- Forming partnerships and revenue streams without sacrificing the user experience
If you're aching to try Farecast, vote for your city here. Any suggestions for the Farecast team? Just leave them below - I have inside information that they're SEOmoz regulars :)
Hawaii SEO: Everyone wants value in the end. But how the heck do you get all that information? And quantify that into a nice easy graphic? When does it become information overload?
Aquasparkle: Its interesting. But, I wont say it would "tank" travelocity and the like. If not only because technology can be duplicated. Other travel sites can follow suit.
Doesnt this website become less successful the more people use it? Everyone will buy when its low, so the airlines would just start increasing it the next time around? And, eventually the prices between all carriers remain closer in synch all year around? (Sure, probably at slightly lower rates to our benefit).
Aloha Pickwick,
“how the heck do you get all that information? And quantify that into a nice easy graphic? When does it become information overload?”
I don't know. It’s not my problem. It’s Farecast’s problem.
How many profitable airlines participate with the comparison engines? (None that I know of) Is this a coincidence? I don’t think so. Both Jet Blue and Southwest have worked hard to successfully differentiate themselves and their business models in an industry that is plagued by this kind of commoditization.
Who wants to eat at the cheapest restaurant in town? Me either.
I agree that consumer generated content might be useful to help inform consumers of an airlines real value but this can also be tricky. (IMO) The people who participate should not be anonymous or the results will likely be pure junk. The last time I checked TripAdvisor, the best restaurant in Honolulu was someplace I never heard of in a strip mall next to the bowling allay. People who participate will need to have profiles and rankings like a forum to help the consumer know if this is one of those pissed off idiots you see on the show Airline of if it’s an experienced frequent flyer who has a balanced and respected opinion.
Someone told me a funny story about how one of the major airlines discovered they could save a million dollars per year if they removed the olives from the salad. (No one noticed the change) The next thing to go was the carrots, then the salad, then the entire meal. Then the can of coke turned into half a can, etc, etc, etc. Before you know it, you’re paying $5.00 for $1.00 a box of crap with a 50 year shelf life. The next innovation will likely be pillows and blankets made out of horsehair and recycled baby diapers. It’s a slippery slope.
I've been using the private beta for a while too and it's an interesting application. The one thing that really struck me was how it could really take off if they made it a blended social application. There's been a lot of talk about Web 2.0 meeting Travel very soon and I've yet to really see anyone take that plunge.
Farecast has interesting hook with the ability to approximate low fares on certain dates. The profit on air tickets is narrow and getting smaller every year. They will need to tie in other products to run the distance. Imagine how that could be expanded to include other travel services, reviews, and social interaction.
In my mind Farecast could tank biggies like travelocity, expedia, and orbitz if done quickly and properly and to be honest I'd like to see a new player mix things up.
Show which airline will give me the best “Value”.
• Is there a reason why cheapest airline is the cheapest? Are they always late or loosing bags, etc? (Do they suck?) • Is there a good reason why the most expensive airline is the most expensive? Are they just over priced or do they actually deliver superior customer service?
• Can you show the customer service rankings as reported by the Department Of Transportation per airline?
• What kind of food is served if any? Is it good or nasty?
• What sort of deal, bonus or discount can I get if I become a member of the mileage program?
• If I join the mileage program, how likely am I to actually redeem award travel to the destination of my choice per airline? Is it impossible to book award travel to Hawaii?
• Can you show the average age of the aircraft and safety violations or incidents filed with the Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) per airline?
• Can you show how accurate your prediction measured up to reality over time going backwards? Are you keeping score?
• Can you show news events next to the spikes and dips in the graphs so we can judge if the drop in price was a fluke caused by a hurricane, war or whatever?
• Can you show if it’s cheaper to book directly with the airline or through an online travel agency like Expedia, Orbitz or Travelocity per airline?
Commoditization of air travel sounds like a good idea but it might not benefit the consumer in the long run if the industry turns into a zero sum game.
Some but not all people stay at the absolutely cheapest hotel they can find but most prefer to stay someplace where they can feel safe and enjoy. (IMO) Airlines are the same. Some are much better than others. Some of the best ones don’t have the cheapest price but wouldn’t you prefer to travel on a new aircraft with an airline that has excellent customer service? How much more would you pay to depart on time and not loose your luggage? $5.00? $10.00? Will Farecast lead you to the best value or the worst possible choice?
I'm not sure...I think that not knowing if your plane has had any safety violations might fall into the "Out of sight, out of mind" mentality. Knowing these things might make people way more apprehensive about flying. People might blow some routine maintenance that's listed way out of proportion and get freaked out by it and not want to fly.
I guess you’re right Rebecca. No need to know that the DC10 many airlines still use, stopped being produced way back in 1988.
Don’t worry about that string of accidents in the 70’s either. The FAA grounded the entire fleet for a while so the cargo doors don’t just fall off anymore like they used to. The DC10 is much, safer now.
Like most people, I’m sure you’re just as happy to fly on an aircraft that’s older than you versus a brand new one. What’s the difference?
A seat is a seat & the cheapest seat is the best seat. Correct?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonnell_Dougla...
Exactly! I'm glad you see my point of view. ;)
Seriously though, I was referring to paranoid androids who will get all bent out of shape and rant about the most minute and miniscule repairs or maintenance, not about a friggin' wing flying off. Get my drift?
It’s true. No need for too much data on routine maintenance.
However… Some aircraft are better than others. I think it would be great if the age and model of the aircraft was disclosed up front.
I would happily pay an extra $10.00 to fly on a new plane versus one from the 70’s. Wouldn’t you?
Rental car companies charge more for nicer and newer cars. Why not airlines?
What if you rented a car from Avis and they handed you the keys to a 1975 AMC Pacer? Wouldn’t you be a little disappointed since other people are getting a brand spanking new Mercedes for almost exactly the same price?
Hmmm, you sell your point well, Hawaii SEO. Well done, sir. Well done indeed.
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