"What is the absolute lowest possible fare between Point A and Point B, across every airline, every date, and every routing imaginable?" Here is why ITA changed the game.
Before the Matrix, if you wanted to know if it was cheaper to fly on a Tuesday vs. a Saturday, you had to run two separate searches. The old systems were "session-based"—they looked at one date at a time.
Beyond the Search Box: Unpacking the Genius of the ITA Software Matrix ita software matrix
I’m talking about the .
Want to fly from New York to London, but you don’t mind stopping in Reykjavik for 3 days? There’s a code for that. Want to force the search to avoid a specific airline (like Boeing 737 Max routes)? There’s a code for that. Want to find a "Hidden City" ticketing opportunity where getting off at the layover is cheaper than the direct flight? "What is the absolute lowest possible fare between
It is a search engine for inventory , not a travel agency. When you find a great fare, you have to copy the exact flight numbers and fare codes and go to the airline’s website or a third-party agent (like Orbitz) to book it.
The "Matrix" (often referred to as ITA Matrix by power users) is the raw, unfiltered user interface for that system. Unlike Expedia or Travelocity, the Matrix doesn’t sell tickets. It doesn’t have ads. It doesn’t care about branding. Its only job is to answer one brutal question: The old systems were "session-based"—they looked at one
Why? Because ITA (now Google) is a B2B software company. They provide the brain; they let Expedia and Kayak provide the checkout cart. With Google Flights becoming more user-friendly every year, is the classic ITA Matrix dead?