“Users can type in two different cities, or airport codes, in the Google search box to bring up two boxes for entering departing and returning flight dates. Below those are links to the travel Web sites Expedia, Hotwire and Orbitz. Clicking on one of those links leads directly to flight options for your selected itinerary on that site,” according to CNET News.com.
“Google is testing a new search feature for specific flight inquiries between two points,” according to the company.
Another report, on searchenginewatch.com, said: “Since we first blogged about Google offering direct links to online travel databases (Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz) a few days ago if city pairs are placed in the web search box, others have picked up on yet another Google test. The new service is primarily about accessing pricing info, timetables etc. This is different than the flight info “shortcuts”, “Smart Answers”, etc., that most of the major web engines, the airlines themselves, and others have been offering for several years. For example, if you enter an airline and flight number into Yahoo, Google, or Ask Jeeves info about where the flight is located and when it will be landing is provided. Most of this data applies to flights in the U.S./Canada aviation system. So, if it’s a European flight heading to the U.S. or Canada it should be in there. Exceptions do exist and not every service provides access to every airline.”