29 August 2008

Cheapflights improves functionality

Flight search and comparison site cheapflights.com has revamped its front and back end, introducing a raft of functionality improvements.

The siteÃ¢â¬â¢s new features include 450 destination guides, airline and airport guides, enhanced dynamic search, new fare filters plus a selection of handpicked deals.

Airline guides will give users information on check-in, baggage, passenger change details, child and senior fares, pets, in-flight service, air miles, an airline food link and airline alliances. Information on airports gives guidance on driving directions, car rentals, getting into town and airport disabled and conference facilities.

Better search facilities mean users do not need to know how to spell departure and arrival points; they simply type in the first three letters and the site will intuitively search for the location. More specific fare filters mean customers can refine searches by filtering by date, price, event or supplier.

The site will also flag up the latest hot deals on offer which will be positioned across the site including on destination guide pages, easing the transition from looking to booking.

New technology will also allow the site to remember the last five destinations keyed in by a user, preventing consumers from having to retype information in order to return to previously-looked at pages.

General manager Francesca Ecsery said: Ã¢â¬ÅâœThe new website represents so much more than an aesthetic redesign. The revamp has enhanced both the front and back end of the site, delivering new functionality, rapid ease of access to deals and tremendous additional proprietary content. We believe users will find it to be a highly improved, powerful travel search tool, which is packed with airport facilities information and all kinds of useful tips and tricks to help prep them for their journey and even help them decide where to visit. It really is like your own virtual tour guide.Ã¢â¬~

by Dinah Hatch