New Kayak feature geared towards weekend getaways

A new Kayak feature geared for weekend getaways is aimed at the trend of shorter and more flexible trips.

“Travelers all over the world are taking shorter vacations, typically opting for long weekend trips,” said Steve Hafner, Kayak’s chief executive.

Kayak’s new feature lets user’s price airline tickets for the next five weekends or for weekends in a specific month. Users can choose to leave as early as Thursday and return as late as Mondays.

Previously, a Kayak user would have had to search flights for each weekend separately by entering the appropriate dates and noting the best prices.

The weekend search feature, Mr Hafner said, is designed “specifically for the flexible weekend warrior.”

It’s the latest effort by travel sites to help consumers find deals if their travel dates are flexible. Many travel sites already offer the option of automatically checking flights leaving or returning a few days before or after a specified date, according to Kayak.

Report by David Wilkening