Google buys ITA Software

Now you're thinking "why the hell am I talking about Google buying yet another company?"

Well this is important - as it's the engine a lot us use to get the base fares, tax breakdowns and fare comparison tools. In addition from a commercial viewpoint, it's the software that drives some airlines booking  engines (Alaska Airlines, Alitalia, Continental and US Airways) as well as a few price comparison engines (such as Bing Travel, CheapTickets, Kayak.com, and Orbitz)

Google is ponying up $700m for the privilege of buying ITA software, in an effort to go beyond Google's normal search offerings

The takeover is subject to regulatory examination (which could be significant when the word Google is involved), with no timescales noted.

It'll be interesting to see how this pans out - least of all how some of ITA's customers feel about being "Googlised" 


Google Source: http://www.google.com/press/ita/
The Register: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/07/01/google_buying_ita_software/

BD: Wha? You actually *fly* BMI? 10% off sound any good?

For those few people who actually fly BMI, courtesy of www.vouchercodes.co.uk, there's a lovely 10% code of 10FLYBMI. Unlike previous codes, this is valid on the whole network.

However as usual, you've 1) got to be quick to book it as it expires on the 01/08/10  and 2) find somewhere you want to go that BMI operate to (which is a challenge in itself)


Now there are a bunch of T&C's of course, but to sum up, it's for Economy flights only, for travel between 01/10/10 to 30/11/10, reducing the base fare only (so you get nothing of taxes), and only valid on BMI operated flights (no codeshares or wet leases)

If you can make use of it, go for it. Otherwise 10% off a base fare can be... an embarrassing amount some days.

http://www.vouchercodes.co.uk/flybmi.com?bi=fbgroup&oi=82909&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=facebook&utm_content=flybmi.com&utm_term=82909