When I want to book a paid flight, I Google Flight. This site has been improved over the years, so it is usually the only site to visit before purchasing a ticket. And if you’re just looking for How to find cheap airfaresyou probably don’t need it ITA Matrix.
However, the ITA matrix is extremely useful for travelers booking a specific flight number, aircraft type, or fare class. This is what you need to know.
What is the ITA matrix?
The ITA Matrix is a web tool that some travelers use to search for complex flight options or niche flight options. For example, you can use the ITA matrix to connect (or avoid) at a particular airport, include a specific flight number, or find a specific itinerary to book Fare class.
However, unlike other search options such as Google Flights, you cannot book flights via the ITA matrix. Instead, once you find the itinerary you want to book, you will need to work with a travel agent. bookwithmatrix Or try to piece together your own itinerary.
Related: 6 important tools and tips to find the cheapest airfare
What can you do with the ITA matrix?
The power of the ITA Matrix – and the main reason you want to use to search for flights instead of Google Flights is its advanced controls. Once you open the ITA matrix,[Advanced Controlsの表示]to unlock the Routing and Extended Code Input Box.
When searching for flights using the ITA matrix, you can specify some routing and extension codes. I highly recommend reading this section to open the ITA matrix and try some of these code in live examples.
Routing code
If you have specific settings regarding marketing or salespeople, number of connections, airport connections, or number of flights, it can be helpful to specify an advanced routing code.
You can search for specific carriers by adding codes from the International Air Transport Association, such as “AA” by American Airlines, “DL” by Delta Airlines, and “UA” by United Airlines. If you’re concerned about the driver instead of a marketing carrier, add “O:” before (for example, “O:AA” for a single flight run by American Airlines).
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If you need one of the carriers, you can list multiple IATA codes, such as “AA, DL”. Write “F” if you need one flight, and write “N” if you want a non-stop flight. If a particular carrier requires a non-stop flight, add “n:” before the carrier’s IATA code (for example, “n:dl” on non-stop delta flights). You can also specify a specific flight number by writing a flight number such as “AA1”.
If you want to connect at a specific airport, you can write an IATA code. For example, write “DFW” to connect to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. If you want to connect at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport or O’Hare International Airport, write “DFW, ORD.”
You can also use an operator with most routing codes. The “~” symbol is for negativity, so “~CLT” means you are willing to connect anywhere except Charlotte Douglas International Airport. a “?” If there is zero or one, “+” is one or more, and “*” is for zero or more. So if you are looking for one or more United flights, you can write “UA+”. Also, if you want to fly an AA1 and fly one or more Alaska flights, write “AA1 AS+.”
Related: What is a Codeshare Flight? And how does it work?
Extension code
You can specify specific extension code, but if you need to specify multiple codes, you must separate the code for each semicolon. This is looking at some of the most popular extension code:
- -Codeshare: Delete results on one or more codeshare flights
- Maxstops n: Limit the number of stops in this segment of travel to N (“Maxstops 3” limits the number of stops to less than 3)
- Maxdur HH:MM: Limit the maximum duration in this segment of this trip to HH hours and mm minutes (“Maxdur 6:30” limits the duration to 6 hours and 30 minutes)
- Min Mile n: Returns only the itinerary for flights of n miles or more (“Minmiles 2000” sets a lower limit for the itinerary of 2,000 flight miles).
- Maxmiles n: Returns only itineraries that fly below n miles (“maxmiles 2000” sets a 2,000 flight miles limit on the itinerary).
- minconnect HH:mm: Limits minimum connection time to HH and mm minutes (“minconnect 1:30” returns itinerary only for at least 1.5 hours of connection time)
- maxconnect HH:mm: Limits maximum connection time to HH time and mm (“maxconnect 6:30” returns itinerary only for connection times of 6 hours and 30 minutes).
- Alliance A: Limits the outcome of flights provided by a particular alliance or member airline of an alliance (“Alliance OneWorld SkyTeam” restricts searches for flights by OneWorld and SkyTeam members, while “Alliance Star-Alliance” restricts searches for flights by Star Alliance members).
- Airline A: Limit results to flights offered by specific carriers (“AA BA” limits searches to itineraries for American Airlines and British Airways)
- -airlines A: Excludes results on flights provided by designated carriers (“-airlines aa ba” excludes flights provided by American Airlines and British Airways)
- -City C: Excludes itineraries with connections in a particular city (“City CLT PHX” excludes itineraries that connect to Charlotte Douglas International Airport or Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport)
- – Lady: Exclude results on Red Eye Flight
- -Obanite: Exclude results with overnight layovers
- Aircraft A: Restrict the results to flights of the equipment type listed (preparation like “T:747” like “T:”) or category (previous like “C:Jets” like “C:”.)
So, for example, I was able to write “Aircraft T:747 -Codeshare” to run Prime Flights on 747 passenger aircraft. With the option to select all airports within a current location or a specific radius of a particular airport, this expansion code will help you track opportunities to fly a particular aircraft.
Related: How flights and hotels handle cash or points with the new Daily Drop Pro subscription service
Conclusion
Once you understand how to use ITA matrix routing and extension code, you can get a better understanding of why you want to use the ITA matrix. For example, Avgeeks may enjoy using the ITA matrix to discover how to fly a particular aircraft type between two regions. And anyone looking to gain elite status with a program that rewards you based on the distance you fly may want to use the ITA matrix to find the best Miliuge itinerary.
