Google Inc. (GOOG) Sends Flight Search Down the Runway

Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) – the second-most popular tech stock among hedge funds we track – has been testing and producing a limited U.S. rollout of Google Flight Search, which has tools designed to help commercial fliers to search for the best flight fares, times and days to fly and service to certain airports. However, because the concept of Flight Search was so limited, it hasn’t really been talked about much. However, now it is being expanded not just a cross the U.S. but now internationally, covering more than 500 international airports.

With this new, expanded functionality, Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) is moving itself into a space that has been controlled by Kayak, Expedia, Travelocity and the like. While it does not necessarily show that a user can purchase a ticket directly from Flight Search, it does provide tools that allow for comprehensive searches on the best far prices. The service not only works in other countries besides the U.S., but it is available in eight major languages. One tool shows a map of major airports and lists the best fare price into a designated airport from a user’s home airport. This could be useful if a flier is flexible on location and could find that flying into an airport that is 100 miles away from a primary destination.

Another noteworthy tool that Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) has on Flight Search – and is similar to a Kayak tool – gives a user with flexible travel dates a pricing graph to compare fares on certain travel days. If a user puts in a flight (say, LGA to DFW) and the number of days of the stay (e.g., six days) and a suggested day of travel (the user wants to leave April 1 but is flexible) and Flight Search can present a bar graph of fare prices ffor that flight based on the date of departure.

What do you think about Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) and Flight Search? Would you use it? Give us your thoughts in the comments section below.

DISCLOSURE: I own no positions in any stock mentioned.

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