The system does not require the user to navigate away from the Skyscanner’s Facebook page or install any apps; users must first “like” the Skyscanner page to use the tool. As well as a quote, the post also includes a link to the flight details on the main Skyscanner site, from where flights can be booked or options filtered.
The innovation comes from technology that allows customers to use “free text” when posting flight requests, rather than having to select a pre-set dates or destinations. For example, a customer can post “London to Edinburgh in 29 June” to get a quote for the cheapest price for that route on that day, and a link to the Skyscanner site where results can be filtered by airline or time if desired.
The new tool is an evolution of Skyscanner’s ‘FlyScan’ Twitter search facility which was developed earlier this year during a 24 hour ‘hackathon’.
Bonamy Grimes, Chief Analytical Officer, explains, “The hackathon was very successful in developing the code that could be used to facilitate this type of free text search but we were constrained by the response limits set by Twitter. Once this became apparent we made the decision to migrate the tool to Facebook instead.
“Facebook is the ideal platform for our flight search tool; earlier this year a poll we ran revealed that over 50% of our users have been inspired to book travel after seeing their friends’ pictures on Facebook, highlighting the importance of social media for the travel industry.
“Travel companies are starting to realise that there is more to Facebook than collecting fans, and we’re proud to have developed a pioneering tool for users and are excited to see the response this gets.”
Inspiration and virtual experience with new Lufthansa iPad app
Lufthansa is offering a free mobile application (app) for iPad users – with numerous functionalities and services centred on flying with Lufthansa.
The central feature of the app is an interactive world map for users to finger-tap intuitively and explore the Lufthansa route network: The departure and destination airport are simply zoomed-in for the user to select a flight. Available, too, are useful and practical tips on different airports together with weather updates.
In the German market, the Lufthansa iPad app also furnishes updates on Lufthansa’s latest fare offers.
The “Experience Lufthansa” section provides an interesting, virtual insight into the Lufthansa world, inviting the user to interact and personally experience the aviation domain with a 3-D scenario of the new European cabin, exciting videos, a 360-degree take on the A380 cockpit and a wide choice of free wallpaper motifs to download.
Additionally, the familiar functions – “Check-in“, ”Miles & More Mileage Account“ and ”My Flight Bookings“ – are all within easy access on the navigation bar.
“Utilisation of these services and flight bookings on smartphones and tablet computers, like the iPad is coming increasingly to the fore in online sales,” said Marcus Casey, Head of Online Sales and Mobile Services Lufthansa Passenger Airlines.
The new Lufthansa iPad app can be downloaded free, worldwide, in English or German for installation on iPad’s from the iTunes App Store.
