Where Did Travelocity Flexible Search Option Go?
I have to admit, I am in full planning mode with Hawaii fast approaching…next summer. However, there are still lots and lots of logistics to reserve and watch for the best rates. I might be old school, but one of my favorite tools when searching for flights has always been the Travelocity flexible search option. The system would allow you to look for flights 330 days out, and often times I could locate the best deals when a rare cheap flight came up and just so happen to be over the same period of time I wanted to travel. Back in the early 2000’s, when I was traveling almost every month to visit friends around the Country, I was almost exclusively searching using Travelocity’s flexible search option…until today.
Gravestone Generator
Today I would like to formally announce the official death of the Travelocity flexible search option. I realize there are lots of other tools available today, all of which I also use. ITA Software is great, but nothing can be booked using their site. I like to think, at least from my own experience, that some of the flights I was able to grab on Travelocity, I was not able to piece together using the airlines websites directly. So if the Travelocity flexible search option is no more, that is a major blow to my toolbox.
For reference, I performed a quick search and it looks like back in 2007, Travelocity had another issue with the flexible search option for international flights, due to a DOT issue. However, the feature has always remained in place for domestic travel searches.
According to Travelocity representatives, effective December 8, 2011, Travelocity removed flexible searches for domestic flights again due to a change in DOT rules or enforcement.
This to me is kind of scary from a consumers standpoint. Now grant it, I do not have all of the info as the Travelocity representatives did not even know all of the information. Travelocity has not even made any official announcements on their website. I also understand that looking at the 2007 incident, it appeared the DOT was trying to make Travelocity comply with the full fare disclosure rules. What I do not fully understand is why Travelocity would risk losing such a powerful tool?
Maybe I do not understand the full fare disclosure rules, but I never felt Travelocity was withholding any information from me when I used their system to book flights. When I searched, the system told me the price not including taxes and fees until the end; however, I knew exactly what price I was paying before reserving the tickets. Nothing about the process was shady in my eyes.
Even if there was a minor programming revision that was required to display the fares on Travelocity, I am not quite sure why they would not have just complied instead of losing a powerful tool for their consumers. I fear there is more to this story that we do not yet know, and what I ultimately hope is that other websites do not lose the flexibility of being able to search out fares over the long term with flexible travel days.
RIP Travelocity Flexible Fare Search. You will be missed, and until you return, I may have no use for the Travelocity system any longer. As SmarterTravel said back in 2007, “Good thing the DOT is here to “protect” us consumers. Now we’ll all have to pay the price.”
I was bummed too. Travelocity was an easy (and fun) tool to use.
This is absolutely awful, b/c Travelocity was ALWAYS my first booking option…I noticed it a few weeks ago, but thought the feature was hidden. Guess not…you all reconfirm that it is gone. I don’t understand why good and convenient things always have to go.
I am disappointed, too. The closest I’ve found is farecompare.com
@Julie: Thanks for the suggestion with farecompare. I have not used their feature but will be sure to check it out.
Government interference sucks. Vote Ron Paul. Thanks for the article. This was by far the most important tool to find cheap flights – I’d bet it had more to do with lobbying than a bureaucratic decision.
Travelocity has lost my business with the death of flexible search……I will try farecompare and if anyone else knows a site with the flexible search like Travelocity used to offer please post!
I have to admit this is scary. In my short life I’ve seen the government go from a benevolent presence into some sort of mafia that wants to control every aspect of our lives. If you live in the USSA, please vote for people who want to stop this corrupted system. I believe Ron Paul is the change we need.
I used it all the time and now the site is useless. Kayak has something similar, you need to choose flexible dates and then flex month and prices for every day are displayed. Expedia has a limited version too. I wonder how much money the “broke” airlines spent to shut down that flexible search.
I am Very disappointing I ONLY used Travelocity for all of my travels sadly I no longer use them .
I will be the first to use Travelocity again if they bring back the Flexible Search .
I agree, I have not enjoyed using Travelocity at all since they changed that feature. I used them and solely them because of it and now I find Travelocity to be non useful. A huge bummer and loss for the company. Why change a good thing?!
I will be looking for an alternative too. This was agreat feature and I cannot believe it was that much different than looking months ahead or current. Delta has cheap, mid and high ranges so Travelocity will lose me now that they reduce my options. Kayak you may be my new buddy if you have this in some usable option. +/-3 days just does not cut it as “flexible” Travelocity. Good bye to being unique. I have been with you in the days we paid for a membership……hello “me too conforming commodity travel site”
The loss of flexible date searches has cost me a fortune in time. Travelocity is no longer of value to me without it and was previously my primary tool for searching airfares.