Flightfox, your thoughts?

[Mal]

I also signed up as a "Flight Expert" (although I lol at that title). Have played with quite a few of the challenges so far, can usually work out how someone got the best price - but yet to beat a best price... There is definitely some creative routing on some of the itins - the lowest prices are not easy to find.

Regarding people putting in low-ball prices, this is mitigated by random audits, but it is something the site will have to manage long term - perhaps through the use of a "reputation" system or similar means. But I suggest that if a person did put in an incorrect cost and the flyer couldn't book it, they probably wouldn't award the prize to that person either.

Interesting concept to come out of Australia (The two founders are SYD based), but as is usual with all start-ups, plenty of polishing still required.

 

[Flashback]

Is this one potentially a bug? Geneva to Venezia - Flightfox

Not sure how a GVA-VCE flight could have come up at $34k.. :shock:

 

[MrHyde]

I won my first contest. I entered about 11 over the weekend and won 1 today morning.

 

[LiamR]

Is this one potentially a bug? Geneva to Venezia - Flightfox

Not sure how a GVA-VCE flight could have come up at $34k.. :shock:

It appears to have been fixed now.

Unless it was a private jet, the previous price wasen't correct.

 

[travelislife]

LiamR I have been playing around with the site and I love the idea. I had actually been in some discussions of developing a similar concept but it looks like I need to put that one on the back burner!

You didn't answer a question that was asked previously with regard to what if the contest holder after getting all of the prices goes and books the flights but doesn't declare a winner, thus avoiding the finders fee. I understand the trust aspect involved but I can see it being an issue with a lot of people looking for the cheapest flight so being stingy and not wanting the pay the extra $30!

 

[LiamR]

LiamR I have been playing around with the site and I love the idea. I had actually been in some discussions of developing a similar concept but it looks like I need to put that one on the back burner!

You didn't answer a question that was asked previously with regard to what if the contest holder after getting all of the prices goes and books the flights but doesn't declare a winner, thus avoiding the finders fee. I understand the trust aspect involved but I can see it being an issue with a lot of people looking for the cheapest flight so being stingy and not wanting the pay the extra $30!

Thanks, I'm glad you like Flightfox.

The contest holder has to pay the finders fee upfront, so they can't really avoid paying it.

 

[travelislife]

Thanks, I'm glad you like Flightfox.

The contest holder has to pay the finders fee upfront, so they can't really avoid paying it.

Interesting, I totally didn't realise it was an upfront payment. So in the event that the contest holder doesn't declare a winner the flightfox admin team award it to the cheapest available flight listed?

 

[straitman]

Thanks, I'm glad you like Flightfox.

The contest holder has to pay the finders fee upfront, so they can't really avoid paying it.

I have used this once Liam and thanks for reminding me to go back and award the contest.

I did find a couple of minor software issues but I'll send them to you by PM as soon as I get a chance.

 

[LiamR]

Interesting, I totally didn't realise it was an upfront payment. So in the event that the contest holder doesn't declare a winner the flightfox admin team award it to the cheapest available flight listed?

We do award a winner after a suitable amount of time if the contest holder dosen't pick one, but that's a rare scenario.

We don't just pick it based on the cheapest flight, we pick it based on the entry that best matches what the contest holder specified what they are looking for.

 

[LiamR]

I have used this once Liam and thanks for reminding me to go back and award the contest.

I did find a couple of minor software issues but I'll send them to you by PM as soon as I get a chance.

Interesting.

Do you think it might be a good idea for Flightfox to send out reminders if users haven't picked a winner? Do you think we've done a bad job of letting people know they have to pick a winner at the end?

There's a lot of changes to the website this week so hopefully many bugs will disappear, but if you've found any I'd appreciate if you let me know.

 

[V1213]

I won my first contest. I entered about 11 over the weekend and won 1 today morning.

Me too! Won my first one today!

Looks like I've been going up against you on a few of them MrHyde. I'm enjoying the friendly rivalry when I see familiar users posting options!

 

[Mal]

MrHyde, am quite impressed with some of the ones you've found. SYD-LIM is particularly interesting - still can't come close (but trying to think laterally what you've done!).

-- Edit: Aaah, found something. Sorry (although I think the client may end up choosing yours if it's more convenient ... Mine is very messy, but legit)

LiamR, a few suggestions:
- Have a button for one-way, return or multi-city. I want to quickly see what the person is after (should be in the "trip details" section).
- Require Flight experts to upload a photo/pdf of their found fare. Should assist with proving if they have fudged the figures.
- Allow the flight instruction lines to be edited (not just deleted) / re-ordered etc. Otherwise it's a bit cludgy if you have to modify your instructions.

 

[MrHyde]

MrHyde, am quite impressed with some of the ones you've found. SYD-LIM is particularly interesting - still can't come close (but trying to think laterally what you've done!).

-- Edit: Aaah, found something. Sorry (although I think the client may end up choosing yours if it's more convenient ... Mine is very messy, but legit)

Getting below $2000 is also very impressive. The user did say that they didn't mind being routed through various ports. My cheapest routing is actually 4 stops on the way over and takes them SYD-CAN-LAX-SJO-UIO-LIM-SAL-LAX-CAN-SYD, so I wouldn't say it is convenient.

 

[MrHyde]

Hi LiamR,

I think I'm getting addicted to this site. It is almost like a game for me. Even got the first payment come through and that was nice and smooth as well.

Here are some of my suggestions to add to Mal's suggestions:

1) Ask users to list out flight options they have already looked at. This will save the experts time from proposing an option only to have the user come back saying they already knew about it and were hoping to find something else. Also, if there is a reason they don't like it, specify the reason. This could be done as a question to the user - "Have you already looked at some flights, if yes, can you please list them and the reasons you are not happy with it". Make this optional as I can understand that you want to keep it as simple as possible to post a contest. Maybe it can be done as a later step once a contest is created.

2) Personally, I am finding this addictive as a game and the thing that gets me is not knowing how someone came up with an option. Can an option be added so that after a contest is over and the winning expert is ok with it, their winning flight is published for others to view? In this way, those who don't want to give their secrets away, can keep them secret and others who want to brag about what they found, can.

3) Can finished contests be removed from the list to a separate area. I seem to keep clicking on Finished contests only to realise later that the contest is not active.

4) I've noticed that the front page lists examples of savings. I also noticed that it is sorted in order of maximum savings first. I can understand why it is that way. However, I think it would be more accurate if the savings are calculated based on the winning option, rather than cheapest option.

5) Can another field be added to allow users to choose which currency they want to get their options. I can see this as being a bit more complex in enabling Flightfox to calculate the average savings, but it is easier from a user perspective. People looking for flights in Australia don't want to convert from US$ to A$ and similarly for European users.

I think that is all I can think of at the moment.

Cheers,
MrHyde

 

[Mal]

I think currency should be entered by the expert in currency of booking engine. Flightfox should then dynamically convert and keep updating other entries. Solves a potential currency exchange issue.

Mrhyde happy to share my entry. Expect a pm later.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using AustFreqFly

 

[LiamR]

LiamR, a few suggestions:
- Have a button for one-way, return or multi-city. I want to quickly see what the person is after (should be in the "trip details" section).
- Require Flight experts to upload a photo/pdf of their found fare. Should assist with proving if they have fudged the figures.
- Allow the flight instruction lines to be edited (not just deleted) / re-ordered etc. Otherwise it's a bit cludgy if you have to modify your instructions.

One-way/return/multi city options use to be very clear, but we made some changes and I agree they aren't as obvious as they should be. I'll pass this on. I'll also look into what can be done about editing the flight instruction lines. But, can't you just delete the incorrect line and re-type?

Hi LiamR,

I think I'm getting addicted to this site. It is almost like a game for me. Even got the first payment come through and that was nice and smooth as well.

At least this addiction pays.

1) Ask users to list out flight options they have already looked at. This will save the experts time from proposing an option only to have the user come back saying they already knew about it and were hoping to find something else. Also, if there is a reason they don't like it, specify the reason. This could be done as a question to the user - "Have you already looked at some flights, if yes, can you please list them and the reasons you are not happy with it". Make this optional as I can understand that you want to keep it as simple as possible to post a contest. Maybe it can be done as a later step once a contest is created.

We are trying to make it as easy as possible to increase communication between the customers, and the 'flight experts' and you'll see some changes in the next week or so about this. I'll pass on the idea about having a new field for users to enter and previous flights they have may searched and do not want. We are trying to keep starting a contest as simple as possible, so we'll try and find a balance.

2) Personally, I am finding this addictive as a game and the thing that gets me is not knowing how someone came up with an option. Can an option be added so that after a contest is over and the winning expert is ok with it, their winning flight is published for others to view? In this way, those who don't want to give their secrets away, can keep them secret and others who want to brag about what they found, can.

If we told you what the other contest entries were, it wouldn't be a secret.

For now they are going to remain a mystery, because the contest winner may not want to give up the secrets they used.

3) Can finished contests be removed from the list to a separate area. I seem to keep clicking on Finished contests only to realise later that the contest is not active.

I'm pretty sure this is in the works right now, expect to see some changes within the next week.

4) I've noticed that the front page lists examples of savings. I also noticed that it is sorted in order of maximum savings first. I can understand why it is that way. However, I think it would be more accurate if the savings are calculated based on the winning option, rather than cheapest option.

I've got nothing to do with the front page, so I can't comment. But I would have thought the entries on the front page reflected the winners entry. I'll ask about it.

5) Can another field be added to allow users to choose which currency they want to get their options. I can see this as being a bit more complex in enabling Flightfox to calculate the average savings, but it is easier from a user perspective. People looking for flights in Australia don't want to convert from US$ to A$ and similarly for European users.

This is about to happen, you'll see the ability to select an appropriate currency either in the next few days.

 

[travelislife]

LiamR all good suggestions above, especially on the currency side of things, as people will most often be paying in the currency of the originating flight.

One easy improvement would be to improve the size of the comment box. I have been putting flight times and information in here but it is really hard to work with due to the fact if you right more than 2 lines you have to scroll up and down to see what you have written.

Definitely having fun playing around with it!

 

[LiamR]

You'll notice a new filter window has appeared on the right hand side of the Flights Wanted Window.



Watch this space, you'll see some improvements in the next few days.

 

[Boris spatsky]

Signed up as an FE today. Did a similar thing with a friend the other day DRW - IAD... I love a good challenge. See how it goes.

Looks great btw!

 

[Carlous Moochous]

Interesting concept.. Will have to have a better look when I have more time.. Interesting to check the definition of selling air travel tho, as you are kinda getting paid even tho they book it .. Will check it out soon