Metasearch is supposedly becoming much more than simply providing a list of fares from the cheapest to the most expensive.
And now websites specialising in meta search or price comparison are starting to build tools which display results and data in a different way, especially new kid on the blockHipmunk.
The simplest way of doing this is by using the reams of data a site has been collecting in order to give another interpretation of fares, allowing the user to select based on other factors besides price, such as convenience, time, etc.
Taking a lead prhaps from Kayak and its Buzz tool, Travelfusion has also headed down the fare calendar route, creating a new service called Price Trends.
The tool currently works only from the homepage of Travelfusion, but automatically monitors the parameters entered in the main search area, including departure, destination and dates.
The system then produces a graph to indicate how fares will change over the same period. The user can select a particular date and be redirected to the relevant page on the system.
This is the first incarnation of the system, released this week, but it sis hoped return legs will be added soon as well as a dedicated channel within the site for the tool.
Travelfusion, like Zoombu, has spent much of recent months developing its door-to-door system, where users can get results based on various forms of transport, but this latest move shows there is still life in the development of tools to enhance traditional air search!