Web Search–Google
Google’s Flight Tracking Shortcut
Just a brief note on something that I will admit is relatively minor. However, it also illustrates a lack of follow-through on Google’s part to solve a simple problem. In January, Google launched a new shortcut allowing the searcher to enter an airline name and flight number into the search box and receive a direct link to one of two flight-tracking services.
For example: United 121.
The January post mentioned the fact that the shortcut did NOT work for several airlines, including two major carriers in Google’s home state of California. Google was made aware of the problem (both via ResourceShelf and in an email I sent to a company spokesperson). I also mentioned it in a phone conversation I had with a software engineer. All of these people told me that they were aware of the situation and it would be fixed soon. Almost six months later the problem still exists.
Google’s air tracking shortcut still does not work for:
+ Southwest Airlines
+ Jet Blue
+ Air Tran
+ ATA
+ Spirit
+ Aloha Airlines
+ Many international carriers
See Also: Yahoo also Offers a Flight-Tracking Shortcut
The shortcut DOES work for most of the airlines mentioned above.

This entry was posted on Friday, June 25th, 2004 and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.