Weekend survey: What do you think of Google’s plans to buy ITA Software?

You may have heard about Google’s plans to buy ITA Software, the company that powers many online travel sites. If you haven’t, catch the lively debate (above). How fun!

So what do you think?

Should the dominant Internet search engine be allowed to buy the dominant developer of airfare search systems? Will this create a monopoly — or lower prices?

Here’s the survey.

Here are the real-time results.

Do you think this acquisition has any relevance to travelers? Or is this just an “inside baseball” issue? Send me a note, and please don’t forget to include your full name, city and occupation.

Have a great New Year!



  • Jerry

    I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s anti-competitive, but I’m uncomfortable with Google knowing so much about me. ITA is doing just fine on its own. I’ve used them for years–since back when they actually sold tickets. Love their iPhone app!

  • DJP

    This is anticompetative…why because Google’s purchase will basically shut down the sites that use ITA software over time. foirst Google will design its own travel site using ITS and then jack up the prices for ITS contracts thus forcing those sites using ITA out of the business which then creates a monopoly.

    If this isnt going to happen then why does google want to buy ITA. What Google wants to be is a one stop shop for everything out there.

  • Dave

    I’m against this. Why does Google proclaim that it’s mantra is “Don’t be evil” while proceeding to acquire, or attempt to acquire, as many information-related sites as it can? It makes me even more uneasy given its unabashed support for the Democratic [Socialist Workers'] Party. At this rate, before we know it, Google WILL be Big Brother.
    I do solemnly swear that I am not wearing, nor have I ever possessed, a tin-foil hat.

  • cjr

    As it is, we have too few companies controlling too much hardware, software, etc. And it’s getting worse year by year.

    Situations like Comcast buying NBC Universal are just awful for consumers. Google buying ITA isn’t going to be good for us either.

  • David Z

    Heh, I guess it’s only now you found time to write about Google’s acquisition of ITA. It’s essentially (if not already) a done deal:

    http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2010/07/google-buys-ita-software-to-add-flight.html

    http://www.google.com/press/ita/

  • David Z

    Off-topic also, but Happy New Year to everyone. =)

  • BucksterSF

    ” …but I’m uncomfortable with Google knowing so much about me. ”

    Too late.

  • BucksterSF

    Actually it will probably mean better software.

    Someone has to own it. Mi

  • http://www.travel-babel.com Claire

    It’s incredibly anti-competitive. Period. Where are the good old trust-busters when we need them? Google already knows a lot about us as does “the government,” which has our tax returns, our employment records, any criminal history we might have (including, via states with cause, access to everything from traffic violations to serious felonies) and potentially (tho’ the TSA claims not to save them) intimate body images thnx to those aggressive airport scanners. If this is permitted to go through, perhaps the next acquisition should be Unitintetal Airlines, and then maybe an airport parking company or one that runs an airport transportation services, and then maybe….

  • Scott

    LOL @ Dave: That’s about the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.

    So every other mega-national conglomerate buys off the Republican Party to force — errr, persuade — them to make laws that are good for businesses and anti-individual and anti-consumer, but you are uncomfortable with Google because they support the other side? Hilarious!!! Thanks for a good New Year’s laugh! May you be uncomfortable all of 2011!

  • http://www.eastmangroup.com Richard Eastman

    The Google acquistion of ITA is a natural progression of e-commerce; it has little or nothing to do with travel per se — other than the fact that ITA happened to use its design concepts to build one of the more contemporary technology platforms capable of matching buyer needs with vendor offerings with travel products at its core. It is important to recognize that ALL classic industrial-era distribution channels are being restructured by evolving digital or knowledge-era technology. The airline’s clossed-channel product offering structures are classic industrial-era distribution systems. They offer only selected kinds of product(s) through clearly defined channels that can only be accessed by authorized agents. The Internet, on the other hand, provides open information and access to all … both big and small; and allows/forces the vendor to consider each buyer’s offer directly — without channel or third-party intervention. The Google/ITA meld is nothing more than an intelligent rapid response to true consumer demand — the melding to two technologies that are both targeted to resond to buyer-driven needs. That kind of response is NOT possible with the current structured closed-channel distribituion processes — in part, because the thrid-party intermediaries cannot respond with technology platforms broad or capable enough to offer the diverse products that airlines are beginning to offer (in response to buyer demand); and in part, because open access is a big threat to the existing revenue streams of third-party intermediaries. But the hard fact is that society in general … with travel lagging behind at this point … is headed rapidly into a social-networked digital-based knowledge world; and the Google/ITA meld is little more than Google making a sound investment toward insuring it will be able to respond to the needs of the new networked digital society. Those advocating agaisnt the Google/ITA are essentially advoating that the airline technologies that worked in the 1960′s … should continue. Today’s buyers would not accept that for long; and airlines that particpated would soon fail. Those technologies and those business processes are of a different era. The technologies and business processes of that era are going the way of the horse-and-carriage and the buggy-whip. // Richard Eastman

  • cjr

    “Those advocating agaisnt the Google/ITA are essentially advoating that the airline technologies that worked in the 1960′s … should continue.”

    Nobody is advocating that at all, and for you to come to such a conclusion is a complete misrepresentation of the comments that have been made.

    I am against Google buying ITA because I am against Google having even more knowledge and control over us. I don’t need more Google in my life, I need less.

  • Fiona

    @Richard Eastman: Great post thank you. Maybe referring to 60′s technology is a bit of a stretch, but consider this:

    The most important members of fairsearch.org are related as follows:
    Travelocity is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sabre
    Hotwire and Tripadvisor are operated by Microsoft
    SideStep was bought by Kayak in 2007 – consolidating the two leading meta searchers. Terry Jones, the founder and former CEO of Travelocity, is now chairman of the board at kayak.com.
    Microsoft started Expedia and later sold its stake to InterActiveCorp (CEO Barry Diller).
    Microsoft acquired Farecast in 2008 to power “Bing Travel”.

    Orbitz (mentioned in the CNN segment) is not a member of fairsearch – it is a customer of ITA, but has not opposed the Google/ITA acquisition.

    As you can see, fairsearch is made up of a rather “in-bread” bunch of companies.

    Microsoft and Expedia’s parent InterActiveCorp certainly ARE giants and well capable competing with Google. It’s really ironic to see people voicing their support, in the name of consumer, transparency for these two giants.

    While we’re not using 60′s technology (although that’s what most of Sabre still is), with the exception of Kayak/Sidestep’s web-2.0 search tools we’ve seen precious little innovation in air-search in the last 7 years.

    It’s time for the game to pick up – Google will innovate and force the competition to stay on the ball.

  • Fiona

    Correction to the above:
    “Hotwire and Tripadvisor are operated by Microsoft” should read
    “Hotwire and Tripadvisor are operated by Expedia” … sorry for the miss-type.

  • http://nmdfreelance.com Nancy

    @Scott – why the hate? My parents raised me with the understanding – If you can’t say anything nice don’t say anything at all.

    Dave expressed an opinion without being derogatory. You disagreed with his opinion (and opinions can’t be wrong, just opinions) and you start with calling names?

    Ridiculous and hilarious!

  • Jiwei WU

    I view the attempt to block the deal is anti-competitive.
    Expedia/Hotwire/TravelLogic is fearful because using pricing engine dated 70/80′s will surely lose ground eventually to competitors that use ITA qpx based solutions.
    FairSearch members who use ITA solutions today are fearful of new innovations coming from Google/ITA deal.
    You can not beg government to bail you out when emerging competitors may crush you.

  • Eva

    I don’t think this deal will affect travelers except that they will find it’s much easier to search for flights and options. For all those who are so afraid of Google – what search engine’s do you use? How are they different from Google?
    As someone who books travel often and is always looking for the best deal, I know the websites that I like to use, which include matrix.itasoftware.com and the airlines directly. I bet you all have the same way of finding your best options and I don’t think the merger will stop you from going directly to Expedia, Kayak or Bing. And please notice, NONE of the airlines who are also ITA customers have an issue with the merger. These search engines should stop complaining and start acting competitive to make sure that they play the game.