Wednesday, May 02, 2007

Interactive Google Maps integrated with Jetnav searches

We’ve always believed that a map based approach is the best way of displaying the information that Jetnav provides. Part of the Jetnav philosophy is to present the site visitor with choices and alternatives when a preferred flight is not available, and maps provide the best way to gauge how convenient an alternative arrival or departure airport might be. Fortunately Netizen Digital who have responsibility for design and development of the Jetnav site have a wealth of experience with mapping solutions and their development team were again called into action. Jetnav is now implementing the incorporation of Google maps into the flight search results.

There are two distinct applications of the maps:
The first relates to when a flight search between two airports gives a blank result. Until now the options were limited to going back to the flight finder page and trying other searches. Now if no flight is listed, a map appears showing all UK airports within 250km of the original choice that operate a route to the selected destination. A single click allows the search to be redone from one of these alternatives. Alternatively you can stick with your original choice of departure airport and view a map of other arrival airports within 250km of your original selection. This can be very useful where a city has more than one airport, or an airline flies to a regional airport a short distance outside the city.
The second application of the maps is on the flight results page where flights have been found and displayed. Below the list of flights is a map centred on the departure airport (or arrival airport if requested) showing the location of hotels and accommodation which may be viewed, checked for availability and booked online. We expect this hotel booking facility in conjunction with the dynamic maps to be popular with businessmen needing to stay overnight near to the airport.
Over the coming months we anticipate adding extra features to the maps with links to companies providing car hire, airport parking and other travel related facilities.