CheapAir.com First to Release Voice-Activated Flight Search App for iPhone

Airfare Shopping Engine Leads Trend of Travel Industry Going Mobile; Uses Cutting Edge Semantic Technology

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Mar 26, 2013, 02:54 ET

CALABASAS, Calif., March 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- CheapAir.com today announces the release of its new mobile app featuring voice-activated flight search. The CheapAir app, available now for iPhone and iPad, is designed to make it as easy as possible for people on-the-go to search for the best deals and most comfortable flights by talking instead of typing.

Now, when CheapAir users search for flights from their mobile device, they can simply say a request like, "Chicago to New York, May 5th to the 10th" or "L.A. to Vegas tomorrow coming back Sunday" and the robust app will find matching results from hundreds of airlines, without the need to fill out a search form. The innovative app uses semantic language technology that was first developed by CheapAir for Easy Search, the revolutionary free-form search experience available on its website. This proprietary technology translates spoken words into a travel query for fast, effortless flight results. App results display the same level of detail as the website, including amenity information like which flights have WiFi, personal video monitors or live TV.

The CheapAir mobile app comes at a time when the use of mobile phones for travel information is growing significantly. According to The Digital Consumer report by Tealeaf, an IBM Company, 15% of consumers are already using the mobile web for travel services, and 13% are using mobile travel applications downloaded from one of the top app stores.

"We know that more and more travelers want to research flight options with their phones," said Jeff Klee, Chief Executive Officer of CheapAir.com. "We want to make it easy to check flights while out with friends, walking to the subway, or wherever our customers are." Klee added, "We're doing everything we can to make it easier to find the lowest fares and the best flight options. CheapAir was the first travel site to let people search for fares using natural language, we were the first to show which in-flight amenities are on every flight, and now we've launched the first voice-activated iPhone app."

CheapAir crunches more than 25 million fares a day and lets customers mix and match flights to create tens of thousands of itinerary combinations. The company uses sophisticated technology and better trip planning tools to create a fun, user-friendly experience not available on other travel websites. CheapAir also pioneered Price Drop Payback™ and is the only U.S. travel site that lets customers buy with confidence – if their fare drops after purchase, they can obtain a travel credit for the difference up to $100.

As the company tests and gains feedback on this first version of the CheapAir mobile app, it will continue to upgrade and add more functionality. The voice functionality can be used in iPhones 4S and above or an iPad 3.

For more information about CheapAir.com, please visit www.CheapAir.com.

To download the CheapAir App, visit the iTunes Store.

About CheapAir.com
Headquartered in Calabasas, CA, CheapAir.com is powered by a team of 50 travel enthusiasts who use cutting edge technology and superior customer service to radically simplify the way people shop for travel deals. Our proprietary airfare shopping engine does all the work for you, using a patented algorithm that scours the web for the lowest prices on the planet. We show you fares and flight options in a simple, easy to navigate site with all the best flight amenities to bring some joy to your trip planning. For expert travel advice, deals and inspiration, connect with us on Facebook or Twitter.

CEO Jeff Klee started CheapAir.com in 1989 from his college dorm room after getting a crash course in the airline industry while planning a backpacking trip through Europe on a student's budget. CheapAir.com still takes a creative approach to fare finding and, along with its sister company, Amtrav for Business Travelers, has helped over three million people buy plane tickets with confidence.

SOURCE CheapAir.com