Computer-implemented system and method for booking airline travel itineraries
First Claim
1. A method of purchasing an airline ticket, comprising the steps of:
- entering into a computer information describing a flight desired by a consumer, including a target price;
performing a search on an airline reservation system database for flights corresponding to said desired flight information;
determining whether a flight found during the search has a fare that is at least equal to said target price;
automatically booking a flight found to be at least equal to said target price to thereby reserve a seat on said flight, prior to informing the consumer of the availability of the found flight; and
informing the consumer of the seat reservation and instructing the consumer regarding payment requirements to effect purchase of the airline ticket.
22 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for purchasing an airline ticket, includes entering into a computer information describing a flight desired by a consumer, including a target price, and performing a search on an airline reservation system database for flights corresponding to the desired flight information. The method determines whether a flight found during the search has a fare that is at least equal to the target price, and if so books the flight to hold it for the consumer for a predetermined period of time to allow the consumer to effect payment. The consumer is informed by e-mail notification of the seat reservation and instructing the consumer regarding payment requirements to effect purchase of the airline ticket. If a flight having the target price or better is not found, the method continues to periodically perform the search over a predetermined number of days into the future, and inform the consumer by e-mail of the ongoing results of the search.
-
Citations
14 Claims
-
1. A method of purchasing an airline ticket, comprising the steps of:
-
entering into a computer information describing a flight desired by a consumer, including a target price;
performing a search on an airline reservation system database for flights corresponding to said desired flight information;
determining whether a flight found during the search has a fare that is at least equal to said target price;
automatically booking a flight found to be at least equal to said target price to thereby reserve a seat on said flight, prior to informing the consumer of the availability of the found flight; and
informing the consumer of the seat reservation and instructing the consumer regarding payment requirements to effect purchase of the airline ticket. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. Apparatus for purchasing an airline ticket, comprising:
-
a computer for receiving information describing a flight desired by a consumer, including a target price; and
a program in said computer for performing a search on an airline reservation system database for flights corresponding to said desired flight information;
said program determining whether a flight found during the search has a fare that is at least equal to said target price;
said program automatically booking a flight found to be at least equal to said target price to thereby reserve a seat on said flight, prior to informing the consumer of the availability of the found flight; and
said program informing the consumer of the seat reservation and instructing the consumer regarding payment requirements to effect purchase of the airline ticket. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method of purchasing an airline ticket, comprising the steps of:
-
entering into a computer information describing a flight desired by a consumer, including a target price;
performing a search on an airline reservation system database for flights corresponding to said desired flight information;
determining whether a flight found during the search has a fare that is at least equal to said target price;
when no flights having fares at least equal to said target price have been found, periodically performing the search over a predetermined number of days, and informing the consumer of the results of each search;
automatically booking a flight found to be at least equal to said target price to thereby reserve a seat on said flight;
booking a flight at a lowest available fare when requested by the consumer in response to a notification of the results of a continued search; and
informing the consumer of the seat reservation and instructing the consumer regarding payment requirements to effect purchase of the airline ticket. - View Dependent Claims (14)
-
Specification