Leading online student and faculty travel provider StudentUniverse.com today introduced new proprietary search technology that allows flexible date search functionality to help students find lower-priced airfares. StudentUniverse.com is the first travel search engine to offer a real-time flexible date search function. Users can select to search up to three days before and three days after their preferred departure and return dates to get real time cheapest fares on up to 49 travel day combinations – plus an expanded array of more airfare options with one click. In addition to introducing new search technology StudentUnverse has launched a completely redesigned Web site to help streamline student travel searches.

“We know that the average student searches several travel day combinations when booking air travel. Our new site does the work for you – providing students with the best fares across more itineraries with one search,” said Atle Skalleberg, head of research and marketing for StudentUniverse.com. “We made a real investment in technology to help make it possible for college students and faculty to find cheaper fares faster,” Skalleberg continued.

StudentUniverse.com Homepage:

To use the flexible search tool, students simply enter preferred dates of travel and use the drop down feature to select their flexibility. Users can get three days flexibility on their departure and return date, resulting in up to 49 unique date combinations. No other travel site offers this feature with live availability.

Search Results:

Results are displayed in an easy-to-read grid with the cheapest fares for up to 49 date combinations, including the specified travel dates. Use mouse to roll over desired flight to display basic flight information including carrier, number of stops and price on the left hand side of the screen.

Finding the Cheapest Alternative:

Once users find the best alternative in the matrix they can get additional flight information, including flight departure and arrival times, taxes and airline information below the matrix. Users can easily sort the results to find what suits them.

A team of developers at StudentUniverse.com sifted through years of usability testing to create a Web site design to represent StudentUniverse.com’s mission – to help students find the cheapest travel.

“Not only will the improvements in search technology help students get more results faster, but a new clean and streamlined look will make it even easier for students to find what they are looking for,” said Chad Mooney, Project Manager for the new StudentUniverse site and services.

“We are not a huge company telling students what they want. We are a small company listening to students and enhancing our Web site based on specific feedback,” said Skalleberg. “Students can be more flexible with travel dates and price is most important when booking travel. With the new flexible search functionality at StudentUniverse.com students can see the different prices for up to a week’s worth of travel dates and can be confident they are getting a good deal.”