The difference between STOPS and EXTRA STOPS when using the ITA MATRIX

Using the ITA Matrix for finding flights, I don't understand the difference between the sections stops and extra stops.

Best Answer

http://adventureroly.uk/guide-to-ita-matrix/ offers this explanation:

Stops: Controls if you would like direct only options or are ok with swapping planes.

Extra stops: Increases the numbers of stops you want beyond the least it finds. So if it can find a nonstop flight and you set this to one it will show flights with one stop.

So overall, the extra stops option is relative to whatever routing (including your other filters) has the lowest number of changes possible. If you want to change as little as possible, set it to No Extra Stops, of you'd be willing to add extra stops beyond the minimum to say get an airline you prefer more, a cheaper fare or if the other routes involve very long connections then you may wish to increase it.

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How ITA Matrix works?

How does the ITA Software Matrix work? The software is a search tool that is able to pull results from most airlines to help you find the lowest fare. It does this by allowing you to search a multitude of parameters including desired cities, connections, flexible dates, and more.

How do you use matrix flights?

ITA Matrix Tutorial

Book round-trip, one-way, or multi-city routes.

Pick the destination city (and nearby airports in the same country)

Select the best time of day to arrive or depart.

Pick your cabin class.

Pick exact dates or flexible dates within a month.

Select the desired number of stops.

Is ita matrix legit?

The ITA Matrix is a powerful flight research tool. While you will still have to book your flights directly through the carrier, it can be a great research tool if you want to book a complex route or are a travel agent.

Is Matrix airfare legit?

I use it every other week for ideas of routes and fares and have found it generally reliable. I have always used matrix,you get all flight options in detail (except LCC) with breakdowns if you need them I use Emirates on longhaul and found all fares available, never had an issue.

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More answers regarding the difference between STOPS and EXTRA STOPS when using the ITA MATRIX

Answer 2

Stops is the maximum number of stops that you want to have, regardless of other settings.

Extra Stops is a bit more complex...

The "help" icon next to this setting gives you the basics of what this does :

Indicate the number of extra stops you are willing to make beyond the minimum number of stops possible. For example, if there are nonstops, setting this to 1 will only return nonstops and 1-stops. If there are no nonstops, but there are 1-stops, setting this to 1 will return 1-stops and 2-stops.

An example will probably show this best. You are searching for flights from Toronto (all airports) to Venice (all airports). Air Canada (And Lufthansa via codeshare) fly this route direct, so the minimum number of stops possible for this flight is 0. If you have "Extra stops" set to 1, then Matrix will show you flights that have between 0 (the minimum) and 1 (0 min + 1 extra) stops.

If you change Extra Stops to 2, then it will show flights with between 0 and 2 stops.

If instead you change your origin airport to Toronto City Airport (YTZ) you'll see different behavior. There are no direct flights between YTZ and Venice - the minimum number of stops required is 1 (eg, via Montreal). So for this flight, setting "Extra stops" to 1 will give you flights will either 1 or 2 (1+1) stops. Setting it to 2 will give you between 1 and 3 (1 minimum, +2 extra) stops.

Setting Extra Stops to "No Extra Stops" will only show you the options with the lease number of stops. eg, for "All Toronto airports" to Venice it'll only show you direct flights. For Toronto City to Venice it'll only show you 1-stop flights (as there are no direct flights).

Keep in mind that Matrix will only return a maximum number of flights for any search. The more you open out the search criteria, the more likely it will not show flights that might match your criteria. For setting this to "3 extra stops" will not necessarily show ALL flight options that have 3 extra stops, as there could be thousands of such possibilities which is above it's maximum results.

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

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