Usability a core fault of travel websites

Poor usability and uninspiring online prices are holding back the development of New Zealand's travel websites, according to web research firm Netinsites.

The web research company evaluated six of the major online travel portals, examining their pricing, usability, e-mail response times and reliability.

While Air New Zealand's website won points on usability and standalone sites had good pricing, few had the critical mix of cheap prices and ease of use.

"Air New Zealand's new site, particularly with domestic fares, is very high quality as far as usability is concerned.

"But they didn't rank highly because of their high transtasman fares compared to the other sites," said Netinsites head Alex Garden.

The sites www.flightsdirect.co.nz and www.holidayshoppe.co.nz suffered because of their poor usability, said Netinsites, but the relatively high-profile www.travel.co.nz came in the middle of the field with good usability and reasonable pricing.

Overall, however, local travel websites would have to lift their game in the face of strengthening competition.

"The travel agency-type sites are quite poor. They have the advantage that they offer a variety of fares, so they are good on pricing, but their usability is quite poor," said Garden.

Overseas online booking successes easyjet.com and virginblue.com.au were used as benchmarks in the research.

NetInsites

Air New Zealand

etravelgate

Flights Direct

Holiday Shoppe

Qantas

travel.co.nz
Easyjet

Virgin Blue