I wasn't even aware of Google Flights until I saw the article posted on HN. Go figure...
For some of us, the constant deluge of info, along with work and family life, makes it tough to stay on top of all the latest developments. Glad this service was "re-announced".
There's lots of travel sites popping up all the time, including accommodations sites. That's why I built http://AllTheRooms.com, which aggregates all the different accommodations sites and deals sites, like Expedia, Groupon, Hotwire, and Airbnb
I'd update your copyright footer, if only because at a glance it makes me wonder if it's unmaintained.
I've been wanting a more powerful hotel search site for many years, but I think most of the features I'd care to see are limited by the messy data available about the properties (amenities, etc.) and the margins just aren't there to support an aggregator curating their own data. Maybe not even for a reseller like Hotels.com.
yekim, we (working on Google Flights) hear this again and again. AAAAAAAGH! :o
I hope you're enjoying the service, and we'll see what we can do about getting out the word a bit better ;).
P.S. -- You'll be amused to know that -- seriously, just today -- I was telling a colleague about this cool thread on HN, and he said, "Wait... hackers? Wha... huh?" I guess he also has work and a family life :p
Their hotels searching is still pretty rough. It's not very googly, in that it's mostly pay to play. You have to look hard to find nonpaid content. It also leaves out all the lower cost options like Airbnb. I built http://AllTheRooms.com to aggregate everything, including sites that don't pay, because Google wasn't really doing its job in the accommodations space.
You don't always pay additional fees through a third party. If only flight ticket pricing was that easy. There have been instances when I found better deals on other sites compared Google (all of them happen to be international flights).
True, there are not always fees, but they are around. International flights have been a bit harder on all of the major US based flight searches though, right? Have not flown international in quite some time, so not as familiar with them.
Not all companies have prices displayed on the site, but it links directly to the companies rather than paying additional fees through a third party.