If you used Hipmunk to compare and book travel, you’ll need to look for other options.
For those who booked travel through Hipmunk, it’s time to search for a new platform. You will likely miss the unique “agony” feature.
This tool sorted flights by more than just price. It considered factors like travel time and the number of layovers too.
The travel comparison site is set to close on January 23, 2020. This news comes from SAP Concur, which bought Hipmunk four years ago.
According to the travel media outlet Skift, the original co-founders, Adam Goldstein and Steve Huffman, attempted to repurchase the company. However, SAP Concur declined their offer.
The Rise of Hipmunk in Travel Booking
Founded in 2010, Hipmunk has carved out a niche in online travel booking. Despite strong competition from major platforms like Kayak and Google Flights, Hipmunk continues to attract a dedicated user base, including staff from AFAR.
An associate editor at AFAR, Maggie Fuller, shares her experience: “I have a special fondness for Hipmunk and have been a dedicated user since it began. It launched just as I started traveling seriously.”
She recalls spending countless hours using the search engine to explore various airport options, dates, and trip durations.
Fuller values Hipmunk’s user-friendly design and unique way of organizing flights by the least “agonizing” options available.
Cheaper Flights Aren’t Always the Best Option
When Hipmunk first launched, its “agony” feature quickly gained popularity, as cofounder Goldstein noted in a 2018 article.
He shared how the site became successful, highlighting a key decision the team made early on. Instead of just ranking flights by cost, they also aimed to consider convenience.
Goldstein pointed out that regular travelers often prefer to pay more for flights that save time. So, the company decided to rank flights based on price, travel time, and number of layovers.
Initially, they thought about calling this feature “suckage.” However, just before launching Hipmunk, they wisely chose “agony.”
Ann Shields, the Guides editor at AFAR, expressed her appreciation for the agony rating. It helped her find shorter flights that fit well into her schedule.
An associate editor at AFAR, Maggie Fuller shared her fondness for Hipmunk. She started using the site when she began traveling more frequently.
“I probably spent hundreds, if not thousands, of hours testing various airport combinations and trip lengths,” she said. Fuller loved how easy the interface was to navigate and how it displayed flights ranked by their “agony” level.
What’s Next for Hipmunk Users?
What’s going to happen now? The closure of Hipmunk affects two products: Hipmunk itself and Concur Hipmunk, a newer travel tool designed for small to medium businesses.
Once both services close down, users won’t be able to log into their accounts anymore. This information is available in the FAQ sections on Hipmunk and Concur Hipmunk.
If you made any travel bookings, those reservations will still be honored by the airline, hotel, or travel provider you booked with.
Hipmunk works as a travel metasearch site, which helps you find travel options, but the actual bookings are done through the providers. Therefore, your existing reservations are secure, even if they are for future trips.
Alternatives to Hipmunk
If you’re looking for a new travel metasearch site after Hipmunk shuts down, consider using Google Flights.
If you liked the “agony” feature from Hipmunk, you might find Google Flights a suitable replacement.
Google Flights now highlights a small list of “best-departing flights.” This feature gives you options that balance cost and convenience, considering travel time, layovers, and number of stops.
It seems like Google is giving a nod to Hipmunk’s innovative approach with this feature!
