How to use ITA Matrix to search for flights

When I'm looking to book a paid flight, I head to Google Flights. The site has improved over the years, so it's usually the only site I visit before buying a ticket. And if you're just looking for ways to find cheap airfare, you likely don't need ITA Matrix.

However, ITA Matrix can be extremely useful for travelers looking to book specific flight numbers, aircraft types or fare classes. Here's what you should know.

What is ITA Matrix?

ITA Matrix is a web tool that some travelers use to search for complex or niche flight options. For example, you can use ITA Matrix to find itineraries that connect at (or avoid) specific airports, include specific flight numbers, or book into a certain fare class.

However, unlike with other search options such as Google Flights, you can't book flights through ITA Matrix. Instead, once you find an itinerary that you want to book, you must either work with a travel agent, use BookWithMatrix or attempt to piece together the itinerary yourself.

Related: 6 key tools and tips to find the cheapest airfare

What can you do with ITA Matrix?

The power of ITA Matrix — and the primary reason you'd want to use it to search for flights instead of Google Flights — is its advanced controls. Once you open ITA Matrix, click "Show Advanced Controls" to unlock the input boxes for routing and extension codes.

You can specify some routing and extension codes when using ITA Matrix to search for flights. I highly recommend opening up ITA Matrix and trying out some of these codes in live examples as you read through this section.

Routing codes

If you have specific preferences regarding the marketing or operating carrier, number of connections, connecting airports or number of flights, specifying advanced routing codes can be useful.

You can search for a specific carrier by adding its International Air Transport Association code, such as "AA" for American Airlines, "DL" for Delta Air Lines or "UA" for United Airlines. If you care about the operating carrier instead of the marketing carrier, add "O:" in front (for example, "O:AA" for a single flight operated by American Airlines).

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You can list multiple IATA codes, such as "AA,DL," if you want either carrier. If you want a single flight, write "F," and for a nonstop flight, write "N." If you want a nonstop flight on a specific carrier, add "N:" in front of the carrier's IATA code (such as "N:DL" for a nonstop Delta flight). You can also specify a specific flight number by writing the flight number, such as "AA1."

If you want to connect at a specific airport, you could write its IATA code. For example, write "DFW" to connect at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. If you want to connect at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport or O'Hare International Airport, write "DFW,ORD."

You can also use operators on most routing codes. The "~" symbol is for negation, so "~CLT" would mean you are willing to connect anywhere except Charlotte Douglas International Airport, and "~O:DL" would mean you don't want to see Delta-operated flights in the results. A "?" is for zero or one, a "+" is for one or more, and a "*" is for zero or more. So, if you're looking for one or more United flights, you could write "UA+." And if you're looking to fly AA1 followed by one or more Alaska flights, write "AA1 AS+."

Related: What are codeshare flights, and how do they work?

Extension codes

You can also specify specific extension codes, but you'll need to separate the codes by semicolons if you need to specify more than one. Here's a look a some of the most popular extension codes:

• -CODESHARE: Removes results with one or more codeshare flights
• MAXSTOPS n: Limits the number of stops to n on this segment of the trip ("MAXSTOPS 3" would limit the number of stops to three or fewer)
• MAXDUR hh:mm: Limits the maximum duration to hh hours and mm minutes on this segment of the trip ("MAXDUR 6:30" would limit the duration to six hours and 30 minutes)
• MINMILES n: Only returns itineraries that fly n miles or more ("MINMILES 2000" would put a lower limit of 2,000 flight miles on the itinerary)
• MAXMILES n: Only returns itineraries that fly n miles or less ("MAXMILES 2000" would put an upper limit of 2,000 flight miles on the itinerary)
• MINCONNECT hh:mm: Limits the minimum connection time to hh hours and mm minutes ("MINCONNECT 1:30" would only return itineraries with connection times of at least an hour and a half)
• MAXCONNECT hh:mm: Limits the maximum connection time to hh hours and mm minutes ("MAXCONNECT 6:30" would only return itineraries with connection times of six hours and 30 minutes or less)
• ALLIANCE a: Limits results to flights offered by member airlines of a specific alliance or alliances ("ALLIANCE oneworld skyteam" would limit the search to flights by Oneworld and SkyTeam members, while "ALLIANCE star-alliance" would limit the search to flights by Star Alliance members)
• AIRLINES a: Limits results to flights offered by specified carriers ("AIRLINES AA BA" would limit the search to American Airlines and British Airways itineraries)
• -AIRLINES a: Excludes results with flights offered by specified carriers ("-AIRLINES AA BA" would exclude flights offered by American Airlines and British Airways)
• -CITIES c: Excludes itineraries with connections at specific cities ("-CITIES CLT PHX" would exclude itineraries that connect in Charlotte Douglas International Airport or Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport)
• -REDEYES: Excludes results with red-eye flights
• -OVERNIGHTS: Excludes results with overnight layovers
• AIRCRAFT a: Limits the results to flights on the listed equipment types (prepended with "T:," like "T:747") or categories (prepended with "C:," like "C:JETS")

So, for example, I could write "AIRCRAFT T:747 -CODESHARE" to get prime flights operated on a 747 passenger aircraft. With the option to select all airports within a certain radius of your current position or a specific airport, this extension code could help track down opportunities to fly a specific aircraft.

Related: How to use the new Daily Drop Pro subscription service to find flight and hotel deals with cash or points

Bottom line

Once you understand how to use ITA Matrix routing and extension codes, you'll likely better appreciate why you might want to use ITA Matrix. For example, AvGeeks might enjoy using ITA Matrix to discover how they can fly specific aircraft types between two regions. And those who are trying to earn elite status in programs that reward you based on how far you fly may want to use ITA Matrix to find the highest-mileage itineraries.