As anyone who has ever had to buy plane tickets online can tell you, it is a pain in the ass. There are so many minute factors that can affect the price of said ticket dramatically. We just came across a new data science company that looks to give users a leg up on the airlines. FLYR has analyzed billions of data points to come up with a first of its kind price prediction engine. We had a chance to ask the team a few questions about their new platform:

FLYR

What does FLYR do?

FLYR is the data science company that ends the guessing game of booking airfares.

Dealing with constantly changing airfares has previously meant uncertainty and hassle for travelers. That all ends with FLYR.

While many can tell you what already happened, FLYR tells you what will happen. By aggregating and analyzing billions of data points, FLYR has created Foresight, a proprietary prediction engine, allowing for ultra-relevant fare forecasts and providing immediate benefits to travelers.

Why did you build your prediction engine?

FLYR was founded to transform travel by providing insights on future pricing and availability. We show helpful metrics that nearly every traveler wants to know about their trip: Should they book or wait? Are they getting a deal or getting ripped off?

How is your product different from what is currently available?

There has never been a way to address each traveler’s specific needs accurately, and on a large scale. Instead of just showing you the cost of fares, and have you do the legwork (this process takes the average traveler more than six hours over the course of planning for a single trip!) – we want to make the experience as stress-free as possible.

Tell us your founding story. Was there an “ah ha” moment?

FLYR was founded because erratic changes in airfares have long added an element of frustration that no traveler should ever have to deal with. Travel advice is everywhere, but only seems to speak in very general terms — there has never been a way to address each traveler’s specific needs accurately, and on a large scale.

We knew that by addressing this problem, we could build trust, confidence, and satisfaction in an industry that could really use it. Through the lens of statistics and complex data analysis, we see the core of why and how prices move. With the help of modern software engineering, we bring the technology up to breathtaking speed and capability. FLYR is reinventing the way we plan for travel — we’re enabling innovation, for one traveler at a time.

Tell us about your founding team and their backgrounds.

Jean Tripier:
20 years in high tech, CEO of mobile travel company WorldMate (sold to Carlson Wagonlit), COO of Good Technology and Visto, COO, SVP Vodafone. Harvard MBA.

Alex Mans:
Founded a company focused on DPI for cellular networks at age 15. Has managed engineering teams in automotive, aviation and healthcare.

Cyril Guiraud:
7 years in travel as Operations Director at Go West Tours (60,000+ customers/year). Founded a lifestyle brand. Professional musician and sailing addict.