Painting is easy when you don’t know how, but very difficult when you do.
— Edgar Degas
The first two version updates of Hitlist, v2 in August 2014 and v3 in August 2015, were each a sea change from their predecessors. While the core idea — bringing you the best flight deals for you — remained constant, the visual design and functionality were new.
V4, which goes live today, looks similar to v3. But what lies beneath is completely changed and we can’t wait to see how you use it.
That’s why we started this post with the Degas quote. When Hitlist was getting off the ground, we were dreaming about what we thought you wanted, and we didn’t really know what we were doing. Now, with three years’ worth of experience and data, we think we’ve got a better app to get you on your dream trips. In keeping with the 80/20 model (the last 20% takes 80% of the effort), this version has taken a bit longer to incubate than the last two. But we think it’s worth the wait. Update now!
What’s inside
The Hitlist widget, which gives you a shortcut to monitor prices for your favorite trips, is updated with rich detail. Red and green tags indicate when prices are rising and falling.
Our Explore lists now feature captions and more content from the most interesting travelers we know, giving you more excuses to travel.
You can now find full flight details in the app, including airline, number of stops, and timing. We don’t show all the flights available. Just the good ones. The freshest deals are marked with a lightning bolt.
For the loyalists, you can now filter results by favorite airlines or alliances. For those that just want to get there, filter by number of stops.
We fully equipped with 3D Touch (yes that is a thing, iPhone 5 user). We also have haptic feedback for iPhone 7 (you’ll get there, iPhone 5 user).
Once you find the perfect flight, you have two choices: Remind Me or Book.
Need more time to confirm dates with the B.F(.F.)? Share the flight info or press the Remind Me Button to get an email with everything you need to know about your next adventure.
No need to consult anyone, bank or friend? Press Book to go directly to the airline’s website or an online travel agency.
On a personal note, users can now upload a picture to their profile. Also, seeing where friends “have been”, “live”, or “want to go” is an easy way to get great recommendations for your upcoming trip.
Finally, we included a sticker pack developed with flat-icons.com full of traveling essentials: a sun hat, passport, the Great Wall of China, a Do Not Disturb door sign, and many more. Then there’s the shark with the beach ball. We leave that one to your interpretation.
