About Rick Seaney, CEO FareCompare

Rick Seaney

Rick Seaney, co-founder of FareCompare.com - is a world-class air travel expert.

FareCompare.com presides over a kingdom of sophisticated software that searches out fares and destinations at a billion combinations per query - while keeping track of 500 airlines serving more than 270,000 markets around the globe.

And all of Rick's data is updated continuously - in real-time.

No wonder he's the media's go-to guy for all things air travel. He's got the answers. And he loves to share his knowledge.

That's why Rick and the team created FareCompare.com - to help everyone become an air travel expert, and get the best deals first -- every time they fly.

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Change in My Personal Blog’s Focus

May 27, 2010 | Posted in: Airfares, Did You Know, Educate Yourself, Geek Data | 4 comments

personal blog focus

I am not sure exactly sure how air travel got into my DNA, but certainly it is a strand that is hard to shake (presuming one wants to shake it, which is not the case for me).

I started this blog in July 2007 on a lark after reading a book on the joys and pitfalls of blogging in the corporate environment that everyone should take a gander at, called “Naked Conversations”.

After years of doing just about everything one can do in what some call information technology, from designing data centers to writing firmware for hardware devices along with reams of code in several languages for hundreds of projects (if that is not a run-on sentence, I don’t know what is)

I have found in the past few years a passion for writing (regardless of my terrible grammar and spelling), especially about the intricacies of air travel and airline ticket pricing, in which I have invested almost a decade now in study and research.

Now that I am writing more (my choice), it is time to get a bit of organization.

I have recently been placing my consumer focused analysis, tips and newsy musings on the FareCompare site where they belong – a place where those that want to save a buck on air travel can read and ruminate on the ever more complex process of scoring a cheap flight (I learn something from someone online every day).

I also will have a variety of syndicated content like my weekly ABCNews.com column.

For now, however, I am going to focus my personal blog (the one you’re now reading) on what some might call air travel geek stuff – a lab, if you will, which I have been wanting to do for a long time.

I intend to change the editorial direction on this blog, to muse about:

  • Algorithms and tools we are working on at FareCompare (feedback is most welcome)
  • Wonky in-depth research related to our huge historical database of worldwide airfare pricing information (with a goal of productizing the ideas on our site)
  • My analysis of Hitwise sentiment and competitive intelligence information
  • Evangelizing Social Media and how it is going to change the way we shop for travel in the future  (and how it could collapse under the weight of privacy issues)
  • Opening up the curtains on FareCompare.com and why we are so different in a world of commodity airline price quotes

I hope you will continue to follow both tracks of musings (over at FareCompare (my author page) and here) and provide me the invaluable feedback needed to have a more lively and active two-way conversation.

Let’s get started  ;-)

A Tale of Two “Fly Girls”: Sexy TV Show, Historic TV Show

March 19, 2010 | Posted in: Did You Know, Flight Attendants, Pilots, Video, Virgin America | 0 comments

fly girls sexy tv show historic

You probably heard about the new CW show called “Fly Girls”…

It features Virgin America flight attendants in the best “in your face” product-placement bonanza since American Airlines’ starring role in George Clooney’s “Up in the Air”.

According to the producers, the show is about “real, down-to-earth young women who happen to have landed in an exceptionally glamorous, high-flying career filled with exotic locations and handsome strangers”. I imagine most flight attendants – including Virgin America’s – will be rolling on the floor with laughter at that, but it could be fun to watch.

You can see it starting Mar. 24 at 9:30PM on the CW.

But did you know there were other “Fly Girls”? This show had the same title, but featured women who risked their lives for their country. Keep reading…

A Tale of Two “Fly Girls”: Sexy TV Show, Historic TV Show

Happy Birthday, 747 – Celebrate by Watching a Cool Take-Off

January 22, 2010 | Posted in: Airplanes, Did You Know, Video | 0 comments

Today marks the 40th anniversary of the first flight of Boeing’s revolutionary 747 aircraft – the biggest aircraft in the world, until the new Godzilla of planes came along – the Airbus 380.

As the Los Angeles Times points out, history books may claim the 747’s first flight took place on Jan. 21, 1970 (New York to London), but – not true. There were delays at JFK – surprise, surprise – so the Pan Am flight didn’t actually take off until about 2am on Jan. 22.

And the big plane is still flying today. When the president travels, it’s on Air Force One – a 747. When the a space shuttle lands in the Mojave Desert and needs a lift back to Florida, its ride is – a 747.

What a plane. But don’t take my word for it – take a look at this take-off:

Travel Idea: The Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada

December 7, 2009 | Posted in: Destinations, Did You Know | 0 comments

Want to see a side of the Old West – and the New West, too – that you may never have known existed?

Try the 26th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, which will take place from Jan. 23 thru 30 in Elko, Nevada.

Yes, cowboys still exist – and, according to the Los Angeles Times, so does their penchant for poetry – what one ranch hand calls “an oral tradition” with rhymes that make it easy to remember the lines and stories:

“You’ll rise at dawn, be movin’ on, for wi nter rides the air. You’ll pack up camp, bedroll damp, but home ain’t anywhere. . . . ” Waddie Mitchell, cowboy and poet

If you’d like to join the cowboys and writers and artisans who will stream into Elko next month, see the Western Folk Life site – and then our “When-to-Go” Flight Finder can help you get there – for less.

Coyotes on the Runway – Seriously

November 27, 2009 | Posted in: Airport, Did You Know, Travel Safety | 0 comments

The folks at Raleigh-Durham International say they’re seeing an increase in coyotes on the runway. That’s right, coyotes.

In fact, earlier this fall, an American Eagle plane hit one on the runway – fortunately, no one was injured (except, presumably, the coyote).

They have been scaring them away with bottle rockets and cap guns – and the airport is working on a new wildlife management plan, but getting rid of coyotes isn’t easy.

Did you know? Coyotes are found in every state now, except Hawaii (a colleague tells me they are a regular feature in her busy suburban Los Angeles neighborhood).

Not surprising, really – coyotes go where the food is. Said a wildlife biologist, “Just like bears, [coyotes] are good at dispersing into new areas.” Don’t tell me we’re going to have to worry about bears now…

What’s the Weirdest Place You’ve Seen an Airline Ad?

November 19, 2009 | Posted in: Airlines, Did You Know, Flight Attendants, Passengers | 0 comments

I was thinking about the weirdest place I’ve seen an airline ad – while perusing an LA Times story on AirTran’s plan to put ads on the backs of seats – actually, on the undersides of the tray tables.

“Hah!” I can hear you say, “I’ll pull the tray table down and make it disappear.” That won’t always work – US Airways has been known to slap ads on top of the trays. You want to escape the ads, so you grab a book from the overhead bin, and – if this is Spirit, beware the bin ads.

And don’t bother calling a flight attendant to complain – Spirit crews once had to wear aprons adorned with alcohol ads.

Hang on – you haven’t yet read about those bald heads and the magical pizza ads yet, so keep reading… What’s the Weirdest Place You’ve Seen an Airline Ad?

Pay Credit Card Late, Lose Miles (and Pay Fee to Get ‘em Back)

November 18, 2009 | Posted in: Airline Fees, Delta, Did You Know, JetBlue | 2 comments

Attention American Express customers: not all, just those of you who have co-branded cards with Delta/Northwest and JetBlue (and some hotels, too):

According to the AP (via ABCNews.com), notices have been sent to these AmEx customers, telling them that starting in January, “rewards won’t be transferred to loyalty accounts with those partners if you are late paying your bill.”

This doesn’t mean you necessarily lose these rewards forever – but you will have to pay a fee to get them back – a $29 fee. And that’s on top of your “late fee”. Ouch.

See the story for further details – or call the number on your card.

Well, at least now you know which of your cards to pay off first…

Missed Today’s Atlantis Launch? See Next Space Shuttle

November 16, 2009 | Posted in: Deals, Destinations, Did You Know, News | 0 comments

Today’s launch of the Atlantis space shuttle – that’s the craft on the left – lifted off on schedule at 2:28pm EST. So you missed this one – but you can still catch the next launch.

Did you know? NASA publishes a list of upcoming launches – and now’s the perfect time to plan for the Feb. 4th launch of the Space Shuttle Endeavour.

As you probably know, the launch site – the Kennedy Space Center – is on Florida’s east coast, about equidistant from Orlando and Daytona Beach. And we’re already seeing some great fares there.

Just one example: this cheap flight from New York to Orlando for just $207 roundtrip total, in early Feb.

I found this great deal on FareCompare’s deal finder – you’ll find great deals there, too.

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