5
I reverse engineered Google Flights & Sky Scanner to create a better flight search experience
r/SideProject
6/28/2025
SAAS TOOLS
| SaaS | URL | Category | Features/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Flights | https://www.google.com/travel/flights | Flight Search | Mentioned as inspiration, not directly used |
| Sky Scanner | https://www.skyscanner.net/ | Flight Search | Mentioned as inspiration, not directly used |
| Hyikko | https://hyikko.com | Flight Search | Allows powerful searches in natural language sentences |
USER NEEDS
Pain Points:
- Opening multiple browser tabs to compare flights is tedious
- Manually sending screenshots to oneself for comparison is inefficient
- Existing tools require rigid inputs (dates/airports) rather than flexible preferences
Problems to Solve:
- Simplify flight search process
- Reduce time spent comparing flight options
- Accommodate travelers prioritizing cost over specific dates/airports
Potential Solutions:
- Natural language search interface
- Aggregated results view
- Focus on cost optimization for flexible travelers
GROWTH FACTORS
Effective Strategies:
- Reverse engineering popular tools to identify improvement opportunities
- Targeting niche user segment (digital nomads/cost-sensitive travelers)
Marketing & Acquisition:
- Showcasing project on relevant subreddits (r/SideProject)
- Soliciting direct user feedback
Monetization & Product:
- No pricing model mentioned (implied free tool)
- Product-market fit: Designed for travelers prioritizing flexibility
- Feature development: Natural language processing for search
User Engagement:
- Open invitation for user questions/feedback
- Community building via public showcase