CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/023,326, entitled “System and Method to Display and Retrieve Travel Related Information,” filed Jan. 24, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to retrieving and presenting travel related information. More specifically, the invention relates to an intuitive and rapid display of graphical map-based travel information obtained via the Internet. 
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]    As the Internet has grown, travel related service companies, particularly companies emphasizing air flights, have created websites for selling travel related services directly to consumers. Typically the websites are rigid, complex to use, not intuitive, offer limited information, and present the limited information in a manner that does not emphasize value or convenience. Websites typically charge fees, thus increasing costs to customers and not allowing access to an actual provider of the travel related service. 
         [0004]    The websites offer a limited set of search results. Further, the websites offer only services which they can sell. In the case of air flights, search results are restricted to show only airlines with which the websites have made sales arrangements. The air flights shown are further restricted to only flights on those airlines that the websites currently have in their inventories to sell. Various discount airlines which do not allow outside agencies to sell passage on their flights cannot be accessed via the websites. 
         [0005]    Also, travel related information, when presented, is not done in a manner that emphasizes convenience or value to the customer. In the case of air travel, lowest cost flights, which are usually the least convenient flights, are usually listed first on a long list of possible routes to reach a destination. Some of the possible routes have numerous stops, connection changes, and long total trip times. Flights with long trip times, airport layovers, and fares that are even one dollar less are initially ranked higher than flights which are more expensive but are more convenient non-stop flights with shorter trip times. 
         [0006]    The websites frequently bundle travel packages, for example, hotels, car rental, and flights. Bundling makes it difficult for customers to learn separate prices of individual items. Bundling also raises the question of restrictive practices such as ‘racking’ which presents only what a travel company wishes to sell. Average customers, unaware of possible alternatives, think that the bundled travel packages are the only offerings available. 
         [0007]    What is needed is a method capable of collecting travel related service information and presenting information on the most convenient and best value travel to the customer. Further, the method should facilitate and expedite the purchase of travel related services directly from the travel related service provider. 
       SUMMARY  
       [0008]    Travelers want the “best value,” the quickest and most convenient flight for their money. The present invention helps by showing all non-stop flights and all non-stop airlines including discount carriers that most sites omit. Often, a traveler can find a non-stop flight for less or just a little more than by enduring the hassle of connecting flights. The present invention makes it simple and quick to compare non-stop flights between airlines. A first click may be used to select an origin airport. Selection of the origin airport causes, among other things, the distinguishable indication of destination airports that receive non-stop flights from the origin airport and the corresponding destination airlines at the destination airports that offer the non-stop flights. A second click which may be used to select a destination airline may provide access to an airline reservation system providing schedules and pricing. When the traveler finds the “best value” flight, he or she may book it at the “Guaranteed Lowest Online Price.” 
         [0009]    The present invention preferably provides information and “quick link” referrals to the traveler&#39;s choice of airline or other supplier such as rental cars, hotels, etc. In one embodiment, after seeing all their best options travelers preferably buy direct and get all the perks: frequent flier miles, lowest prices, and easier communication with the airline if travel plans require change. No complicating middle “agents” are involved. 
         [0010]    Most other sites try to sell travelers the “lowest fare” (meaning the “most profitable” ticket to them) that they have available to sell at that moment. These sites often prefer to sell less convenient but more profitable connecting flights and de-emphasize non-stops. They also frequently omit discount carriers that often offer the quickest flight at the lowest price. Their search results are biased toward what they can sell—not what is advantageous for the traveler. 
         [0011]    The present invention preferably shows all non-stop flights and all airlines without bias. The invention seeks to help travelers find and book the quickest, most convenient flight for their money. The present invention offers a “point and click” way to compare non-stop options (e.g., pricing and schedules) with a link to booking sites. A first and second click may be used to access an airline reservation system, a listing of links that may be used to access an airline reservation system, or any number of travel related resources. The present invention also offers a unique, clickable “Smart Index” of traveler services at more than three hundred airports which may include: rental cars, shuttle hotels, parking options (onsite/offsite), ground transportation, airport concessions, and maps. 
         [0012]    An exemplary embodiment discloses a method to retrieve and present travel related information. Map-based displays of travel related information are updated based on captured end user input. The end user is provided access to travel related resources pertaining to the travel related information presented on the updated map-based displays. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is an exemplary flowchart of a computer-based system to retrieve and present travel related information in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is an exemplary single-trip flowchart in accordance with the computer-based system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are exemplary multi-trip flowcharts in accordance with the computer based system of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is an exemplary first map-based display of travel related information. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is an exemplary second map-based display of travel related information. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is an exemplary third map-based display of travel related information. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is an exemplary listing of an airports summary. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is an exemplary listing of an airlines summary. 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is an exemplary listing of a flights summary. 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is an exemplary multi-trip map-based display of travel related information. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0023]      FIG. 1  is an exemplary schematic of a computer-based system  100  for retrieving and displaying travel related information and providing access to travel related resources in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The computer-based system  100  includes a server  101 , a travel related resource  107 , the Internet  109 , an end user  111 , and various sources of raw travel related information  120 . The server  101  contains software  103  and a storage device  105 . Specific exemplary embodiments may include a plurality of servers, software, and storage devices. Raw travel related information is collected by the server  101  from the sources of raw travel related information  120  and kept in the storage device  105 . The raw travel related information may include flight information  121 , hotel information  123 , car rental information  125 , and other information  127 . The sources of raw travel related information  120  may include airports, airlines, hotel chains, automobile rental companies, and commercial databases. The server  101  uploads the raw travel related information over the Internet  109  from the sources of raw travel related information  120 . Other embodiments may use other means of data transmission of the raw travel related information. The raw travel related information is updated periodically to remain current. 
         [0024]    Software  103  is used to extract pertinent travel related information from the raw travel related information and keeps the pertinent travel related information in the storage device  105 . The pertinent travel related information may include airline flight schedules, companies offering hotels and lodging at or near airports, automobile rental companies operating at or near airports, parking facilities at or near airports, or any other information pertaining to travel related services. In other embodiments, the extracted travel related information may include tourist attractions, taxi, limousine, and bus transportation companies operating at or near airports, and other pertinent travel related information. Pertinent travel related information is periodically extracted from the raw travel related information to insure that it remains current. 
         [0025]    The end user  111  may access the server  101  through the Internet  109 . A web browser (not shown) may be used by the end user  111  to access the server  101 . The web browser may be any web browser such as Internet Explorer®, Firefox®, Internet Safari®, Opera Mobile™, or Netscape®. In other embodiments the end user  111  may use other web browsers or any means by which to display and interact with text, images, other information typically found on a web page, and information presented by the server  101  or a travel related resource  107 . In other embodiments the server  101  may be accessed using various networks such as intranets, extranets, wireless networks, etc. When the end user  111  accesses the server  101 , pertinent travel related information may be presented in various manners such as, for example, a map-based display/overview and a listing. A link to a travel related resource  107 , which may be a reservation system of a provider offering a travel related service, may be included as part of the map-based display/overview (not shown) and the listing (not shown). The travel related resource  107  may be for providers of airline, hotel, car rental, parking, or any other travel related service. When accessing the travel related resource  107 , information may be sent by the server  101  enabling the end user  111  to access a part of the travel related resource  107  related to specific travel requirements of the end user  111 . For example, a part of an airline reservation system showing, among other things, non-stop flights between desired airports. 
         [0026]    The end user  111  may obtain information, purchase services, or use any other features offered by the travel related resource  107 . The server  101  may transmit information specific to the end user  111  to the travel related resource  107  when the end user  111  accesses the travel related resource  107 . The information specific to the end user  111  may be personal information such as name, credit card number, address, telephone number, etc. The information specific to the end user may also be travel related such as a date of travel, a designated origin airport, a designated destination airport, etc. 
         [0027]      FIG. 2  is an exemplary single-trip flowchart  200  in accordance with the computer-based system  100  of  FIG. 1 . When the end user  111  accesses the server  101  ( FIG. 1 ), the end user  111  is presented with a first map-based display of travel related origin information, an origin map  201 . The origin map  201  predominantly displays a geographic area including airports found in the geographic area from which a flight may originate. 
         [0028]    The end user  111  then selects an origin airport  203 , for example, an airport appearing on the origin map  201 , from which to begin a flight. Once the origin airport  203  has been selected, the end user  111  is presented with a second map-based display of travel related destination information, a destination map  205 . Travel related information presented on the destination map  205  is specific to the origin airport  203  selected on the origin map  201 . The destination map  205  predominantly displays a geographic area. 
         [0029]    A prominent feature of the destination map  205 , and all other maps except the origin map  201 , is the distinguishable indication of what types of flights airports may receive from the origin airport  203  and airlines at the airports that may receive flights from the origin airport. The distinguishable indication may be made by changing the presentation of airports on the destination map  205 . The change in presentation may consist of changes or addition to color, highlighting, shading, bolding, underlining, italics, shadowing, capitalizing, symbols, or any other manner of distinguishably changing the presentation. 
         [0030]    The types of flights received from the origin airport  203  may be, for example, non-stop, one-stop same plane, or connecting flights. A non-stop flight is a direct flight from one airport to another airport without any stops made during the flight. A one-stop same plane flight is a flight between two airports during which the passenger remains on the plane while the plane makes one stop at an intermediary airport and then continues on the flight to the destination airport. A connecting flight is a flight between two airports during which the passenger must change airplanes at at least one intermediary airport. Other embodiments may include other types of flights, for example, multiple-stop flights on the same plane, one-stop flights but on different planes, multiple-stop flights on different planes, etc. 
         [0031]    Items of travel related information that may be selected by the end user  111  may include, for example, an airports button  241 , an airlines button  231 , a specific airline at any destination airport  221 , or a first destination airport  211  thereby presenting a third map-based display, a single-trip map  212 . 
         [0032]    The airports button  241  which is an item of travel related information presented on the destination map  205  when selected, displays an airports summary  243 . The airports summary  243  is a listing of travel related resources located at or near the origin airport  203 . The travel related resources may include lodging, car rental, parking, public transportation, etc. The airports summary  243  may be used to access an airport services travel related resource where the end user  111  may obtain information, purchase travel related services, or use any other features offered by the airport services travel related resource  245 . 
         [0033]    The airlines button  231  is another item of travel related information presented on the destination map  205 , which when selected displays an airlines summary  233 . The airlines summary  233  may display a listing of travel related resources, airlines offering non-stop or one-stop same plane flights leaving from the origin airport  203  and airports at which the non-stop or one-stop same plane flights arrive. Other embodiments may also include listings of airlines offering connecting flights from the origin airport  203 . The airlines summary  233  may be used to access an airline travel related resource  235  where the end user  111  may obtain flight information, purchase flights, purchase travel related services, or use any other features offered by the airline travel related resource  235 . 
         [0034]    Another item of travel related information presented on the destination map  205  and which may be selected is an airline at any destination airport  221 . Selection of an airline at any destination airport  221  gives the end user  111  access to an airline travel related resource  223  of the selected airline. The end user  111  may obtain flight information, purchase flights, purchase travel related services, or use any other features offered by the airline travel related resource  223 . Thus, the end-user  111  has accessed the airline travel related resource  223 , for example, a reservation system of the selected airline, by making two selections. Each selection may be made by a click with a computer mouse. A first click may be for the origin airport  203  and a second click may be made for the airline at any destination airport  221 . As a result of these two clicks, the end user  111  may not only gain access to the reservation system of the selected airline but to a part of the reservation system of the selected airline showing a desired type of flight, for example, among other things, non-stop flights, between the first click-selected origin airport  203  and the second click-selected airline at any destination airport  221 . 
         [0035]    Another item of travel related information presented on the destination map  205  that the end user  111  may select is a first destination airport  211 , thereby presenting the third map-based display, the single-trip map  212 . In this embodiment a trip is defined as a non-stop or one-stop same plane flight between two airports. The single-trip map  212  is similar to the destination map  205  as described above. Presentation of airports on the single-trip map  212  is changed to indicate the types of flights that the airports may receive from the first destination airport  211 , and the airlines at the airports that may receive flights from the first destination airport. The end user  111  may then select a flights button  213 , the airports button  241 , the airlines button  231 , or an airline at any destination airport  225 . The travel related information presented in the listings may default to travel related information for the origin airport  203  and may be changed by the end user  111  to the first destination airport  211 . In other embodiments the travel related information presented in the listings may default to travel related information for the first destination airport  211  and be changed by the end user  111  to the origin airport  203 . 
         [0036]    The flights button  213 , when selected, displays a flights summary  215  which is predominantly a listing of non-stop or one-stop same plane flights from the origin airport  203  to the first destination airport  211 . The flights summary  215  may also list airlines offering connecting flights from the origin airport  203  to the first destination airport  211 . The end user  111  may select a specific airline shown on the flights summary  215 . Selection of a specific airline gives the end user  111  access to an airline travel related resource  217  where the end user  111  may obtain flight information, purchase flights, purchase travel related services, or use any other features offered by the airline travel related resource  217 . 
         [0037]    The airports button  241 , when selected, displays an airports summary  247  which now is a listing of travel related resources available at or near the origin airport  203 . The travel related resources may include lodging, car rental, parking, public transportation, etc. The airports summary  247  may be used to access an airport services travel related resource  249  where the end user  111  may obtain information, purchase the travel related services, or use any other features offered by the airport services travel related resource  249 . The end user  111  may change the airport on the airports summary  247  and select the first destination airport  211  and be presented with an airports summary  247  for the first destination airport  211 . In other embodiments, the airports summary  247  may default to the first destination airport  211  and be changed by the end user  111  to the origin airport  203 . 
         [0038]    The airlines button  231 , when selected, displays an airlines summary  237  which now displays a listing of airlines offering non-stop or one-stop same plane flights leaving from the first destination airport  211  and airports at which the non-stop or one-stop same plane flights arrive. Other embodiments may also include listings of airlines offering connecting flights from the first destination airport  211 . The airlines summary  237  may be used to access an airline travel related resource  239  where the end user  111  may obtain flight information, purchase flights, purchase travel related services, or use any other features offered by the airline travel related resource  239 . The end user  111  may change the airport from which the non-stop or one-stop same plane flights leave on the airlines summary  237  to the origin airport  203  thereby seeing an airlines summary  237  for the origin airport  203 . In other embodiments the airlines summary  237  may default to the first destination airport  211  and be changed by the end user  111  to the origin airport  203 . 
         [0039]    Selecting an airline at any destination airport  225  gives the end user  111  access to the airline travel related resource  227  of the selected airline. The end user  111  may obtain flight information, purchase flights, purchase travel related services, or use any other features offered by the airline travel related resource  227 . 
         [0040]    At any time, the end user  111  may back up to a prior point in the method and proceed with selections applicable to the prior point. 
         [0041]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  show an exemplary multi-trip flowchart  300  in accordance with the exemplary computer-based system and method of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The end user  111  is presented with choices, map-based displays, and listings similar to those described above for the single-trip flowchart  200  of  FIG. 2 . The exemplary multi-trip flowchart  300  illustrates a two trip/three airport multi-trip, presented on a multi-trip map-based display, where the trips are connected. Other embodiments may have numerous trips and airports where some trips may be connected or some trips may be unconnected. Presenting numerous trips, multi-trips, may be accomplished by selecting additional destination airports thereby presenting new or updated multi-trip map-based displays. 
         [0042]    The end user  111  is initially presented with similar choices for selection as described above for the single-trip flow chart  200 . After the end user  111  selects the first destination airport  211 , the single-trip map  212  is displayed as described above. The end user  111  may select a second destination airport  311  thereby causing the system to present a multi-trip map-based display, a multi-trip map  312 , where the first destination airport  211  now becomes an originating airport for the second destination airport  311 . 
         [0043]    After selecting the second destination airport  311  the end user  111  may select the airports button  241 , the airlines button  231 , an airline at any destination airport  321 , the flights button  213 , or an airport presented on multi-trip map  312 . The listings presented are similar to the listings presented in the single-trip flow chart  200  ( FIG. 2 ). The travel related information presented in the listings may default to travel related information related to the airport selected for the first destination airport  211  or the second destination airport  311  or the origin airport  203 . The end user  111  may change the airport presented in the listings to see travel related information for an airport other than the default airport. 
         [0044]    The end user  111  may select the flights button  213 . The flights button  213  when selected displays a flights summary  315  which is a listing of non-stop or one-stop same plane flights from the first destination airport  211  to the second destination airport  311 . The flights summary  315  may also list airlines offering connecting flights from the first destination airport  211  to the second destination airport  311 . The end user  111  may select a specific airline shown on the flights summary  315 . Selection of a specific airline gives the end user  111  access to an airline travel related resource  317  where the end user  111  may obtain flight information, purchase flights, purchase travel related services, or use any other features offered by the airline travel related resource  317 . 
         [0045]    The airports button  241 , when selected, displays an airports summary  343  which is a listing of travel related resources available at or near the second destination airport  311 . The travel related resources may include lodging, car rental, parking, public transportation, etc. The airports summary  343  may be used to access an airport services travel related resource  345  where the end user  111  may obtain information, purchase travel related services, or use any other features offered by the airport services travel related resource  345 . The end user  111  may change the airport on the airports summary  343  and select any of the other airports that are part of the multi-trip, thereby seeing an airports summary  343  for the newly selected airport. 
         [0046]    The airlines button  231  when selected displays an airlines summary  333  which is a listing of airlines offering non-stop or one-stop same plane flights from the second destination airport  311  and airports at which the non-stop or one-stop same plane flights arrive. Other embodiments may also include listings of airlines offering connecting flights from the second destination airport  311 . The airlines summary  333  may be used to access an airline travel related resource  335  where the end user  111  may obtain flight information, purchase flights, purchase travel related services, or use any other features offered by the airline travel related resource  335 . The end user  111  may change the airport from which the non-stop or one-stop same plane flights leave on the airlines summary  333  and select any of the other airports that are part of the multi-trip thereby seeing an airlines summary  333  for the newly selected airport. 
         [0047]    The end user  111  may select an airline at any destination airport  321  that is presented after the second destination airport  311  is selected. The end user  11  is then given access to an airline travel related resource  323  of the selected airline. The end user  111  may obtain flight information, purchase flights, purchase travel related services, or use any other features offered by the airline travel related resource  323 . 
         [0048]    At any time, the end user  111  may back up to a prior point in the method and proceed with selections applicable to the prior point. As mentioned above, the end user  111  is not limited to a two trip/three airport multi-trip. Nor is the end user  111  limited to connected multi-trips. Additional airports may be selected for the creation of additional trips whether connected or not. 
         [0049]      FIG. 4  is an exemplary first map-based display of travel related information on an origin map  400 . The origin map  400  predominantly displays a geographic area with airports found in the geographic area from which a flight may originate. The geographic area and corresponding travel related information presented on the origin map  400  may be changed by selecting map display options  401  or a caret (“̂”) icon  403  (only one of which is numbered). This allows display of additional travel related information that is not conveniently presented on the origin map  400 . Selecting map display options  401  or a caret (“̂”) icon  403  may allow at least one of the following: display of a different map-based display with its corresponding travel related information; presenting a list from which a different map-based display with its corresponding travel related information may be selected; presenting an expanded map-based display with its corresponding travel related information of a presented area; and a list of travel related information for an area from which an item of travel related information may be selected for display on the origin map  400 . 
         [0050]    Non-stop or one-stop same plane flights may be specified by selecting flight options  405 . In this example the flight options  405  have been selected for non-stop flights thereby indicating non-stop airports on ensuing map-based displays and presenting non-stop travel related information in the ensuing examples. In other embodiments, one-stop same plane flights may be selected and then both non-stop and one-stop same plane flights are indicated on the ensuing map-based displays and travel related information for both non-stop and one-stop same plane flights are presented in the ensuing examples. The flight options  405  may be changed at any time and appropriate changes are made to map-based displays and travel related information. An origin airport may be chosen by selecting an origin airport  407 , for example, Oakland (“OAK”). 
         [0051]      FIG. 5  is a destination map  500  which is an exemplary second map-based display of travel related destination information based on user input captured from the first map-based display. The travel related information presented on the destination map  500  is specific to selections and options made on the origin map  400  ( FIG. 4 ). The destination map  500  predominantly displays a geographic area with the origin airport  407  and destination airports and airlines at the destination airports as described above for  FIG. 2 . Destination airports that receive non-stop flights from the origin airport  407  Oakland are distinguishably indicated. The geographic area presented in the destination map  500  may be changed by selecting the map display options  401  or a caret (“̂”) icon  403  as described above. Other items of travel related information that may be selected include, for example, flight options  405  as described above, an airlines button  517 , an airports button  519 , an airline  515  at a destination airport, for example (UA) United Airlines, or a first destination airport  513 , for example Denver. 
         [0052]      FIG. 6  is an exemplary third map-based display of travel related information, a single-trip map  600 , based on user input captured from the second map-based display. The single-trip map  600  is presented when a specific airport, for example first destination airport  513 , Denver, is selected as a destination airport from the destination map  500  ( FIG. 5 ). As before, a trip may be defined as a non-stop or one-stop same plane flight between two airports, and in this example non-stop flights have been selected. The single-trip map  600  predominantly displays a geographic area with the origin airport  407 , for example Oakland, the first destination airport  513 , for example Denver, a first trip line  631  (trip  1 ) connecting the origin airport  407  to the first destination airport  513 , and any other airports and airlines that may receive flights from the first destination airport  513  of Denver. The airports that may receive non-stop flights from the first destination airport  513  of Denver are distinguishably indicated. (For clarity on the single-trip map  600 , airports and airlines that may receive a non-stop flight from the first destination airport  513  have not been changed significantly from the airports and airlines presented on the destination map  500 .) The geographic area presented in the single-trip map  600  may be changed by selecting the map display options  401  or a caret (“̂”) icon  403  as described above. The single-trip map  600  also displays flight options  405  as discussed above, an airlines button  617 , an airports button  619 , and a flights button  621 . 
         [0053]      FIG. 7  is an airports summary which is a listing of travel related information detailing the travel related resources available at or near an airport. The airports summary  700  is presented when the airports button  619  ( FIG. 6 ) is selected. The airports summary  700  lists types of travel related resources available at a specified airport  701 , such as Oakland, and allows access to the listed travel related resources. One type of travel related resource may be for a rental car  703 . A rental car  703  resource may be for example Avis®  705 . Selecting, for example Avis®  705  permits access to Avis&#39;® travel related resource where information may be obtained, travel related services may be purchased, or other features of Avis® reservation system may be used. An airport specifier  707  is presented on the airports summary  700  which may be used to change the specified airport  701  Oakland, to select any of the airports comprising a trip, for example, on a single-trip map  600  ( FIG. 6 ), thereby presenting travel related resources at or near the newly specified airport. 
         [0054]      FIG. 8  is an airlines summary  800  which is a listing of travel related information presenting airlines offering non-stop flights from an airport and airports at which the non-stop flights arrive. The airlines summary  800  is presented when the airlines button  617  ( FIG. 6 ) is selected. The airlines summary  800  lists travel related information about airlines  803  offering non-stop flights  809  from a specified airport  801  and the arrival airports  805  for non-stop flights  809 . Selecting a specific airline, for example American Airlines®&#39;  811  permits access to American Airlines&#39;® travel related resources where information may be obtained, flights may be purchased, travel related services may be purchased, or any other features of American Airlines&#39;® reservation system may be used. In addition, selecting one of the non-stop arrival airports  805 , such as AUS  813  (Austin), permits access to American Airlines&#39;® reservation system showing flight information between the specified airport  801  and AUS  813  (Austin) which may include non-stop flights. An airport specifier  807  is available on the airlines summary  800  to change the specified airport  801  and specify any of the airports comprising a trip, for example, on a single-trip map  600  ( FIG. 6 ), thereby presenting non-stop flights from the newly specified airport  801 . 
         [0055]      FIG. 9  shows a flights summary  900  which is travel related information presenting a listing of non-stop flights from an origin airport to a destination airport, The flights summary  900  is presented when the flights button  621  ( FIG. 6 ) is selected. The flights summary  900  lists information about airlines  903  offering non-stop flights  909  from an origin airport  901  to a first destination airport  902  that are part of a trip. The listed information may include a quickest flight time summary  905  for each of the airlines  903  appearing on the flights summary  900 . A specific airline may be selected, for example American Airlines®  911 , which permits access to American Airlines&#39;® travel related resources where information may be obtained, flights may be purchased, travel related services may be purchased, or other features of American Airlines&#39;® travel related resources may be used. There is also a listing  913  of airlines offering connecting flights between the origin airport  901  and the first destination airport  902  from which a specific airline may also be selected permitting access to that airline&#39;s travel related resources. 
         [0056]      FIG. 10  is an exemplary multi-trip map-based display of travel related information, a multi-trip map  1000 , based on user input captured from the third map-based display. Multi-trip maps are presented by continued selection of destination airports, for example, on the single-trip map  600  ( FIG. 6 ) or the multi-trip map  1000 . The multi-trip map  1000  results from selecting a second destination airport  1001  (ORD O&#39;Hare), on the single-trip map  600 . The multi-trip map  1000  predominantly displays the airports selected for the trips, the trip lines connecting the airports selected for the trips, any other airports, and airlines at the any other airports that may receive flights from the most recently selected second destination airport (ORD O&#39;Hare). Airports that may receive non-stop flights from the most recently selected destination airport are distinguishably indicated. (For clarity on the multi-trip map  1000 , airports and airlines that may receive a non-stop flight from the second destination airport  1001  have not been changed significantly from the airports and airlines presented on the destination map  500  ( FIG. 5 ) and the single-trip map  600 .) The geographic area presented in the multi-trip map  1000  may be changed by selecting the map display options  401  or a caret (“̂”) icon  403  as described above. 
         [0057]    Multi-trip map  1000  displays origin airport  407  Oakland, first trip line  631  (trip  1 ) connecting origin airport  407  Oakland to first destination airport  513  Denver, a second trip line  1032  (trip  2 ) connecting first destination airport  513  Denver to the most recently selected second destination airport  1001  (ORD, O&#39;Hare). Multi-trip map  1000  also displays flight options  405  as discussed above, an airlines button  1017 , an airports button  1019 , and a flights button  1021 . Items of travel related information which may be selected on the multi-trip map  1000  are similar to items of travel related information which may be selected on the single-trip map  600  ( FIG. 6 ). These items of travel related information may include the airlines button  1017 , the airports button  1019 , the flights button  1021 , or any potential destination airport or airline receiving flights from the second destination airport  1001  (ORD O&#39;Hare). Airports that may receive non-stop flights from the most recently selected second destination airport  1001  (O&#39;Hare) are distinguishably indicated. The functionality of the selections that may be made from the multi-trip map  1000  is similar to the single-trip map  600  that was described above for the single-trip map  600 . 
         [0058]    In the foregoing specification, the present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evident to a skilled artisan that various modifications and changes can be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims. For example, although a method of the present invention is described primarily in reference to map-based displays for presenting travel related information; skilled artisans will appreciate that the present invention may also be practiced with other types of displays and information. Specific embodiments are described above with reference to graphical user interfaces (map-based displays), listings, or features which may include windows, pointers, text boxes, icons, check boxes, buttons, computer mice, drop down lists, menus, etc. Persons of skill in the art will realize that embodiments may advantageously be implemented with other similar designs for a user interface. Selection of items presented by the map-based displays, listings, or other features may be made by using, for example, a computer mouse to move a pointer and click. Other embodiments may employ other means for making selections such as a touch screen, a touchpad, a pointing stick, a graphics tablet, eyeball control, or any other means. Further, principles embodied in the present invention may be beneficially applied to other types of overviews and information. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.
A method to intuitively and quickly retrieve travel related information and gain access to providers of travel related services. The method is especially suitable for quickly finding non-stop airplane flights and connecting to airline reservation systems in as few as two clicks to access an airline reservation system to book a non-stop airplane flight. A user selects points such as airports on map-based displays and is presented with information pertaining to travel between, and services near, the selected points, such as airlines, lodging, car rentals, etc.