pidgiepoo
Contributor
Matrix is really a super powerful software for figuring out potential flights, like Don does, I always use the Calendar view to see the variations. The calender view is extremely powerful feature. From there you can use the drop downs to eliminate non stops or look at certain airlines...
Once you click thru from the calender view to the flights view you can sort by durations, stops etc...
once on that view one of the most powerful features to me is the 'time bars' features, that graphically shows you all the flights by time bars so you can easily see the flights that work for your travel based on when you'll arrive or when you'll depart, the layovers ect...
When you're needing to catch some transportation once you get there or coming back this feature is invaluable. I use it also to maximize vacation time seeing what the different options are for arriving morning afternoon or night.
How I normally use the software is to do a search using the calendar feature, then sort out the flights based on stops and costs, then go thru to the time bars and see how they sort out. The sorting and sifting you can do with Matrix is unreal, you can basically analize the available flights in just about any criteria you can think of.
This is also a handy help guide to using the soft ware Matrix - Google Help
and there is a support forum of users here https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!forum/matrixandonthefly
Now I know why I just go to Delta.com and fill in my dates !! LOL