I’m conflicted. Google maps has been a tremendous help while travelling internationally, providing accurate information nearly everywhere. However, now the poor UX and frankly malicious design got the best of me.
I was heading to Rotterdam and was on my way in good time. When I went to check the platform for my connection, first of all I was met with frustration. Google maps had deleted my earlier search so I had to search for it again while speedwalking to the station. Once I had the connection in front of me, I was met with another unpleasant surprise.
Apparently my connection was partly operated by the upscale, high-speed, reservation-only Thalys train to Paris. Like any regular mortal, I will never pay an arm and a leg for a Thalys train from Amsterdam to Rotterdam, no matter how fast it is. The scatterbrain that I am, I figured I must’ve misread the connection earlier and that this was the only choice. One questions, why do they not make it more obvious that the connection you’re about to take requires a reservation, doesn’t accept your regular travel card, and costs as much as a flight to Las Palmas?
So Google maps gave me no other alternatives but to wait for a later connection. While I was waiting, I decided to check my connection on NS Reisplanner because frankly I was tired of having to re-enter my destination in Google maps every time I switched between apps. What I discovered was the last nail in the coffin for my travel planning with Google maps.
As it turns out, there were normal connections to Rotterdam earlier. Google just didn’t show me. Maybe they showed me earlier but certainly not when I needed it most. Because they delete my connection search every time I switch to another app for longer than a minute. They just wanted to push an outrageously expensive connection and hide the normal ones. I was furious. I was going to be a half an hour late because of this outright Machiavellian design choice. The work of a saboteur. I was so mad I wrote this post immediately.
How to make it better? For the love of God, do not delete a user’s previous search when switching away from the app. I guarantee you, nobody in the history of travel apps has ever needed that feature. Next, mention in red, flaming letters if a connection requires a reservation and if it doesn’t support your normal travel card. Finally, show the connections that normal people – who are not splurging half their daily salary on a desperate attempt to make that flight – use to get from one place to another.
Thank you.