Benefits of Proposed Changes

Oct 13, 2025 by talynt.org 76 views

Introduction

The DatePicker UX is a crucial component of any travel booking system, allowing users to select their departure and arrival dates with ease. However, the current implementation has some limitations that can lead to user confusion and frustration. In this article, we will discuss the proposed changes to the DatePicker UX to isolate the selected input box, making it more intuitive and user-friendly.

Problem Statement

As a guest, I think of my departure and arrival dates as distinct inputs. Therefore, when I interact with those selections, I expect:

The input box I have clicked/selected to be updated with dates until I click away.
If I select "Return", the date I chose to populate that box FIRST (current behavior: if Depart is empty, the first date selected goes here).
If I am in the "Return" input, I can click multiple dates that update that input until I click away.
I need to know WHICH input I am selected on/is in active state (current behavior: Datepicker stays open and doesn't 'close' or give indication it has moved to a new Input).

Current Behavior

The current implementation of the DatePicker UX has some limitations that can lead to user confusion. When a user clicks on the "Depart" or "Return" input, the Datepicker stays open, and the user is not sure which input is selected. Additionally, if the user selects a date for the "Return" input, it does not populate the corresponding input box until the "Depart" input is also selected.

Proposed Changes

To address the limitations of the current implementation, we propose the following changes to the DatePicker UX:

1. Update Input Box on Selection

When a user clicks on the "Depart" or "Return" input, the corresponding input box should be updated with the selected date until the user clicks away. This will ensure that the user always knows which input is selected and can easily select the desired date.

2. Populate Return Input Box First

When a user selects the "Return" input, the date they chose should populate the corresponding input box FIRST. This will eliminate the confusion caused by the current behavior, where the first date selected goes to the "Depart" input box.

3. Allow Multiple Date Selection for Return Input

When a user is in the "Return" input, they should be able to click multiple dates that update the input box until they click away. This will make it easier for users to select multiple dates for the return trip.

4. Indicate Active Input

To help users know which input is selected, we propose adding a visual indicator to the Datepicker. This can be a subtle change in color or a small icon that appears next to the selected input. This will ensure that users always know which input is active and can easily navigate the Datepicker.

Benefits of Proposed Changes

The proposed changes to the DatePicker UX will provide several benefits to users, including:

Improved user experience: The updated Datepicker will be more intuitive and user-friendly, making it easier for users to select their departure and arrival dates.
Reduced user confusion: The proposed changes will eliminate the confusion caused by the current behavior, where users are not sure which input is selected or which date is populated in the input box.
Increased user satisfaction: By making it easier for users to select their dates, we can increase user satisfaction and reduce the likelihood of errors or frustration.

Conclusion

The DatePicker UX is a critical component of any travel booking system, and its implementation can have a significant impact on user experience. By proposing changes to isolate the selected input box, we can make the Datepicker more intuitive and user-friendly, reducing user confusion and increasing user satisfaction. We believe that these changes will have a positive impact on the user experience and look forward to implementing them.

Additional Context

For more information on the current implementation of the DatePicker UX and the proposed changes, please refer to the following link:

https://alaskaair-my.sharepoint.com/:v:/p/megan_renner/ERltxOt8bzNFlPWPdwB4rJkBsfxswKMyAIUT27wQqvdbWw?e=99fYqM&nav=eyJwbGF5YmFja09wdGlvbnMiOnt9LCJyZWZlcnJhbEluZm8iOnsicmVmZXJyYWxBcHAiOiJTdHJlYW1XZWJBcHAiLCJyZWZlcnJhbE1vZGUiOiJtaXMiLCJyZWZlcnJhbFZpZXciOiJwb3N0cm9sbC1jb3B5bGluayIsInJlZmVycmFsUGxheWJhY2tTZXNzaW9uSWQiOiI3MzY1MWVkNy1iOTRjLTQyZGYtOWNlZC03ODQzNTVhZjI5YWUifX0%3D

Exit Criteria

The exit criteria for this project will be the same as the proposed changes, including:

The input box is updated with dates until the user clicks away.
If the user selects the "Return" input, the date they chose populates the corresponding input box FIRST.
If the user is in the "Return" input, they can click multiple dates that update the input box until they click away.
The user knows which input is selected and is in an active state.
DatePicker UX Changes to Isolate Selected Input Box: Q&A =====================================================

Introduction

In our previous article, we discussed the proposed changes to the DatePicker UX to isolate the selected input box, making it more intuitive and user-friendly. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the proposed changes and provide additional context to help clarify any doubts.

Q: What is the current behavior of the DatePicker UX?

A: The current behavior of the DatePicker UX is that when a user clicks on the "Depart" or "Return" input, the Datepicker stays open, and the user is not sure which input is selected. Additionally, if the user selects a date for the "Return" input, it does not populate the corresponding input box until the "Depart" input is also selected.

Q: What are the proposed changes to the DatePicker UX?

A: The proposed changes to the DatePicker UX are:

Update the input box on selection: When a user clicks on the "Depart" or "Return" input, the corresponding input box should be updated with the selected date until the user clicks away.
Populate Return Input Box First: When a user selects the "Return" input, the date they chose should populate the corresponding input box FIRST.
Allow Multiple Date Selection for Return Input: When a user is in the "Return" input, they should be able to click multiple dates that update the input box until they click away.
Indicate Active Input: To help users know which input is selected, we propose adding a visual indicator to the Datepicker.

Q: Why are these changes necessary?

A: These changes are necessary to improve the user experience and reduce user confusion. The current behavior of the DatePicker UX can lead to errors and frustration, especially when users are trying to select multiple dates. By making these changes, we can make the Datepicker more intuitive and user-friendly.

Q: How will these changes affect the user experience?

A: These changes will improve the user experience by making it easier for users to select their departure and arrival dates. The updated Datepicker will be more intuitive and user-friendly, reducing user confusion and increasing user satisfaction.

Q: What are the benefits of these changes?

A: The benefits of these changes include:

Improved user experience: The updated Datepicker will be more intuitive and user-friendly.
Reduced user confusion: The proposed changes will eliminate the confusion caused by the current behavior.
Increased user satisfaction: By making it easier for users to select their dates, we can increase user satisfaction and reduce the likelihood of errors or frustration.

Q: How will these changes be implemented?

A: The implementation of these changes will involve updating the DatePicker UX to reflect the proposed changes. This will involve modifying the code and testing the updated Datepicker to ensure that it meets the requirements.

Q: What is the timeline for implementing these changes?

A: The timeline for implementing these changes will depend on the complexity of the changes and the resources available. However, we anticipate that the changes will be implemented within the next few weeks.

Q: How will these changes be tested?

A: The changes will be tested through a combination of manual testing and automated testing. This will involve testing the updated Datepicker to ensure that it meets the requirements and does not introduce any new bugs.