03/27 - 03/30

Routing rule for normal trip

TRANSFERS
6 TRANSFERS PERMITTED, 3 IN EACH DIRECTION.


But when I try to book RIC -> PHL -> CLT -> HTS I just can't seem to do it without really jacking up the price on ITA or Expedia.

What am I missing?

You need to look at the fare rules to find the valid connecting cities. You can do this on Expedia by going to the final fare screen and hit the "terms and conditions" link (IIRC, that's what it was called) and find out the valid routings. You can then use something like KVS to see if segments are available in that fare code.

I attempted to book RIC-HTS... picked two days in April. Got to the last fare screen and clicked "Rules and Restrictions". At the bottom are the valid routings for the fare I used...
ROUTING 54 FROM RIC-US-WAS/BWI-US-
OR FROM RIC-US-WAS/BWI-US-PHL-US-
TO PIT-US-CLT-US-HTS*
FROM-TO RIC-US-CLT-US-HTS*

So it looks like you can go through WAS and PHL (but I don't think they have flights direct from PHL to HTS), or via PIT-CLT to HTS (but I don't think the PIT flight exists anymore)... or just through CLT. Double checking schedules, you can only fly to HTS directly via CLT. Since none of these rules allow you to go to PHL or PIT and then to CLT, I'd guess you're stuck with a RIC-CLT-HTS and back routing. :(

The only way around this is if you can find an intermediate city to fly to... and then book two end-to-end RT's... say something like RIC-PIT and then PIT-HTS.

oops, did a reply already as I was replying

*deleted*

OK let me try Charleston to see if I can figure it out. The

ROUTING 54 FROM RIC-US-WAS/BWI-US-
OR FROM RIC-US-WAS/BWI-US-PHL-US-
TO PIT-US-CLT-US-HTS*
FROM-TO RIC-US-CLT-US-HTS*


Confuses me as far as reading it exactly, but let me try Charleston

ROUTING 54 FROM RIC-US-WAS/BWI-US-
OR FROM RIC-US-WAS/BWI-US-PHL-US-
TO PIT-US-CRW*
FROM-TO RIC-US-CLT-US-CRW*
FROM-TO RIC-US-WAS-US-CRW*


is this telling me I can go RIC->PHL->PIT->CRW?

You need to look at the fare rules to find the valid connecting cities. You can do this on Expedia by going to the final fare screen and hit the "terms and conditions" link (IIRC, that's what it was called) and find out the valid routings. You can then use something like KVS to see if segments are available in that fare code.

I attempted to book RIC-HTS... picked two days in April. Got to the last fare screen and clicked "Rules and Restrictions". At the bottom are the valid routings for the fare I used...
ROUTING 54 FROM RIC-US-WAS/BWI-US-
OR FROM RIC-US-WAS/BWI-US-PHL-US-
TO PIT-US-CLT-US-HTS*
FROM-TO RIC-US-CLT-US-HTS*

So it looks like you can go through WAS and PHL (but I don't think they have flights direct from PHL to HTS), or via PIT-CLT to HTS (but I don't think the PIT flight exists anymore)... or just through CLT. Double checking schedules, you can only fly to HTS directly via CLT. Since none of these rules allow you to go to PHL or PIT and then to CLT, I'd guess you're stuck with a RIC-CLT-HTS and back routing. :(

The only way around this is if you can find an intermediate city to fly to... and then book two end-to-end RT's... say something like RIC-PIT and then PIT-HTS.

You can fly RIC-PHL-CLT-HTS, and you can also fly RIC-PHL-PIT-CLT-HTS.

You need seat availability on all legs, and if it's not, you would get the sky-high price.

I got it with ITA and plugging in RIC::US US US

CRW::US US


However, those 'routing rules' still confuse me.

I got it with ITA and plugging in RIC::US US US

CRW::US US


However, those 'routing rules' still confuse me.

Someone used to have a site or small downloadable program that used to "translate" those rules into a list of possible flights. Anyone remember what I'm talking about.

Also, one caveat... just because the rules say a flight is possible doesn't mean the airline still flies it. A lot of transcon routings have midwest airports (like STL, MSP, etc) as legal connector points, when in reality, you can't always find a flight in or out of there. I think they may be carryovers from long ago when those connects were possible (like when US used to fly MCI-SFO and MCI-LAX).

But they might work now, given HP's westbound flights from midcon points. That is, if the codeshare flights aren't excluded from the system

One could construct very interesting routings using codeshares... RIC-PHL-MCI-PHX-SFO... or RIC-PHL-DFW-LAS-SEA... if those are legal connect points.

ROUTING 54 FROM RIC-US-WAS/BWI-US-
OR FROM RIC-US-WAS/BWI-US-PHL-US-
TO PIT-US-CRW*
FROM-TO RIC-US-CLT-US-CRW*
FROM-TO RIC-US-WAS-US-CRW*


is this telling me I can go RIC->PHL->PIT->CRW?
------------------------------
No, the routing key is telling you the fare you are trying to book is offered with service as follows:
RIC to BWI (no US Service RIC-DCA), then BWI to PHL, PHL-PIT, and finally PIT-CRW (Charleston, WV); 4 segments at 500 miles each for diehard DM members.
or
RIC TO CLT TO CRW
or RIC TO DCA (which does not presently exist) to CRW

There is no routing there offering RIC nonstop to PHL and then beyond.

There is no RIC-BWI service. It's theoretically permissible to route RIC-WAS/BWI, but not physically possible on US metal. However, you could route on a United codeshare to IAD...

Did RIC-BWI service go the way of the do-do bird? I took that route a couple of years ago.

All the Trans States at-risk Jetstream 41 flying out of BWI has been pulled down.

Someone used to have a site or small downloadable program that used to "translate" those rules into a list of possible flights. Anyone remember what I'm talking about.

You're talking about the Routing Expander at www.faremetrics.com ^