Route maximizer tool
Jul 1, 2007, 2:19 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: PHL
Posts: 877
Route maximizer tool
It seems there's a need among mileage runners to automate the process of determining the most advantageous routing for a given routing rule, especially when the rule is long and complex. So I wrote a tool to do just that:
http://fly.qux.us/routemax
It should be pretty simple to figure out (if you understand how to read a routing rule; if not, see this). You can copy and paste the relevant part of a routing rule from ExpertFlyer or possibly other sources, or else write your own. It will tell you all the possible ways to fly it, highest mileage first. Then you can sift through the results for routes to investigate further (perhaps by checking the availabilities of that fare along the routes you like).
If nothing else, it's interesting to see the wide range of flown miles a particular fare basis might allow, but my main hope is that this tool will facilitate the process of booking good MRs.
If you find something wrong, I'd appreciate hearing about it. Enjoy!
http://fly.qux.us/routemax
It should be pretty simple to figure out (if you understand how to read a routing rule; if not, see this). You can copy and paste the relevant part of a routing rule from ExpertFlyer or possibly other sources, or else write your own. It will tell you all the possible ways to fly it, highest mileage first. Then you can sift through the results for routes to investigate further (perhaps by checking the availabilities of that fare along the routes you like).
If nothing else, it's interesting to see the wide range of flown miles a particular fare basis might allow, but my main hope is that this tool will facilitate the process of booking good MRs.
If you find something wrong, I'd appreciate hearing about it. Enjoy!
Last edited by ttjoseph; Nov 27, 2007 at 12:57 am Reason: Updated URL
Jul 1, 2007, 4:11 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: HYX
Programs: ~IHG(p)/BW~Nat'l.Exec~ ~NW(SE)~ ~Cessna~ NASM.do-07 ~AAAF.do-05/06/07/08/09
Posts: 1,529
Cool !
Jul 3, 2007, 9:40 am
#7
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: MHT/BOS <--> World
Programs: AA Plat 2.8MM
Posts: 4,629
Good tool; thanks! ^
One thing to point out:
There are usually many valid routings that are not real today because no flights exists between all city pairs.
So while a computer can tell you where the rules allow you to route...the computer isn't checking flight schedules to see if the airline flies each route. So you still need some research/knowledge of the where the airline flies to put together the best option.
One thing to point out:
There are usually many valid routings that are not real today because no flights exists between all city pairs.
So while a computer can tell you where the rules allow you to route...the computer isn't checking flight schedules to see if the airline flies each route. So you still need some research/knowledge of the where the airline flies to put together the best option.
Jul 3, 2007, 10:26 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: PHL
Posts: 877
To all who responded, you're welcome 
Absolutely. The next logical step is to integrate GDS queries into this somehow, but I'm not really willing to do it the right way and buy access for the server side. My current thought is to provide a link to an ExpertFlyer search for each segment, which would save the time of filling those boxes for every availability search.
As for now, you can use the "highlight-on-click" feature to help you ignore routes that you know contain unworkable segments.
Good tool; thanks! ^
One thing to point out:
There are usually many valid routings that are not real today because no flights exists between all city pairs.
So while a computer can tell you where the rules allow you to route...the computer isn't checking flight schedules to see if the airline flies each route. So you still need some research/knowledge of the where the airline flies to put together the best option.
One thing to point out:
There are usually many valid routings that are not real today because no flights exists between all city pairs.
So while a computer can tell you where the rules allow you to route...the computer isn't checking flight schedules to see if the airline flies each route. So you still need some research/knowledge of the where the airline flies to put together the best option.
As for now, you can use the "highlight-on-click" feature to help you ignore routes that you know contain unworkable segments.
Aug 28, 2007, 8:04 am
#10
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: TPA / FL
Programs: AA: PLT SPG:Gold -> Working on EXP ;)
Posts: 39
So we should make his APP into a web service and call both it and ITA for the availability / pricing of each flight right?
-DMS, Tampa FL
-DMS, Tampa FL
Good tool; thanks! ^
One thing to point out:
There are usually many valid routings that are not real today because no flights exists between all city pairs.
So while a computer can tell you where the rules allow you to route...the computer isn't checking flight schedules to see if the airline flies each route. So you still need some research/knowledge of the where the airline flies to put together the best option.
One thing to point out:
There are usually many valid routings that are not real today because no flights exists between all city pairs.
So while a computer can tell you where the rules allow you to route...the computer isn't checking flight schedules to see if the airline flies each route. So you still need some research/knowledge of the where the airline flies to put together the best option.
Aug 28, 2007, 8:21 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: UA 1K, AC MM E75, Marriott LT Ti, IHG Dia Amb, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 15,521
Missed this the first time it came through (newbie though, so that's my excuse 
). This is awesome. Thanks for putting this together.
If only routing rules were easier to find now.
). This is awesome. Thanks for putting this together.If only routing rules were easier to find now.
Aug 28, 2007, 1:27 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: PHL
Posts: 877
Glad you like it!
Aug 29, 2007, 9:49 am
#14
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: HEL
Programs: *G, used to be with TK but left due to their corruption and political ties
Posts: 4,406
Great tool! Thanks! I really missed this since faremetrics went down. Would it be possible to add sorting by nbr. of segments instead of miles?