Star Alliance/Oneworld Award Planning with Award Nexus
#16
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: ORD
Programs: Star Alliance
Posts: 1,211
I just spent over a week, almost two, using ANX, and have been VERY impressed.
I was able to watch and follow some return flights from Europe on LH and OU well past the 331 days. THIS WAS AN INVALUABLE help in waiting for the 331 return flights to be available at United.
For the first time, I felt comfortable waiting to book all at one time, rather than choose both TATL flights at 332, and calling each and everyday to change the return. (That can backfire, when some agent cancels the wrong flight/trip )
I will confirm that LX has a different (better) availability at EF than ANX or KVS.
I will also confirm that different legs can retrieve different TATL availability for the "married segments", even if nearby airports are used.
Of course, that's what makes this so much fun............
Anyway, I got my EXACT flights, on the EXACT days that I wanted, in "C" Class from ORD-FRA-VCE, returning from DBV-FRA-ORD, for 2.
I also used EF, KVS, and ANX, since IMO, to snag two C seats on my choice of days is worth the tiny fee for their help.
I was able to watch and follow some return flights from Europe on LH and OU well past the 331 days. THIS WAS AN INVALUABLE help in waiting for the 331 return flights to be available at United.
For the first time, I felt comfortable waiting to book all at one time, rather than choose both TATL flights at 332, and calling each and everyday to change the return. (That can backfire, when some agent cancels the wrong flight/trip )
I will confirm that LX has a different (better) availability at EF than ANX or KVS.
I will also confirm that different legs can retrieve different TATL availability for the "married segments", even if nearby airports are used.
Of course, that's what makes this so much fun............
Anyway, I got my EXACT flights, on the EXACT days that I wanted, in "C" Class from ORD-FRA-VCE, returning from DBV-FRA-ORD, for 2.
I also used EF, KVS, and ANX, since IMO, to snag two C seats on my choice of days is worth the tiny fee for their help.
#17
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: QFF, Velocity, Asiana
Posts: 296
I really like this, it's simple and effective, however I'm curious, if the tool is 'scraping' the relevant websites, do you think you might start to run into problems with the site operators?
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,731
ChgoBob, thanks for your help during the pre-release. ANX has improved because of your suggestions.
Sea-Wolf, glad to hear that you like it. ANX operates on similar ground as Yodlee, acting as agent of the user, when accessing the services of the various web sites.
Sea-Wolf, glad to hear that you like it. ANX operates on similar ground as Yodlee, acting as agent of the user, when accessing the services of the various web sites.
#19
Join Date: May 1998
Location: australia
Posts: 5,762
Thanks for the tool.
I've found one anomaly searching for a seat GIG-BCN on Oct 10.
The QFF website returns:
Rio De Janeiro Madrid IB6024
Madrid Barcelona IB6766
available in Business Class
But Award Nexus searching with the QFF button doesn't bring up any availability
I've found one anomaly searching for a seat GIG-BCN on Oct 10.
The QFF website returns:
Rio De Janeiro Madrid IB6024
Madrid Barcelona IB6766
available in Business Class
But Award Nexus searching with the QFF button doesn't bring up any availability
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,731
Thanks for the tool.
I've found one anomaly searching for a seat GIG-BCN on Oct 10.
The QFF website returns:
Rio De Janeiro Madrid IB6024
Madrid Barcelona IB6766
available in Business Class
But Award Nexus searching with the QFF button doesn't bring up any availability
I've found one anomaly searching for a seat GIG-BCN on Oct 10.
The QFF website returns:
Rio De Janeiro Madrid IB6024
Madrid Barcelona IB6766
available in Business Class
But Award Nexus searching with the QFF button doesn't bring up any availability
GIG does not seem to be a supported origin or destination on the QF web site drop down list. I tried submitting the GIG code directly to QF, bypassing the web site interface, but the site merely refreshes to the same page.
If you can tell me, step-by-step, how you do the search, I can find a way to make it work.
#21
Join Date: May 1998
Location: australia
Posts: 5,762
Thanks for the report. This is rather interesting. How are you doing a search on QF for GIG-BCN?
GIG does not seem to be a supported origin or destination on the QF web site drop down list. I tried submitting the GIG code directly to QF, bypassing the web site interface, but the site merely refreshes to the same page.
If you can tell me, step-by-step, how you do the search, I can find a way to make it work.
GIG does not seem to be a supported origin or destination on the QF web site drop down list. I tried submitting the GIG code directly to QF, bypassing the web site interface, but the site merely refreshes to the same page.
If you can tell me, step-by-step, how you do the search, I can find a way to make it work.
The QFF website doesn't allow searches with the first segment starting in South America (for some unfathomable reason). So I need to do a mulitisegment search putting a dummy segment in for the 1st flight eg
Segment 1 BNE-SYD
segment 2 GIG-BCN
Thanks for looking at this
#22
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Here today gone tomorrow
Programs: *G, ow Saph
Posts: 2,865
Thanks--this is a great, fast, low-graphics engine.
I'm seeing a bug on IE7/PC though. The font gets bigger and bigger as I go down the page. If I use route builder it literally gets so that the submit button is bigger than my screen, so it seems to be some iteration in the layout (I'm not an expert on HTML/javascript/whatever is used).
Another bug: if I do get a lot of results, how can I actually see them all? For instance, a route like XXX-ORD-AMS may pull up a bunch of connections XXX-ORD even though it's only going to connect to the same ORD-AMS flight--but I can't expand the calendar to see what the latest connection available is since it sorts from the 6 AM flight and shows me that 6, 7, 8, 9 etc are all available.
I'm seeing a bug on IE7/PC though. The font gets bigger and bigger as I go down the page. If I use route builder it literally gets so that the submit button is bigger than my screen, so it seems to be some iteration in the layout (I'm not an expert on HTML/javascript/whatever is used).
Another bug: if I do get a lot of results, how can I actually see them all? For instance, a route like XXX-ORD-AMS may pull up a bunch of connections XXX-ORD even though it's only going to connect to the same ORD-AMS flight--but I can't expand the calendar to see what the latest connection available is since it sorts from the 6 AM flight and shows me that 6, 7, 8, 9 etc are all available.
Last edited by MKE-MR; Jul 16, 2010 at 9:33 am
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,731
Thanks--this is a great, fast, low-graphics engine.
I'm seeing a bug on IE7/PC though. The font gets bigger and bigger as I go down the page. If I use route builder it literally gets so that the submit button is bigger than my screen, so it seems to be some iteration in the layout (I'm not an expert on HTML/javascript/whatever is used).
Another bug: if I do get a lot of results, how can I actually see them all? For instance, a route like XXX-ORD-AMS may pull up a bunch of connections XXX-ORD even though it's only going to connect to the same ORD-AMS flight--but I can't expand the calendar to see what the latest connection available is since it sorts from the 6 AM flight and shows me that 6, 7, 8, 9 etc are all available.
I'm seeing a bug on IE7/PC though. The font gets bigger and bigger as I go down the page. If I use route builder it literally gets so that the submit button is bigger than my screen, so it seems to be some iteration in the layout (I'm not an expert on HTML/javascript/whatever is used).
Another bug: if I do get a lot of results, how can I actually see them all? For instance, a route like XXX-ORD-AMS may pull up a bunch of connections XXX-ORD even though it's only going to connect to the same ORD-AMS flight--but I can't expand the calendar to see what the latest connection available is since it sorts from the 6 AM flight and shows me that 6, 7, 8, 9 etc are all available.
I see what you mean by the escalating font size in IE7. It is very weird. I will have to look into it.
As for the viewing option, are you referring to the results from a route builder search? My suggestion is that you use the checkboxes on the left to filter out the route that you want to see. So,
1) Select ORD-AMS to see what flights are available (since long hauls are usually the hardest to find).
2) Once you find the departure time for the desired ORD-AMS flights, deselect ORD-AMS and select XXX-ORD. Also, switch on flight time display under display settings, so you can see what time each flight arrives.
3) Don't forget that you can click on the calendar date for a more detailed display on the right.
Right now, the calendar view is tailored toward week-long search, but there is an upcoming table view option that should make it much easier to see all the flights in a listing.
In case I misunderstood your question, let me know if you were looking for something else.
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,731
GIG is supported but:
The QFF website doesn't allow searches with the first segment starting in South America (for some unfathomable reason). So I need to do a mulitisegment search putting a dummy segment in for the 1st flight eg
Segment 1 BNE-SYD
segment 2 GIG-BCN
Thanks for looking at this
The QFF website doesn't allow searches with the first segment starting in South America (for some unfathomable reason). So I need to do a mulitisegment search putting a dummy segment in for the 1st flight eg
Segment 1 BNE-SYD
segment 2 GIG-BCN
Thanks for looking at this
I can modify the engine to switch from the current oneway search to multicity with workaround, but this is going to take more than a few days, especially since I haven't fully worked out all the implications of using the dummy first segment (e.g. access to additional cities and advance ticketing restriction). On the bright side, it looks like your dummy segment workaround also pulls up CX flights that is otherwise not visible, so that's a very useful discovery.
I have some upcoming enhancements that I need to roll out first. As soon as get them out, I am going to work on adapting the QF engine to search for GIG and related destinations.
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,731
I'm seeing a bug on IE7/PC though. The font gets bigger and bigger as I go down the page. If I use route builder it literally gets so that the submit button is bigger than my screen, so it seems to be some iteration in the layout (I'm not an expert on HTML/javascript/whatever is used).
Thanks for taking the time to let me know.
#26
Join Date: Apr 2004
Programs: Marriott LT Titanium, AA 1MM, UA 1MM
Posts: 369
A small and larger change?
Small change: would it be possible to update the title when the search is done? I often switch to a different tab as it runs in the background, and it would be nice to know that the search has completed.
Larger change: what about supporting multiple origins/destinations in a single query? For example, suppose I'm trying to get from ORD to LHR/FRA/CDG in a certain class and time range. It would be great to be able to make this a single query. This is especially valuable during high-demand periods, or when searching for more than 1 seat.
Larger change: what about supporting multiple origins/destinations in a single query? For example, suppose I'm trying to get from ORD to LHR/FRA/CDG in a certain class and time range. It would be great to be able to make this a single query. This is especially valuable during high-demand periods, or when searching for more than 1 seat.
#27
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Here today gone tomorrow
Programs: *G, ow Saph
Posts: 2,865
1) Select ORD-AMS to see what flights are available (since long hauls are usually the hardest to find).
2) Once you find the departure time for the desired ORD-AMS flights, deselect ORD-AMS and select XXX-ORD. Also, switch on flight time display under display settings, so you can see what time each flight arrives.
3) Don't forget that you can click on the calendar date for a more detailed display on the right.
2) Once you find the departure time for the desired ORD-AMS flights, deselect ORD-AMS and select XXX-ORD. Also, switch on flight time display under display settings, so you can see what time each flight arrives.
3) Don't forget that you can click on the calendar date for a more detailed display on the right.
Yup, doing it in Firefox on a Mac, it works and solves the problem. I'll check again at work just to make sure I'm not a total idiot but it seems not to work there for whatever reason.
#28
Join Date: May 2006
Location: New York, London, Sydney
Programs: United GS/2MM, DL*P, VS*G, AA*EXP, Avis CHM, Hertz Platinum, Sixt*D, HH*D, HGP*P, Starwood*P
Posts: 9,847
Couple of things, but pretty solid start.
Should be a mixed-cabin flag.
Ran a CX search for F and it returned LAX-HKG-SYD - but I know HKG-SYD on this flight has no F. That should get flagged.
There should also be a nonstop option.
Good stuff otherwise.
Should be a mixed-cabin flag.
Ran a CX search for F and it returned LAX-HKG-SYD - but I know HKG-SYD on this flight has no F. That should get flagged.
There should also be a nonstop option.
Good stuff otherwise.
#29
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,731
The non-stop filter is not too difficult to implement, but I want to finish a few other changes first.
#30
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,731
Step 3) was the one that wasn't working. It was highlighted as clickable but nothing happened when I tried. Of course, my security settings aren't under my control at work (@#$%@#) so it might be no fault of the site.
Yup, doing it in Firefox on a Mac, it works and solves the problem. I'll check again at work just to make sure I'm not a total idiot but it seems not to work there for whatever reason.
Yup, doing it in Firefox on a Mac, it works and solves the problem. I'll check again at work just to make sure I'm not a total idiot but it seems not to work there for whatever reason.
Let me know if you encounter any other browser issue. I use Firefox primarily and sometimes I roll out changes without having the time to check with all the browsers.