ExpertFlyer vs KVS Availability Tools
Dec 13, 2008, 7:41 pm
#16
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 113
Expert Flyer banner ads
I have subscribed to expertflyer from the beginning and though I only use it a few times a year for some reason I never noticed the banner ads - for a subscription service having ads is really tacky - but what is more frustrating is that they are very distracting - searching for reward space over Xmas and there's some stupid flashing banner ad at the top of the page - it is enough for me to cancel with them (e.g. I've already removed my credit card number) I guess their business must be really doing well or perhaps it isn't - either way they've just lost a long time customer.
Is there any advertising, pop-ups or banner ads on ExpertFlyer.com?
-None. ExpertFlyer.com is a subscription-based service supported solely by our subscribers.
http://www.expertflyer.com/page.jsp?page=faq.html
http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:...r.com/page.jsp
Nice....
Dec 13, 2008, 7:53 pm
#17
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Body in Downtown YYZ, heart and mind elsewhere
Programs: UA 50K, refugee from AC E50K, Marriott Lifetime Plat
Posts: 5,132
I use both KVS and ExpertFlyer. I like them both but for different reasons.
On advantage to EF is that it's web-based so I can access it more or less anywhere. KVS needs to be installed and it requires a rather specific unlock code. So if my machine crashes or if I upgrade to newer machine, I need to email KVS and get a new code. I find this cumbersome, but KVS is really good at getting back in a timely manner and is quite accommodating of requests. KVS is also a Windows-only app so I need to fire up Parallels on my Mac first before I can use it. This is not a big deal, but it is an extra step.
Having said all that, I like some of the features of KVS and tend to use it as my primary tool.
On advantage to EF is that it's web-based so I can access it more or less anywhere. KVS needs to be installed and it requires a rather specific unlock code. So if my machine crashes or if I upgrade to newer machine, I need to email KVS and get a new code. I find this cumbersome, but KVS is really good at getting back in a timely manner and is quite accommodating of requests. KVS is also a Windows-only app so I need to fire up Parallels on my Mac first before I can use it. This is not a big deal, but it is an extra step.
Having said all that, I like some of the features of KVS and tend to use it as my primary tool.
Dec 14, 2008, 10:09 pm
#18
Left Expert Flyer 4/23
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,741
I have subscribed to expertflyer from the beginning and though I only use it a few times a year for some reason I never noticed the banner ads...
- They take up no more additional space on the display then before, there are no ads in the content sections, only in unused space (like the clouds up top).
- There are many other websites that show ads to paying customers. WSJ.com is an example.
- We are trying to offset our increasing costs without raising subscription rates.
- We have continued to bring new features to ExperFlyer for 4 years without increasing our subscription rates once.
...and there's some stupid flashing banner ad at the top of the page
As always, please send any questions or comments to [email protected]
Regards,
EFV
Dec 20, 2008, 9:37 pm
#19
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 113
Clarification on ExpertFlyer advertising
http://74.6.239.67/search/cache?ei=U...icp=1&.intl=us
The above link (yahoo cache of expert fllyer) was accessed December 20, 2008 (note: a cache is not static, however screenshots of the above may also exist) Also www.archive.org contains a robust history of many websites unless their owners have requested blockage which is not the case with the site in question.
The text of the above yahoo cache includes the following:
Latest News
October 10, 2008
ExpertFlyer announces the addition of El Al (LY) Award and Upgrade availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
General
__________________________________
Why are there links on your site to other travel related sites like SeatGuru? Are you affiliated with them?
We have no business ownership or personal affiliation with any of these sites. We provide the links on ExpertFlyer.com, which appear as a new window or tab, as a courtesy to our subscribers to help them with their travel planning.
_____________________________________
Is there any advertising, pop-ups or banner ads on ExpertFlyer.com?
None. ExpertFlyer.com is a subscription-based service supported solely by our subscribers.
____________________________________
Is there a Mobile version of Expertflyer.com?
Yes there is, and it can be accessed via a number of different addresses:
http://www.expertflyer.com/mobile
http://mobile.expertflyer.com
http://expertflyer.mobi
The same search tools that are available on the regular version of ExpertFlyer are available on the Mobile Edition. If you have any issues or questions about using it, please make sure to let us know via the Contact Us link on the bottom of every ExpertFlyer Mobile page.
etc.
The above link (yahoo cache of expert fllyer) was accessed December 20, 2008 (note: a cache is not static, however screenshots of the above may also exist) Also www.archive.org contains a robust history of many websites unless their owners have requested blockage which is not the case with the site in question.
The text of the above yahoo cache includes the following:
Latest News
October 10, 2008
ExpertFlyer announces the addition of El Al (LY) Award and Upgrade availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
General
__________________________________
Why are there links on your site to other travel related sites like SeatGuru? Are you affiliated with them?
We have no business ownership or personal affiliation with any of these sites. We provide the links on ExpertFlyer.com, which appear as a new window or tab, as a courtesy to our subscribers to help them with their travel planning.
_____________________________________
Is there any advertising, pop-ups or banner ads on ExpertFlyer.com?
None. ExpertFlyer.com is a subscription-based service supported solely by our subscribers.
____________________________________
Is there a Mobile version of Expertflyer.com?
Yes there is, and it can be accessed via a number of different addresses:
http://www.expertflyer.com/mobile
http://mobile.expertflyer.com
http://expertflyer.mobi
The same search tools that are available on the regular version of ExpertFlyer are available on the Mobile Edition. If you have any issues or questions about using it, please make sure to let us know via the Contact Us link on the bottom of every ExpertFlyer Mobile page.
etc.
Dec 21, 2008, 1:12 pm
#20
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: CPT
Programs: BA BD SA
Posts: 4,467
Oh I do like a nice partisan scrap... err, spirited debate. 
But seriously, I am just grateful that we have 2 such resources to choose from, based on totally different business models and thus competing on value add rather than just on price. Let's not forget that these are revolutionary businesses in the history of travel planning. They represent the crest of that incredible wave that is putting the decision making power into the hands of the traveller rather than the supplier or the intermediary.
Long live EF and KVS! ^
But seriously, I am just grateful that we have 2 such resources to choose from, based on totally different business models and thus competing on value add rather than just on price. Let's not forget that these are revolutionary businesses in the history of travel planning. They represent the crest of that incredible wave that is putting the decision making power into the hands of the traveller rather than the supplier or the intermediary.
Long live EF and KVS! ^
Jan 25, 2009, 7:26 pm
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Programs: Aeroplan SE AND 1MM, HHonors Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Platinum , L'Accor Platinum
Posts: 9,580
This may be a very radical idea - why not the 2 competitors combine the 2 travel tools - is the idea of KVS and EF merging all that radical compared to some of the airline mergers - such as Delta and Northwest; America West and US Air; AA and TWA etc? A single tool with the advantages of both, but without the disadvantages of either tool, would be a very strong customer based tool - and much more efficient that subscribing to both of them (I am talking about time and effort efficiency; I am not talking about cost savings).
Jan 25, 2009, 7:45 pm
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DCA
Programs: AMC MovieWatcher, Giant BonusCard, Petco PALS Card, Silver Diner Blue Plate Club
Posts: 22,297
The two tools are completely different, one provides GDS access and the other provides an interface to pull data off otherwise-available sources. They will not be combined. If you like the different features in each, consider buying each....
Jan 25, 2009, 11:50 pm
#25
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: YYT/YYZ
Programs: AC*SE, AC*MM, SPG Gold, FPC Plat, HHonors Diamond, PC Plat Elite, R&C Club 5C, Hyatt GP
Posts: 2,201
Jan 26, 2009, 4:19 am
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DCA
Programs: AMC MovieWatcher, Giant BonusCard, Petco PALS Card, Silver Diner Blue Plate Club
Posts: 22,297
)
Mar 21, 2009, 1:51 pm
#27
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: LAX/OTP
Programs: TK C+, AA/AS nothing, BA nothing
Posts: 1,189
For those of you that are bothered by the ads on EF (and not only), and are using Firefox - the ....... Plus addon is a priceless tool. It blocks most of the adds on all the websites.
I also have to agree with others that for a service costing 9.99$/mo. having ads invade your search is not a very nice business practice.
I also have to agree with others that for a service costing 9.99$/mo. having ads invade your search is not a very nice business practice.
Dec 14, 2009, 6:18 pm
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Worldwide
Posts: 12,949
Mobile device access is also coming next year -- please stay tuned for further details!
Feb 6, 2010, 6:09 pm
#30
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 226
Cathay results are not accurate. checking the HKG-AMS, its often not available on kvs, but is available via Advantage.