Jul 17, 2014, 1:23 pm
Last edit by: hillrider
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ExpertFlyer.com - Master Information and Updates Thread
Jun 9, 2012, 1:58 pm
#676
Join Date: May 2007
Location: ORD, DEL
Programs: AA (Plt Pro; 1.5 MM)
Posts: 6,185
However, I tend to look for things as I need them. Besides I asked the question in the spirit understood by cmn.jcs .I believe aktchi understood that EF doesn't have access to that information, especially due to his/her last sentence ("Are these not available, too expensive, or some other reason?"). I think this question is similar to asking why your local grocery doesn't carry a popular brand of soda. The store probably would if they could, but it would be interesting to know why they don't. Same thing here--like you said, EF would probably like to show that information, but they don't, and aktchi is curious why.
Now my surprise deepens because at places like Award Nexus these inventories are available. Given what I pay for AN, I doubt if they are spending big money on one single carrier. OTOH, you also imply that it is not a matter of money, but the carriers are refusing to let you pull the info? Are you black-listed due to some dispute? Or, is AN somehow hacking into the carrier's website without permission?
If you [wish] for a certain airlines awards to be added to ExpertFlyer, you should contact the frequent flyer department of that airline and share your opinion with them about how helpful that would be.
Jun 9, 2012, 5:26 pm
#677
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SGF
Programs: AS, AA, UA, AGR S (former 75K, GLD, 1K, and S+, now an elite peon)
Posts: 23,194
Now my surprise deepens because at places like Award Nexus these inventories are available. Given what I pay for AN, I doubt if they are spending big money on one single carrier. OTOH, you also imply that it is not a matter of money, but the carriers are refusing to let you pull the info? Are you black-listed due to some dispute? Or, is AN somehow hacking into the carrier's website without permission?
Many of EF's competitors obtain the information from publicly-available free sources but are technically violating the TOS of most of those sources, since those sources invariably prohibit any form of screen-scraping or other types of data harvesting. Whether that is objectionable is left up to you to decide, but note that EF's competitors tend to have to play a cat-and-mouse game with the data sources when those data sources change their interfaces or try to block the products from accessing their data.
Jun 9, 2012, 9:26 pm
#678
Left Expert Flyer 4/23
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,741
I'm pretty sure that EF isn't going to publicly comment on their vendor relationships (I wouldn't if I were them). I'll point out, though, that EF obtains all of their information legitimately via paid subscriptions to various and sundry GDSes (the same systems used by most travel agencies). Thus, their information is very accurate and stable but can be limited if the airline doesn't publish a specific class on the reservation systems. In most cases, I don't think it's because the airlines are actively masking any information from EF itself but rather that they simply don't publish the data on the GDSes at all.
Many of EF's competitors obtain the information from publicly-available free sources but are technically violating the TOS of most of those sources, since those sources invariably prohibit any form of screen-scraping or other types of data harvesting. Whether that is objectionable is left up to you to decide, but note that EF's competitors tend to have to play a cat-and-mouse game with the data sources when those data sources change their interfaces or try to block the products from accessing their data.
Many of EF's competitors obtain the information from publicly-available free sources but are technically violating the TOS of most of those sources, since those sources invariably prohibit any form of screen-scraping or other types of data harvesting. Whether that is objectionable is left up to you to decide, but note that EF's competitors tend to have to play a cat-and-mouse game with the data sources when those data sources change their interfaces or try to block the products from accessing their data.
It also allows us to offer unique services such as Flight and Seat Alerts on top of that data in addition to mobile website access to all of the same data that is found on our full website.
Jun 12, 2012, 3:19 pm
#679
Left Expert Flyer 4/23
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,741
We need your Vote!
ExpertFlyer needs your help! We have been named a finalist for the GBTA Business Traveler Innovation awards and we would appreciate it if you could help by voting for us. The People's Choice winner (the product that gets the most votes overall) will be recognized in front of the entire GBTA conference and it would be a great opportunity for us and our team.
To vote (open until June 30th), click here.
Please vote for Seat Alerts under category "Innovation Award #2: Traveler Comfort". Thank you for your support!
To vote (open until June 30th), click here.
Please vote for Seat Alerts under category "Innovation Award #2: Traveler Comfort". Thank you for your support!
Jun 18, 2012, 5:54 pm
#680
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: AA EXP; HH Diamond
Posts: 191
Flight info disappeared from experflyer.com
It was F0 A0 ... Y1 B1... before it disappeared. Oversold?
Jun 18, 2012, 6:12 pm
#681
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,097
Oversold = can't tell for sure, there's no way of getting info on oversales anywhere other than within each individual airline.
Potentially it's all zeros.
What's the flight/citypair/date?
Potentially it's all zeros.
What's the flight/citypair/date?
Jun 18, 2012, 6:18 pm
#682
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS MVPG 75K
Posts: 2,574
I see flights zeroed out on EF all the time, though there is no way to know the reason, whether impending cancellation, IRROPS, overbooking etc.
An oversale doesn't occur until the first VDB voucher is handed out, however
An oversale doesn't occur until the first VDB voucher is handed out, however
Jun 18, 2012, 6:28 pm
#683
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Jun 18, 2012, 6:42 pm
#684
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SGF
Programs: AS, AA, UA, AGR S (former 75K, GLD, 1K, and S+, now an elite peon)
Posts: 23,194
As mentioned above, you can't tell if it's overbooked just from GDS availability. A friend and I had a recent AS flight show F0 Y1 before disappearing, but when we asked a friend with access to AS load factors, he said it was booked exactly to capacity with no overbooking. (AS per their official policy will tell you if the flight is overbooked if you call them, but it was easier to email the friend. ) The amount of overbooking authorized varies by route, time, and and (of course) airline.
) The amount of overbooking authorized varies by route, time, and and (of course) airline.
Jun 18, 2012, 11:29 pm
#685
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: AA EXP; HH Diamond
Posts: 191
Thanks guys! I am already checked-in to this particular flight(tomorrow). Upgrade has not been confirmed. Asked to be put on the airport upgrade list.
Jun 21, 2012, 10:01 pm
#686
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: DL DM & 1MM
Posts: 618
It seems that I consistently have issues with transcon redeyes leaving from the west coast once it is after midnight EDT. Normally, I cannot get flight availability information for a particular route anymore because the date/time are in the past from the east coast perspective. Is this a known issue?
Jun 21, 2012, 10:17 pm
#687
Left Expert Flyer 4/23
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,741
It seems that I consistently have issues with transcon redeyes leaving from the west coast once it is after midnight EDT. Normally, I cannot get flight availability information for a particular route anymore because the date/time are in the past from the east coast perspective. Is this a known issue?
For example, it is now after midnight EDT (6/22) and you can still easily pull up information about flights that haven't yet departed tonight on the west coast for 6/21:
Results from ExpertFlyer.com
Code:
Flight Availability Search
Departing LAX on 06/21/12 12:00 AM for JFK
Frequency
Flight Stops Depart Arrive Aircraft Reliability Available Classes
0 Connections
DL 1162 0 LAX JFK 752 Daily J1 C1 D0 I0 S0 Y0 B0 M0 H0 Q0 K0 L0 U0 T0 E0
06/21/12 9:30 PM 06/22/12 5:45 AM 65% / 17m
0 Connections
AS 5533 0 LAX JFK 752 Daily F0 U7 Y0 S0 B0 M0 H0 Q0 L0 V0 K0 G0 T0
06/21/12 9:30 PM 06/22/12 5:45 AM 65% / 17m
0 Connections
AA 10 0 LAX JFK 762 Daily F0 A0 J1 D1 I0 Y0 B0 H0 K0 M0 L0 W0 V0 G0 S0 N0 Q0 O0
06/21/12 9:35 PM 06/22/12 5:55 AM 87% / 11m
0 Connections
AS 1749 0 LAX JFK 767 Daily F0 Y0 S0 B0 M0 H0 Q0 L0 V0 K0 G0 T0
06/21/12 9:35 PM 06/22/12 5:55 AM 87% / 11m
0 Connections
UA 912 0 LAX JFK 757 Daily F0 A0 J2 C2 D2 Z2 P2 Y0 B0 M0 E0 U0 H0 Q0 V0 W0 S0 T0 L0 K0 G0 N0
06/21/12 10:32 PM 06/22/12 6:50 AM 84% / 20m
0 Connections
CA (UA) 7266 0 LAX JFK 757 Daily F0 A0 C0 D0 Y0 B0 M0 H0 K0 L0 Q0 G0 V0 U0
06/21/12 10:32 PM 06/22/12 6:50 AM 83% / 22m
0 Connections
DL 2106 0 LAX JFK 752 Daily J1 C1 D0 I0 S0 Y2 B0 M0 H0 Q0 K0 L0 U0 T0 E0
06/21/12 11:30 PM 06/22/12 7:45 AM NA / NA
0 Connections
AS 5154 0 LAX JFK 752 Daily F7 U7 Y0 S0 B0 M0 H0 Q0 L0 V0 K0 G0 T0
06/21/12 11:30 PM 06/22/12 7:45 AM 62% / 36m
1 Connection
UA 412 0 LAX SFO 319 M,T,W,Th,F F1 A1 Z0 P0 Y0 B0 M0 E0 U0 H0 Q0 V0 W0 S0 T0 L0 K0 G0 N0
06/21/12 9:31 PM 06/21/12 10:54 PM NA / NA
UA 368 0 SFO JFK 757 Su,M,T,W,Th,F F1 A1 J0 C0 D0 Z0 P0 Y0 B0 M0 E0 U0 H0 Q0 V0 W0 S0 T0 L0 K0 G0 N0
06/21/12 11:30 PM 06/22/12 7:59 AM 85% / 17m
1 Connection
US (UA) 6658 0 LAX IAD 752 Daily F0 A0 Y4 B4 M4 H4 Q4 N4 V4 W4 L4 S4 T4 G4 K4 U4 E4 R4
06/21/12 10:04 PM 06/22/12 6:00 AM 74% / 31m
DL 4120 0 IAD JFK CRJ Daily Y2 B2 M2 H1 Q1 K1 L0 U0 T0 E0
06/22/12 6:50 AM 06/22/12 8:07 AM 85% / 46m
Jun 21, 2012, 11:09 pm
#688
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: DL DM & 1MM
Posts: 618
Departure date/times are based on where the departing airport is, not where our servers are. If the information is no longer available it is because the airline is no longer making it available.
For example, it is now after midnight EDT (6/22) and you can still easily pull up information about flights that haven't yet departed tonight on the west coast for 6/21:
Results from ExpertFlyer.com
If you would like to take a further look at your specific search, please send us an email with your specific search information.
For example, it is now after midnight EDT (6/22) and you can still easily pull up information about flights that haven't yet departed tonight on the west coast for 6/21:
Results from ExpertFlyer.com
Code:
Flight Availability Search
Departing LAX on 06/21/12 12:00 AM for JFK
Frequency
Flight Stops Depart Arrive Aircraft Reliability Available Classes
0 Connections
DL 1162 0 LAX JFK 752 Daily J1 C1 D0 I0 S0 Y0 B0 M0 H0 Q0 K0 L0 U0 T0 E0
06/21/12 9:30 PM 06/22/12 5:45 AM 65% / 17m
0 Connections
AS 5533 0 LAX JFK 752 Daily F0 U7 Y0 S0 B0 M0 H0 Q0 L0 V0 K0 G0 T0
06/21/12 9:30 PM 06/22/12 5:45 AM 65% / 17m
0 Connections
AA 10 0 LAX JFK 762 Daily F0 A0 J1 D1 I0 Y0 B0 H0 K0 M0 L0 W0 V0 G0 S0 N0 Q0 O0
06/21/12 9:35 PM 06/22/12 5:55 AM 87% / 11m
0 Connections
AS 1749 0 LAX JFK 767 Daily F0 Y0 S0 B0 M0 H0 Q0 L0 V0 K0 G0 T0
06/21/12 9:35 PM 06/22/12 5:55 AM 87% / 11m
0 Connections
UA 912 0 LAX JFK 757 Daily F0 A0 J2 C2 D2 Z2 P2 Y0 B0 M0 E0 U0 H0 Q0 V0 W0 S0 T0 L0 K0 G0 N0
06/21/12 10:32 PM 06/22/12 6:50 AM 84% / 20m
0 Connections
CA (UA) 7266 0 LAX JFK 757 Daily F0 A0 C0 D0 Y0 B0 M0 H0 K0 L0 Q0 G0 V0 U0
06/21/12 10:32 PM 06/22/12 6:50 AM 83% / 22m
0 Connections
DL 2106 0 LAX JFK 752 Daily J1 C1 D0 I0 S0 Y2 B0 M0 H0 Q0 K0 L0 U0 T0 E0
06/21/12 11:30 PM 06/22/12 7:45 AM NA / NA
0 Connections
AS 5154 0 LAX JFK 752 Daily F7 U7 Y0 S0 B0 M0 H0 Q0 L0 V0 K0 G0 T0
06/21/12 11:30 PM 06/22/12 7:45 AM 62% / 36m
1 Connection
UA 412 0 LAX SFO 319 M,T,W,Th,F F1 A1 Z0 P0 Y0 B0 M0 E0 U0 H0 Q0 V0 W0 S0 T0 L0 K0 G0 N0
06/21/12 9:31 PM 06/21/12 10:54 PM NA / NA
UA 368 0 SFO JFK 757 Su,M,T,W,Th,F F1 A1 J0 C0 D0 Z0 P0 Y0 B0 M0 E0 U0 H0 Q0 V0 W0 S0 T0 L0 K0 G0 N0
06/21/12 11:30 PM 06/22/12 7:59 AM 85% / 17m
1 Connection
US (UA) 6658 0 LAX IAD 752 Daily F0 A0 Y4 B4 M4 H4 Q4 N4 V4 W4 L4 S4 T4 G4 K4 U4 E4 R4
06/21/12 10:04 PM 06/22/12 6:00 AM 74% / 31m
DL 4120 0 IAD JFK CRJ Daily Y2 B2 M2 H1 Q1 K1 L0 U0 T0 E0
06/22/12 6:50 AM 06/22/12 8:07 AM 85% / 46m
Before 1AM: Shows all non-departed flights left that day (6/21). Everything seems fine.
After 1AM: Shows all flights for that day (6/21), including flights that have already departed (which, doesn't make any sense). Also, if I change the search time until 8PM, to only show the actual remaining flights of the day, it gives me a different list than the before 1AM search. In this example, the plane changed from showing as a 763 to a 757 and the departure time was skewed (DL 1406 LAX -> DTW), when the 763 is the correct plane. Also, the seat map is no longer available.
Anyway, this isn't uncommon behavior, and whacky things seems to happen at every 1AM EDT when the red-eye flights still haven't left yet! Thanks
Jun 21, 2012, 11:56 pm
#689
Left Expert Flyer 4/23
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,741
Okay, I just checked and apparently it happens at 1AM EDT. When searching for 6/21/2012 flights leaving at 12:00AM (default), just before and after 1AM EDT, the problem occurs.
Before 1AM: Shows all non-departed flights left that day (6/21). Everything seems fine.
After 1AM: Shows all flights for that day (6/21), including flights that have already departed (which, doesn't make any sense). Also, if I change the search time until 8PM, to only show the actual remaining flights of the day, it gives me a different list than the before 1AM search. In this example, the plane changed from showing as a 763 to a 757 and the departure time was skewed (DL 1406 LAX -> DTW), when the 763 is the correct plane. Also, the seat map is no longer available.
Anyway, this isn't uncommon behavior, and whacky things seems to happen at every 1AM EDT when the red-eye flights still haven't left yet! Thanks
Before 1AM: Shows all non-departed flights left that day (6/21). Everything seems fine.
After 1AM: Shows all flights for that day (6/21), including flights that have already departed (which, doesn't make any sense). Also, if I change the search time until 8PM, to only show the actual remaining flights of the day, it gives me a different list than the before 1AM search. In this example, the plane changed from showing as a 763 to a 757 and the departure time was skewed (DL 1406 LAX -> DTW), when the 763 is the correct plane. Also, the seat map is no longer available.
Anyway, this isn't uncommon behavior, and whacky things seems to happen at every 1AM EDT when the red-eye flights still haven't left yet! Thanks
The error message for the seat map search comes directly from Delta. Since 1am EST represents 1 hour before departure, it could be under airport control at that time. Or, DLs host system just can't handle the time date difference at that point, either way it is nothing we have control over.
Jun 24, 2012, 2:17 am
#690
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
"Flight Cancelled"
I've not seen this before, but just now a flight search showed "Flight Cancelled" where the booking class availability usually goes. Did I just get lucky and catch a query just when AA updated its schedule, or do flights stay in the system for some period of time after being cancelled, or something else?
More oddly, the screen display shows "Flight Cancelled" but the "Share -> BBCode" shows it as x7 in all buckets (even P, which the other flights don't show).
Results from ExpertFlyer.com
More oddly, the screen display shows "Flight Cancelled" but the "Share -> BBCode" shows it as x7 in all buckets (even P, which the other flights don't show).
Results from ExpertFlyer.com
Code:
Flight Availability Search
Departing SAN on 04/04/13 11:00 AM for CUR
Returning on 04/08/13 12:00 PM
Flying AA
At least 1 connection
Frequency
Flight Stops Depart Arrive Aircraft Reliability Available Classes
2 Connections
AA 3028 0 SAN LAX ERD Daily S7 Y7 W7 B7 H7 M7 N7 K7 L7 Q7 V7 G7 O7
04/04/13 4:40 PM 04/04/13 5:25 PM 87% / 19m
AA 1178 0 LAX MIA 738 Daily P7 F7 A7 S7 Y7 W7 B7 H7 M7 N7 K7 L7 Q7 V7 G7 O7
04/04/13 9:30 PM 04/05/13 5:25 AM NA / NA
AA 1879 0 MIA CUR 738 Daily J7 D7 I7 Y7 B7 H7 K7 M7 L7 V7 G7 N7 S7 Q7 O7
04/05/13 11:20 AM 04/05/13 2:10 PM 85% / 19m
2 Connections
AA 3102 0 SAN LAX ERD Daily Y7 B7 H7 K7 M7 L7 V7 G5 N4 S3 Q0 O0
04/04/13 7:20 PM 04/04/13 8:05 PM 92% / 20m
AA 1804 0 LAX MIA 738 Daily F7 A7 Y7 B7 H7 K7 M7 L7 V7 G5 N4 S3 Q0 O0
04/04/13 11:30 PM 04/05/13 7:20 AM 85% / 11m
AA 1879 0 MIA CUR 738 Daily J7 D7 I7 Y7 B7 H7 K7 M7 L7 V7 G5 N4 S3 Q0 O0
04/05/13 11:20 AM 04/05/13 2:10 PM 85% / 19m
2 Connections
AA 3064 0 SAN LAX ERD Daily Y7 B7 H7 K7 M7 L7 V7 G7 N6 S5 Q0 O0
04/04/13 8:20 PM 04/04/13 9:10 PM 90% / 17m
AA 258 0 LAX MIA 738 Daily F7 A7 Y7 B7 H7 K7 M7 L7 V7 G7 N6 S5 Q0 O0
04/04/13 10:35 PM 04/05/13 6:25 AM NA / NA
AA 1879 0 MIA CUR 738 Daily J7 D7 I7 Y7 B7 H7 K7 M7 L7 V7 G7 N6 S5 Q0 O0
04/05/13 11:20 AM 04/05/13 2:10 PM 85% / 19m
2 Connections
AA 3714 0 SAN LAX CR7 Daily P7 F7 A7 S7 Y7 W7 B7 H7 M7 N7 K7 L7 Q7 V7 G7 O7
04/04/13 6:00 PM 04/04/13 6:45 PM 100% / 0m
AA 1178 0 LAX MIA 738 Daily P7 F7 A7 S7 Y7 W7 B7 H7 M7 N7 K7 L7 Q7 V7 G7 O7
04/04/13 9:30 PM 04/05/13 5:25 AM NA / NA
AA 1879 0 MIA CUR 738 Daily J7 D7 I7 Y7 B7 H7 K7 M7 L7 V7 G7 N7 S7 Q7 O7
04/05/13 11:20 AM 04/05/13 2:10 PM 85% / 19m
2 Connections
AA (AS) 6843 0 SAN SEA 737 Daily F7 A7 Y7 B7 H7 K7 M7 L7 V0 G0 N0 S0 Q0 O0
04/04/13 5:05 PM 04/04/13 7:54 PM 98% / 9m
AA 1088 0 SEA MIA 757 Daily F7 A7 Y7 B7 H7 K7 M7 L7 V7 G7 N7 S7 Q0 O0
04/04/13 9:25 PM 04/05/13 6:10 AM NA / NA
AA 1879 0 MIA CUR 738 Daily J7 D7 I7 Y7 B7 H7 K7 M7 L7 V7 G7 N7 S7 Q0 O0
04/05/13 11:20 AM 04/05/13 2:10 PM 85% / 19m
2 Connections
AA 3096 0 SAN LAX ERD Daily Y7 B7 H7 K7 M7 L7 V7 G4 N3 S2 Q0 O0
04/04/13 9:20 PM 04/04/13 10:05 PM 98% / 14m
AA 1804 0 LAX MIA 738 Daily F7 A7 Y7 B7 H7 K7 M7 L7 V7 G4 N3 S2 Q0 O0
04/04/13 11:30 PM 04/05/13 7:20 AM 85% / 11m
AA 1879 0 MIA CUR 738 Daily J7 D7 I7 Y7 B7 H7 K7 M7 L7 V7 G4 N3 S2 Q0 O0
04/05/13 11:20 AM 04/05/13 2:10 PM 85% / 19m
2 Connections
AA (AS) 6847 0 SAN SEA 737 Daily F7 A7 Y7 B7 H7 K7 M7 L7 V7 G7 N7 S7 Q0 O0
04/04/13 2:45 PM 04/04/13 5:38 PM 95% / 22m
AA 1088 0 SEA MIA 757 Daily F7 A7 Y7 B7 H7 K7 M7 L7 V7 G7 N7 S7 Q0 O0
04/04/13 9:25 PM 04/05/13 6:10 AM NA / NA
AA 1879 0 MIA CUR 738 Daily J7 D7 I7 Y7 B7 H7 K7 M7 L7 V7 G7 N7 S7 Q0 O0
04/05/13 11:20 AM 04/05/13 2:10 PM 85% / 19m
2 Connections
AA 3714 0 SAN LAX CR7 Daily F7 A7 Y7 B7 H7 K7 M7 L7 V7 G7 N7 S7 Q0 O0
04/04/13 6:00 PM 04/04/13 6:45 PM 100% / 0m
AA 258 0 LAX MIA 738 Daily F7 A7 Y7 B7 H7 K7 M7 L7 V7 G7 N7 S7 Q0 O0
04/04/13 10:35 PM 04/05/13 6:25 AM NA / NA
AA 1879 0 MIA CUR 738 Daily J7 D7 I7 Y7 B7 H7 K7 M7 L7 V7 G7 N7 S7 Q0 O0
04/05/13 11:20 AM 04/05/13 2:10 PM 85% / 19m