Oct 30, 2013, 3:36 pm
Last edit by: Ocn Vw 1K
UA Insider's reply in posts 247 and 254 of this thread:
Hi everyone,
We recognize the importance and value to you of accessible and transparent information about United flights. It’s a meaningful part of your travel planning, and we are committed to providing useful information that is both accurate and preserves the integrity of United’s data and systems.
While we are committed to data transparency, Expert Flyer has been accessing united.com in an unauthorized fashion to retrieve UA availability. In addition, these activities have consumed significant united.com bandwidth that could otherwise be used by regular consumers. As a result, we had to take this action to protect the security and integrity of United’s systems.
Thank you for your understanding as to why we had to take this action. We continue to look at ways in which we can provide you with timely and useful information (some of which you will see in new releases of our own digital channels) as well as with partners that have authorized access to our data.
Aaron Goldberg
Sr. Manager - Customer Experience Planning
United Airlines
We recognize the importance and value to you of accessible and transparent information about United flights. It’s a meaningful part of your travel planning, and we are committed to providing useful information that is both accurate and preserves the integrity of United’s data and systems.
While we are committed to data transparency, Expert Flyer has been accessing united.com in an unauthorized fashion to retrieve UA availability. In addition, these activities have consumed significant united.com bandwidth that could otherwise be used by regular consumers. As a result, we had to take this action to protect the security and integrity of United’s systems.
Thank you for your understanding as to why we had to take this action. We continue to look at ways in which we can provide you with timely and useful information (some of which you will see in new releases of our own digital channels) as well as with partners that have authorized access to our data.
Aaron Goldberg
Sr. Manager - Customer Experience Planning
United Airlines
UA Blocking Expert Flyer and KVS Access to R and Elite Award Searches.
Oct 30, 2013, 6:23 am
#16
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Anywhere but home
Programs: UA 1K/MM, DL GM/MM, HH Dia, PC Plat, MR Gold, ALL Sil,
Posts: 4,552
Once again, UA is following DL:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...ilability.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...ilability.html
Oct 30, 2013, 6:24 am
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Northeast Kansas | Colorado Native
Programs: Amex Gold/Plat, UA *G, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Gold, NEXUS, TSA Disparager Unobtanium
Posts: 21,606
Just got the email, and like most of you, jumped onto FT!
Very disappointed with this latest change.. Another nail in the coffin for UA customers!
Very disappointed with this latest change.. Another nail in the coffin for UA customers!
Oct 30, 2013, 6:25 am
#18
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: AA EXP MM/UA MM/Marriott PLT Premier-LT PLT
Posts: 383
I wonder if AA will follow suit. Wait I guess that's not really important because I've never had the equivalent of an R space upgrade not clear on AA. Remaining 1ks get out while you can.
Oct 30, 2013, 6:26 am
#19
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: PANC
Programs: Mileage Plan
Posts: 444
UA Blocking Access to R Inventory Searches as of 10/31/2013? (per ExpertFlyer.com)
+1 to all of this. :-(
Oct 30, 2013, 6:28 am
#20
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Los Angeles Area/South of France
Programs: UA Gold Million Miler , Hertz #1 Gold Five Star, Sixt Platinum and various hotel programs
Posts: 85
Incredibly disappointing. Seems self-defeating for United--why hide this information from (presumably) loyal MileagePlus members who are simply trying to use their (sometimes) hard-earned miles efficiently?
I do recall United taking its data off ExpertFlyer a couple of years (?) ago and then they apparently reconsidered and the data reappeared on ExpertFlyer. Perhaps they will again see the light.
I do recall United taking its data off ExpertFlyer a couple of years (?) ago and then they apparently reconsidered and the data reappeared on ExpertFlyer. Perhaps they will again see the light.
Oct 30, 2013, 6:29 am
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA 1K, MM *G for life, BAEC Gold
Posts: 10,225
At its heart, this is essentially a further devaluation of GPUs. There's very limited availability of R space at the best of times. So, to make GPUs useable, we had to pay our $50 to ExpertFlyer in order to have a reasonable shot at finding that elusive availability. By removing that tool, there will be few people who have the time or the patience to manually trawl through UA's website looking for space several times per day.
To me, this is one of the biggest downgrades to 1K status that UA has made.
To me, this is one of the biggest downgrades to 1K status that UA has made.
Oct 30, 2013, 6:29 am
#22
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: PBI / FLL / YUL
Programs: UA 1K, Delta Plat, AA Plat, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Courtesy Card
Posts: 1,983
Exactly. One of the primary reasons I use ExpertFlyer. I can think of 4 times this year when I would've been in Y had I not been able to "fix the glitch" using EF.
Oct 30, 2013, 6:31 am
#23
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 7,390
This sucks, but I use expert mode on UA.com to obtain such information. Often I would manually find the space before I even receive an EF alert.
Less transparency sucks though
Less transparency sucks though
Oct 30, 2013, 6:31 am
#24
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: UA 1K 25 years/2MM, Honors LT Diamond, AVIS & Hertz Prez Club
Posts: 4,753
I hope everyone sends a comment to UA about this - and how it is far from "flyer____friendly".
Oct 30, 2013, 6:32 am
#25
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Moreland Hills (CLE)
Programs: Over-entitled UA 1.3MM Gold, AA Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott L-T Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 5,521
Another downgrade in service/ease of use/benefits.
The UNFRIENDLY SKIES of United.
The UNFRIENDLY SKIES of United.
Oct 30, 2013, 6:32 am
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,644
Terrible. Absolutely terrible.
As if I needed any more reasons to be done with UA. They just keep giving them to me.
As if I needed any more reasons to be done with UA. They just keep giving them to me.
Oct 30, 2013, 6:34 am
#27
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Either at the shooting range or anywhere good beer can be found...
Posts: 51,054
Oct 30, 2013, 6:34 am
#28
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1K (MM), DL, AA, AS, HHonors, SPG, Kimpton, Hyatt, IC PC, Marriott Titanium (LT PLT), Hertz PC
Posts: 7,231
It's easier (and cheaper) to hide the problems than it is to fix them. That's all this comes down to.
Oct 30, 2013, 6:35 am
#29
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: NoCal
Programs: UA 1K 2.7MM
Posts: 232
+1 to all the above
Does anyone know if this will effect KVSTool, which worked around previous bans by United. (Note to United: if you keep making it hard for me to spend money with you, I won't.)
Does anyone know if this will effect KVSTool, which worked around previous bans by United. (Note to United: if you keep making it hard for me to spend money with you, I won't.)
Oct 30, 2013, 6:35 am
#30
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Programs: UA-1Kmm, AA-EX Plt mm-, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 1,093
Another "friendly" change