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.
#751
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: NYC and SFO
Programs: UA 1MM (former 1K, Delta Platinum))
Posts: 1,244
While the gist of this thread is that without tools our GPUs have become Confederate currency, what about our miles themselves? All of my recent award searches have revealed United's award search screens to be outright lies. This may have roots in incompetence as usual, but leaving it unfixed has to be deliberate. Scraping award fare classes is the only way to protect customers from this abuse.
#752
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,582
That is the hyperbola of some. The ability is still there, it is definitely less convenient (I am an EF subscriber) but GPUs are still a great benefit -- just use united.com or KVS or the other tools still available. If you want throw up your hands, just makes it easier for others.
#753
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: NYC and SFO
Programs: UA 1MM (former 1K, Delta Platinum))
Posts: 1,244
I do understand that someone who earns 1K primarily international, and waitlists GPUs for every flight, typically clears all six by year's end. I'm willing to pay more to plan GPU use in advance, which isn't an option. (I'd welcome a "dutch auction" where GPUs are always valid on some fare classes, with fare management broadening these classes as appropriate. I realize this would be controversial.)
#754
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,300
At the same time, it's pretty much always been the case that awards can be had if you're flexible in your routing, and that's true today just as it was true fifteen years ago. And yes, the absence of EF makes it more cumbersome to find that space, no one disputes that.
The question really is whether you're going to light a candle or curse the darkness?
#755
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,582
BTW, I booked 1 award + 1 upgraded at booking SFO - Europe for August last month -- many routes at the time were I2 or more, R2 or more(RN5 on FRA-SFO) while EF was still available -- but unneeded for me since all work well online. BTW all the inventory is gone now. Peak season opportunities are there, but the demand is high and disappears quickly -- that why it is called Peak Season.
#756
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: NYC and SFO
Programs: UA 1MM (former 1K, Delta Platinum))
Posts: 1,244
BTW, I booked 1 award + 1 upgraded at booking SFO - Europe for August last month -- many routes at the time were I2 or more, R2 or more(RN5 on FRA-SFO) while EF was still available -- but unneeded for me since all work well online. BTW all the inventory is gone now. Peak season opportunities are there, but the demand is high and disappears quickly -- that why it is called Peak Season.
You received your GPUs ahead of me, and found ways to use them. Well done.
#757
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,300
To refine what you're saying, I observed last year that peak season R capacity was grabbed day by day as new GPUs were issued. I qualified for 1K early this year, but without ExpertFlyer or my own tools in place couldn't find flights I wanted in the crucial window before more people reached 1K.
You received your GPUs ahead of me, and found ways to use them. Well done.
You received your GPUs ahead of me, and found ways to use them. Well done.
#759
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,300
#760
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Programs: UA Platinum MM; AA Gold; DL Silver; IHG Diamond Ambassador; Hilton Gold; Marriott Gold
Posts: 24,247
How can I check R availability online at united.com for a reservation for which I've already applied a GPU and am waitlisted? Can I check within "Manage Reservations" or do I need to perform a dummy booking using the advanced search feature and check the "Mileage Plus Upgrade Award" box? Or should I be doing something else altogether?
Man, I miss the ease, convenience, and time saving of checking and monitoring R inventory with ExpertFlyer.
Man, I miss the ease, convenience, and time saving of checking and monitoring R inventory with ExpertFlyer.
#761
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,300
How can I check R availability online at united.com for a reservation for which I've already applied a GPU and am waitlisted? Can I check within "Manage Reservations" or do I need to perform a dummy booking using the advanced search feature and check the "Mileage Plus Upgrade Award" box? Or should I be doing something else altogether?
Man, I miss the ease, convenience, and time saving of checking and monitoring R inventory with ExpertFlyer.
Man, I miss the ease, convenience, and time saving of checking and monitoring R inventory with ExpertFlyer.
Yes, for me this was the most useful feature of EF. It's such a hassle to check for R segment by segment.
#762
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,582
#763
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Texas
Programs: UA, AA, DL, BA, Marriott, Hilton, Accor, Hyatt
Posts: 1,284
It would be nice if KVS would allow search by regions. Such as *any* non-stop TATL in a given time window. Someone for KVS, please consider this, I am sure some people would pay a premium for it.
Last edited by iluv2fly; Dec 26, 2013 at 1:22 am Reason: merge
#764
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,260
Is paying for KVS the only way to search for R inventory now? (other than manually using UA an expert mode) searching one day and flight at a time?
I was trying to search SFO-SYD went from feb-june and couldn't find one R seat. It took forever until it UA stopped responding.
I was trying to search SFO-SYD went from feb-june and couldn't find one R seat. It took forever until it UA stopped responding.
#765
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 67,012
That's what really annoys me about UA blocking EF: UA stated the reason was that EF's searches were degrading the site's performance by taking up "bandwidth." Yet since blocking EF, UA's site if anything is slower than before.