I think all this EF bashing is a little unfair. I have been a subscriber for more years than I can count and still renew. To me the highest value is not finding award availability. Yes that is useful, but the true value is access to detailed information like all the fare buckets and how many seats are available for sale. And the seat maps, and the alerts.

It really comes into its own during IRROPS, just this morning LH canceled a dozen plus flights from MUC including one I was on to LHR. While the agent in the lounge searched for alternatives, I was doing the same with the EF mobile web page... and seeing lots of zeros :-( but I could check routes to LHR/LGW/LCY and help the agent. Same thing during one of BA's epic meltdowns last winter where I was on one of 3 (yes count them three) flights from JFK to London that got canceled... I was able to suggest alternate routing (through KEF) which got me to my final destination earlier than my original through LHR (or the alternate the booked us on through LGW until that flight canceled as well!).

And the class of service data... monitoring that gives you an indication of how full the flight is going to be. If there are multiple flights a day to somewhere and some are J0 / J1 but others are J7/J9 then you know that your chances of an upgrade clearing are going to be a whole lot better on the J7/J9. The same applies to days of the week... some days are lighter than others, but which? Depends on route... and the class of service data can inform for that too.

And the seat maps... I love that I can monitor that -- in some cases right up to flight time (depending on airline and/or class). A little secret... when airlines start to process the upgrade list, that often frees up prime economy class seats that I can grab.

Yes the user interface is getting a little old, but the current design is actually a strength. Remember, the word Expert is in the name... and the attempted redesign a couple of years ago dumbed it down way too much.

EF is what it is. I think it is terrific... there is no other site out there that provides anything like it. And I do hope that it does not shut down as that would be a significant loss.

DAK.