Unofficial AC flight status and information tool (aka cowtool)
#16
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Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
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As far as I know the only systems that show you that data require an employee login.
#17
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,739
AC operated. There's a lot of logic in there to handle AC-specific things. I'm not trying to build an EF competitor. I'm trying to make my life easier when I fly AC.
You'd be surprised how much easier it is to diagnose issues with my little codes there
But I agree, that's on my list.
Maybe, but it would need an intermediate step to allow you to then pick a flight. I'm not saying it's impossible (or even difficult), but it would likely be a completely different tool that just links to this one.
What kind of alerts do you want? AC with 1A is pretty good about notifying of changes. Unofficial AC Schedule Change Notifier is also pretty good.
As I said, I'm not trying to replicate EF, so I don't really think I'm interested in building type/FIN swaps or seat availability alerts. But maybe. But there's so much other stuff to do first.
What's your goal there? It never occurred to me that anyone would use this for anything other than "I'm booked on this flight and want more information" (but the reward search tool also underwent some very rapid changes at the beginning when I realized people wanted to use it very differently than I assumed).
You'd be surprised how much easier it is to diagnose issues with my little codes there

But I agree, that's on my list.
Maybe, but it would need an intermediate step to allow you to then pick a flight. I'm not saying it's impossible (or even difficult), but it would likely be a completely different tool that just links to this one.
What kind of alerts do you want? AC with 1A is pretty good about notifying of changes. Unofficial AC Schedule Change Notifier is also pretty good.
As I said, I'm not trying to replicate EF, so I don't really think I'm interested in building type/FIN swaps or seat availability alerts. But maybe. But there's so much other stuff to do first.
What's your goal there? It never occurred to me that anyone would use this for anything other than "I'm booked on this flight and want more information" (but the reward search tool also underwent some very rapid changes at the beginning when I realized people wanted to use it very differently than I assumed).
Happy holidays in advance

#18
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Join Date: Sep 2012
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Well step 1 of inbound tracking is done:

Recursive tracking does sound interesting, I'm just worried it would slow things down too much unless I can find a good source where I can just feed it a registration and get a list of the last dozen flights. FlightAware has an API, but I'd need the "minimum $100/month" plan to make this possible.

Recursive tracking does sound interesting, I'm just worried it would slow things down too much unless I can find a good source where I can just feed it a registration and get a list of the last dozen flights. FlightAware has an API, but I'd need the "minimum $100/month" plan to make this possible.
#19
Join Date: Oct 2022
Programs: Aeroplan SE; Marriott Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 751
May I ask if there is any way to just display R space? I see that information in your award search, but not sure if you have access to this information in all AC flights.
#20
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1. Would consistently work
2. Would make me happy

#21
Join Date: Oct 2022
Programs: Aeroplan SE; Marriott Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 751
Just thought about switching my upcoming YYZ - YVR flight to YYZ - SFO due to concerns over snowing in YVR, and found R space available using your reward tool. Still debating whether to make the move, tho.
#22
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Canada
Programs: AC
Posts: 1,718
Okay, so have a question about the seat map display.
I'm looking at two flights for YYZ-YVR on Feb 8th, AC107 which shows 3 blocked seats in J, and EF reports J3, and AC111 which shows 2 blocked seats in J, but EF reports J0. In both cases all other J seats are occupied.
What does blocked actually mean?
I'm looking at two flights for YYZ-YVR on Feb 8th, AC107 which shows 3 blocked seats in J, and EF reports J3, and AC111 which shows 2 blocked seats in J, but EF reports J0. In both cases all other J seats are occupied.
What does blocked actually mean?
#23
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: YWG/LHR
Programs: Aeroplan-SE-2018/19/20
Posts: 185
The blocked seats represent people who will be potentially upgraded into those seats. They will get the seat at the gate.
If a revenue customer buys a ticket, then the blocked seat will be taken by the revenue customer.
If a revenue customer buys a ticket, then the blocked seat will be taken by the revenue customer.
#24
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Canada
Programs: AC
Posts: 1,718
For safety I bought a seat on the one showing some J availability but it was just strange.
#25
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE MM, DL PM, WS Silver, BA Bronze, Marriott Titanium, Hilton/Radisson Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 15,115
If a revenue customer buys a ticket, then the blocked seat will be taken by the revenue customer.
Seat blocking and loads should not be conflated.
Last edited by Adam Smith; Feb 7, 23 at 2:37 pm Reason: Fixed formatting
#27
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Join Date: Sep 2012
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Posts: 41,473
I was having some issues with flights that have stops (eg 856 YYZ-LHR-BOM), so I made some changes, and now require you to specify your destination.
It helped fix some other issues, but the arrival information for flights with stops is a big one that now works properly.
In theory I could also show the stop information, and I might get to that at some point, but I'm tired now.
It helped fix some other issues, but the arrival information for flights with stops is a big one that now works properly.
In theory I could also show the stop information, and I might get to that at some point, but I'm tired now.