Trying to Understand Upgrade Availability for AF
#31
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Worldwide
Posts: 12,949
Dear KVS: could you elaborate. I thought that EF updated awards like once a day. But the discrepancy on O awards has been going on for many many days. EF shows O0 C9. Is CS on KVS really identical to O? or doe sit include award for elites (C)
If CS=O, why the difference? POS?
If CS=O, why the difference? POS?
There are 2 separate types of O/CS Availability: One for FB own members (which only the KVS Tool supports) and one for Partners (which KVS Tool also supports, separately).
#32
Join Date: Jun 2005
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The user guide does not explain why KVS is showing upgrade availability whereas the airline's own system is not.
#33
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#36
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Programs: Marriott Platinum, American Airlines Gold
Posts: 26
Thanks KVS. Just so I'm clear if there is Extended Award/Upgrade Availability for standalone JFK-CDG but not CDG-CPT is it all possible to get FB to upgrade me for that segment (JFK-CDG) only prior to the DoD at the airport? I'm wondering if FB has any flexibility in upgrading me on that JFK-CDG segment with cash, cash/miles or just miles prior to DoD?
#37
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You can always re-book your ticket in regular Business Class and pay the fare difference (+penalties) in cash.
#38
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Programs: Marriott Platinum, American Airlines Gold
Posts: 26
So interesting development. . . Today I received an alert that Expert Flyer showed "O" availability on one of my return segments: AF 995 from JNB-CDG. As you can see it indicated that there were at least 5 "O" seats available.
Since I have a subscription to both ExpertFlyer and the KVS Tool, I immediately pulled up the same flight on KVS.
As you can see KVS did "NOT" show CS availability but only CV availability. As was indicated earlier in this thread supposedly CS availability is equal to O availability. So to check this I called Flying Blue and happened to speak with a very knowledgeable representative who checked this flight. She first pulled up my reservation and indicated that O was not available for this flight. I asked if she was only checking this segment or whether she was checking my entire married segment of JNB-JFK (JNB-CDG then CDG-JFK). She confirmed she was only checking the JNB--CDG segment. She then said let me try starting an entirely new reservation from just JNB-CDG and again she confirmed no O availability on the new reservation.
2 hours after I received the original alert from ExpertFlyer I'm still showing O availability on ExpertFlyer and only CV availability on KVS Tool.
So I'm somewhat confused and wondering which tool is correct? Obviously, it sounds like the KVS tool was consistent with actual availability according to what Flying Blue showed when I called. However why is ExpertFlyer showing at least 5 seats available with O availability?
Since I have a subscription to both ExpertFlyer and the KVS Tool, I immediately pulled up the same flight on KVS.
As you can see KVS did "NOT" show CS availability but only CV availability. As was indicated earlier in this thread supposedly CS availability is equal to O availability. So to check this I called Flying Blue and happened to speak with a very knowledgeable representative who checked this flight. She first pulled up my reservation and indicated that O was not available for this flight. I asked if she was only checking this segment or whether she was checking my entire married segment of JNB-JFK (JNB-CDG then CDG-JFK). She confirmed she was only checking the JNB--CDG segment. She then said let me try starting an entirely new reservation from just JNB-CDG and again she confirmed no O availability on the new reservation.
2 hours after I received the original alert from ExpertFlyer I'm still showing O availability on ExpertFlyer and only CV availability on KVS Tool.
So I'm somewhat confused and wondering which tool is correct? Obviously, it sounds like the KVS tool was consistent with actual availability according to what Flying Blue showed when I called. However why is ExpertFlyer showing at least 5 seats available with O availability?
#39
Left Expert Flyer 4/23
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,741
So interesting development. . . Today I received an alert that Expert Flyer showed "O" availability on one of my return segments: AF 995 from JNB-CDG. As you can see it indicated that there were at least 5 "O" seats available.
However why is ExpertFlyer showing at least 5 seats available with O availability?
However why is ExpertFlyer showing at least 5 seats available with O availability?
#40
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Programs: Marriott Platinum, American Airlines Gold
Posts: 26
#41
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Worldwide
Posts: 12,949
I immediately pulled up the same flight on KVS.
As you can see KVS did "NOT" show CS availability but only CV availability. As was indicated earlier in this thread supposedly CS availability is equal to O availability. So to check this I called Flying Blue and happened to speak with a very knowledgeable representative who checked this flight. She first pulled up my reservation and indicated that O was not available for this flight. I asked if she was only checking this segment or whether she was checking my entire married segment of JNB-JFK (JNB-CDG then CDG-JFK). She confirmed she was only checking the JNB--CDG segment. She then said let me try starting an entirely new reservation from just JNB-CDG and again she confirmed no O availability on the new reservation.
2 hours after I received the original alert from ExpertFlyer I'm still showing O availability on ExpertFlyer and only CV availability on KVS Tool.
So I'm somewhat confused and wondering which tool is correct? Obviously, it sounds like the KVS tool was consistent with actual availability according to what Flying Blue showed when I called. However why is ExpertFlyer showing at least 5 seats available with O availability?
As you can see KVS did "NOT" show CS availability but only CV availability. As was indicated earlier in this thread supposedly CS availability is equal to O availability. So to check this I called Flying Blue and happened to speak with a very knowledgeable representative who checked this flight. She first pulled up my reservation and indicated that O was not available for this flight. I asked if she was only checking this segment or whether she was checking my entire married segment of JNB-JFK (JNB-CDG then CDG-JFK). She confirmed she was only checking the JNB--CDG segment. She then said let me try starting an entirely new reservation from just JNB-CDG and again she confirmed no O availability on the new reservation.
2 hours after I received the original alert from ExpertFlyer I'm still showing O availability on ExpertFlyer and only CV availability on KVS Tool.
So I'm somewhat confused and wondering which tool is correct? Obviously, it sounds like the KVS tool was consistent with actual availability according to what Flying Blue showed when I called. However why is ExpertFlyer showing at least 5 seats available with O availability?
[KVS Tool 9.1.5/Diamond - Awards/AF-SkyTeam/US-AF]
Code:
JNB Johannesburg Metro / OR Tambo Intl ZA = JNB HLA [FAJS]
PAR Paris Metro FR = CDG ORY BVA LBG XPG XJY
WED 02 Jan 2019 | 1 Seat
Carrier Flight From Depart To Arrive A/C St Award Availability
--------- ------ ---- -------- ---- -------- --- -- ------------------
AF 995 JNB 19:50 CDG 05:45 +1 388 CV+ WV+ YV+
Code:
JNB Johannesburg Metro / OR Tambo Intl ZA = JNB HLA [FAJS]
PAR Paris Metro FR = CDG ORY BVA LBG XPG XJY
WED 02 Jan 2019 | 1 Seat
Carrier Flight From Depart To Arrive A/C St Award Availability
--------- ------ ---- -------- ---- -------- --- -- ------------------
AF 995 JNB 19:50 CDG 05:45 +1 388 0 CS5
#42
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Programs: Marriott Platinum, American Airlines Gold
Posts: 26
As noted previously, only the KVS Tool supports both FB as well as Partner Award Availability and they can be different:
[KVS Tool 9.1.5/Diamond - Awards/AF-SkyTeam/US-AF]
[KVS Tool 9.1.5/Diamond - Awards/DL-SkyTeam/US]
[KVS Tool 9.1.5/Diamond - Awards/AF-SkyTeam/US-AF]
Code:
JNB Johannesburg Metro / OR Tambo Intl ZA = JNB HLA [FAJS]
PAR Paris Metro FR = CDG ORY BVA LBG XPG XJY
WED 02 Jan 2019 1 Seat
Carrier Flight From Depart To Arrive A/C St Award Availability
--------- ------ ---- -------- ---- -------- --- -- ------------------
AF 995 JNB 19:50 CDG 05:45 +1 388 CV+ WV+ YV+
[KVS Tool 9.1.5/Diamond - Awards/DL-SkyTeam/US]
Code:
JNB Johannesburg Metro / OR Tambo Intl ZA = JNB HLA [FAJS]
PAR Paris Metro FR = CDG ORY BVA LBG XPG XJY
WED 02 Jan 2019 1 Seat
Carrier Flight From Depart To Arrive A/C St Award Availability
--------- ------ ---- -------- ---- -------- --- -- ------------------
AF 995 JNB 19:50 CDG 05:45 +1 388 0 CS5
#43
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Worldwide
Posts: 12,949
Thanks KVS. Learned a new feature of your tool. . . very cool. So the fact that DL shows O availability but AF does not am I able to use my Delta miles to upgrade on my flight purchased directly from AF? Are there any other options for upgrading now that I'm seeing availability from DL?
#44
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Programs: Marriott Platinum, American Airlines Gold
Posts: 26
#45
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Programs: Marriott Platinum, American Airlines Gold
Posts: 26