Using ExpertFlyer for award availability?
 

I've searched around, but I haven't found an answer to this anywhere; if I've missed it please point me at it.

I think I've heard it said before that ExpertFlyer can be used to find award availability on star alliance. Do you simply need to look for availability of specific booking classes? Which ones? Has anyone written a guide on how this can be done?

Many thanks,

-simon

ExpertFlyer can't be used to find award availability on *A - rather sign up to the ANA FFP and use their reward booking tool. Details of how to do that are in the bmi sticky thread.

I already use the ANA tool. It's much better than nothing, but it's clunky and slow. In addition, I believe it doesn't show certain airlines at all (such as LH, for instance). That's why I'm looking for an alternative :-)

I found this thread which seems to give booking classes for star alliance awards (mainly O I and X). Would it not work to simply look for the availability of these classes?

If I get time I'll sit down and try to correlate. Part of me is trying to work out, being mainly a Star Alliance flyer, whether it is worth signing up to Expert Flyer :-)

Cheers,

-simon

I think ANA shows all *A except LX. LH is included. ANA no doubt shows seats are per what is available to them, which may not be the same as is available to other *A members.
The only way I've heard of to get LX availability (without calling the call centre) is with a Miles & More account (but I believe you need to have miles in the account to search for availability in the first place.)

Expert flyer doesn't show the *A booking classes. You could sign up to the free ExpertFlyer trial and experiment.

LH award buckets (or surrogates thereof) have intermittently appeared on ExpertFlyer in the past, but not for several months now.

First time poster here. Great site!

Also considering signing up for ExpertFlyer.

Is there a way to check OneWorld award availability through the site? AA is really the only airline I fly.

Thanks in advance

Welcome to FT.

You will soon come to realise, as you use FT more, that you have asked this question in the wrong place. We do try to keep questions vaguely on topic, though sometimes it may not seem like that. You should really ask this in the AA or OneWorld forums.

Meanwhile you may wish to sign up for the BA and Qantas FF schemes, and see what their reward search engines can find for you.