ITN accuracy
 

I am trying to book a flight using a promotion that requires T class booking (AMEX student). ITN and United expert mode show a few available flights. One flight shows as T2 and the other 2 show at T9. However CO reservations tells me that they do not have T class available for any of these flights. What gives?

I have rarely found "itn" to be accurate for fare classes availibility thus I rarely use it anymore. At one time it seemed to be accurate. Bring back EasySabre!

MisterNice

As a NW employee we have direct access to NW schedules and availability. With NW direct access we also have direct access (they call it "Seamless Availability" as it reflects the actual availability of other airlines) with AS, CO and KL.

I just compared availability in NW's system with that of ITN and it's 100% accurate. At least as far as availability for NW, AS, CO and KL go.

The only thing I can think that would give a discrepancy between the actual availability and what ITN shows is if someone else took the seats from availability or if you look at individual segments rather than the O & D, which is what the GDS looks at when it displays availability. In other words, there might be two T seats showing on ITN for BWI/CLE on CO123. But when you call and want to book CO123 connecting at CLE to LAX, the res agent pulls up BWI/LAX and the computer adjusts inventory for the O & D, not segment by segment.

PARS- I am trying to go from MSP-SFO on 8/29. ITN shows T9 for both CO793 (MSP-IAH) and CO230 (IAH-SFO). T9 availability on the return for Sep. 2. Yet CO res says no T class availalbe on either day. I cannot fathom why.

[This message has been edited by goblue (edited 08-27-2002).]

I don't know if you've done this already but both the new and old CO website allow you to book using the AMEX student certificates and it should allow you to pick the flights that are eligible. Plus, you get the 2000 points if you do it on the new website.

Thanks kishna. I'll try the new site. The old site also let you book this AMEX deal online, but for the dates I requested the old site said no availability. However ITN says lots of T class for my dates.


[This message has been edited by goblue (edited 08-27-2002).]

I don't know why CO res would be telling you it's not available. Right now (524pm EDT) they show 6 T seats available on both legs.

Now if they are looking at the earlier connection, CO793 to CO210, there is no T class available on either segment--that's the O & D inventory management system at work.

This is basically what ITN shows. Really ticks me off. I specifically asked for these flights "so you are telling me your T class bucket shows zero" CO agent: "That is correct, sir. T0 is what it says". I've called and spoken with 4 different agents and gotten basically the same response. Further adds to my feeling that NW reservations is far better than CO.