Why is flight not an option?
Jan 15, 2008 | 2:15 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Delayed at EWR
Programs: UA 1K, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, Priority Pass
Posts: 353
Why is flight not an option?
I'm booked on Feb 17th on the MIA - EWR flight 339 at 10:30AM.
I used miles to purchase this, but I'm doing a continuous check to make sure prices don't suddenly drop, at which point I would cancel the miles-booked-flight and purchase the ticket outright.
However, that flight isn't even an option to buy right now. I checked my seating assignment and counted 36 empty seats.
Why is that flight (or any other flights on that route except 6:30AM) not even showing up as an option anymore?
I used miles to purchase this, but I'm doing a continuous check to make sure prices don't suddenly drop, at which point I would cancel the miles-booked-flight and purchase the ticket outright.
However, that flight isn't even an option to buy right now. I checked my seating assignment and counted 36 empty seats.
Why is that flight (or any other flights on that route except 6:30AM) not even showing up as an option anymore?
Jan 15, 2008 | 2:26 pm
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Cleveland, OH
Programs: UA Priemier Gold
Posts: 70,553
I'm seeing it just fine :
you got all the numbers right?
you got all the numbers right?
Depart:
10:23 a.m.
Sun., Feb. 17, 2008
Miami, FL (MIA) Arrive:
1:24 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 17, 2008
New York/Newark, NJ (EWR - Liberty) Travel Time:
3 hr 1 mn OnePass Miles/
Elite Qualification:
1,092 /150% Flight: CO339
Aircraft: Boeing 737-500
Fare Class: Economy (Y)
Meal: Snack
No Special Meal Offered.
10:23 a.m.
Sun., Feb. 17, 2008
Miami, FL (MIA) Arrive:
1:24 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 17, 2008
New York/Newark, NJ (EWR - Liberty) Travel Time:
3 hr 1 mn OnePass Miles/
Elite Qualification:
1,092 /150% Flight: CO339
Aircraft: Boeing 737-500
Fare Class: Economy (Y)
Meal: Snack
No Special Meal Offered.
Jan 15, 2008 | 2:26 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: PVD
Programs: Priority Club Plat
Posts: 12,312
I don't know why it doesn't show up if you do a regular search. But if you specify "Y" fare or "Full Fare - No Restriction" in advanced search, then you can buy that flight for $299+ tax one-way.
Jan 15, 2008 | 2:40 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Delayed at EWR
Programs: UA 1K, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, Priority Pass
Posts: 353
Seems odd that it wouldn't show up in a regular search though. If they are only selling Y class, that's still the lowest fare available.
Jan 15, 2008 | 2:42 pm
#5
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Location: DCA
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Posts: 18,733
Because they are all sold out, except the 10:23, which shows Y8. See www.seatcounter.com.
Jan 15, 2008 | 2:52 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Delayed at EWR
Programs: UA 1K, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, Priority Pass
Posts: 353
Because they are all sold out, except the 10:23, which shows Y8. See www.seatcounter.com.
And I'm assuming that the 36 empty seats I count on the plane are just unassigned - maybe booked off of travel site?
Jan 15, 2008 | 3:46 pm
#7
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
The search interface is definitely returning strange results. A generic one-way search now shows only the 6:40am flight. Changing "number of flights to display" to all (from the default of 20) adds in the 8:50pm flight. Checking the non-stops only box then includes the 10:23am flight.
I don't know why it is behaving that way, but it is.
I don't know why it is behaving that way, but it is.
Jan 15, 2008 | 5:14 pm
#8
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Somewhere between Pittsburgh and Akron
Programs: Marriott Plat,Priority Club Plat
Posts: 215
If I can buy seats on the 10:23AM and the 8:50PM flights, then it is not sold out. It would seem like a bug in the system that it wouldn't show an available seat as available when doing a normal search, regardless of class of fare.
And I'm assuming that the 36 empty seats I count on the plane are just unassigned - maybe booked off of travel site?
And I'm assuming that the 36 empty seats I count on the plane are just unassigned - maybe booked off of travel site?
You can not always go by what the seat map shows. I looked in shares and there are a lot less than 39 seats left to sell. The noon departure is completely sold out.
Jan 15, 2008 | 5:31 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: 27 minutes north of EWR (on a good day)
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flt 768 ewr-las tomorrow (1/16) now shows up in a search with lots of seats. this was not an option when I purchased my ticket for co 568 9am departure. I checked the timetable and it was not there either, until today. Im kinda pissed it was not available then, but i'm gonna get to ewr very early tomorrow and do the free stand-by thing.
i only found out there was a 7am for tomorrow by checking seatcounter for chances of an upgrade.
i only found out there was a 7am for tomorrow by checking seatcounter for chances of an upgrade.
Jan 15, 2008 | 5:55 pm
#10
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Somewhere between Pittsburgh and Akron
Programs: Marriott Plat,Priority Club Plat
Posts: 215
flt 768 ewr-las tomorrow (1/16) now shows up in a search with lots of seats. this was not an option when I purchased my ticket for co 568 9am departure. I checked the timetable and it was not there either, until today. Im kinda pissed it was not available then, but i'm gonna get to ewr very early tomorrow and do the free stand-by thing.
i only found out there was a 7am for tomorrow by checking seatcounter for chances of an upgrade.
i only found out there was a 7am for tomorrow by checking seatcounter for chances of an upgrade.
I just checked it in shares. Keep in mind the security lines in EWR that early in the morning seem to be long per the posts I have read recently. 
Jan 15, 2008 | 6:23 pm
#11
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: 27 minutes north of EWR (on a good day)
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what exactly is Shares?
is that another site like seatcounter?
thanks, SP
Jan 15, 2008 | 7:07 pm
#12
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
It is CO's internal system, so it shows the actual data and not just what they expose to the rest of the world 
So it is like SeatCounter, but much, much, much better. And completely inaccessible unless you're an employee.
So it is like SeatCounter, but much, much, much better. And completely inaccessible unless you're an employee.
Jan 15, 2008 | 7:10 pm
#13
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Somewhere between Pittsburgh and Akron
Programs: Marriott Plat,Priority Club Plat
Posts: 215
Jan 15, 2008 | 7:27 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: 27 minutes north of EWR (on a good day)
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Posts: 11,527
Great, thanks.