ExpertFlyer and Delta Air Lines: The Definitive Thread
May 8, 2009, 7:35 am
#301
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Orlando, FL, USA
Posts: 2,398
On two different occasions I have confirmed Z availability to upgrade an international M fare and then when I called to make the reservation had a DL CSA tell me there was no Z availability. After nicely asking "Are you sure? Could you double-check these specific flights?", the agent then said "Oh, now I see it." So had I relied just on the agent, I would not have been given the opportunity to upgrade those two fares. Reason enough for me to be a firm believer in EF as a valuable tool.
May 11, 2009, 10:35 am
#302
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: ORF
Programs: Delta Diamond Charter Member/1.8MM, IHG Spire Elite
Posts: 876
Expert flyer subscription
I'm seriously considering a subscription to EF. Other than Z upgrade ability what other features do you find the most useful? On average I make about 10 long haul flights per year. Thanks.
May 11, 2009, 10:39 am
#303
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Atlanta, GA
Programs: DL 3 MM/DM, Marriott Titanium Elite, Hyatt Globalist, National Exec Elite
Posts: 4,004
In addition to viewing upgrade inventory, I use it to scout things out when doing SDC.
It also helps to be able to quickly and easily view all of the fares in a given market and to read the fare rules on those fares. For example, you can put in a city pair with dates of travel, and then see every fare in that market (from all carriers or from specific carriers you select). This is a nice way, for example, to quickly get an idea of the difference between a K fare and an M fare and an A/D fare in a given market.
It's well worth the money.
It also helps to be able to quickly and easily view all of the fares in a given market and to read the fare rules on those fares. For example, you can put in a city pair with dates of travel, and then see every fare in that market (from all carriers or from specific carriers you select). This is a nice way, for example, to quickly get an idea of the difference between a K fare and an M fare and an A/D fare in a given market.
It's well worth the money.
May 11, 2009, 10:42 am
#304
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: NY Metro
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 2,881
It's great in IRROPS when you just need a seat, any seat. Many times I've been able to find something on my BlackBerry while the agent is still typing away looking in front of me. Getting the agent to listen that I found something, well that can sometimes be frustrating 
May 11, 2009, 12:07 pm
#306
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NC, USA
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AA Exec Plat, Marriott Lifetime Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,012
May 11, 2009, 1:02 pm
#307
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: ORF
Programs: Delta Diamond Charter Member/1.8MM, IHG Spire Elite
Posts: 876
May 11, 2009, 1:33 pm
#308
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Daytona Beach
Posts: 586
The basic plan is $4.99 a month http://www.expertflyer.com/find-upgrades-and-awards
May 11, 2009, 2:50 pm
#310
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: OMA
Programs: DL Diamond, Marriott. Hilton Diamond, Hertz something...
Posts: 1,265
May 11, 2009, 2:57 pm
#312
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: AUS
Programs: AA Exec Platinum/MM, DL Gold/MM, Hilton Diamond, Accor Platinum, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,978
ExpertFlyer would be a LOT more useful if it also showed O and R availability. Then one could avoid the horrible award calendar on delta.com.
It also has some other glaring holes, like no award or upgrade inventory on CO or UA. I also don't like the interface changes they made around the beginning of this year. That said, I have subscribed to EF for some time. It is good value for me as it gives full coverage of all NW award and upgrade buckets.
KVS may be a better option for DL. I think it can show the DL award buckets.
It also has some other glaring holes, like no award or upgrade inventory on CO or UA. I also don't like the interface changes they made around the beginning of this year. That said, I have subscribed to EF for some time. It is good value for me as it gives full coverage of all NW award and upgrade buckets.
KVS may be a better option for DL. I think it can show the DL award buckets.
May 11, 2009, 3:23 pm
#314
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 395
On two different occasions I have confirmed Z availability to upgrade an international M fare and then when I called to make the reservation had a DL CSA tell me there was no Z availability. After nicely asking "Are you sure? Could you double-check these specific flights?", the Delta agent then said "Oh, now I see it." So had I relied just on the agent, I would not have been given the opportunity to upgrade those two fares. Reason enough for me to be a firm believer in EF as a valuable tool.
Before you ask why he'd let me do this for nothing - I was buying a very expensive cruise from him and I wanted my AMEX 5% back from delta.com - Alas, no more after Friday.
Last edited by marilyn35406; May 11, 2009 at 3:37 pm Reason: clarification.
May 11, 2009, 8:13 pm
#315
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: ATL
Programs: DL SkyMiles, MR, HH, ICH/PC, Avis Pref., Hertz Gold
Posts: 2,897
A number of free tools (seatcounter, edelman and even DL.com) can do this.
Seatcounter is all you need.
Agreed.
NO publicly available tool can do this. Just because a flight appears to have zero availability not necessarily mean it is overbooked. Just because they are still selling seats does not mean that is is not already overbooked.
Seatcounter is all you need.
Agreed.
NO publicly available tool can do this. Just because a flight appears to have zero availability not necessarily mean it is overbooked. Just because they are still selling seats does not mean that is is not already overbooked.