KVS tool and EK website availability - discrepancies
Mar 6, 2010 | 6:31 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,944
KVS tool and EK website availability - discrepancies
Hi there,
I am a user of the KVS tool.
A number of times I have noticed now that the availability by KVS tool is often very different from the availability on the EK website. Deviating in both directions (seats available in EK website but in neither method of the KVS tool, and vice versa). Often, the different KVS tool methods result in significantly different results as well.
Any suggestion why that is the case? I never experienced discrepancies to the same degree with other airlines.
Also, any suggestion which KVS tool method (Sabre, Galileo, WSpan) comes closest to reality?
Best regards,
CalFlyer
I am a user of the KVS tool.
A number of times I have noticed now that the availability by KVS tool is often very different from the availability on the EK website. Deviating in both directions (seats available in EK website but in neither method of the KVS tool, and vice versa). Often, the different KVS tool methods result in significantly different results as well.
Any suggestion why that is the case? I never experienced discrepancies to the same degree with other airlines.
Also, any suggestion which KVS tool method (Sabre, Galileo, WSpan) comes closest to reality?
Best regards,
CalFlyer
Mar 6, 2010 | 6:49 am
#2
Join Date: May 2009
Programs: pants
Posts: 433
I face the same problem at times
The results frequently differ between Galileo & WSpan & Sabre
Although Galileo & seatcounter.com / expert flyer always match
The thing about emirates.com is that EK has complete control over the availibility and prices that they serve up to users.
Hopefully some EK lurker can answer this question.
EDIT: Forgot to add that this has everything to do with POS on KVS Tool. Avoid using a US POS for better results
Some additional info for the EK lurker so she/he/it can give feedback. Search results for EK123 on March 12
And availability from seatcounter.com
The results frequently differ between Galileo & WSpan & Sabre
Although Galileo & seatcounter.com / expert flyer always match
The thing about emirates.com is that EK has complete control over the availibility and prices that they serve up to users.
Hopefully some EK lurker can answer this question.
EDIT: Forgot to add that this has everything to do with POS on KVS Tool. Avoid using a US POS for better results
Some additional info for the EK lurker so she/he/it can give feedback. Search results for EK123 on March 12
Code:
DXB Dubai AE [OMDB] IST Istanbul Ataturk TR [LTBA] FRI 12 Mar 2010 [WSpan: Availability/ITN/US-WOT] Carrier Flight From Depart To Arrive A/C St Availability EK 123 DXB 11:05 IST 13:55 772 0 J4 C4 I9 Y7 O9 E9 R9 W7 M7 B7 U9 K7 Q7 H7 L7 T7 X9 V7 [Apollo: Availability/ITN/US-MYP] Carrier Flight From Depart To Arrive A/C St Availability EK 123 DXB 11:05 IST 13:55 772 0 J4 C4 I9 Y7 O9 E9 R9 W7 M7 B7 U9 K7 Q7 H7 L7 T7 X9 V7 [Sabre: Availability/GTC/US-LTR] Carrier Flight From Depart To Arrive A/C St Availability EK 123 DXB 11:05 IST 13:55 772 0 J4 C4 I7 Y7 O7 E7 R7 W7 M7 B7 U7 K7 Q7 H7 L7 T7 X7 V7 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ // The results vary every time you search, all searches Y C F // Its not possible to search for more than five classes, at a time // i.e. wont work if you write A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O Q R S T U V W X Y Z <- This is an issue with KVS tool nothing with EK [Galileo: Availability/ETR/JP] Carrier Flight From Depart To Arrive A/C St Availability Query 1 EK 123 DXB 11:05 IST 13:55 772 0 Y7 Query 2 EK 123 DXB 11:05 IST 13:55 772 0 Y7 C4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ FARE SEARCH FARE SEARCH FARE SEARCH ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Sabre: Fares/TVN/CA] DXB Dubai AE [OMDB] IST Istanbul Ataturk TR [LTBA] R/T Mar-Feb Carrier From To Fare Cur AdvanceP Min Max Fare Basis/TD | Travel Period EK DXB IST 440 USD *** 3 2M LE2MAE1 EK DXB IST 557 USD *** 12M QEE1YAE1 EK DXB IST 644 USD *** 12M KEE1YAE1 EK DXB IST 760 USD *** 12M UEE1YAE1 YY DXB IST 1167 USD *** 6 2M YLPX2M YY DXB IST 1220 USD *** 6 2M YHPX2M EK DXB IST 1641 USD 7 Days 12M IEE1YAE1 EK DXB IST 1962 USD *** 6 2M LLB2MAE7 EK DXB IST 2048 USD *** 6 2M LHB2MAE7 EK DXB IST 2143 USD *** 6 3M LEE3MAE7 EK DXB IST 2529 USD *** 12M CEE1YAE1 EK DXB IST 3430 USD *** YRTAE7 EK DXB IST 3541 USD *** 12M JEE1YAE1 EK DXB IST 3574 USD *** 12M JRTAE1 EK DXB IST 4037 USD *** JRTAE7 EK DXB IST 4382 USD *** 12M FEE1YAE1 EK DXB IST 4418 USD *** 12M FRTAE1 EK DXB IST 5073 USD *** FRTAE7 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Sabre: Fares/DotRes/US] DXB Dubai AE [OMDB] IST Istanbul Ataturk TR [LTBA] FRI 12 Mar 2010 | MON 15 Mar 2010 | R/T | Economy Carrier From To Fare Cur Fare Basis EK DXB IST 430 USD LE2MAE1 EK DXB IST 545 USD QEE1YAE1 EK DXB IST 629 USD KEE1YAE1 EK DXB IST 743 USD UEE1YAE1 EK DXB IST 3352 USD YRTAE7 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Galileo: Fares/PSH/RU] DXB Dubai AE [OMDB] IST Istanbul Ataturk TR [LTBA] FRI 12 Mar 2010 | RT | Economy Carrier From To Fare Cur AdvanceP Min Max Fare Basis | Travel Period --------- ------ ---- -------- ---- -------- --- --- -------------------------- EK DXB IST 434 USD 3 60 LE2MAE1 EK DXB IST 550 USD 360 QEE1YAE1 EK DXB IST 635 USD 360 KEE1YAE1 EK DXB IST 750 USD 360 UEE1YAE1 EK DXB IST 1618 USD 7 Days 360 IEE1YAE1 EK DXB IST 1934 USD 6 60 LLB2MAE7 06 Jan-31 May EK DXB IST 2113 USD 6 LEE3MAE7 EK DXB IST 2495 USD 360 CEE1YAE1 EK DXB IST 3382 USD YRTAE7 EK DXB IST 3492 USD 360 JEE1YAE1 EK DXB IST 3525 USD 360 JRTAE1 EK DXB IST 3981 USD JRTAE7 EK DXB IST 4321 USD 360 FEE1YAE1 EK DXB IST 4357 USD 360 FRTAE1 EK DXB IST 5003 USD FRTAE7
Last edited by roadrunner21; Mar 6, 2010 at 7:25 am
Mar 6, 2010 | 9:45 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,944
I just checked (5 mins ago) the afternoon flight DXB-DUS on March 12. According to KVS, it is booked up in all classes of service (no matter which method of search I use). But: On EK's website they offer me availability in full-fare F and J for exactly that flight!
This is annoying, because it means that KVS does not reliably tell me when a flight is really booked up so that I could use the EK booking guarantee to get an economy seat (see my other thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/emira...l#post13523231).
This is annoying, because it means that KVS does not reliably tell me when a flight is really booked up so that I could use the EK booking guarantee to get an economy seat (see my other thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/emira...l#post13523231).
Mar 6, 2010 | 9:55 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,944
Mar 6, 2010 | 10:53 am
#5
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Cairo
Programs: EK Skywards Gold, TK Elite Plus, QR Platinum, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 291
This is very interesting that you mention this discrepancey. I have also noted that several flights have been zeroed out in KVS, but still available on ek.com. This makes it hard to know when to ask for an upgrade (miles or cash) or play my chances for op-up. I have flown to DAR recently, and flight was zeroed out a long time in advance on KVS (still available on ek.com). I thought I could gain an op-up, but on the flight Y seats were empty.
I have asked KVS to bring back the other seat map tools that used to show blocked seats (instead of just available and occupied seats; blocked now show as occupied). I cannot remember the names of the previous seat map tools, but not having them present is a big disadvantage. With the full seat map tool (blocked shows as blocked) you can get a good idea a few hours before check in if Y really will be all zeros or not. Small point, but worth mentioning, I thought. The response was positive from KVS, and I renewed, but nothing visible yet.
POS is also grey for me, what does POS mean, and how to change?
I have asked KVS to bring back the other seat map tools that used to show blocked seats (instead of just available and occupied seats; blocked now show as occupied). I cannot remember the names of the previous seat map tools, but not having them present is a big disadvantage. With the full seat map tool (blocked shows as blocked) you can get a good idea a few hours before check in if Y really will be all zeros or not. Small point, but worth mentioning, I thought. The response was positive from KVS, and I renewed, but nothing visible yet.
POS is also grey for me, what does POS mean, and how to change?
Mar 6, 2010 | 11:17 am
#6
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Cairo
Programs: EK Skywards Gold, TK Elite Plus, QR Platinum, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 291
From the KVStool.com help page:
Seems a lot of info is here except how (if possible) to change the POS.
POS (Point-of-Sale)/Dynamic Availability -- i.e. who is requesting availability and where are they from?:
An excellent explanation, courtesy of a FT member spanzviewmaster: http://www.FlyerTalk.com/forum/showt...40#post3380501
An example of how POS can affect availability: http://www.FlyerTalk.com/forum/showp...9&postcount=22
Explanation courtesy of Amadeus - POS: http://www.Amadeus.com/airlines/x7392.html
Explanation courtesy of Amadeus - Dynamic Availability: http://www.Amadeus.com/airlines/x7394.html
For example: Airline XX's Res system receives requests for Y-class availability for flight XX 123. It knows that, for example, request #1 comes from AC in YYZ, #2 from LH office in DE, #3 from UA office in US, #4 from NH office in JP. It can then answer, say, D0 to #1, D1 to #2, D2 to #3, and D3 to #4. The key POS criteria is, typically, the country (or region), but a number of other criteria can be involved.
Seems a lot of info is here except how (if possible) to change the POS.
POS (Point-of-Sale)/Dynamic Availability -- i.e. who is requesting availability and where are they from?:
An excellent explanation, courtesy of a FT member spanzviewmaster: http://www.FlyerTalk.com/forum/showt...40#post3380501
An example of how POS can affect availability: http://www.FlyerTalk.com/forum/showp...9&postcount=22
Explanation courtesy of Amadeus - POS: http://www.Amadeus.com/airlines/x7392.html
Explanation courtesy of Amadeus - Dynamic Availability: http://www.Amadeus.com/airlines/x7394.html
For example: Airline XX's Res system receives requests for Y-class availability for flight XX 123. It knows that, for example, request #1 comes from AC in YYZ, #2 from LH office in DE, #3 from UA office in US, #4 from NH office in JP. It can then answer, say, D0 to #1, D1 to #2, D2 to #3, and D3 to #4. The key POS criteria is, typically, the country (or region), but a number of other criteria can be involved.
Mar 6, 2010 | 12:11 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Worldwide
Posts: 12,952
For availability, you can currently access 4 POSs: 3 US-based and 1 JP-based (Galileo).
Jan 27, 2011 | 5:27 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,944
KVS, could you add the POS info to the Galileo ETR screen of the KVS tool? It is there for the other methods. Thanks.
Feb 2, 2011 | 2:48 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Worldwide
Posts: 12,952
[KVS Availability Tool 6.0.7.R2/Diamond - Galileo: Availability/ETR/JP]
Code:
DXB Dubai AE [OMDB] LON London Metro UK = LHR LGW STN LTN LCY TUE 01 Mar 2011 Carrier Flight From Depart To Arrive A/C St Availability --------- ------ ---- -------- ---- -------- --- -- ------------ EK 15 DXB 08:20 LGW 11:55 77W 0 Y9 EK 9 DXB 14:45 LGW 18:25 77W 0 Y9 EK 5 DXB 16:30 LHR 20:15 773 0 Y9 EK 11 DXB 02:50 LGW 06:35 77W 0 Y9 EK 3 DXB 14:30 LHR 18:15 388 0 Y9 EK 29 DXB 09:40 LHR 13:30 77W 0 Y9 EK 1 DXB 07:45 LHR 11:35 388 0 Y9 EK 7 DXB 03:10 LHR 07:05 773 0 Y9