availability tool
 

Anyone else getting ERROR: NO VALID RESULT in past 24 hours? I'm trying to figure out if it's on my end or theirs. Thanks

Yes. I have been getting the same error. :(

I'm having the same trouble.

Am getting the same message as well.

Still down...

anyone know why? What are you using instead?

I've been having trouble with it the past 2 days...I do need to use it though to judge my odds for a bump coming up...thankfully, the flights still 10 days away, but I'd like to know and start planning some escape routes (since ATL-MHT flights are pretty full then...)

http://flyaow.com/classcwt.htm

Will work...but not as nice as the Availability Tool, IMO.

Good luck.

Doesn't work for me either. Someone needs to come up with a way to access CRS on a reliable basis. I'd pay for it too.

Second day in a row for me...don't know about before that.

Another precious MR tool bites the dust
 

See http://flyertalk.com/forum/showpost....1&postcount=12 in MilesBuzz.

ExpertFlyer an alternative
 

I have been trying out www.expertflyer.com with good success.
It is not free, but has already paid for itsself. ^

I've been thinking about subscribing to this service. I had a couple of questions.

1. For fare rules, do they give the entire rules including routing? The example fare rule they show is severely truncated - hopefully that isn't the complete data that you would get.

2. Does it show award inventory? Someone in another thread implied it didn't, but the services page imply that they do.

3. Reliability, Customer Service, etc. Does the website (or its data feed) go down very often? Have you ever had any problems, and more importantly how well did the company do at resolving them?

First of all, let me state that I am completely unbiased (do not work for the operators of the site, etc.). Just found a link here at FT and thought I would give it a go...

1. For fare rules, do they give the entire rules including routing? The example fare rule they show is severely truncated - hopefully that isn't the complete data that you would get.

Honestly, I find the fare rules to be almost too much information... It is all the stuff you also find on ual.com including what to do in the event of death of passenger, family member, pricing for child, etc. Valid routing info is included.

2. Does it show award inventory? Someone in another thread implied it didn't, but the services page imply that they do.

No, unfortunately (at least not for UA). However, I fired off a request to them for this and they gave me a very nice detailed reply on why the airlines tend to not want to put that information outside of their system, etc. That being said, however, since you can pull up seatmap after seatmap it is pretty easy to spot the empty cabins and book your award or upgrade accordingly.

3. Reliability, Customer Service, etc. Does the website (or its data feed) go down very often? Have you ever had any problems, and more importantly how well did the company do at resolving them?


It has always been up when I need it and I have not had any problems yet.
They are also very fast at replying to my feedback. Not at bad deal as far as I am concerned. ^

Are there any good places out there that let you also search for specific fare bucket availability? The Availability tool would let you input the buckets that upgrades and award seats come from. Is there anything else that does it without having to call the airline?

Thats really sad... that was a excellent tool :(