availability tool
#1
Original Poster




Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Programs: Delta Silver, IHG Spire, Hilton Gold, Bonvoy Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 132
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
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist


Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: The best state in the USA - Florida!
Programs: Marriott Titanium/LT Plat, AS Titanium, Disney AP
Posts: 14,532
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...)
#7




Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,884
http://flyaow.com/classcwt.htm
Will work...but not as nice as the Availability Tool, IMO.
Good luck.
Will work...but not as nice as the Availability Tool, IMO.
Good luck.
#10


Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 8,687
See http://flyertalk.com/forum/showpost....1&postcount=12 in MilesBuzz.
#11
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: SLC
Programs: UA 1K MM; IC RA
Posts: 759
ExpertFlyer an alternative
I have been trying out www.expertflyer.com with good success.
It is not free, but has already paid for itsself. ^
It is not free, but has already paid for itsself. ^
#12
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: SQL
Programs: SPG Platinum; Hyatt Platinum; UA 1K
Posts: 3,170
Originally Posted by xpacific
I have been trying out www.expertflyer.com with good success.
It is not free, but has already paid for itsself. ^
It is not free, but has already paid for itsself. ^
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?
#13
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: SLC
Programs: UA 1K MM; IC RA
Posts: 759
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. ^
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. ^
#14




Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Tampa, FL
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Delta Platinum
Posts: 1,730
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?




