Jan 21, 2015, 10:55 am
Last edit by: hillrider
Here are some more hidden features of the ITA software.
The extensions to the itasoftware routing language are accessed by postpending commands after a '/'. There's a wide set of commands available, but there's no description of them available on the ITA web site. Unfortunately, each command applies only to one part of the trip, so they must usually be entered in each box.
EXCLUDE SPECIFIC AIRLINES
Command is "-airlines XX ..."
Ex: prohibit jetBlue or Delta
from: BOS ::/ -airlines B6 DL
to: LAX ::/ -airlines B6 DL
LIMIT TO SPECIFIC AIRLINES
Command is "airlines XX ..."
Ex: consider only jetBlue or Delta
from: BOS ::/ airlines B6 DL
to: LAX ::/ airlines B6 DL
LIMIT TO A SINGLE ALLIANCE
Command is "alliance star-alliance|oneworld|skyteam"
Ex: oneworld carriers only
from: BOS ::/ alliance oneworld
to: LAX ::/ alliance oneworld
EXCLUDE CODESHARES
Command is "-codeshare"
Ex: prohibit jetBlue or Delta
from: BOS ::/ -codeshare
to: LAX ::/ -codeshare
LIMIT DURATION OF ITINERARY, IN MINUTES
Command is "maxdur XXX"
Ex: no more than 5hrs for each part of trip
from: BOS ::/ maxdur 300
to: LAX ::/ maxdur 300
EXCLUDE OVERNIGHT STOPS, AIRPORT CHANGES, REDEYES, PROPELLER PLANES, TRAINS, HELICOPTERS, ANY KIND OF SURFACE TRAVEL
Commands are "-overnight", "-change", "-redeye", "-prop", "-train", "-helicopter", "-surface"
Ex: no overnight stops, no airport changes, no redeyes, no propeller planes
from: BOS ::/ -overnight, -change, -redeye, -prop
to: LAX ::/ -overnight, -change, -redeye, -prop
SET MINIMUM OR MAXIMUM TIME FOR CONNECTIONS, IN MINUTES
Commands are "minconnect XX", "maxconnect XX"
Ex: no less than one hour, no more than two hour connections
from: BOS ::/ minconnect 60, maxconnect 120
to: LAX ::/ minconnect 60, maxconnect 120
EXTRA CONNECTION TIME
Command is "padconnect XX"
Ex: require at least 20 minutes more than airline specified minimum connection time
from: BOS ::/ padconnect 20
to: LAX ::/ padconnect 20
PUTTING LOTS OF THINGS TOGETHER
Separate with commas.
Ex:
from: BOS :: UA UA / f bc=l|bc=y, -redeye, -prop
to: LAX :: UA+ / f ua.bos+lax.yup, padconnect 20, -overnight
The extensions to the itasoftware routing language are accessed by postpending commands after a '/'. There's a wide set of commands available, but there's no description of them available on the ITA web site. Unfortunately, each command applies only to one part of the trip, so they must usually be entered in each box.
EXCLUDE SPECIFIC AIRLINES
Command is "-airlines XX ..."
Ex: prohibit jetBlue or Delta
from: BOS ::/ -airlines B6 DL
to: LAX ::/ -airlines B6 DL
LIMIT TO SPECIFIC AIRLINES
Command is "airlines XX ..."
Ex: consider only jetBlue or Delta
from: BOS ::/ airlines B6 DL
to: LAX ::/ airlines B6 DL
LIMIT TO A SINGLE ALLIANCE
Command is "alliance star-alliance|oneworld|skyteam"
Ex: oneworld carriers only
from: BOS ::/ alliance oneworld
to: LAX ::/ alliance oneworld
EXCLUDE CODESHARES
Command is "-codeshare"
Ex: prohibit jetBlue or Delta
from: BOS ::/ -codeshare
to: LAX ::/ -codeshare
LIMIT DURATION OF ITINERARY, IN MINUTES
Command is "maxdur XXX"
Ex: no more than 5hrs for each part of trip
from: BOS ::/ maxdur 300
to: LAX ::/ maxdur 300
EXCLUDE OVERNIGHT STOPS, AIRPORT CHANGES, REDEYES, PROPELLER PLANES, TRAINS, HELICOPTERS, ANY KIND OF SURFACE TRAVEL
Commands are "-overnight", "-change", "-redeye", "-prop", "-train", "-helicopter", "-surface"
Ex: no overnight stops, no airport changes, no redeyes, no propeller planes
from: BOS ::/ -overnight, -change, -redeye, -prop
to: LAX ::/ -overnight, -change, -redeye, -prop
SET MINIMUM OR MAXIMUM TIME FOR CONNECTIONS, IN MINUTES
Commands are "minconnect XX", "maxconnect XX"
Ex: no less than one hour, no more than two hour connections
from: BOS ::/ minconnect 60, maxconnect 120
to: LAX ::/ minconnect 60, maxconnect 120
EXTRA CONNECTION TIME
Command is "padconnect XX"
Ex: require at least 20 minutes more than airline specified minimum connection time
from: BOS ::/ padconnect 20
to: LAX ::/ padconnect 20
PUTTING LOTS OF THINGS TOGETHER
Separate with commas.
Ex:
from: BOS :: UA UA / f bc=l|bc=y, -redeye, -prop
to: LAX :: UA+ / f ua.bos+lax.yup, padconnect 20, -overnight
TIP: More hidden features of ITA
Feb 18, 2010, 10:09 pm
#31
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA 1K, NW forever
Posts: 1,390
Can't force overnight layover on ITA
I'm trying to figure out a routing to maximize mileage on UA's amazing B fares ex-LHR. On the fares I'm looking at any stop under 24 hours is considered a transfer, but I can't seem to force an overnight transfer.
If I try multi-city, then the flights on the second day get priced as their own one-way fare, not combined with the first day's flights.
If I try
lhr :: ua x ua x ua x ua x ua /f bc=b, maxconnect 1400
lax :: ua /f bc=b
I get "No flight options were found for the first segment of this trip."
On the other hand, .bomb is able to get me the fare I want with LHR-FRA-ORD-DEN-SEA-LAX on the outbound, with an overnight in DEN.
Any ideas?
If I try multi-city, then the flights on the second day get priced as their own one-way fare, not combined with the first day's flights.
If I try
lhr :: ua x ua x ua x ua x ua /f bc=b, maxconnect 1400
lax :: ua /f bc=b
I get "No flight options were found for the first segment of this trip."
On the other hand, .bomb is able to get me the fare I want with LHR-FRA-ORD-DEN-SEA-LAX on the outbound, with an overnight in DEN.
Any ideas?
Feb 26, 2010, 4:10 pm
#35
Company Representative - ITA Software
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Cambridge, MA
Posts: 362
Sorry, we don't have a way of forcing redeye flights or overnight layovers, other than the obvious ones like using the multi-city page or the departure/arrival time boxes, which of course are not available for the month-long search.
Feb 26, 2010, 5:02 pm
#36
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: DC
Programs: AA EXP; UAMM
Posts: 1,902
Any chance of getting a more extensive help page on the site itself?
As seen above, many FTers have come up with some helpful hints. I bet the ITA group could put together a pretty comprehensive package of hints for their help screen, beyond what's there now.
As seen above, many FTers have come up with some helpful hints. I bet the ITA group could put together a pretty comprehensive package of hints for their help screen, beyond what's there now.
Feb 28, 2010, 8:07 am
#37
Company Representative - ITA Software
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Cambridge, MA
Posts: 362
In the end, these tools are just what I described above: internal debugging commands. Writing them up in an official document would commit us to a level of support and backward-compatibility that I'm not sure we'd be comfortable with. But I'll raise the issue internally.
Feb 28, 2010, 8:27 am
#38
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: DC
Programs: AA EXP; UAMM
Posts: 1,902
Perhaps you could ask the FT community what sorts of commands or specific needs would be most helpful and post a revised help page based on that information. I don't think any of us expect ITA to be our own personal CRS (well not officially). But getting us through some of the the stickier planning tangles would be appreciated.
I have to say the ITA site is a godsend for most of us who use it. So regardless of what you decide to do, many, many thanks to all of you for the site. You cannot know the number of flights you've enabled and time you've saved by creating the site.
I have to say the ITA site is a godsend for most of us who use it. So regardless of what you decide to do, many, many thanks to all of you for the site. You cannot know the number of flights you've enabled and time you've saved by creating the site.
Feb 28, 2010, 8:59 am
#39
Join Date: May 2007
Location: ORD, DEL
Programs: AA (Plt Pro; 1.5 MM)
Posts: 6,185
You'd not have to provide any service beyond what you are doing now - ie, answering questions, or not, at your convenience and discretion.
Feb 28, 2010, 9:01 am
#40
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Near SEA
Programs: UA MM, AS MVPG75K, Marriott Lifetime Gold
Posts: 7,969
I can understand that. However, if ITA would disclose the commands to one of us, we could write an informal guide ourselves for use within FT community. I'd even volunteer for that service. You'd not have to provide any service beyond what you are doing now - ie, answering questions, or not, at your convenience and discretion.
You'd not have to provide any service beyond what you are doing now - ie, answering questions, or not, at your convenience and discretion.
Feb 28, 2010, 9:23 am
#41
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Programs: NW-PE, Blue Star SeaSmiles
Posts: 6,789
Not to take this thread off topic but I get this stupid error on both FF and IE. I'll do an initial month-long search, get results and then click "modify search". Everything looks good and change to the next month and click "GO". Then the error occurs "Bad route specification" and when I go back to the search I see the following in both city slots "???:: Â ??+" What the heck is causing that "Â" character to come up?
Feb 28, 2010, 9:31 am
#42
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: NYC,ALB
Programs: United 1k
Posts: 322
Not to take this thread off topic but I get this stupid error on both FF and IE. I'll do an initial month-long search, get results and then click "modify search". Everything looks good and change to the next month and click "GO". Then the error occurs "Bad route specification" and when I go back to the search I see the following in both city slots "???:: Â ??+" What the heck is causing that "Â" character to come up?
Feb 28, 2010, 9:36 am
#43
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: DC
Programs: AA EXP; UAMM
Posts: 1,902
Blank Sheet, I saw the same thing. It looks like the right format,"???:: Â ??+", airport code:: airline code+, with the weird accent circonflexe "A" stuck in there. Somebody at ITA is probably debugging it as we speak.
Feb 28, 2010, 9:37 am
#44
Join Date: May 2007
Location: ORD, DEL
Programs: AA (Plt Pro; 1.5 MM)
Posts: 6,185
We can imagine all kind of bad things. However, as far as we know, ITA has not suffered from the previous "accidental" release of their debugging commands---and we do have a few years of experience on that.
Feb 28, 2010, 10:57 am
#45
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 710
Anyway to search for Premium Economy seats on ITA? On some international airlines PE (e.g NZ, SG, AN) is a seperate cabin with enhanced seats and food. This is what I am looking for- not UA's E+...