Program to find a specific fare code in a time period?
Sep 25, 2008 | 4:02 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA
Posts: 471
Program to find a specific fare code in a time period?
I can't be the only person who would want something like this!
I am wondering if there is any way that a program (e.g., the KVS Availability Tool) could do something like the following:
I go to the FlyerTalk page on FareCompare, and look up flights ex-LAX (sorting by CPM, for potential MR's).
It returns me a list of city pairs with the airlines and fare codes, etc.
I really wish there was some way - in KVS (or anything else) - to enter that fare code and say "Find me instances of this fare for any 2 dates between these time periods".
It seems to me like programs like KVS can already display the Fare Basis (looking at their "Fare Listings via Sabre/ZUJ" screenshot) as well as the Fare Rules, so clearly it can find a particular fare code.
Let me give a concrete example.
Right now I am trying to find date pairs for LAX-MHT (before the end of the year) that will return the fare KR3W8N on NWA for $226 all-in. I am having no luck at all with this.
FareCompare is useless, and the closest I've been able to get to that $226 is $240 when doing a month-long "Weekend Search" on NWA's Web site.
Surely that elusive $226 KR3W8N fare is out there; but how do I find it?
I wish I could just fire up a program (KVS or otherwise), enter in LAX and MHT, and give a date range and say "Find me KR3W8N."
Is this just too difficult to do, or that no one has asked for this kind of capability yet?
I am wondering if there is any way that a program (e.g., the KVS Availability Tool) could do something like the following:
I go to the FlyerTalk page on FareCompare, and look up flights ex-LAX (sorting by CPM, for potential MR's).
It returns me a list of city pairs with the airlines and fare codes, etc.
I really wish there was some way - in KVS (or anything else) - to enter that fare code and say "Find me instances of this fare for any 2 dates between these time periods".
It seems to me like programs like KVS can already display the Fare Basis (looking at their "Fare Listings via Sabre/ZUJ" screenshot) as well as the Fare Rules, so clearly it can find a particular fare code.
Let me give a concrete example.
Right now I am trying to find date pairs for LAX-MHT (before the end of the year) that will return the fare KR3W8N on NWA for $226 all-in. I am having no luck at all with this.
FareCompare is useless, and the closest I've been able to get to that $226 is $240 when doing a month-long "Weekend Search" on NWA's Web site.
Surely that elusive $226 KR3W8N fare is out there; but how do I find it?
I wish I could just fire up a program (KVS or otherwise), enter in LAX and MHT, and give a date range and say "Find me KR3W8N."
Is this just too difficult to do, or that no one has asked for this kind of capability yet?
Sep 26, 2008 | 4:29 am
#2
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: BOS
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat, Marriott Lifetime Plat, Free Agent
Posts: 142
Using the ITA tool, I found the fare code you desire on nearly every day.
After finding the $240 and drilling down, ITA lists the following (a/i).
Perhaps you are not considering the Transportation Tax?
Fare (A1): NW LAXMHT KR3W8N fare (rules) $92.10
Tax: US Transportation Tax $6.90
Fare (A2): NW MHTLAX KR3W8N fare (rules) $92.10
Tax: US Transportation Tax $6.90
Tax: US September 11th Security Fee $10.00
Tax: US Passenger Facility Charge $13.50
Tax: US Flight Segment Tax $17.50
Total for 1 adult passenger: $239.00
ExpertFlyer, for example, lists KR3W8N as $198 RT (92.10+6.90 * 2)
To answer your original question, I do not know of a tool that will find availability over a period based only on the fare code directly.
After finding the $240 and drilling down, ITA lists the following (a/i).
Perhaps you are not considering the Transportation Tax?
Fare (A1): NW LAXMHT KR3W8N fare (rules) $92.10
Tax: US Transportation Tax $6.90
Fare (A2): NW MHTLAX KR3W8N fare (rules) $92.10
Tax: US Transportation Tax $6.90
Tax: US September 11th Security Fee $10.00
Tax: US Passenger Facility Charge $13.50
Tax: US Flight Segment Tax $17.50
Total for 1 adult passenger: $239.00
ExpertFlyer, for example, lists KR3W8N as $198 RT (92.10+6.90 * 2)
To answer your original question, I do not know of a tool that will find availability over a period based only on the fare code directly.