How to book (ITA, etc)
Oct 4, 2008, 2:55 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska and other places
Programs: American Airlines Platinum
Posts: 56
How to book (ITA, etc)
I've looked through some threads, but really haven't found an answer...
I'm curious what methods the more prolific mileage runners are using to book their flights? In particular, those flights with complicated routing.
What tools are there, beyond Orbits or Travelocity, that are available? Any travel agencies that know how to book an MR? Are there better tools available to a travel agent or broker that we don't have access to?
I'm curious, as I've found a few reasonably priced runs on ITA, but then could never get them booked.
Cheers,
Jace
I'm curious what methods the more prolific mileage runners are using to book their flights? In particular, those flights with complicated routing.
What tools are there, beyond Orbits or Travelocity, that are available? Any travel agencies that know how to book an MR? Are there better tools available to a travel agent or broker that we don't have access to?
I'm curious, as I've found a few reasonably priced runs on ITA, but then could never get them booked.
Cheers,
Jace
Oct 4, 2008, 3:13 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Programs: BA Silver, EY Gold, HH Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 12,216
For those complicated routings a trusted TA is the only option I feel. I have never been able to get any online engine to be flexible enough to book flights with "extra" requirements.
Would be intersted to know if any FT has.
Would be intersted to know if any FT has.
Oct 4, 2008, 9:45 am
#4
Join Date: May 2007
Location: ORD, DEL
Programs: AA (Plt Pro; 1.5 MM)
Posts: 6,185
I'm curious what methods the more prolific mileage runners are using to book their flights?....What tools are there, beyond Orbits or Travelocity, that are available? Any travel agencies that know how to book an MR? Are there better tools available to a travel agent or broker that we don't have access to?
All travel agents, including airline phone reps, have more info and better tools at their disposable than made available to us, so they can zero in on the desired flights bettr than we can.
For really complicated stuff I would take the ITA printout to a good brick-and-mortar agency, but this will cost a little more, and has not proven necessary so far.
Oct 4, 2008, 12:13 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska and other places
Programs: American Airlines Platinum
Posts: 56
What about fellow FT's and particularly mileage runners? How many have access to Sabre or Worldspan or similar access? Any TA's here who can help?
What about the idea of starting a small ticket brokerage for the purpose of booking MR's? A small fee, and assistance in finding MR's as the business model?
What about the idea of starting a small ticket brokerage for the purpose of booking MR's? A small fee, and assistance in finding MR's as the business model?
Oct 4, 2008, 4:25 pm
#7
Join Date: May 2007
Location: ORD, DEL
Programs: AA (Plt Pro; 1.5 MM)
Posts: 6,185
What about fellow FT's and particularly mileage runners? How many have access to Sabre or Worldspan or similar access? Any TA's here who can help?
What about the idea of starting a small ticket brokerage for the purpose of booking MR's? A small fee, and assistance in finding MR's as the business model?
What about the idea of starting a small ticket brokerage for the purpose of booking MR's? A small fee, and assistance in finding MR's as the business model?
However, I am just being a Devil's advocate here and would look forward to hearing from those who know the field.
Oct 4, 2008, 10:18 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska and other places
Programs: American Airlines Platinum
Posts: 56
I've been contemplating doing just that, but I'm currently wading through a sea of what seams to be scams and paper mills looking for a legitimate online program. Attending classes is impossible for me at the moment, so it must be an online program.
Honestly, I am considering doing so from a purely selfish standpoint, but at the same time I can see the possibility of a niche market and a profit. Albeit only a small profit, and likely not worth the time and effort, but still I'll look into it and see if it would be.
Likewise, I am interested to hear if anyone else has done the same.
Cheers,
Jace
Honestly, I am considering doing so from a purely selfish standpoint, but at the same time I can see the possibility of a niche market and a profit. Albeit only a small profit, and likely not worth the time and effort, but still I'll look into it and see if it would be.
Likewise, I am interested to hear if anyone else has done the same.
Cheers,
Jace
Oct 5, 2008, 10:45 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska and other places
Programs: American Airlines Platinum
Posts: 56
Unfortunately, the airlines websites have nowhere near the flexibility of ITA; and this is most apparent if one tries to book a multi-city trip across airlines (i.e. a leg on AA, then UA, etc).
I was just trying to determine if anyone had yet found a solution to book these routes.
I was just trying to determine if anyone had yet found a solution to book these routes.
Oct 5, 2008, 1:23 pm
#11
Join Date: Oct 2008
Programs: UA 1K, AA Plat, SPG Platinum, National Executive
Posts: 1,970
Unfortunately, the airlines websites have nowhere near the flexibility of ITA; and this is most apparent if one tries to book a multi-city trip across airlines (i.e. a leg on AA, then UA, etc).
I was just trying to determine if anyone had yet found a solution to book these routes.
I was just trying to determine if anyone had yet found a solution to book these routes.
Oct 5, 2008, 6:59 pm
#12
Join Date: May 2007
Location: ORD, DEL
Programs: AA (Plt Pro; 1.5 MM)
Posts: 6,185
I have been able to get most OW itineraries online at AA.com, and whatever I couldn't was easy to get by phoning. While it was satisfying to come up with my trip at AA.com, the phone agents with more powerful tools at their disposal are more efficient, so now I sometimes take the shortcut: if it involves anything besides AA or BA, I'd just phone. 
To jcerovac: There are quite a few travel agents at FT. If you pose a more direct question, instead of one dressed as ITA discussion, someone might have the info about online training etc. Good luck.
To jcerovac: There are quite a few travel agents at FT. If you pose a more direct question, instead of one dressed as ITA discussion, someone might have the info about online training etc. Good luck.
Last edited by aktchi; Oct 5, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Oct 5, 2008, 10:11 pm
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska and other places
Programs: American Airlines Platinum
Posts: 56
Hi UAX_Brasilia,
Tools such as Orbitz, Travelocity, and etc, are well known. These tools are written for the general traveler, someone going someplace specific for a reason. They are not written for the person try to do a mileage run, or trying to combine a business trip with some leisure layovers, or to combine any trip with a mileage run.
This is the sort of tool I was trying to route out.
Cheers,
Jace
Tools such as Orbitz, Travelocity, and etc, are well known. These tools are written for the general traveler, someone going someplace specific for a reason. They are not written for the person try to do a mileage run, or trying to combine a business trip with some leisure layovers, or to combine any trip with a mileage run.
This is the sort of tool I was trying to route out.
Cheers,
Jace
Last edited by jcerovac; Oct 6, 2008 at 12:16 am Reason: Corrected greeting from aktchi to UAX_Brasilia
Oct 5, 2008, 11:59 pm
#14
Join Date: May 2007
Location: ORD, DEL
Programs: AA (Plt Pro; 1.5 MM)
Posts: 6,185
I realize that combining airlines from different alliances would probably need a TA. I prefer to stay within One World and have always been able to buy such tickets from AA.com (or phoen rep) or the main carrier if not AA/BA.
Last edited by aktchi; Oct 6, 2008 at 12:11 am
Oct 6, 2008, 12:15 am
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2005
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Posts: 56