How do computers talk to each other.
 

In another thread Here it was pointed out that you just have to understand how computers talk to each other. How do they? Does anyone know for sure? ;)

The four of us were traveling to IST over Thanksgiving weekend. We checked in on line but were able to print all but BOS-AMS and AMS-IST BPs. When we arrived at DCA, the check-in agent was able to print BOS-AMS BPs but nkit AMS-IST BPs. We were told to get them in AMS. No big deal. But I was concerned about the BOS-AMS flight arriving late in AMS and not having enough time to get the BPs there. We were assured that we were checked in so we wouldn't lose our seats unless we were no shows in AMS before the IST flight departred, in which case we would be accomodated on another flight. I knew there was a chance of a screw up as the next KLM flight to AMS left late at night and we would have arrived in IST at 1:00 a.m. the following day. I thought maybe the glitch was cuased by the fact that when the reservation was made all four of us were in one NW record. As usual, there was a KLM PNR too. In order to increase our chances of EUA, I had split the record 4 ways a week or so before the trip. For a brief moment, I thought that when NW split the record, only NW record was split and all four of were still in one KLM PNR. I had no way of being sure as I could not look at my reservation at that time. But then the same thing happened just about twenty days prior to that when I was travelling to IST alone. NO record had been split. In that case also, when I checked in at LAX WC, the agent could not print DTW-AMS or AMS-IST flights. On this trip, I had a forced overnight in DCA. I asked the DCA WC next day to print my DTW-AMS amd AMS-IST BPs. I had noticed a bit of reluctance when she heard Istanbul. At first she said,"We can't access international itineraries, you would have to go to ticketing". I did not have the option of hanging up and calling again. I politely said if she could just try, it would be great. She tried and she was able to print DTW-AMS BP, but not AMS-IST flight, the same flight that gave us trouble 20 days later. So I knew splitting the record could not be causing the problem.

Fortunately, we arrived in AMS on time and I was able to get all four BPs to IST in the lounge, although the agent wanted to see our passports.

Please be patient, I am coming to the question. In IST, I checked just my WP account to see which flights had posted. The AMS-IST flight was showing a Q (pending internal processing) under the code. I figured after a few days the mileage would show up. My AMS-DTW mileage for the NOv 6th was still missing too. After we arrived back in the US, I called NW yesterday about the missing mileage and pointed out that the AMS-IST had been showing Q for 5 days. I thought it was because the data dump from KLM probably takes once a week or so. I think the dump happens on Tue or Wed. This morming I checked my account, still no miles. I was not worried. Checked my wife's account, my older son's account, but no miles for the AMS-IST flight. BUT, my 10 year old son's account shows miles for that flight. All 4 of us took the same flight but only his account shows the miles. He even got an e-mail confirming his crossing Plat threshold for the 3rd time.

So, I am calling on the experts here HOW DO COMPUTERS TALK?

My impression is that KLM's computers talk to Northwest's computers using tin cans and a very long string.

Computer may talk lightingly fast, but sometimes sh..t happens. I would take a chill pill and look at the account next week. NW WP has spoilt us in the speed at which miles post. Most FFPs only post miles 7-10 days after the event happens.

Exactly. Thank you. If you missed, I am not worried about the miles. None of us needs the miles posted as we are all Plats already and no status threshold is involved. I know they will be posted eventually. So chill pill is not necessary. However, it seems you might need one. It seems you missed the drift here. ;)

Yes, normally NW is very good about posting miles. My first experience was in 1997. I called about 10 months after the trip. I think I might not have given my WP number when my TA had made the reservation. I would have been silver in the middle of the trip, not even knowing at the time what it meant. I gave them the dates and the flight numbers for the DCA-DTW-LAX-HNL-NRT-HKG-NRT-DTW-DCA trip. Within minutes miles appeared.

That was version 2.

Version 1 was smoke signals and morse code on deerskin drums.

Today I would say they use interface protocols and kludged pipes over which no single person has a complete overview.

Under the circumstances, I'd be less concerned about the HOW, and more about the WHO-WHAT-WHEN-WHERE-WHY.

.. and especially.. IF :D

/.

The communicate via the AlGoreNet (TM).

Good answers. :)

I could sit here and tell you how computers talk to each other but that would be a very long, boring and lingo-filled post. :)

About your KLM PNR being split or not when you split your NW PNR into four...even if you couldn't look at the reservation that day, you said you had them split a week before your flight. I'm guessing you had an opportunity to see the reservations before you checked-in. On NWA.com, you always see the KL PNR listed on the reservation for the flights that KL knows about. So, you could have logged in to all four accounts and checked each reservation to see if the KL PNR was the same or different for each pax :)

PS - every KL segment I've ever taken sits in Q status for exactly 7 days. It seems that someone at NW WP in MN has to manually go through every KL entry and approve them (not sure if that's what really happens).

-RM

I checked in on line in Rome for my FCO-AMS and AMS-MEM flight. Mine was fine. When I tried to check in for my traveling companion, I couldn't change his seat. We are both SE--he's on CO, I'm on NW. We had a tight connection, so I wanted to make sure we were sitting as far forward as possible. So, I tried to call the numbers on the KLM website for Rome. I got a recording that said they were no longer working numbers. So, I called Amsterdam. Amsterdam said that they couldn't change the seats, only a ticket office in Rome could. I should visit the Air France ticket counter and they could. We were staying at the airport anyway and were going into town, so I stopped by the Air France ticket counter. They couldn't do anything. I emailed KLM about changing the tickets. I got a reply later that evening saying that they could not see Row 4.

So, we checked in reasonably early and got his seat changed. And then the agent asked why we hadn't checked in for the NW segments. Evidently, checking in at the 30 hour mark will not check you in on NW. (When I check in on NW, it checks me in on KLM, even if it's ahead of the 30 hour mark).

The computers probably don't even speak the same language.

I thought they used the Internets [sic]? ;)

Seriously, though, I'm inclined to believe the tin can/string hypothesis.

It's the tubes! The tubes!

You think you're spoiled with NW? Fly Delta for a bit (no, wait don't). I've actually had my miles post BEFORE wheels-up for a flight. No funky Q wait-times or anything.

I've been in working in IT for 10+ years (though not database related stuff), but still have a good idea of how the data flows. There's not too much reason that the miles can't post within an hour after a flight is complete.

Its not horrible right now, but its a tiny beef of mine that I have to wait to see them. Though I'm sure much better than previous days where the BPs needed to be mailed in and your free ticket delivered by Pony Express. :)

Sorry, folks. It's actually smoke signals.

You are correct that I would have had the opportunity to look at the 4 split records. I meant to do it, but just didn't get around to doing it. :) My KLM segments have sat in Q for varying amounts of time. One of my NW segment (AMS-DTW) was missing for 3 weeks. At 3 weeks I thought it was time to call. It showed up on my account along with the miles within minutes after I called. It was amusing to be told to chill out by another poster. ;) I think if your mileage for a NW segment does not show up for 3 weeks and there was no unusual circumstances such as VDB or IVDB or last minute changes due to mechanical or weather issues, it's time to act.