Wow. Ok fine, if the Awards/StarAlliance method isn't from screen scraping ANA.co.jp (free) and the Awards/SkyTeam method isn't from screen scraping Delta.com (free) and the Awards/OneWorld method isn't from screen scraping Qantas.com (also free) etc, then please by all means, tell us where the data for those methods comes from and set the record straight. If you don't want to answer that's fine, but here's your chance to correct any inaccuracies.

The relevant information can be found at the very top of the User Agreement, which appears during the installation of the KVS Tool.

More importantly, the topic of this thread is a discussion regarding the "ability to check upgrade inventory and flight status on KVS/Expert Flyer", and now that the respective ability and inability has been factually established, we see no merit in engaging in any off-topic matters.

I don't know of any other "web browser" that claims the content of websites it allows you to visit as being exclusive to that browser vs another way of getting at that data. Also, no web browser has charged for the privilege since Netscape in the 90's. It was one thing when KVS used to be free, ok fine, but that's not the case anymore.

I have run into difficulties running the KVS tool. Usually it is my lack of knowledge that needs to be overcome. It doesn't matter to me one bit where the data comes from, or that KVS used to be "free". I, for one, am more than willing to pay 6+ dollars a month for the convenience of streamlining the process and saving me time (which isn't worth a whole lot, but what the heck!!). If you don't want to pay for it you don't have to! Sorry for continuing the "off topic" discussion.

I know that KVS scrapes the ANA web site ... but it does it extremely well. Searches are fast, robust, and easy to use. No back button, no re-filling out forms, no interpreting ANA's different shades of yellow - no web browser period.

I could perform search and search after search on ANA or DL.com using KVS in a fraction of the time it would take using the web sites. Above and beyond that, KVS makes it extremely easy to get information into Word, Flyertalk, or notepad ... ever try copying an itinerary onto the clipboard from ANA or DL?

Just because something scrapes and compiles other web sites doesn't make it not-valuable. Ever heard of Google News?

Indeed. It also doesn't make it a legitimate use of the 3rd party data sources.

As for the interpreteration of the word "exclusive," well, that's a new one to me. I guess when trying to promote one's product it makes sense to use language to your own favor. But that doesn't mean the word actually has that definition.

I agree that the tool does change the interface for browsing the websites and in some cases it is easier. I also think that setting up a few bookmarks on my computer is a much more cost-effective approach to parsing the same information. Or using one of the other - and free - tools that expose the same data.

I'm not sure how this isn't "legitimate" - unless it violates the T&C's of those sites. Screen-scraping is a pretty well established web technique used for literally thousands of useful services.

I'm with you on the exclusivity, however. If screen-scraping is all they're doing it isn't exclusive. It may be unique, if no other product is doing it, but it isn't exclusive.

That said, though, it is useful and cost-effective (as a personal opinion) if you place any significant value on your own time. The reason I asked my question earlier in the thread is that I was tired of doing the USAirways/ANA shuffle to look for award inventory - it's cumbersome and slow, even if it id free. I place enough value on my time that if I could cut the search time in half it'd be worth WAY more than the single-digit dollars they're asking.

Now my biggest problem is that I'm a Mac guy.

/A

GOSH! I am such a rookie.. until stumbling on this thread, I had never heard of EF or KVS. Now I'll be checking y'all out (since you are both trolling this thread).

Cheers!

Can someone please help me understand the best way to check for upgrade availability on US?

I've registered for the ANA site as well as ExpertFlyer and I'm not sure if I'm looking in the right places.

Thanks.

Go to seatcounter.com, and look at the availability in the "P" booking class. The "F" booking class are the total number of seats up front that are available for sale; the P number represents the number currently available for upgrade, though quite often they won't upgrade you once P gets down to 2, as they hold those seats for sale until closer to departure.

This is for domestic, I don't fly US internationally.

This has already been discussed earlier on in this very thread (before it went OT). Please refer to http://Help.KVSTool.com/#Classes.

Or, for those who are more masochistically-inclined, the ANA site can be accessed via conventional browsers -- please search for the relevant threads.

You cannot use SC for this either -- P is the upgrade booking class from full fares (and does not mean much). The relevant upgrade class is O/CS: http://Help.KVSTool.com/#Classes.

As someone who is about to subscribe to one of these services, this thread is very interesting to me and the above quote made me laugh! lopinc1 - in several years of membership it seems you have only ever posted to promote EF. Are you in some way directly affiliated with them? Sorry to go a bit OT but this will help me understand the 2 services a bit better..

I don't know if it is still true, but in the past first class awards on US came from the same bucket as upgrade seats, so you can see if the usairways.com website will let you book a first class award on your flight. If it will, then there is an upgrade seat. It is a bit voodoo, since they will make more seats available as the day of flight draws closer, so it is quite possible that they will move seats from the F bucket to the O bucket late one night and you will get upgraded an hour or two later and never have seen availability in any tool.