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ExpertFlyer.com Help Desk Thread
Oct 14, 2012, 8:51 am
#91
Left Expert Flyer 4/23
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,741
So, it's not possible to just set a Flight Alert to ping me the next time any award inventory opens up on a specified flight - only when inventory opens up for that flight on a specified day? If, for example, I wanted to be alerted if/when inventory opened up on a specific flight any time in the next two weeks, I would need to set up 14 different alerts for that flight - one for every day in the next 2 weeks?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Last edited by ExpertFlyer Voice; Oct 14, 2012 at 8:56 am
Oct 26, 2012, 4:47 pm
#92
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: San Francisco
Programs: Amex MR, SPG Gold, HHonors Gold, AS MVP
Posts: 518
I am trying to get a flight in A class (discount BusinessFirst) on the United 787 SFO-IAH next month. Two days ago this flight was available; I should have put it on hold, but I didn't. Anyway, now united.com shows only fares in F on this flight (at the corresponding higher price). But ExpertFlyer shows "F9 A9 Z1 P1," which to me says there should be tons of discount fares available. Why can't I find them? What is ExpertFlyer searching that the United website can't see?
Oct 26, 2012, 4:59 pm
#93
Left Expert Flyer 4/23
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,741
I am trying to get a flight in A class (discount BusinessFirst) on the United 787 SFO-IAH next month. Two days ago this flight was available; I should have put it on hold, but I didn't. Anyway, now united.com shows only fares in F on this flight (at the corresponding higher price). But ExpertFlyer shows "F9 A9 Z1 P1," which to me says there should be tons of discount fares available. Why can't I find them? What is ExpertFlyer searching that the United website can't see?
Oct 26, 2012, 5:07 pm
#94
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: San Francisco
Programs: Amex MR, SPG Gold, HHonors Gold, AS MVP
Posts: 518
Did you use the Fare Information search to see if there are valid fares in those fare classes for your dates of travel and that you meet their advanced purchase requirement? You need both available fare class inventory and a valid published fare to actually book a fare.
Now that I look at it, the Fare Information page doesn't seem to show all available fares. Does it only show non-stop flights?
Edit: OK, I see now. The fare code with the (relatively) low A fares is HUAUPN, and when I read the rules, sure enough one of the rules is: "THE FARE COMPONENT MUST NOT BE ON ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING:
UA FLIGHTS 132 THROUGH 133"
And sure enough my preferred outbound is on UA 132. But two things strike me: one, the return flight on the 787 is not excluded from this fare; and two, this fare was available for UA 132 just a couple days ago. Are these rules being revised constantly according to some arcane logic?
Last edited by taliesin; Oct 26, 2012 at 6:20 pm Reason: Added additional detail
Oct 26, 2012, 6:57 pm
#95
Left Expert Flyer 4/23
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,741
No, I was not aware I could do that. (I am new to ExpertFlyer.) So A9 doesn't necessarily mean anything, since their might not actually be any A seats for sale?
Now that I look at it, the Fare Information page doesn't seem to show all available fares. Does it only show non-stop flights?
Edit: OK, I see now. The fare code with the (relatively) low A fares is HUAUPN, and when I read the rules, sure enough one of the rules is: "THE FARE COMPONENT MUST NOT BE ON ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING:
UA FLIGHTS 132 THROUGH 133"
And sure enough my preferred outbound is on UA 132. But two things strike me: one, the return flight on the 787 is not excluded from this fare; and two, this fare was available for UA 132 just a couple days ago. Are these rules being revised constantly according to some arcane logic?
Now that I look at it, the Fare Information page doesn't seem to show all available fares. Does it only show non-stop flights?
Edit: OK, I see now. The fare code with the (relatively) low A fares is HUAUPN, and when I read the rules, sure enough one of the rules is: "THE FARE COMPONENT MUST NOT BE ON ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING:
UA FLIGHTS 132 THROUGH 133"
And sure enough my preferred outbound is on UA 132. But two things strike me: one, the return flight on the 787 is not excluded from this fare; and two, this fare was available for UA 132 just a couple days ago. Are these rules being revised constantly according to some arcane logic?
Also note in our FAQ: http://www.expertflyer.com/expertflyer-support-faq
ExpertFlyer shows availability for a specific fare bucket (e.g., "Q"), but there isn't a corresponding fare listed. Why not?
Usually, it is because you see a fare class listed for a flight, but you cannot book it because it's not available on the routing you are flying.
For example, there may be a fare class available from A-B-C ('N' for example) but that fare class may not be bookable from B-C. It may show as available, but that's only to accommodate people flying A-B-C in that fare class. If you're just trying to go from B-C, it won't be bookable even though it shows as available.
Also, advance purchase requirements and other fare restrictions may be a factor. If N shows available, and that particular N fare has a 21 day advance purchase requirement, you won't be able to book if the dates you want to travel are outside that window.
Usually, it is because you see a fare class listed for a flight, but you cannot book it because it's not available on the routing you are flying.
For example, there may be a fare class available from A-B-C ('N' for example) but that fare class may not be bookable from B-C. It may show as available, but that's only to accommodate people flying A-B-C in that fare class. If you're just trying to go from B-C, it won't be bookable even though it shows as available.
Also, advance purchase requirements and other fare restrictions may be a factor. If N shows available, and that particular N fare has a 21 day advance purchase requirement, you won't be able to book if the dates you want to travel are outside that window.
Oct 26, 2012, 7:26 pm
#96
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: San Francisco
Programs: Amex MR, SPG Gold, HHonors Gold, AS MVP
Posts: 518
But if there is any advice, I would like to fly, preferably in A class:
UA 132 SFO-IAH 11/17 (overnight flight)
UA 1610 IAH-TPA 11/18
UA 1095 TPA-IAH 11/25
UA 1478 IAH-SFO 11/25
The return is available, and there are routings for SFO-TPA departing 11/17 that book into A (with the aforementioned fare code HUAUPN that excludes flight 132 and apparently any other SFO-IAH flights). Like I said before, both UA 132 and UA 1610 show A9, but apparently that does me no good here.
Is there a way to set up an alert to let me know if an A fare does become available?
Oct 26, 2012, 10:18 pm
#97
Left Expert Flyer 4/23
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,741
The return is available, and there are routings for SFO-TPA departing 11/17 that book into A (with the aforementioned fare code HUAUPN that excludes flight 132 and apparently any other SFO-IAH flights). Like I said before, both UA 132 and UA 1610 show A9, but apparently that does me no good here.
Is there a way to set up an alert to let me know if an A fare does become available?
Is there a way to set up an alert to let me know if an A fare does become available?
No I'm sorry we don't have alerts that cover changes in fare rules.
Nov 1, 2012, 9:10 pm
#100
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Northeast Kansas | Colorado Native
Programs: Amex Gold/Plat, UA *G, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Gold, NEXUS, TSA Disparager Unobtanium
Posts: 21,607
I've been trying to set an alert for LH 446 FRA-DEN on 1/16, but keep getting the message that this is an invalid flight. I've confirmed that the flight is operating that day (and the flight number has always been 446).
Any ideas?
Any ideas?
Nov 1, 2012, 9:23 pm
#101
Left Expert Flyer 4/23
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,741
I just created an alert for that flight using the Create New Flight Alert page and it worked, you could have typed something wrong on the form. The easier way would be to create the alert from the Flight Availability result page.
Nov 5, 2012, 6:54 am
#102
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 155
new user
I'm a new user to ExpertFlyer, I have a premium subscription - Please forgive my question if the answer is obvious to you. Be assured I've tried to do my part and I've spent quite a bit of time reading over users guides and knocking around the site trying to figure out what to do, and I'm still pretty confused.
I'm working on a fairly complicated itinerary for a family vacation next year. It involves travel across the US, to Asia, and to Hawaii, but isn't particularly "easy" and doesn't fit clearly into the round-trip routes that come up on Expertflyer. It involves a fairly big round trip, with stopovers of several days in several cities along the way. In general, should I be looking at doing a series of one-way trips or should I try to jerry-rig a round-trip with stopovers and extra flights on the side (for side trips)? Also, I'm flying out of a fairly small town, but if I put in a round trip flight from my feeder airport somehow fares come up from groups like All Nippon and Singapore, but I cannot access them on their sites. I'm very confused by this.
No matter what I try, the fares I find are more than what come up on Orbitz, so I'm sure I'm doing something wrong, I just cannot for the life of me figure out what is going on.
I'm open to any suggestions and advice.
dcman2
I'm working on a fairly complicated itinerary for a family vacation next year. It involves travel across the US, to Asia, and to Hawaii, but isn't particularly "easy" and doesn't fit clearly into the round-trip routes that come up on Expertflyer. It involves a fairly big round trip, with stopovers of several days in several cities along the way. In general, should I be looking at doing a series of one-way trips or should I try to jerry-rig a round-trip with stopovers and extra flights on the side (for side trips)? Also, I'm flying out of a fairly small town, but if I put in a round trip flight from my feeder airport somehow fares come up from groups like All Nippon and Singapore, but I cannot access them on their sites. I'm very confused by this.
No matter what I try, the fares I find are more than what come up on Orbitz, so I'm sure I'm doing something wrong, I just cannot for the life of me figure out what is going on.
I'm open to any suggestions and advice.
dcman2
Nov 5, 2012, 7:25 am
#104
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: London
Programs: AA EXP 2 MM
Posts: 2,823
What information are you trying to obtain from ExpertFlyer (for example that you are not getting from Orbitz)?
http://matrix.itasoftware.com is a good tool for exploring complicated itineraries (but needs some time to find out how to get the best out of it).
http://matrix.itasoftware.com is a good tool for exploring complicated itineraries (but needs some time to find out how to get the best out of it).
Nov 5, 2012, 8:09 am
#105
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 155
Exact dates somewhat flexible - June 2013
6/5 ELM-PDX
6/11 PDX-TYO
6/22 TYO-HNL
6/27 HNL-ELM
So, it goes all over, and the pdx stop throws off some of the usual routings. Any suggestions as to strategies on how to use expertflyer would be helpful. I'm not asking or expecting anyone to do the work for me, I'd rather learn how to use the software and some guidance as to how to go about this would be helpful. (I'm a big believer that if you give a man a fish you feed him for a day, if you teach a man to fish you feed him for a lifetime).
dcman2
6/5 ELM-PDX
6/11 PDX-TYO
6/22 TYO-HNL
6/27 HNL-ELM
So, it goes all over, and the pdx stop throws off some of the usual routings. Any suggestions as to strategies on how to use expertflyer would be helpful. I'm not asking or expecting anyone to do the work for me, I'd rather learn how to use the software and some guidance as to how to go about this would be helpful. (I'm a big believer that if you give a man a fish you feed him for a day, if you teach a man to fish you feed him for a lifetime).
dcman2