Feb 14, 2015, 12:53 pm
Last edit by: ExpertFlyer Voice
The purpose of this thread is to post questions, feedback, and report issues with ExpertFlyer. The ExpertFlyer team will respond as soon as possible from the ExpertFlyer Voice account (usually within 24 hours except on weekends).
You can also contact ExpertFlyer support at [email protected]
This is a community-maintained thread it is not supported by ExpertFlyer.
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Seat Maps: we're currently not able to show seat maps for flights departing within the next 24 hours for several airlines: DL, BA, QR , ANA, B6, & JL
Searches currently not working:
To search AA upgrades:
You can also contact ExpertFlyer support at [email protected]
This is a community-maintained thread it is not supported by ExpertFlyer.
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Seat Maps: we're currently not able to show seat maps for flights departing within the next 24 hours for several airlines: DL, BA, QR , ANA, B6, & JL
Searches currently not working:
- Upgrades - AY, BA, EK, EY, IB, QR, VS
- Awards - AY, BA, IB, EY, QR, VS
To search AA upgrades:
- Use the Award & Upgrade tool
- Only search for individual segments (set the "Connection Preference" drop-down to "Direct/Non-Stop only"). Flight results that are part of a connection won't show the upgrade version of C or A inventory because AA only files upgrade inventory as individual, not married, segments. (Married segments show revenue inventory instead of upgrade inventory.)
- To avoid confusion, check the "Exclude Codeshares" box, as AA awards and upgrades are not valid on codeshares.
- 2 minute video explanation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGRNFYIbHp4
ExpertFlyer Help Desk, Information and Updates Thread
Jan 14, 2021 | 9:48 am
#2296
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,752
As I've mentioned many times in this thread, award availability IS being correctly shown on Reward Flight Finder AND SeatSpy - the downside is that they tell you when there is availability on a particular day, but not which specific flights. EF has always been the go-to place for this, but for months you've dropped the ball. How is it that these other sites keep up to date, but not EF?
Jan 14, 2021 | 9:55 am
#2297
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Cayman, San Diego, London
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold, AA 4MM Lifetime Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Amb, Bonvoy Lifetime Gold
Posts: 1,074
Thank you for the technical explanation for which I've been looking for a long time. "Different data source" explains a lot. Now it's for EF to explain why it's been broken for (literally) months.
Jan 14, 2021 | 12:00 pm
#2298
Company Representative - ExpertFlyer
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,928
Jan 14, 2021 | 12:15 pm
#2299
Company Representative - ExpertFlyer
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,928
Anyone notice or can anyone explain why AA MileSaver Award inventory is no longer showing on EF? It looks as of mid-day yesterday ExpertFlyer is no longer displaying U, T and W inventory levels. Did AA now restrict the GDS from viewing these inventories and if so was this expected or announced? IF this is a permanent change then this is a really big deal especially since the change affecting A and C upgrade availability with AA that happened several months ago.
Jan 14, 2021 | 12:43 pm
#2300
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 222
Fixed. Apparently, after a few years of having ZUTW classes show in the clear, AA re-hid them. We just had to flip a switch on our end to get them as hidden inventory classes, so now they are available again via the Award & Upgrade search, but won't be seen in the general Flight Availability search.
Jan 14, 2021 | 12:55 pm
#2301
Company Representative - ExpertFlyer
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,928
Because AA no longer returns them in the general flight availability response. This is the way it always was up until a couple years ago, then the award classes started showing up in the general flight availability response. Looks like they fixed that "bug" today. However that is why we include 3 "Other Classes" fields in the Award search, to add in revenue fare classes to the Award response.
Jan 17, 2021 | 8:14 pm
#2302
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: YYC
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Diamond, Accor Diamond, SPG Gold, Fairmont Premier, Club Carlson Gold
Posts: 330
Can anyone provide an update as to when EK award availability might be back up and running? Getting the error: EK award inventory is temporarily unavailable due to an issue with our data provider. They are actively working to fix the issue. Thank you for your patience.
Jan 18, 2021 | 1:26 am
#2303
Company Representative - ExpertFlyer
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,928
Can anyone provide an update as to when EK award availability might be back up and running? Getting the error: EK award inventory is temporarily unavailable due to an issue with our data provider. They are actively working to fix the issue. Thank you for your patience.
Jan 29, 2021 | 1:08 pm
#2304
Company Representative - ExpertFlyer
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,928
BA Award Search Restored
The BA award search is now working again, please test it out and email us directly at customercare@ with any issues you may encounter, thank you.
We are waiting on BA to fix the USA POS issue for Flight Availability from their end (GDS/host issue) and EK award searching is still being worked on.
We are waiting on BA to fix the USA POS issue for Flight Availability from their end (GDS/host issue) and EK award searching is still being worked on.
Jan 29, 2021 | 4:15 pm
#2305
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Cayman, San Diego, London
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold, AA 4MM Lifetime Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Amb, Bonvoy Lifetime Gold
Posts: 1,074
Thank you for letting us know. It's great to have that facility once again. I've just tried five different award routes; each search took about 70 seconds which is painfully slow. At least it's working again, but maybe, in time, something can be done about the speed. (NB I use a 300mps connection, so I'm sure the delay is not at my end.)
Jan 29, 2021 | 5:29 pm
#2306
Company Representative - ExpertFlyer
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,928
Thank you for letting us know. It's great to have that facility once again. I've just tried five different award routes; each search took about 70 seconds which is painfully slow. At least it's working again, but maybe, in time, something can be done about the speed. (NB I use a 300mps connection, so I'm sure the delay is not at my end.)
Last edited by ExpertFlyer Voice; Jan 29, 2021 at 6:10 pm
Jan 29, 2021 | 6:29 pm
#2307
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Cayman, San Diego, London
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold, AA 4MM Lifetime Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Amb, Bonvoy Lifetime Gold
Posts: 1,074
Z SFO 84"
Z LAX 70"
Z HKG 66"
Z JFK 47"
Z ORD 37"
U FCO 34"
U CDG 30"
U ARN 27"
U DUB 25"
Jan 29, 2021 | 7:38 pm
#2308
Company Representative - ExpertFlyer
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,928
To have a true comparison you need to do the same exact search in Z and then not Z. Your examples are all for different routes, which doesn't control for class as a lone variable. If you do that, and then see consistent discrepancies, please email us your searches, thanks.
Last edited by ExpertFlyer Voice; Jan 29, 2021 at 7:43 pm
Jan 30, 2021 | 4:54 pm
#2309
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Cayman, San Diego, London
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold, AA 4MM Lifetime Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Amb, Bonvoy Lifetime Gold
Posts: 1,074
The US West Coast seems to be particularly slow.
Jan 30, 2021 | 5:05 pm
#2310
Company Representative - ExpertFlyer
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,928
Right that's the problem, you used different locations. You should do the same exact search (date and city pair) for Z and U (as separate searches) then compare between them. This way the only variable in the search is class, not class and city pair, so then if there is a meaningful difference in search time, you know that the only difference is class requested. If you find meaningful results after doing that, please email us the specifics directly, thanks.