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.
--------------------
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
May 16, 2022 | 10:14 am
#2551
Company Representative - ExpertFlyer
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,928
Hi folks, we're testing a solution for BA/QR/IB awards in production, so you can search (ignore the message at the top of the page) and please email us directly if you find searches where there is an issue with the results or that just don't work, thank you.
Update 4/29: We're fixing edge case issues as they come up. As part of that we may have to turn off the search from time to time. We'll post here with updates and we won't remove the notification banners from the results pages until we think we have it correct. Thanks.
Update 4/29: We're fixing edge case issues as they come up. As part of that we may have to turn off the search from time to time. We'll post here with updates and we won't remove the notification banners from the results pages until we think we have it correct. Thanks.
May 18, 2022 | 11:21 am
#2553
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 155
My best guess is this is because I do not see AA publishing a fare with S class basis for that routing. I checked by searching ExpertFlyer’s fare search for a one-way flight on 7/01/22 from DCA to ORD. I also double checked by searching for the same flight on ITA Matrix with the “F BC=S” faring option.
May 18, 2022 | 11:35 am
#2554
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 258
My best guess is this is because I do not see AA publishing a fare with S class basis for that routing. I checked by searching ExpertFlyers fare search for a one-way flight on 7/01/22 from DCA to ORD. I also double checked by searching for the same flight on ITA Matrix with the F BC=S faring option.
May 18, 2022 | 11:39 am
#2555
Company Representative - ExpertFlyer
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,928
They aren't fares, they are fare classes with availability. AA may not want to sell an S ticket DCA-ORD on that flight but may need S class inventory if it's a connection with another flight. We describe this in our EduGuide and FAQ on the Help page on EF where just because there is fare class inventory doesn't mean there is/has to be a valid fare to use it.
May 18, 2022 | 11:40 am
#2556
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 155
There’s a difference between there being space available in a “fare bucket” and there being an underlying “fare” for that bucket. For someone to sell you a ticket, you need both.
A “fare” is basically an offer from the airline saying “We’ll sell you a ticket right now for this much money if there is space in the S bucket for any flight between DCA and ORD on this date that meets some conditions.” You can then use the search you performed, the Flight Availability search, to see if there is actually S space available for you to take them up on that offer.
However, the availability of space on a plane and the availability of an offer to sell you a seat for a price if that space is available are two completely separate things. You can have either one without the other.
In this case, you did a flight availability search. It came back and said there is space in the S bucket. However, that is only half the question. To actually be sold a ticket, you also need a fare that uses that space. To look up what fares are available, you can use ExpertFlyer’s fare search. In this case, there doesn’t look to be a fare for this route, period, that uses S space. The lowest fare available uses L space. So, that’s what AA.com offers.
A “fare” is basically an offer from the airline saying “We’ll sell you a ticket right now for this much money if there is space in the S bucket for any flight between DCA and ORD on this date that meets some conditions.” You can then use the search you performed, the Flight Availability search, to see if there is actually S space available for you to take them up on that offer.
However, the availability of space on a plane and the availability of an offer to sell you a seat for a price if that space is available are two completely separate things. You can have either one without the other.
In this case, you did a flight availability search. It came back and said there is space in the S bucket. However, that is only half the question. To actually be sold a ticket, you also need a fare that uses that space. To look up what fares are available, you can use ExpertFlyer’s fare search. In this case, there doesn’t look to be a fare for this route, period, that uses S space. The lowest fare available uses L space. So, that’s what AA.com offers.
May 18, 2022 | 12:36 pm
#2557
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,752
The problem may stem from the blogs, as is so often the case. Many of them seem to have adopted the terminology that if a flight is showing that it has (say) four S class seats available, then "there are four S fares on that flight". It sounds jargon-y, as if the blogger is in the know. However, if a blog says that, it's wrong - but then it's a blog, after all.
May 18, 2022 | 12:51 pm
#2558
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 258
They aren't fares, they are fare classes with availability. AA may not want to sell an S ticket DCA-ORD on that flight but may need S class inventory if it's a connection with another flight. We describe this in our EduGuide and FAQ on the Help page on EF where just because there is fare class inventory doesn't mean there is/has to be a valid fare to use it.
Theres a difference between there being space available in a fare bucket and there being an underlying fare for that bucket. For someone to sell you a ticket, you need both.
A fare is basically an offer from the airline saying Well sell you a ticket right now for this much money if there is space in the S bucket for any flight between DCA and ORD on this date that meets some conditions. You can then use the search you performed, the Flight Availability search, to see if there is actually S space available for you to take them up on that offer.
However, the availability of space on a plane and the availability of an offer to sell you a seat for a price if that space is available are two completely separate things. You can have either one without the other.
In this case, you did a flight availability search. It came back and said there is space in the S bucket. However, that is only half the question. To actually be sold a ticket, you also need a fare that uses that space. To look up what fares are available, you can use ExpertFlyers fare search. In this case, there doesnt look to be a fare for this route, period, that uses S space. The lowest fare available uses L space. So, thats what AA.com offers.
A fare is basically an offer from the airline saying Well sell you a ticket right now for this much money if there is space in the S bucket for any flight between DCA and ORD on this date that meets some conditions. You can then use the search you performed, the Flight Availability search, to see if there is actually S space available for you to take them up on that offer.
However, the availability of space on a plane and the availability of an offer to sell you a seat for a price if that space is available are two completely separate things. You can have either one without the other.
In this case, you did a flight availability search. It came back and said there is space in the S bucket. However, that is only half the question. To actually be sold a ticket, you also need a fare that uses that space. To look up what fares are available, you can use ExpertFlyers fare search. In this case, there doesnt look to be a fare for this route, period, that uses S space. The lowest fare available uses L space. So, thats what AA.com offers.
The problem may stem from the blogs, as is so often the case. Many of them seem to have adopted the terminology that if a flight is showing that it has (say) four S class seats available, then "there are four S fares on that flight". It sounds jargon-y, as if the blogger is in the know. However, if a blog says that, it's wrong - but then it's a blog, after all.
May 19, 2022 | 4:00 am
#2559
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 9,139
The problem may stem from the blogs, as is so often the case. Many of them seem to have adopted the terminology that if a flight is showing that it has (say) four S class seats available, then "there are four S fares on that flight". It sounds jargon-y, as if the blogger is in the know. However, if a blog says that, it's wrong - but then it's a blog, after all.
Many of us here prefer ITA Matrix, which has far more fine-grained controls and provides a lot of detailed information. Others prefer Google Flights for the speed and simplicity.
May 21, 2022 | 10:07 am
#2561
Moderator: Hyatt, American Express; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, AA EXP, UA Silver, Hyatt Glob, Mlife Noir (=> Marriott Amb), invol FT beta tester
Posts: 21,669
May 25, 2022 | 6:34 pm
#2562
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: PHL - NYC - PSA/BLQ/MIL
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott/Hilton Gold, AMX-Plat, Global Entry
Posts: 3,270
When I search IB or BA for awards, I get this message:
IB (or BA) 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.
Do we have an ETA on a fix for this?
IB (or BA) 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.
Do we have an ETA on a fix for this?
May 26, 2022 | 2:53 am
#2563
Company Representative - ExpertFlyer
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,928
If you try a search you'll see that it works. We aren't removing the notification banner until we've fully tested a fix we recently implemented. If you have questions about a specific search please email us directly with your example for help, thanks.
May 26, 2022 | 6:18 am
#2564
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: PHL - NYC - PSA/BLQ/MIL
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott/Hilton Gold, AMX-Plat, Global Entry
Posts: 3,270
It is awfully slow so when the results do arrive along with that banner one wonders if they are correct so thanks for confirming it is working despite what the banner says.
May 28, 2022 | 4:24 pm
#2565
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Oxfordshire
Posts: 478
Will you notify users by email if the fix is found to not be working? I've set some BA alerts and I was hoping I could forget about it now and wait for an alert but I guess there's a chance availability appears but EF has stopped supporting BA again and I wouldn't even be aware