Feb 14, 2015, 12:53 pm

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

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:

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

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Dec 4, 2013 | 9:00 am

#601

JA318

Join Date: Jul 2007

Posts: 20

Quote:

Originally Posted by ExpertFlyer Voice

In that case, you should be only looking at the QF flight numbers as award searching isn't valid for codeshares. It doesn't matter that you want to use AA miles, it matters which airline operates the flight.

Thanks for the tip. So if I search for DFW/BNE flying QF in U/X class on 10/8/14 I get no results, which is probably expected since that matches the AA site. Is there any way to create a flight alert to know if that flight ever does appear? I can find the flight when searching Y class, but then can only create the alert for Y, not U/X.

Dec 4, 2013 | 9:12 am

#602

ExpertFlyer Voice

Company Representative - ExpertFlyer

Join Date: Jan 2005

Posts: 2,927

Quote:

Originally Posted by JA318

Is there any way to create a flight alert to know if that flight ever does appear? I can find the flight when searching Y class, but then can only create the alert for Y, not U/X.

Yes, as previously noted:

Quote:

Originally Posted by ExpertFlyer Voice

You can however create a Flight Alert for the QF flight from either the Flight Availability results or the Create New Flight Alert page. Be sure to use the proper QF award class codes.

As both of those methods allow you to enter any class code for the alert.

Dec 4, 2013 | 9:33 am

#603

JA318

Join Date: Jul 2007

Posts: 20

Perfect, thanks so much!

Dec 6, 2013 | 10:26 pm

#604

cloudybw

Join Date: Sep 2012

Location: Up In The Cloud

Programs: UA 1K MM; BA S, AA G; AS G; DL | SPG P50, M G, CC G, IHG P, HLT S | Hertz PC, Avis F

Posts: 683

I tried to search for routing rules of some US fares, but all return:

TKT DATE MUST BE EQUAL OR EARLIER THAN TVL DATE

which is useless.

Any ways to get the real routing rule on US? I subscribe EF mainly for the routing rule...

Dec 6, 2013 | 11:01 pm

#605

ExpertFlyer Voice

Company Representative - ExpertFlyer

Join Date: Jan 2005

Posts: 2,927

Quote:

Originally Posted by cloudybw

The error message indicates that the dates you use have to be correct. We cannot help you without the details of your search so please email us, thanks.

Dec 16, 2013 | 7:53 pm

#606

danapop

Join Date: Feb 2013

Location: YEG

Programs: AC: Ac*A, , Nexus: Expired

Posts: 1,494

United Rewards gone from ExpertFlyer

Any idea when this will change again? I miss this tool...

Dec 16, 2013 | 11:20 pm

#607

FlyerChrisK

Join Date: Nov 2010

Location: NYC

Programs: AA EXP, Hilton GLD, Marriott Plat, NEXUS/GE

Posts: 2,872

It's not coming back.

Dec 17, 2013 | 9:48 am

#608

pete4212

Join Date: Apr 2011

Posts: 288

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyerChrisK

It's not coming back.

Since ExpertFlyer has been telling people that they are actively working with United on restoring the data, that would be premature to say at this point.

Dec 19, 2013 | 2:24 am

#609

Lux

Join Date: Jun 2001

Location: London, UK

Posts: 1,094

I'm aware of the difference in availability shown between different GDS / POS, but have been finding that UK availability is often completely 'blocked' whereas US availability is quite detailed. Two examples:

ICN-LHR in early Jan.

UK availability:
03 JAN OZ521: JA CA DC ZC UC YC BC MC HC EC QC KC SC VC LC WC TC GC
04 JAN OZ521: JL CL DL ZL UL YL BL ML HL EL QL KL SL VL LL WL TL GL

US availability:
03 JAN OZ521: J5 C3 D0 Z0 U0 Y0 B0 M0 H0 E0 Q0 K0 S0 V0 L0 W0 T0 G0
04 JAN OZ521: J0 C0 D0 Z0 U0 Y0 B0 M0 H0 E0 Q0 K0 S0 V0 L0 W0 T0 G0

BKK-CMB in early Jan.

UK availability:
04 JAN UL 883: JC CC DC IC YC BC PC HC KC WC MC EC LC RC VC SC NC QC OC
05 JAN UL 883: JC CC DC IC YC BC PC HC KC WC MC EC LC RC VC SC NC QC OC
(Every search around this period returns 'Closed')

US availability:
04 JAN UL 883: J0 C0 D0 I0 Y0 B0 P0 H0 K0 W0 M0 E0 L0 R0 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0
05 JAN UL 883: J0 C0 D0 I0 Y4 B2 P2 H2 K1 W1 M1 E1 L1 R1 V1 S1 N0 Q0 O0

This seems to be only a fairly recent thing. It matters because, as a UK resident, that's where my tickets are purchased (including that one for BKK-CMB - I'm trying to get my girlfriend home!)

What might explain this significant discrepancy? Is the UK-based GDS you're using specifically blocking your access to these airlines?

Thanks.

Dec 19, 2013 | 2:08 pm

#610

ExpertFlyer Voice

Company Representative - ExpertFlyer

Join Date: Jan 2005

Posts: 2,927

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lux

Some GDSs show the non-numeric availability codes (C,L,A) and some don't. Also the same airline may participate in different GDSs at different levels, affecting the data shown.

For the GDSs that show the non-numeric codes, C & L = 0 in that when comparing the different sources, any fare class that isn't available with or without a waitlist, will just show as 0 elsewhere.

Also a status of A means that there is availability, so with the OZ example you'll see that classes that show >0 availability on one GDS show as A on another, so the results aren't as different as it appears.

Dec 19, 2013 | 2:21 pm

#611

Lux

Join Date: Jun 2001

Location: London, UK

Posts: 1,094

Quote:

Originally Posted by ExpertFlyer Voice

Ah right, that broadly makes sense, although I'm surprised that a GDS would just show 0 rather than C or L. Anyhow, I'd suggest that this information is made available somewhere on the support or FAQ section of the website as I had trouble interpreting it.

Thanks.

Dec 24, 2013 | 10:05 am

#612

danapop

Join Date: Feb 2013

Location: YEG

Programs: AC: Ac*A, , Nexus: Expired

Posts: 1,494

any other site I can use for this?

Dec 24, 2013 | 1:42 pm

#613

chx1975

Join Date: Jun 2008

Location: YVR

Programs: Aeroplan, AAdvantage

Posts: 2,107

As far as I understand these matters, Aeroplan and ANA still works so does http://www.flisea.com/ which uses those.

Dec 24, 2013 | 5:52 pm

#614

UAPremExecflyer

Suspended

Join Date: Jun 2001

Location: DCA or IAD (originally DUB)

Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM, Hertz PC, Marriott Platinum/Lifetime Gold

Posts: 7,657

Quote:

Originally Posted by danapop

Any idea when this will change again? I miss this tool...

You're about two months late to this news ...
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...ct-2013-a.html

Dec 30, 2013 | 2:18 pm

#615

rookieflyer

Join Date: Aug 2009

Location: SEA

Programs: US Silver Preferred, Delta

Posts: 334

Expertflyer and AS.com both show LAS-SEA on 1/10/14 flight 601 as W7 but when I call British to book it. They don't see any availability?

Any thoughts or just call again?