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Old Feb 14, 2015, 12:53 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
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.

--------------------
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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Old Mar 18, 2014 | 12:58 pm
  #691  
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yep, it's periodic. you'll get a notification eventually when they run the next poll.
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Old Mar 18, 2014 | 1:30 pm
  #692  
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Originally Posted by Passmethesickbag
I have several pending alerts on Expertflyer (class availability and seat availability). I have just checked, and the class I requested is available (7 seats) and has presumably been so since my upgrade cleared two days ago. The alerts I set up for my economy seats being available have also not triggered any e-mail, and yet they are still available since I got upgraded. The check now button for all of the alerts also indicates no availability. I have tried reporting this by clicking on the "Contact support" button. The submit button there leads to the error message "An unknown or unexpected error has occurred. Please contact us if this problem persists.". Gee, thanks guys, that's what I am trying to do using the only method that you have made available to me. Very unhappy with EF after many years as a satisfied customer. What is going on?
You can email us at any time at [email protected]. The email address is both listed in the first post of our support thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...sk-thread.html and on our About Us page: http://www.expertflyer.com/about-expertflyer

Please close your browser then login to EF again. If you are still experiencing a problem now please email us with the exact time that you tried to click on the Contact Support link so we can look at our logs.

Regarding the alerts, as has been mentioned on the EF Help Desk thread before, alerts are checked several times a day, not every minute. If the Quick Check isn't returning the results you think it should first make sure you aren't running into married segment logic by only doing the flight search for just the segment that the alert is looking at. If you need us to further investigate let us know the exact name of the alert on your account along with your account info via email.
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Old Mar 18, 2014 | 3:54 pm
  #693  
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I think it is broken. I keep seeing C0 on my flights.

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Old Mar 20, 2014 | 9:34 am
  #694  
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I see a particular fare class showing availability on EF but 2 different UA agents told me there is no availability at all. Same exact flights, route ... so what's driving the differences?
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Old Mar 20, 2014 | 10:00 am
  #695  
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Originally Posted by topcat_dcx
I see a particular fare class showing availability on EF but 2 different UA agents told me there is no availability at all. Same exact flights, route ... so what's driving the differences?
Can you provide a little more context? I have a couple ideas off the top of my head, but without more info I can't distinguish between them.
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Old Mar 20, 2014 | 11:38 am
  #696  
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trying to SDC my flight for tomorrow to a better option that leaves slightly later in the day. Routing is CVG-ORD-XXX-HNL. My original flight is a 6am and the option i wanted to SDC to starts at 10:56am. UA agents keep telling me no K class is available but EF showed K2, then K3 and K2. I was on phone with UA agent and ran EF simultaneously yet the results were different.
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Old Mar 24, 2014 | 3:01 pm
  #697  
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EF Voice,

Could you put something on your DL searches to make it clear that the R and O inventory are actually RP and OP inventory? It took me a couple days to realize that your searches for RP and OP do not mirror the R and O inventory? It would help clarify issues and reduce annoyance/angst because of wondering why the DL.com isn't showing the same inventory. Thanks!
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Old Mar 24, 2014 | 7:45 pm
  #698  
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Originally Posted by gmax58
EF Voice,

Could you put something on your DL searches to make it clear that the R and O inventory are actually RP and OP inventory? It took me a couple days to realize that your searches for RP and OP do not mirror the R and O inventory? It would help clarify issues and reduce annoyance/angst because of wondering why the DL.com isn't showing the same inventory. Thanks!
R/O does to our knowledge mirror RP/OP and we have noted that they do represent upgrade certificate inventory in the class code descriptions. This is mirroring is done so travel agents can search/book upgrades as most GDSs only support single letter class codes. This is also clearly stated on the DL website under both Global and Regional certificates terms: http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_...tificates.html:

Delta representatives must book in "RP/OP" class and travel agencies must book in "R/O" class.
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Old Mar 26, 2014 | 7:34 pm
  #699  
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TPD restrictions not shown in EF routing rules?

I'm looking at the AA fare DFR from CDG to SCL. (Great fare -- quite flexible, no penalties, good booking class...)

In ExpertFlyer, the routing is displayed as follows:
Code:
AT01*  /VIA THE ATLANTIC/ PUBLISHED MPM 8708                    
       MILEAGE SYSTEM APPLIES ORIGIN TO DESTINATION             
       TICKETED POINT DEDUCTION OF 1000 MILES APPLIES           
       WHEN TRAVEL IS VIA DFW AND/OR BOS
When I ask AA about the fare rules, they tell me there's another restriction on the 1000 mile TPD: "PROVIDED ALL TRAVEL IS ON AA WITHIN AREA 1". That's OK but does result in an additional fare for routings that would have benefited from the TPD.

Is AA correct? Is that rule genuinely in the fare? If so, I'm surprised that EF doesn't show it. Would that be an artifact of the way AA filed the fare? A SABRE glitch? Something else?
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Old Mar 26, 2014 | 7:59 pm
  #700  
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Originally Posted by bedelman
I'm looking at the AA fare DFR from CDG to SCL. (Great fare -- quite flexible, no penalties, good booking class...)

In ExpertFlyer, the routing is displayed as follows:
Code:
AT01*  /VIA THE ATLANTIC/ PUBLISHED MPM 8708                    
       MILEAGE SYSTEM APPLIES ORIGIN TO DESTINATION             
       TICKETED POINT DEDUCTION OF 1000 MILES APPLIES           
       WHEN TRAVEL IS VIA DFW AND/OR BOS
When I ask AA about the fare rules, they tell me there's another restriction on the 1000 mile TPD: "PROVIDED ALL TRAVEL IS ON AA WITHIN AREA 1". That's OK but does result in an additional fare for routings that would have benefited from the TPD.

Is AA correct? Is that rule genuinely in the fare? If so, I'm surprised that EF doesn't show it. Would that be an artifact of the way AA filed the fare? A SABRE glitch? Something else?
That would make sense as it's an AA fare that you would have to fly on AA marketed flights in the Americas (IATA Area 1). Why would AA let you fly another carrier to/from BOS and DFW, cities that AA itself serves? The IATA area restrictions are also listed in the Fare Rules, you should read that as well.
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Old Mar 28, 2014 | 7:12 am
  #701  
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EF Voice, thanks for looking at this!

That would make sense as it's an AA fare that you would have to fly on AA marketed flights in the Americas (IATA Area 1).
I was looking at other carriers' service for portions of the journey within Area 1 because I thought that was permitted under fare rules. Here are some relevant sections:

Code:
STOPOVERS	   UNLIMITED FREE STOPOVERS PERMITTED ON THE PRICING
   UNIT.

TRANSFERS	   UNLIMITED TRANSFERS PERMITTED ON THE PRICING UNIT.
   FARE BREAK SURFACE SECTORS NOT PERMITTED AND EMBEDDED
   SURFACE SECTORS PERMITTED ON THE FARE COMPONENT.

FLIGHT APPLICATION	   THE FARE COMPONENT MUST NOT BE ON
       ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING
           ANY AF FLIGHT
           ANY LH FLIGHT
           ANY KL FLIGHT.
   AND
   THE FARE COMPONENT MUST NOT BE ON
       ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING
           IB FLIGHTS 5000 THROUGH 5999
           IB FLIGHTS 7704 THROUGH 7705.
   AND
   THE FARE COMPONENT MUST INCLUDE TRAVEL VIA EACH
   TRANSATLANTIC SECTOR BUT NOT ON
       ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING
         AA FLIGHTS 5100 THROUGH 8399.
Notice: Few carriers are excluded. For example, fine to take LA within south america. But with unlimited transfers and unlimited stopovers, subject of course to the MPM, one can imagine zig-zagging around the US a bit. CDG-JFK-ORD-MIA-EZE-SCL or what have you. But under the rules I quoted above, you might think the routing coculd just as easily be CDG-AA-JFK-DL-MSP-... Do you see any fare rule excluding this? As I said, it's a great and flexible fare!


Why would AA let you fly another carrier to/from BOS and DFW, cities that AA itself serves?
First, the TPD text I quoted seemed to offer a deduction "VIA DFW AND/OR BOS". Note "OR". Travel via just one of those cities would suffice. No obligation to travel via both DFW and BOS to get the deduction.

Why would AA let pax fly other carriers? It's a flexible fare, allowing unlimited stopovers and transfers, so I guess AA thinks those benefits help attract passengers with specific requirements. You can imagine a passenger whose routing needs or schedule needs are best served with some segments on other carriers, but of course with the transatlantic segments on AA as they must be.

The IATA area restrictions are also listed in the Fare Rules, you should read that as well.
I read the entire text captioned "Fare Rules Results" in ExpertFlyer. I did not find the restriction "PROVIDED ALL TRAVEL IS ON AA WITHIN AREA 1" that AA claims is in the fare rules or routing rules. Do you see that there? Where can I get that?


If you (or others) would like to look at this DFR fare in order to see what I'm seeing, note that it's a historic fare -- so enter a past ticketing date. I enter CDG to SCL, outbound 4/5/14, return 4/12/14, ticketing date 4/4/13. Then DFR does appear in the list of fares in the market.
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Old Apr 2, 2014 | 10:32 am
  #702  
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Hi, I am new to expertfluyer where I suscribed to the annual premium service. Maybe it's a dumb question, but I'd like to ask if it is possible to find on which itinerary a specific fare code is being used by a specific carrier.
Example: fare code is IPREUAF and I want to know if IB is using this fare code and on which segment.
Any help on this regard? Cannot find anything on EF guide.
Thanks
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Old Apr 2, 2014 | 6:48 pm
  #703  
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Originally Posted by seris7
Hi, I am new to expertfluyer where I suscribed to the annual premium service. Maybe it's a dumb question, but I'd like to ask if it is possible to find on which itinerary a specific fare code is being used by a specific carrier.
Example: fare code is IPREUAF and I want to know if IB is using this fare code and on which segment.
Any help on this regard? Cannot find anything on EF guide.
Thanks
Welcome to ExpertFlyer. Fare codes aren't itinerary specific, or flight specific. They are just the published fare tariffs that can be applied to a flight if there is booking class availability and the fare rules are met. The first few pages of our EduGuide which can be found on our Help page touches on this.
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Old Apr 4, 2014 | 9:56 am
  #704  
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Fare Information Search Help

I am a new ExperFlyer user, and trying to make sense of the Fare Information tool. I did spend some trying to search to get a better understanding, but I'm still having some issues. Want to use this knowledge as I use the tool further.

So as an example, looking at a BOM-EWR itinerary on UA - leaving June 4 and returning June 9 - its non-stop so should be pretty straightforward. I understand that not all local taxes and security charges are included with the EF search, so understand numbers would not match up completely, but still can't understand what I am seeing.

I can find an L fare on UA, fare basis LRCAAW, and its the same both ways. UAs site is showing a base fare of 1049.80 (which as far as I know, includes the US excise tax and any fuel surcharges) as well as $137.67 of taxes/additional fees, for a total of $1187.47.

When I find that fare basis on EF, it shows me a base fare of $499. I also am guessing, based on the fare number from EF, that any fuel surcharge is not included (and when I choose the link to show the fare without surcharges, nothing changes). When I look at the rules, I see the following in the surcharge section:

FARE RULE
ORIGINATING INDIA -
THE PROVISIONS BELOW APPLY ONLY AS FOLLOWS -
WHEN TICKETS ARE SOLD IN INDIA.
MISCELLANEOUS/OTHER SURCHARGE OF INR 150 PER
DIRECTION WILL BE ADDED TO THE APPLICABLE FARE PER
ANY PASSENGER.

GENERAL RULE - APPLY UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED
IF INFANT WITHOUT A SEAT PSGR UNDER 2.
THERE IS NO MISCELLANEOUS/OTHER SURCHARGE PER
DIRECTION PER ANY PASSENGER.
THE PROVISIONS BELOW APPLY ONLY AS FOLLOWS -
TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED ON THE STOCK OF UA.
OR - TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED ON THE STOCK OF UA OR AC.
OR - TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED ON THE STOCK OF UA OR LH.
OR - TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED ON THE STOCK OF UA OR LX.
OR - TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED ON THE STOCK OF UA OR OS.
OR - TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED ON THE STOCK OF UA OR SN.
THERE IS NO MISCELLANEOUS/OTHER SURCHARGE PER
DIRECTION PER ANY PASSENGER.
NOTE - TEXT BELOW NOT VALIDATED FOR AUTOPRICING.
YQ FEE MAY APPLY
ORIGINATING AREA 1 -
MISCELLANEOUS/OTHER SURCHARGE OF USD 320.00 PER
DIRECTION WILL BE ADDED TO THE APPLICABLE FARE PER
ANY PASSENGER.
AND - ORIGINATING SOUTH ASIAN SUBCONTINENT -
MISCELLANEOUS/OTHER SURCHARGE OF USD 420.00 PER
DIRECTION WILL BE ADDED TO THE APPLICABLE FARE PER
ANY PASSENGER.
I take this to mean that there is an INR 300 surcharge (150 per direction - total ~$5 US) and that since its originating in India (South Asian subcontinent) that there "may" be a fuel surcharge of $420 per direction. But adding 420 x 2 to the given fare produces a number higher than the amount being charged. And that doesn't even consider the taxes that aren't included in the EF fare. Maybe its only charged one way? But even that doesn't add up when I try to take the excise tax out.

Can anyone help me make a little sense of this - would help me use the tool much better in the future. Appreciate any responses.
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Old Apr 4, 2014 | 7:11 pm
  #705  
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Originally Posted by emcampbe
I am a new ExperFlyer user, and trying to make sense of the Fare Information tool. I did spend some trying to search to get a better understanding, but I'm still having some issues. Want to use this knowledge as I use the tool further.

So as an example, looking at a BOM-EWR itinerary on UA - leaving June 4 and returning June 9 - its non-stop so should be pretty straightforward. I understand that not all local taxes and security charges are included with the EF search, so understand numbers would not match up completely, but still can't understand what I am seeing.

I can find an L fare on UA, fare basis LRCAAW, and its the same both ways. UAs site is showing a base fare of 1049.80 (which as far as I know, includes the US excise tax and any fuel surcharges) as well as $137.67 of taxes/additional fees, for a total of $1187.47.

When I find that fare basis on EF, it shows me a base fare of $499. I also am guessing, based on the fare number from EF, that any fuel surcharge is not included (and when I choose the link to show the fare without surcharges, nothing changes). When I look at the rules, I see the following in the surcharge section:



I take this to mean that there is an INR 300 surcharge (150 per direction - total ~$5 US) and that since its originating in India (South Asian subcontinent) that there "may" be a fuel surcharge of $420 per direction. But adding 420 x 2 to the given fare produces a number higher than the amount being charged. And that doesn't even consider the taxes that aren't included in the EF fare. Maybe its only charged one way? But even that doesn't add up when I try to take the excise tax out.

Can anyone help me make a little sense of this - would help me use the tool much better in the future. Appreciate any responses.
The short answer is that the fuel surcharge is only being priced at $275.40 each way when you price out those flights, although the reason isn't clear in the rules it states:

NOTE - TEXT BELOW NOT VALIDATED FOR AUTOPRICING.

Which could mean that the fuel charges are included in other aspects of the fare that doesn't show in the rules (there are 2 ways to file fuel surcharges). It could mean that the fuel surcharges are dependent on the flights, and the amounts in the rules are the upper limit.

The INR 300 surcharge also isn't being applied as pricing the flight from the USA results in the same $1187.47 price on United.com that you see in India.
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