I'm curious: I understand that EF's search algorithm increases the frequency of searches as the flight date approaches. However, is there a function to search when inventory just opens, like in the fabled 330 day in advance period?

No as we cannot schedule an alert for a flight that doesn't exist yet. You can create an alert for a flight as soon as it shows up in the schedule.

I spent about an hour yesterday setting alerts for flights that would show in a few hours, but we're not yet showing on airline websites. Your program accepted each one. Are they valid alerts?

Thinking of my previously posted question, is there a way to find/purchase flights on either the airline's website or a search site Kayak or Expedia using the fare basis code found in EF? Just found an amazing price on another fare basis, but I don't know if there are (or ever were) seats available at the price. Sorry for all the newbie questions, but I'm trying to learn this stuff.

Hi melrowgo. ExpertFlyer is not a low fare search, the fare tariffs shown are what the airline publishes, but that doesn't mean they are available on a given flight. As per our FAQ:

How do I purchase tickets based on the fares I see on ExpertFlyer.com?

You would purchase the fare by either contacting the airline directly or going through a travel agent and asking for the specific Fare Basis or Fare Class. Remember to check the availability of the Fare Class in the Flight Availability tool to make sure that the fare you wish to purchase is indeed available.

Also you may want to read our EduGuide: http://www.expertflyer.com/edu-guide.pdf

If the flight is scheduled then the system allows you to create an alert for it. They didn't show in a few hours, they were already in the schedule and showing in the reservation systems and as such on ExpertFlyer.

G fare class not on EF?

Not all airlines publish their award data. The list of known supported Award & Upgrade classes is on our Help page here: http://www.expertflyer.com/sessionlessClassList.do

Thanks ExpertFlyer Voice

Maybe this is what I'm not doing correctly. I look at the FA Tool, but perhaps what I think I'm seeing there is not what's actually being displayed. I've read the Understanding How to Use EF guide (great doc), but I guess I'm a visual/linear person (programmer) and am not properly connecting the pieces. Sorry for being dense.

Looks like this might be back down again?

Am I missing something or ExpertFlyer does not cover all possible AA award routes from Europe to the US?

To avoid BA, I have to search for Iberia availability on Qantas.com and for Air Berlin availability on BA.com

When searching for example LIS-LAX, it only shows LIS-PHL-LAX or LIS-London-LAX. It doesn't show LIS-MAD-LAX (Iberia), or LIS-DSF/TXL-LAX (Air Berlin).

That is one question.

The other question is when searching for awards with AA selected it shows me UA flights for some legs? I can't fly UA with AA miles. For example, http://i.imgur.com/48VMo8p.png

TIA

AA broke it again but now they fixed it again. If you see any further issues please email us directly first, thanks.

The ExpertFlyer Award search for AA will show any flight operated by AA. If you want to see IB or AB operated flights you have to choose them for the airline in the Award search.

To answer your second question, as you can see there is no award classes noted for the UA segment, as we realize it's not AA. The reservation system however doesn't know that when you request a special class like Z that it can only apply to an AA segment. Results like that show when your search requires the reservation system to use a non-AA segment that happens to show the class code searched normally (like C) so it combines the UA segment with the AA award class with AA segments and thinks that's a good answer. As such we filter out any class codes for a segment that isn't the searched airline.

Since you didn't note the search you did to get those results we can't comment further than that. If you want more specifics about your search then email us at [email protected]

Thank you, my questions are settled.

PS Would be useful to be able to be able to search by mileage alliance instead of by airline.