Jun 4, 2014, 6:07 pm

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

Last edit by: TWA884

ITA Matrix Search: http://matrix.itasoftware.com

You can sometimes see flights, fares and detailed fare rules that may not be reflected on an airline's website. Please read the thread for some tips and tricks, screen shots, etc.

A related thread, ITA-Matrix-PowerTools - Userscript for Orbitz/DL/UA/AA/BA/CZ/IB/LA/LH/LX/TK, discusses a user script which is maintained by fellow flyertalk members to enhance the already powerful Matrix of ITA Software by providing new features and booking links.

Additional details and tips on the use of ITA's advanced routing code feature can be found in the following long-standing Mileage Run Discussion threads:

ITA Software Matrix Airfare Search Consolidated Information and Help Thread

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Oct 5, 2018, 11:25 am

#1786

Zorak

Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Jun 2015

Location: WAS

Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester

Posts: 18,928

Quote:

Originally Posted by pvn

this page https://upgradedpoints.com/matrix-it...uration-Filter claims there's a maxdur flag that can be used, but it doesn't seem to work for me, any pointers?

maxdur is what I've used -- are you trying to combine it with any other extended codes?

Oct 5, 2018, 11:40 am

#1787

LGA

Join Date: Apr 2001

Location: Varies :-)

Programs: AS; AA; UA; DL; VS; BA; Nat'l Emer. Exec.; AGR

Posts: 2,250

I've used this before but it is not working for me. Thoughts...?

Thanks in advance!

Quote:

Originally Posted by motoridersd

I didn't find this specific command for excluding UA Basic Economy fares, so thought I'd add it for people searching.

Add this to exclude all N Basic Economy fares from UA search results:

F ~BC=N

Oct 5, 2018, 12:48 pm

#1788

MasterGeek

Suspended

Join Date: Oct 2009

Location: Kan@da

Programs: Anything with sweet spots

Posts: 1,790

How come ITA doesn't show the fare below on Air Canada, like Google Flights does ??

https://www.google.com/flights/#flt=...;sp:.CAD.35340

Oct 5, 2018, 1:18 pm

#1789

pvn

Suspended

Join Date: Nov 2010

Location: MEM

Programs: Starbucks Green Card

Posts: 5,431

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zorak

maxdur is what I've used -- are you trying to combine it with any other extended codes?

Ah, yes. I like to use f ~bc=e. Is there no way to use both?

Oct 5, 2018, 2:50 pm

#1790

Zorak

Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Jun 2015

Location: WAS

Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester

Posts: 18,928

Quote:

Originally Posted by pvn

Ah, yes. I like to use f ~bc=e. Is there no way to use both?

You can -- separate them with a semicolon.

Oct 5, 2018, 3:26 pm

#1791

ChocolateFactory

Join Date: Aug 2015

Location: DXB

Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, BA Silver, A3 Gold, Sixt Diamond

Posts: 2,811

I think the syntax is “f ~bc=n&~bc=e”, but I’m just on my phone and can’t say for sure.

Oct 5, 2018, 3:42 pm

#1792

Zorak

Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Jun 2015

Location: WAS

Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester

Posts: 18,928

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChocolateFactory

I think the syntax is “f ~bc=n&~bc=e”, but I’m just on my phone and can’t say for sure.

That's if you want to combine multiple fare restrictions, but if you replying to pvn, he wants to exclude BE (on DL) and also specify maxdur, so "f ~bc=e; maxdur 720" etc.

Oct 5, 2018, 4:21 pm

#1793

ChocolateFactory

Join Date: Aug 2015

Location: DXB

Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, BA Silver, A3 Gold, Sixt Diamond

Posts: 2,811

Ah, yes of course.

Oct 5, 2018, 6:06 pm

#1794

cheltzel

Join Date: Apr 2010

Location: ORD

Programs: AA, UA, GE

Posts: 5,123

Quote:

Originally Posted by MasterGeek

How come ITA doesn't show the fare below on Air Canada, like Google Flights does ??

https://www.google.com/flights/#flt=...;sp:.CAD.35340

The link takes me to a search page and not a full itinerary.

Oct 5, 2018, 10:25 pm

#1795

MasterGeek

Suspended

Join Date: Oct 2009

Location: Kan@da

Programs: Anything with sweet spots

Posts: 1,790

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheltzel

The link takes me to a search page and not a full itinerary.

sorry, here is the link to the itinerary on Google Flights. As you can see for yourself, ITA is unable to find that fare.

https://www.google.com/flights/#flt=...;sp:.CAD.35340

Oct 6, 2018, 4:01 am

#1796

zoqfotpik

Join Date: Nov 2014

Location: Somewhere

Posts: 1,178

Quote:

Originally Posted by MasterGeek

How come ITA doesn't show the fare below on Air Canada, like Google Flights does ??

https://www.google.com/flights/#flt=...;sp:.CAD.35340

I tried searching the fare basis LN7AXRCS on EF but nothing comes up. I'm guessing it is an unpublished fare which is something you can only buy from AC directly and authorized agents.

MasterGeek likes this.

Oct 6, 2018, 5:53 am

#1797

cheltzel

Join Date: Apr 2010

Location: ORD

Programs: AA, UA, GE

Posts: 5,123

Quote:

Originally Posted by zoqfotpik

I tried searching the fare basis LN7AXRCS on EF but nothing comes up. I'm guessing it is an unpublished fare which is something you can only buy from AC directly and authorized agents.

Thanks. Saved me effort as I was going to look up the fare as well.

Oct 8, 2018, 4:12 am

#1798

ChocolateFactory

Join Date: Aug 2015

Location: DXB

Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, BA Silver, A3 Gold, Sixt Diamond

Posts: 2,811

I accidentally posted my reply re. married segments in the wrong thread.
JFTR:
"I have seen a similar issue with A3 ARN-ATH-LCA and K class (if I remember correctly).
K was sold out for the married segments, but still available for ARN-ATH and ATH-LCA (or at least other, similarly priced booking classes).
I don't know why ITA Matrix couldn't properly figure that out, but I ended up booking separate tickets."

Since when can ITA Matrix no longer resolve married segments correctly?

Oct 8, 2018, 3:53 pm

#1799

Calchas

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Mar 2013

Location: London

Posts: 17,007

Might be worth reaching out to ITA Hacker if this is a systematic, reproducible issue.

Oct 11, 2018, 4:17 pm

#1800

fumje

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Aug 2015

Posts: 11,461

I thought that if I list multiple cities for a departure/arrival, ITA Matrix would give me the lowest-priced fare among any of those cities.

There's surely a simpler example, but if I search, e.g.,
CHI-NYC (10-dec) + DTW,YYZ-LIH (18-dec) + LIH-CHI,YYZ (1-jan) [*A]

it forces YYZ and I get results with the cheapest fare of $1298.

If omit YYZ in the middle and search
CHI-NYC (10-dec) + DTW-LIH (18-dec) + LIH-CHI,YYZ (1-jan) [*A]

it returns a fare priced $1295

It's only $3 of course, but it's not some forex discrepancy, and I don't understand why Matrix is choosing YYZ as the second leg's origin. The first and third legs with either search are VAA4AKEN + VAX0HQEN, but the second leg is alternatively LNA7AMES (YTO-LIH) or WRX6HFER (DTT-LIH).

Am I confused about how matrix works? I don't think this is how it used to be.