Jun 4, 2014, 6:07 pm
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:
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
Jun 11, 2019, 1:54 am
#1846
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: YWG
Posts: 2,272
If an airline is playing married sector games, then ITA won't always produce reliable results because of the way that it works. AIUI, the Matrix tool does not look up availability in real time for the requested itinerary but uses cached sector-by-sector availability results. My impression is that it will therefore construct and price itineraries for which there is availability when asked for sector by sector, but if a real-time search results in the airline denying inventory in the required class when the entire itinerary is asked for because of married sector games, then ITA will not detect that.
EF is a better guide to true real-time availability in these situations, because it does make a real-time request of the airline for the requested itinerary.
This is one of the reasons that someone who values these travel tools should always be prepared to use them in combination.
EF is a better guide to true real-time availability in these situations, because it does make a real-time request of the airline for the requested itinerary.
This is one of the reasons that someone who values these travel tools should always be prepared to use them in combination.
Jun 11, 2019, 6:01 am
#1847
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
ITA can pull up booking class P, but I have checked multiple times with EF using every single combination of O-D, origin-connection, and connection-connection to try and see P class, but all I can see is Z class. Any suggestions as to why I can't find this mythical P class?
At any rate, if ITA is returning a result that prices using P class, have you tried checking availability using EF sector by sector? If so, you may find that there is P class on each individual sector, but that the airline will not sell you a P class seat for the through-itinerary.
Other than that, it's very hard to suggest any more ideas in the abstract.
Jun 12, 2019, 3:50 pm
#1848
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 639
Probably asked this before, but does anyone know how Matrix handles married segments?
Looking to book an AC/CA itinerary on AC ticket stock but Matrix constantly shows a cheaper fare than can be found via AC/OTAs
Matrix shows P class availability but can only access Z via AC/OTAs. Even Expertflyer doesn't really show P class availability on the O-D search or the TPAC segment (but does if I search AC Canada-Asia segment without including CA segment).
Is this an issue with Matrix's handling of married segments, failure to search inventory in real-time, or something else?
Would love to ticket at P class but having difficult doing so via AC/OTA (even BookWithMatrix doesn't work). Any thoughts?
Looking to book an AC/CA itinerary on AC ticket stock but Matrix constantly shows a cheaper fare than can be found via AC/OTAs
Matrix shows P class availability but can only access Z via AC/OTAs. Even Expertflyer doesn't really show P class availability on the O-D search or the TPAC segment (but does if I search AC Canada-Asia segment without including CA segment).
Is this an issue with Matrix's handling of married segments, failure to search inventory in real-time, or something else?
Would love to ticket at P class but having difficult doing so via AC/OTA (even BookWithMatrix doesn't work). Any thoughts?
Jun 17, 2019, 2:59 pm
#1851
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: Marriott Titanium
Posts: 2,861
The question is a good one. And one I have wished I have had an answer to - but I don’t.
I imagine that it is different for every airline. And that on some (most?) airlines it is driven by fare class. And if it is driven by fare class, ITA can probably crank out the answer. But I am unaware of anyone listing the fares for each airline by the various abilities, like checked baggage.
i wish someone would. Which airline(s) are most important to you? Maybe you can ask your question in those specific airline forums.
I imagine that it is different for every airline. And that on some (most?) airlines it is driven by fare class. And if it is driven by fare class, ITA can probably crank out the answer. But I am unaware of anyone listing the fares for each airline by the various abilities, like checked baggage.
i wish someone would. Which airline(s) are most important to you? Maybe you can ask your question in those specific airline forums.
Jun 17, 2019, 3:22 pm
#1852
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: DXB
Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, BA Silver, A3 Gold, Sixt Diamond
Posts: 2,809
I don’t think it’s that easy, unfortunately. For example, SAS sells the same booking classes (e.g. T class) both with and without bags included.
Jun 17, 2019, 3:31 pm
#1853
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 110
As mentioned on another thread, I don't know of a single search engine that allows you to search including a checked bag on a multi city itinerary which is quite frustrating.
Jun 22, 2019, 1:55 pm
#1854
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: GRB
Programs: DL PM
Posts: 305
Is there a way to force the routing to include an overnight (red-eye) flight? There used to be the -overnight (with/without S) command in the past to exclude overnights (I don't think that works now), but I am looking for the opposite.
Jun 22, 2019, 2:21 pm
#1855
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA, UA, GE
Posts: 5,122
MINCONNECT/MAXCONECT? You can use the MINCONNECT value to force a minimum connect time. I often use MAXCONNECT for the opposite, to eliminate overnight connections.
Jun 22, 2019, 3:07 pm
#1858
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: GRB
Programs: DL PM
Posts: 305
Unfortunately not exactly, because some red-eyes leave before midnight (night, after 9pm) and some leave after midnight (early morning, before 8am). Checking both options will also include first flights out in the morning, like 6am. Checking just the night option will leave out red-eyes that leave at like 12:30am.
Jun 22, 2019, 3:09 pm
#1859
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: 18,889
Unfortunately not exactly, because some red-eyes leave before midnight (night, after 9pm) and some leave after midnight (early morning, before 8am). Checking both options will also include first flights out in the morning, like 6am. Checking just the night option will leave out red-eyes that leave at like 12:30am.
Jun 22, 2019, 4:59 pm
#1860
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA, UA, GE
Posts: 5,122
Use MINCONNECT with the multi-city search so you can force it on the segment you want.
