This question would be best directed to LH :).

I see some criticism of access methods in KVSTool that people claim were added, then removed or no longer available or now cost extra. Perhaps people don't understand that most of the information that they see comes from databases and servers that are outside the control of KVS. This is why problems come up from time to time and some search methods no longer work - either temporarily or permanently. It's not like using a computer program where every feature is under the total control of the programmer. It's an access method ... availability tool.

Personally I'm very happy with what KVS offers and the extremely useful new extended search abilities like timetables and MPM now on offer. I'm confident that KVS will continue to offer the best facilities that are possible, though no doubt these will change from time to time for better and occasionally for worse.

As someone stated earlier in this thread, once RTW is restored we really have a perfect solution for finding out almost everything we could wish to know about flights, routings, availability and so on.

Welcome to FT!

Features on on the tool have been coming and going all the time as the various websites the tool accesses change/block/eliminate data that the tool scrapes from. This is well understood by us.

But this time when a new source for previously available data is found, it came back through the tool at a new tier and a higher subscription price. That's the point that sbm12 was trying to make in post 2424:

"....... but it is pretty easy to argue that the folks who had paid for platinum actually LOST something and now that the same functionality is back it costs more."

As far as whether it "now cost extra" for KVS to provide the data through the tool, this would imply the possibility that KVS may have a cost associated with acquiring the data each time a query is made on behalf of its subscribers which it did not previously have. If this is the case, then a higher cost to access the data may be justified. But if it is a fixed cost associated with developing programming to access data that is free, then why should this additional cost associated with programming result in a higher subscription cost when the original access method did not, or when other features are added to a tier without resulting in an increase in the subscription price?

KVS certainly has the right to charge whatever they want for whatever feature set they want to package at a given price level. This latest development just strikes us all a little differently then similar cases of the past.

I am getting the following error message, when checking seat availability via apollo: seatmap is unavailable for this flight --> "access denied".
I have the latest version of the programm, checked this for LX/LH flights. Checking them worked out fine before. Checking with amadeus is not a help, because I want to check the blocked emergency exits.

This issue, which started yesterday, will be resolved in the upcoming version. In the meantime, if you could provide the flight info, I can post the Apollo seat map here (or, if preferred, via PM).

Not quite sure how the changes in questions would affect anyone, who is no longer a current member.

However, a certain someone, having a connection with a company, behind a product, which has the initials, corresponding to the 5th and 6th letters of the Latin alphabet, may have something to do with it ;).

So, only current subscribers can comment in this thread? Your thread, your ground rules, I guess. Noted with thanks.

:confused:

No, but the original issue had to do with current members, who may have been affected by the changes (and the possible solutions for those members).

Many of those same people probably also don't know that the vast majority of the data (I won't say all because I am not 100% certain) is also available publicly without paying a subscription fee to KVS.

I'm happy to pay for a service when I feel I'm getting good value. But the way these latest changes have gone down - particularly with routing rules and RTW fares now costing extra where they used to be included in lower priced subscriptions - rubs me the wrong way.

And, no, I have no vested interest in EF. Never been a subscriber there and don't intend to.

PS - Welcome to FlyerTalk. Interesting thread to join up for. :)

Newbie Question
 

Hello

I am new to KVS but it has helped me find award availability. I started playing around with the Sabre Fares/TVN function and I found a fare that I want to book but I do not know how to do it. It is from ORD to KRT on TK. the cheapest flight from JUN-MAY is $402. That is a great price. So, my questions are:

1. is that a price before the taxes?
2. How do I find that fare to purchase it?

Thanks.

You will find answers to both of the above questions (and many more) at http://FAQ.KVSTool.com/

ZRH-GRU on Jun 11th and GRU-ZRH on Jun 18th, please (Map Y). Thank you!

There you go:

[KVS Availability Tool 3.5.9910/Diamond - Apollo Seat Map: 11 Jun 2009/LX 92/ZRH-GRU/343/Y]

[KVS Availability Tool 3.5.9910/Diamond - Apollo Seat Map: 18 Jun 2009/LX 93/GRU-ZRH/343/Y]

KVS,

Can you explain what "transfers" mean as a part of the fare - as I understand, no "free" transfers are offered nowadays, if one is transiting through Europe, from USA-Asia or vice-versa, correct?

From an LH fare:

It used to be different, some years ago...where one could avail of a free side-trip.

Transfer = connection.