KVS has been a very useful tool to me. While I could get everything that KVS can provide via other free websites, I still prefer KVS because of the convenience, and the standalone small application. This is much better than ExpertFlyer which one has to enter all the fields every time the website is pulled up.

However, now that KVS cannot scrape info from FlightStats, maybe KVS should consider scraping info from Expert-Flyer. I don't mind paying a subscription for both Expert-Flyer and KVS but enjoy a much better interface.

Thanks KVS. I got it to work and have it up and running with the GTC credentials. I appreciate your help but still contend that the instructions are most bizarre. The oddest part was the decoder for the 'site code' part that precedes the username in the KVS settings.

It seems to take a lot longer to return flight availability than the old methods but at least it's now working again.

If anyone needs any help from an independent source who has gone through the process feel free to send me a PM.

This whole GTC situation has been bizarre.

I have been a subscriber for 6.5 years and customer service was always great. Now the search tool is "decommissioned" without notice and we are sent these cryptic instructions on how to get GTC access.

That is all clear as mud. I had no luck following the Google search instructions.

Does anyone who had success (golfmad?) care to share an easier-to-follow step-by-step instruction list for this? [aka do KVS customer service job for them]

I'm pretty confused/surprised by this whole turn of events.

KVS, if you are now sending better instructions than what you sent me ten hours ago, please put me on the distribution list.

An updated e-mail was sent to you a few hours ago -- please check your Junk/Bulk folders.

The new email was indeed in my Spam.

I have now registered and I am back in business.

But my first search took a REALLY long time.

I wonder what is the future of this tool?

[And I wonder if FAU is gonna notice how many new users they have!]

This tripped me up for a few minutes as well but I finally figured it on the 3rd attempt.

Something's wrong with KVS 7.4.6. For instance it (Availability/GTC) shows CX161 1Nov as zeroed out in S fare

http://www.hongkongcard.com/webedito...0531_81877.jpg

But cathaypacific.com is still selling S fare - 7 seats to be precise.

http://www.hongkongcard.com/webedito...0435_67101.jpg

Same with Mobile Companion.

http://www.hongkongcard.com/webedito...0605_94567.jpg

KVS, I'm also disappointed and confused over this new procedure.

I played the game and submitted the requested form but got an email back saying my email address wasn't useable or some such thing.

Please forward me these new instructions on how to gain access again to availability.

Thanks,
Airbumps

Hmm, is this all legal? I mean using someone else's GTC account? Does KVS have authority to do this? Sounds suspicious to me, with the reports of a cryptic email sent out to find someone else's account/password. I'd be worried that if they don't have proper authority to be doing this that in short order that account will be revoked and back to no availability.

I suspect you've got to the root of the problem... KVS knows that it is possible to find on the web some credentials that will get you access to the GTC information. He has written a method which uses that information. But he cannot outright tell you to go use somebody else's credentials... all he can say is "if you search on the internet you'll find credentials that will give you access, so go search, find some credentials and put them in KVS and KVS will use them."

On one hand it is really not legitimate.

On the other hand, FTers are cheap, and we hate to pay for anything. How many of you would be happy if KVS said "ok, to use GTC you will need to buy an account for $X." Or if there is even no way to do that, and we could not get this functionality at all.

I think he's walking a very fine line, and before we criticize him too much we should think about our own interests.

Ron

Now the penny has dropped as to what on earth I was supposed to do with that seemingly useless Google link, and I'm not really sure I want to... I've asked either for a pro rata refund or some honest and simple instructions for the uninitiated.

But many of us are already paying a not insignificant amount for KVS - and I think we should be offered a legitimate method - even if it costs a few bucks more.

I'm absolutely confused about what happened and what I need to do. Disappointed!

I am also disappointed...

BTW, no Email arrived, even not in the Spam folder...

It started a few months, years ago... First there were 3 engines for looking up fares... Then they disappeared step by step withouth any information about... Same now with the availability tool... The price for the tool did not change and the support is in the same quality as ever...

So, the Availabilty/FS and Availability/ETR have been de-commissioned... Why? What will KVS do to get access to flight availability agian (besides the GTC method)? Why can the mobile access not be integrated into the KVS software?

I would love to read a statement, how KVS does care about it's paying members and what soultion they see for the future. Also a clear description who to get the GTC credentials!

GTC Spoofing
 

I agree 100% with A Lee's observations. I am not comfortable with spoofing another website into giving us password credentials. Given the way we were provided oblique instructions I suspect many others share the view. This is not right.