Jul 17, 2014, 1:23 pm

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

Last edit by: hillrider

This thread is for ExpertFlyer Information and Updates only (as per its title) and many subscribe to it for this purpose. For other issues, please see the ExpertFlyer.com Help Desk thread.

If you have any questions about using ExpertFlyer or wish to report any issues, please email them at [email protected].

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Oct 28, 2015, 1:24 pm

#1006

benberg2013

Suspended

Join Date: Jul 2014

Location: MAN,TLV

Programs: Silver:BA,VX,AB, QF. Gold:A3,RJ,AZ,GF, EY,SPG,Marriott,Choice, Carlson. Dia/Plat:HH,IHG,BW,Accor

Posts: 1,965

Understood. Many Thanks ^

Oct 28, 2015, 5:12 pm

#1007

Calchas

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Mar 2013

Location: London

Posts: 17,007

Quote:

Originally Posted by benberg2013

I'm a bit confused.

If I check for an airline that does overbook, and I see 1 last seat showing on EF as available, does that mean there is an overbooking? Yes or No?

I would expect this to be a heavily overbooked flight but it is not possible to say for sure without internal information. The information you see is what the airline wishes to present. It is only an approximation of the load the airline expects on the flight.

Although the airline will know how many passengers are at any one point holding reservations on the flight, even the airline doesn't really know if the flight is going to be "overbooked". Missed connections, last minute changes, no shows and high value customers force booking a seat on a full flight all conspire to keep the true load of the flight potentially unknown until the boarding is complete.

Nov 20, 2015, 8:25 pm

#1008

adambadam

Join Date: Jul 2006

Location: California

Programs: AA EXP, lowly UA 1K; Hyatt Diamond, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold; National EC, Hertz PC

Posts: 2,212

Is there any history of Expert Flyer going on sale - say for like Black Friday? Would feel silly if I signed up now only to have it be discounted next week. Flying AA a lot more and annoyed they don't have as much info as UA on their website to figure out how full flights are and what stand by options are out there.

Nov 21, 2015, 12:44 pm

#1009

IMH

Join Date: Jul 2007

Location: Berlin

Programs: BA Gold; Accor Plat; IHG Diamond-Amb; Meliá & HH & Marriott Gold

Posts: 5,447

Quote:

Originally Posted by adambadam

Is there any history of Expert Flyer going on sale [...] ?

They have offered 15% off new subscriptions on more than one occasion in the past, but there's no way of knowing whether or when they'll do so in future.

Dec 7, 2015, 4:09 pm

#1010

ExpertFlyer Voice

Left Expert Flyer 4/23

Original Poster

Join Date: Jan 2005

Posts: 2,741

UA/Star Airline Awards

We are happy to announce that ExpertFlyer again supports UA Award searching and alerting. Also additional Star Alliance airlines have been added and now all Star carriers are supported for award searching. The award searches for the new airlines will return a Yes/No availability answer to the Quantity requested in the search.

Notes:

For UA, only the O,I,X award classes are supported for searching and alerting. No other award or upgrade classes are available.
At this time there is no Star Alliance award search, each airline would be selected individually.

As always, the full list of supported Award & Upgrade airlines/classes for searching and alerting is available here: http://www.expertflyer.com/sessionlessClassList.do

If you encounter any issues or have questions about specific searches, please email us directly at [email protected] with the details about the search and results.

-EFV

Dec 7, 2015, 6:22 pm

#1011

747FC

Join Date: Jan 2013

Location: Hawai'i Nei

Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE

Posts: 7,125

Quote:

Originally Posted by ExpertFlyer Voice

The award searches for the new airlines will return a Yes/No availability answer to the Quantity requested in the search.

What does this mean? Is the search a one-time search? Are you saying that there is no continuous update/searching available?

Dec 7, 2015, 6:31 pm

#1012

ExpertFlyer Voice

Left Expert Flyer 4/23

Original Poster

Join Date: Jan 2005

Posts: 2,741

Quote:

Originally Posted by 747FC

What does this mean? Is the search a one-time search? Are you saying that there is no continuous update/searching available?

No, that's not what we're saying at all. It means that if you want to know if there are 2 of an award class available, you set 2 as the Quantity in the search and you'll see a Yes or No next to a flight in the response, as opposed to a specific class value.

The alerts haven't changed and work the same as they always have, for all supported airlines.

Dec 7, 2015, 6:36 pm

#1013

747FC

Join Date: Jan 2013

Location: Hawai'i Nei

Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE

Posts: 7,125

Quote:

Originally Posted by ExpertFlyer Voice

Sorry to be so thick, but just want to confirm: Once set, the alerts will continue to be active until inventory is found (at which point one would be notified), or the alert expires at the time of the flight?

Thank you for your clarification.

Dec 7, 2015, 6:48 pm

#1014

ExpertFlyer Voice

Left Expert Flyer 4/23

Original Poster

Join Date: Jan 2005

Posts: 2,741

Quote:

Originally Posted by 747FC

Correct, that's how Flight Alerts have always worked.

Dec 7, 2015, 6:53 pm

#1015

747FC

Join Date: Jan 2013

Location: Hawai'i Nei

Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE

Posts: 7,125

Quote:

Originally Posted by ExpertFlyer Voice

Correct, that's how Flight Alerts have always worked.

Thanks.

Dec 21, 2015, 3:47 pm

#1016

Madone59

Join Date: Nov 2009

Location: 6km East of EPAYE

Programs: UA Silver, AA Platinum, AS & DL GM Marriott TE, Hilton Gold

Posts: 9,582

Star Alliance is Back!

I got this E-mail two days ago and am surprised not to see this update in the thread. It looks like you can't do super close in LH searches, but all in all I'm happy to have these airlines back. ^

We are happy to announce that ExpertFlyer again supports UA Award searching and alerting. Also additional Star Alliance airlines have been added and now all Star Alliance carriers are supported for award searching on ExpertFlyer. The award searches for the newly added airlines will return a Yes/No availability response for each award class for the Quantity requested. "Yes" means at least the requested Quantity of awards are available, "No" means they are not.

Dec 21, 2015, 4:10 pm

#1017

747FC

Join Date: Jan 2013

Location: Hawai'i Nei

Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE

Posts: 7,125

Quote:

Originally Posted by ExpertFlyer Voice

For UA, only the O,I,X award classes are supported for searching and alerting. No other award or upgrade classes are available.
At this time there is no Star Alliance award search, each airline would be selected individually.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madone59

See above.

Dec 22, 2015, 3:25 pm

#1018

Madone59

Join Date: Nov 2009

Location: 6km East of EPAYE

Programs: UA Silver, AA Platinum, AS & DL GM Marriott TE, Hilton Gold

Posts: 9,582

Quote:

Originally Posted by 747FC

See above.

I was only 14 day behind.....I've done worse

. Thanks.

Dec 24, 2015, 12:33 am

#1019

HUGE AL

Join Date: Mar 2007

Location: LAX

Programs: NW 1MM, BD Gold, BA Gold, AA 1MM, LM, VX eleVAte, Hyatt D6, SPG Plat, Hertz President's

Posts: 304

Quote:

Originally Posted by ExpertFlyer Voice

...you'll see a Yes or No next to a flight in the response, as opposed to a specific class value.

What is the reasoning behind the Yes or No response as opposed to the specific class value (which I prefer)? Does this apply to all airlines now, or just the new ones (noticed BA is also the same)?