is there a free availability tool?
Sep 22, 2010 | 11:20 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,022
is there a free availability tool?
I had been using a free availability tool - availability.publicbackup.com - to check on class availability. But that tool is no longer working. And, there is a paid tool KVS. However, I won't be using it much - maybe once or twice a year! So, is there any free availability tool still available? Thanks.
Sep 23, 2010 | 12:54 am
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: UA 1k
Posts: 1,207
I had been using a free availability tool - availability.publicbackup.com - to check on class availability. But that tool is no longer working. And, there is a paid tool KVS. However, I won't be using it much - maybe once or twice a year! So, is there any free availability tool still available? Thanks.
Sep 23, 2010 | 7:14 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Massachusetts, USA; AA 2.996MM & Plat Pro, DL 1MM, GM & Flying Colonel
Posts: 25,036
For one time, you could use expertflyer's five-day free trial (actually a five-day cancellation privilege, but they promote it as the same thing). You'd have to pay a few dollars to repeat the next time, but many people find it worth the money to resubscribe for a month each time they need it.
Otherwise, if your needs are only on a specific airline or alliance, there may be focused options. For example, ANA has something that works for *A flights. You need an ANA frequent flyer account to use it, and you're supposed to have miles in that account, but there are currently "back doors" to get around the second requirement.
Otherwise, if your needs are only on a specific airline or alliance, there may be focused options. For example, ANA has something that works for *A flights. You need an ANA frequent flyer account to use it, and you're supposed to have miles in that account, but there are currently "back doors" to get around the second requirement.
Sep 23, 2010 | 10:27 am
#4
Company Representative - ExpertFlyer
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,924
For one time, you could use expertflyer's five-day free trial (actually a five-day cancellation privilege, but they promote it as the same thing). You'd have to pay a few dollars to repeat the next time, but many people find it worth the money to resubscribe for a month each time they need it.
Sep 23, 2010 | 12:29 pm
#5
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
The short answer is that it depends on exactly what availability you want/need. FlightStats.com has a decent view into multiple classes for many (but not all) airlines. They recently instituted a policy requiring registration to access the data though it appears free for now.
Sep 23, 2010 | 12:29 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Massachusetts, USA; AA 2.996MM & Plat Pro, DL 1MM, GM & Flying Colonel
Posts: 25,036
Thanks for the update! I first subscribed before then, so I didn't notice this. (Due to a greatly reduced travel schedule I've become a "subscribe for a month when you need it" customer rather than my earlier annual subscriptions, but I still think you do a great job.)
Sep 23, 2010 | 2:09 pm
#7
Company Representative - ExpertFlyer
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,924
Thank you, glad we can help.
Sep 23, 2010 | 4:01 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,022
The short answer is that it depends on exactly what availability you want/need. FlightStats.com has a decent view into multiple classes for many (but not all) airlines. They recently instituted a policy requiring registration to access the data though it appears free for now.
Thanks to everyone else for replying as well. Appreciate all for your comments.
Sep 23, 2010 | 9:56 pm
#10
Company Representative - ExpertFlyer
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,924
Yes, we call it Flight Alerts (we do the same for seats, called Seat Alerts). However the alerting, like the Award & Upgrade searching itself, is limited to that airlines metal. So an AA search would only show AA flights, not oneworld flights, as alliance searching isn't available via the reservation systems (GDSs).
Sep 23, 2010 | 11:18 pm
#12
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 264
AwardNexus does user driven alliance award searching for free, but no other site has the alerting functionality.