IATA/Expert Flyer vs. Airlines Availability
 

In searching for a ticket DEL>BOS, BOS>DEL, the IATA search engine gives some pretty good fares (http://matrix.itasoftware.com)

I found the flights I wanted, verified that seats were available in the required classes via expertflyer, and then called the airline to book, but the agent said that nothing was available.

Has anyone encountered this problem before? Is this a 'bug' in IATA software (e.g., should it indicate it can't check avialability).

The routing was pretty complicated (DEL>VIE on AI (operated by OS), then VIE>LHR on OS, LHR>BOS on AA); it was an AA fare (VLRISD). Perhaps the AA computers can't find AI seats?

Would a travel agent be better at this than the airline?

Any thoughts appreciated, it would be a $600 savings...

We're ITA Software (in Cambridge, MA), not IATA (the International Air Transport Association, in Montreal). :)

If you can reproduce the trip on our site, and hit the comments link at the top of the page, we'll look into the issue. Or you can PM me.

Hello,

I had the exact same thing for my domestic trip in Chile in februari. Found fares on itasoftware for some 280$ per person. (a rather complex trip as well). When i called LAN their lowest price was some 600$. Even if my sister (who lives over there) went to the local ticketing office, the price was 600. On the phone i literally told the CSR that i knew there were places available. Yet she (and i tried again on a different number) could not offer me those fares, as her system didn't offer me that price.

Eventually i found the tickets for some 310$ pp on expedia.com.

The point is:
ITA nor expertflyer are wrong. The fare is still available. Try some online travelagents, or try to mail the ITA-results to an independent travel agent. (When my sister mailed those to LAN, they couldn't offer her that price..)

And on a sidenote .. ITA is great software! Thanks to keep it available for "guests".