"Expert Mode" Changes
Sep 8, 2012 | 9:44 am
#466
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Plat
Posts: 1,472
UA already uses a captcha for viewing fare rules, so why not use it for viewing fare buckets as well?
At least this is done near the end of the year so people can get a clean start next year. If the AA/US merger goes through then I'm out.
At least this is done near the end of the year so people can get a clean start next year. If the AA/US merger goes through then I'm out.
Sep 8, 2012 | 9:44 am
#467
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: NYC: UA 1K, DL Platinum, AAirpass, Avis PC
Posts: 4,599
Simple solution -
Make an upgrade search calendar just like the award search calendar. Should be one line of code to change - 'R' instead of 'O'.
Would go a long way. The big issue for me is simply the annoyance of having to call in to check availability for a range of flights. And that can't be good for UA's costs.
ExpertFlyer still has the non-award availability via the GDS which I still find valuable for irregular ops and upgrade chances so keeping that subscription.
But so disheartening that with all the other problems they choose to 'fix' this first. Priorities are misaligned.
Also...why is MileWise still working for award search? Are they scraping?
Make an upgrade search calendar just like the award search calendar. Should be one line of code to change - 'R' instead of 'O'.
Would go a long way. The big issue for me is simply the annoyance of having to call in to check availability for a range of flights. And that can't be good for UA's costs.
ExpertFlyer still has the non-award availability via the GDS which I still find valuable for irregular ops and upgrade chances so keeping that subscription.
But so disheartening that with all the other problems they choose to 'fix' this first. Priorities are misaligned.
Also...why is MileWise still working for award search? Are they scraping?
Sep 8, 2012 | 9:45 am
#468
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: world
Programs: all
Posts: 1,422
Another idiotic move by United. Guess I was right to stop flying them this year and jumped to AA
Sep 8, 2012 | 9:46 am
#469
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: NYC
Programs: UA GS, SPG Plat, National EC Executive (Replaced Hertz), Hertz PC (Retired)
Posts: 724
My email to Jeff.
Jeff-
I'm sure you've heard this from numerous people in the last 24 hours, but removing Expert Mode search is a kick in the pants to loyal flyers, especially those that fly a lot. I'm a GS. I'll spend over $60,000 this year with your airline. Last year, I spent over $50,000. When I travel for business, I can choose whatever airline I want. I choose United because I know that when I fly on my own dime, I can pick the flights that will result in a comfortable experience due to the perks of choosing you for my business travel. Now, that's uncertain. I can't know in advance what my chances are for an upgrade. I can't find flights where an upgrade might clear immediately. I can't know in advance how full a flight will be.
The net-net of this? I'm unsure if I'll keep all of my business with you or if I'll spread it further around your *A partners. Right now when I fly to Europe, I am careful to book on UA planes on UA flight numbers. There's lots of times I fly UA where LH would be more convenient.
Please re-consider this change. It will only hurt the flyers that spend and rely the most on you.
Jeff-
I'm sure you've heard this from numerous people in the last 24 hours, but removing Expert Mode search is a kick in the pants to loyal flyers, especially those that fly a lot. I'm a GS. I'll spend over $60,000 this year with your airline. Last year, I spent over $50,000. When I travel for business, I can choose whatever airline I want. I choose United because I know that when I fly on my own dime, I can pick the flights that will result in a comfortable experience due to the perks of choosing you for my business travel. Now, that's uncertain. I can't know in advance what my chances are for an upgrade. I can't find flights where an upgrade might clear immediately. I can't know in advance how full a flight will be.
The net-net of this? I'm unsure if I'll keep all of my business with you or if I'll spread it further around your *A partners. Right now when I fly to Europe, I am careful to book on UA planes on UA flight numbers. There's lots of times I fly UA where LH would be more convenient.
Please re-consider this change. It will only hurt the flyers that spend and rely the most on you.
Sep 8, 2012 | 9:47 am
#470
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 72,685
Sep 8, 2012 | 9:50 am
#471
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: IAD
Programs: UA Gold, Marriott Rewards - LTPP
Posts: 4,242
With the revenue sharing going to another * partner has a small net effect on the bottom line.
Sep 8, 2012 | 9:50 am
#472
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Orlando
Programs: DL 4MM/DM, UA 1MM/Gold, AA Paper
Posts: 1,386
I found the following on ExpertFlyers website today:
Today United Airlines has decided to remove award and upgrade class inventory from various channels, affecting ExpertFlyer. As such, United will be removed from the list of airlines in the Award & Upgrade search tool until further notice. In addition, all Active Flight Alerts for United award or upgrade class codes will be put into the Expired state. Should the award and upgrade data become available at a later date, we will again activate those Flight Alerts.
However, all other United data will still be available on ExpertFlyer including:
Detailed regular fare class inventory via the Flight Availability search tool
Flight Alerts for regular fare inventory classes
Live Seat Maps and Seat Alerts
Fare Information searches and all related fare data
Flight Status, Flight Detail, Travel Information, and all other ExpertFlyer search tools.
Thank you for your understanding in this matter and continued support of ExpertFlyer.com
-The ExpertFlyer.com Team
However, all other United data will still be available on ExpertFlyer including:
Detailed regular fare class inventory via the Flight Availability search tool
Flight Alerts for regular fare inventory classes
Live Seat Maps and Seat Alerts
Fare Information searches and all related fare data
Flight Status, Flight Detail, Travel Information, and all other ExpertFlyer search tools.
Thank you for your understanding in this matter and continued support of ExpertFlyer.com
-The ExpertFlyer.com Team
Sep 8, 2012 | 9:50 am
#473
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K2MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,318
The net-net of this? I'm unsure if I'll keep all of my business with you or if I'll spread it further around your *A partners. Right now when I fly to Europe, I am careful to book on UA planes on UA flight numbers. There's lots of times I fly UA where LH would be more convenient.
Sep 8, 2012 | 9:50 am
#474
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: UA 1K MM
Posts: 141
Has anyone who is/with a corporate/full-service travel agency with native GDS/CRS access confirmed that availability is extent/gone from that source as well? My recollection (prior to booking awards on the internet) is that a travel agent could make award bookings so they'd have to be able to see information and book into available inventory. Mine did this a number of times back in the 90's. Corrections/clarifications are appreciated.
I mention this because of the discussion in this thread and the travel tools forum about EF scraping UA data versus having CRS/GDS access.
I mention this because of the discussion in this thread and the travel tools forum about EF scraping UA data versus having CRS/GDS access.
Code:
1*C
20SEP THU ORD/CDT LHR/6
1UA 958 F3 A3 J9 C7 D7 Z6 P5 ORDLHR 350P 555A1 DCA /E
Y9 B9 M9 E9 U9 H9 Q9 V9 W9 S9 T9 L9 K9 G0 N0 *A
2UA 928 F3 A3 J9 C9 D9 Z9 P9 ORDLHR 617P 825A1 DCA /E
Y9 B9 M9 E9 U9 H9 Q9 V9 W9 S9 T9 L9 K8 G0 N0 *A
3UA 938 F2 A0 J4 C2 D1 Z0 P0 ORDLHR 907P 1115A1 DCA /E
Y9 B9 M9 E9 U9 H9 Q9 V9 W9 S9 T6 L2 K0 G0 N0 *A
Sep 8, 2012 | 9:51 am
#475
Join Date: May 2008
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, DL, AA, AS
Posts: 306
It looks like you can still find upgrade availability through flight reservations by clicking on the "advanced search" link and select "Mileage Plus Upgrades".
Last edited by sfonorth; Sep 8, 2012 at 3:17 pm
Sep 8, 2012 | 9:57 am
#476
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: ORD
Programs: nobody
Posts: 1,837
The title seems misleading. It is expert mode removal!
Sep 8, 2012 | 9:59 am
#477
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: ACT/GRK/DAL/ABI/MIA/FLL
Programs: OMNIArchist, OMNIArchy!, OMNIIDGAS
Posts: 23,478
Sep 8, 2012 | 10:00 am
#478
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SFO
Programs: AA Plat, IHG Plat, HH Diamond, Hyatt Plat, Hertz Gold
Posts: 1,933
If United just wants to block access to upgrade inventory like R, why not just block those and still allow the revenue fare classes to be shown? Blocking upgrade inventory is shady, but blocking access to revenue fare classes is only going to hurt the customer trying to do legitimate things like book tickets or same day changes.
Sep 8, 2012 | 10:00 am
#479
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: SEA/ORD/ADB
Programs: TK ELPL (*G), AS 100K (OWE), BA Gold (OWE), Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 7,774
TK and US are non-ATI members - that's for sure.
Sep 8, 2012 | 10:01 am
#480
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA EXP, UA former 1K (1.9MM and gone), Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond, SPG Plat
Posts: 1,111
Has anyone who is/with a corporate/full-service travel agency with native GDS/CRS access confirmed that availability is extent/gone from that source as well? My recollection (prior to booking awards on the internet) is that a travel agent could make award bookings so they'd have to be able to see information and book into available inventory. Mine did this a number of times back in the 90's. Corrections/clarifications are appreciated.
I mention this because of the discussion in this thread and the travel tools forum about EF scraping UA data versus having CRS/GDS access.
I mention this because of the discussion in this thread and the travel tools forum about EF scraping UA data versus having CRS/GDS access.
Code:
1*C«
20SEP THU ORD/CDT LHR/‡6
1UA 958 F3 A3 J9 C7 D7 Z6 P5 ORDLHR 350P 555A‡1 DCA /E
Y9 B9 M9 E9 U9 H9 Q9 V9 W9 S9 T9 L9 K9 G0 N0 *A
2UA 928 F3 A3 J9 C9 D9 Z9 P9 ORDLHR 617P 825A‡1 DCA /E
Y9 B9 M9 E9 U9 H9 Q9 V9 W9 S9 T9 L9 K8 G0 N0 *A
3UA 938 F2 A0 J4 C2 D1 Z0 P0 ORDLHR 907P 1115A‡1 DCA /E
Y9 B9 M9 E9 U9 H9 Q9 V9 W9 S9 T6 L2 K0 G0 N0 *A