Last edit by: Ocn Vw 1K
UA Insider's reply in posts 247 and 254 of this thread:
Hi everyone,
We recognize the importance and value to you of accessible and transparent information about United flights. It’s a meaningful part of your travel planning, and we are committed to providing useful information that is both accurate and preserves the integrity of United’s data and systems.
While we are committed to data transparency, Expert Flyer has been accessing united.com in an unauthorized fashion to retrieve UA availability. In addition, these activities have consumed significant united.com bandwidth that could otherwise be used by regular consumers. As a result, we had to take this action to protect the security and integrity of United’s systems.
Thank you for your understanding as to why we had to take this action. We continue to look at ways in which we can provide you with timely and useful information (some of which you will see in new releases of our own digital channels) as well as with partners that have authorized access to our data.
Aaron Goldberg
Sr. Manager - Customer Experience Planning
United Airlines
We recognize the importance and value to you of accessible and transparent information about United flights. It’s a meaningful part of your travel planning, and we are committed to providing useful information that is both accurate and preserves the integrity of United’s data and systems.
While we are committed to data transparency, Expert Flyer has been accessing united.com in an unauthorized fashion to retrieve UA availability. In addition, these activities have consumed significant united.com bandwidth that could otherwise be used by regular consumers. As a result, we had to take this action to protect the security and integrity of United’s systems.
Thank you for your understanding as to why we had to take this action. We continue to look at ways in which we can provide you with timely and useful information (some of which you will see in new releases of our own digital channels) as well as with partners that have authorized access to our data.
Aaron Goldberg
Sr. Manager - Customer Experience Planning
United Airlines
UA Blocking Expert Flyer and KVS Access to R and Elite Award Searches.
#76
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: AA Plat, UA 1K>Plat>moving to Silver
Posts: 2,067
Financial impact on UA of R inventory knowledge
This change suggests expert mode will lose R/RN visibility in coming days. I am certain United doesn't like people intentionally booking coach knowing they can immediately upgrade on ticketing. I'm sure management thinks they are leaving revenue on the table since some customers will now book premium cabins who would otherwise pay coach/upgrade.
#77
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: AA DULtArer
Posts: 5,552
Sssshhhhh. That's how I've been jumping the queue....
Last edited by iluv2fly; Oct 30, 2013 at 7:58 pm Reason: merge
#78
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: 67,012
EF claims the change will take effect after tomorrow (e.g. Friday, which is when UA Insider was going to possibly announce it ).
Thus, I would expect expert mode to work today and tomorrow... but it could very well be UA "fixes" it on Friday at the same time they take away EF's window into the data.
#79
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,645
Why is COdbaUA doing this? In my mind, it's clear.
EF has exposed their lies and incompetence. It's allowed us to see (and manage) failures to deliver (such as not clearing GPUs into R) and lies (such as promising enhanced elite availability that, in fact, does not exist).
We know they have no interest in fixing any of these problems, so they want to cover up the evidence instead.
In my mind, it's that simple.
EF has exposed their lies and incompetence. It's allowed us to see (and manage) failures to deliver (such as not clearing GPUs into R) and lies (such as promising enhanced elite availability that, in fact, does not exist).
We know they have no interest in fixing any of these problems, so they want to cover up the evidence instead.
In my mind, it's that simple.
#80
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
You don't. Sorry.
Moving the access of the data to behind the login was the plan all along. The "outcry" here or elsewhere had nothing to do with that. The timing was unfortunate and the original plan was just to move it without the outage rather than having the gap in the middle where it was completely gone but that obviously didn't happen.
Moving the access of the data to behind the login was the plan all along. The "outcry" here or elsewhere had nothing to do with that. The timing was unfortunate and the original plan was just to move it without the outage rather than having the gap in the middle where it was completely gone but that obviously didn't happen.
#83
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Texas
Programs: UA, AA, DL, BA, Marriott, Hilton, Accor, Hyatt
Posts: 1,284
This is very bad news. All it will do is take up countless hours of their agents' time, as I will have to call in and check from now on. I sent a message to Aaron urging them to reverse the decision. Unless they want to have their agent do the work for us.
Good question! Will KVS still show it???
Good question! Will KVS still show it???
Last edited by iluv2fly; Oct 30, 2013 at 7:58 pm Reason: merge
#84
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: PBI / FLL / YUL
Programs: UA 1K, Delta Plat, AA Plat, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Courtesy Card
Posts: 1,983
#85
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,404
I think this is like the AwardWallet etc. fights - UA wants money for access to valuable information. They can't ban all access because travel agents need it too.
Incredibly disappointing. Seems self-defeating for United--why hide this information from (presumably) loyal MileagePlus members who are simply trying to use their (sometimes) hard-earned miles efficiently?
I do recall United taking its data off ExpertFlyer a couple of years (?) ago and then they apparently reconsidered and the data reappeared on ExpertFlyer. Perhaps they will again see the light.
I do recall United taking its data off ExpertFlyer a couple of years (?) ago and then they apparently reconsidered and the data reappeared on ExpertFlyer. Perhaps they will again see the light.
#86
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
Probably, since the "scraping" that EF does originates from the client computer rather than a server and, among other things, UA can't really monitor that.
Yes and no. The data in question already isn't published to the GDS feeds so travel agents aren't getting it from there.
:-: And also if UA is willing to license it.
Or check online.
Or check online.
#87
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton ♦ , Hyatt Carbonado, Wyndham ♦, Marriott PE, "Stinking Bum" elsewhere.
Posts: 4,949
This could all be about driving loyalty to the United brand, where only "loyal" fliers get access to search award inventory, thus deterring opportunists who will jump around to any carrier for a good deal on a J seat. Higher level elites may actually get better access to seat inventory once the new requirements hit in January.
#88
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,404
I meant the paid fare classes - isn't that something travel agents have access to? In other words, if UA makes paid fare class availability open to travel agents, it's hard for them to prevent Expert Flyer from having access to that. Different story for upgrade and award space.
#90
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Texas
Programs: UA, AA, DL, BA, Marriott, Hilton, Accor, Hyatt
Posts: 1,284
With EF, I can check in up to five days at the time, all flights. On line, I have to do it flight by flight, day by day. I would rather have the UA agent do it for me. This will be a huge time cost for UA. I am not sure they realize the unintended consequences.