Every so often, I think it makes sense to talk a bit about the tools and services that I most use for managing, earning, and redeeming points. While I often mention these websites and services in passing, I think theres also merit to writing dedicated posts about them sometimes.
Continue reading: ExpertFlyer: How This Valuable Tool For Frequent Flyers Works
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
When you set up award redemption alerts, how do you know the fare code to track? Does Expert Flyer show you? Do you have to look it up? If you have to look it up, where do you do that?
Use same as you - since orginal Chicago Seminar days - when EF presented and offered discount. Plus I use it to monitor availabilty and seat maps if I have a pending upgrade. Say I am #1 on AA upgrade list I monitor to see if a seat opens (ie misconnect). Also if I have exit row and it if the middle seat is free. EF shows the seat map after AA has stopped showing it. AA now shows number of open seats on the app for upgrades - but I find EF more useful.
@ TravelinWilly -- Great question, and sorry for not clarifying. When you go to the "Awards & Upgrades" tab, you'll see a list of all the airlines and potential fare classes that can be searched. So in the screenshot shown, it displays how for American, "Business - Partner Award" is the "U" fare class. Then when you open the award availability alert, you'd just enter that "U" fare class.
It's great - unless you need it for UA/LH. What it the best alternative for Start Alliance flights?
Wasn't there just a post on ExpertFlyer a few days ago?
This looks identical...
I was a travel agent for 3 decades and benefited enormously once expert flyer was launched by locating inventory on sold out flights and cabins and fixing seating problems.Best tool to ensure customer satisfaction ever!
I use seats.aero for Miles and More award availability (free to search for 60 days in advance, 9,99$ the pro subscription
Ben, I think it’s REALLY important to list the big airlines that are NOT available on the site. I was super excited about a year or two ago and immediately signed up and paid a year in advance. Only to enter and realize the NO LH group airline was available. And I can’t remember for Air France. So it was useless. They were kind of enough to give me a full refund as I realized within the same day this had zero utility for me.
I can’t imagine the airlines like these sites at all and have zero incentive to support them so their availability game remains a closed mystery…even on the apps as you can only really find out real inventory by calling…so very 1980s and inefficient. But I’m sure that’s exactly what they want so that consumers just give up…