Award.Flights - New OW Award Availability Chrome App

[blahter]

I think you don't understand how this app actually works.

As I understand it, the app is essentially automating a process which you would do yourself. The app does the exact same things you would do to search for availability, except with no further clicking on your part and filtering the results into a neat matrix.

This is why it needs your log in details, because it is doing exactly what you would be doing yourself, i.e. as part of searching for space, you need to provide your details.

I don't know how AwardNexus works (maybe they have agreements, general operating accounts or direct inventory interrogation - after all, ExpertFlyer and KVS can also get at award inventory) to search for availability, but clearly they have a more sophisticated setup than the app here.

I think Wandering Armean has a similar award search facility that this app provides, in that it also needs your account details to basically automate a manual process.

There was a rather popular award search engine that was a hit here; I think it was called Awardtravlr? The main advantage of that one is that it provided deep searches for connecting itineraries, albeit it could work a bit slow. It was shut down eventually; I can't remember the exact reason.

Your understanding is correct. My app automates what you would normally do yourself when searching for an award. If you turn on debug mode, you can see the app performing searches like you would do yourself.

I don't know how AwardNexus does its search - my guess is that it does the same as what my app does but uses a pool of accounts and does the search on its server(s). ExpertFlyer may have some agreements with airlines but my best guess is they scrape sites as well. KVS does the same as what my app does for award searches but it issues raw HTTP requests without actually navigating to the page(s).

I actually created this to automate my personal searches across multiple airlines where I have miles and thought that maybe some people would find it useful.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Award availability does vary by status for Qantas.

I'm aware of that but it isn't applicable close in on any search via the usual methods AFAIK.

 

[decs]

I actually created this to automate my personal searches across multiple airlines where I have miles and thought that maybe some people would find it useful.

I've found it a huge timesaver already! Previously was checking ~1 month of availability twice a day on BA and it took ages. It's great that I can let this tool run and check on the results as they appear.

How much work would it take to make it compatible for mobile devices? My guess is particularly the iPhone would require reengineering due to Apple's single web engine even for Chrome.

 

[blahter]

I've found it a huge timesaver already! Previously was checking ~1 month of availability twice a day on BA and it took ages. It's great that I can let this tool run and check on the results as they appear.

How much work would it take to make it compatible for mobile devices? My guess is particularly the iPhone would require reengineering due to Apple's single web engine even for Chrome.

I actually don't know how much work it is. It really depends on whether the iOS API allows communication between an embedded web page and an app. Even if it did, my guess is that it would drain the battery like crazy.

 

[Boca68]

Just gave it a try out with QF and BA on a couple of random routes. I'm impressed, Blahter.

A handy little tool. Great if you could add AA in there as well. Although I'm sure you are looking at more options. Thumbs up!

 

[decs]

Just gave it a try out with QF and BA on a couple of random routes. I'm impressed, Blahter.

A handy little tool. Great if you could add AA in there as well. Although I'm sure you are looking at more options. Thumbs up!

I have to agree wholeheartedly! I've been using the tool multiple times per day since my first post in this thread and can say it makes checking particular award space very easy. Big thumbs up and thanks Blahter!

I love setting a long search while at work and can check when the search is finished. One improvement would be a notification of some sort when a captcha input is required. Other than that it is really well designed and I highly recommend it.

 

[Danger]

Where did we get to on whether or not the sharing of our FF numbers and pins with this program is safe?

 

[Princess Fiona]

Where did we get to on whether or not the sharing of our FF numbers and pins with this program is safe?

We didn't AFAIK ......

 

[anat0l]

Where did we get to on whether or not the sharing of our FF numbers and pins with this program is safe?

I thought this was already discussed?

 

[blahter]

Just gave it a try out with QF and BA on a couple of random routes. I'm impressed, Blahter.

A handy little tool. Great if you could add AA in there as well. Although I'm sure you are looking at more options. Thumbs up!

Someone else on a different forum brought up AA as well but I couldn't see any benefit of adding AA. Everything(that I know of) that the AA engine can search is covered by BA/QF other than expanded availability for AA elites.

I have to agree wholeheartedly! I've been using the tool multiple times per day since my first post in this thread and can say it makes checking particular award space very easy. Big thumbs up and thanks Blahter!

I love setting a long search while at work and can check when the search is finished. One improvement would be a notification of some sort when a captcha input is required. Other than that it is really well designed and I highly recommend it.

Doesn't it already do that? Or do you mean having one outside the app if for example the app is minimized.

 

[decs]

Doesn't it already do that? Or do you mean having one outside the app if for example the app is minimized.

Correct, I'm talking about when the app is minimized. It would be great if the taskbar button would flash orange similar to this:

 

[lanaroberts99]

I did try to download this app but before I did, I had to download Chrome. My virus software did not like it. Every time I try I end up with something called "pie search" in my task bar. So I uninstalled Chrome. Any suggestions?

 

[Boca68]

Hello Lanaroberts99,
Pie search is a browser hijack. Not that dangerous, but annoying. When you downloaded chrome, there was probably a box which was ticked you didn't see, I've done the same myself.

Have a look at this link https://www.techsupportall.com/how-to-remove-piesearch-com-homepage-removal-help/

A good place to start. I'd follow the "Section 4, Manual removal from Chrome instruction section". Hope it helps.


Edit: i'm guessing you downloaded Chrome from a third party website. i.e. Download.com or the like? Chrome is an official Google browser, so always download from Google Play. Also for any extensions or apps you want to add to Chrome.

 

[lanaroberts99]

Thanks for that. I was pretty sure I was on the Chrome website, not a third party one, I'll make sure I download from Google Play. I DID untick the box "make Chrome my browser", but didn't notice another one, I'll look much harder the next time I try. My virus gear prevented me from downloading the tool, so I'll have to figure a way around that little glitch. Last time the only way I could get rid of piesearch was to totally remove Chrome. And there was the suggestion that Spy Hunter would remove it. Sigh. Spy Hunter was another nightmare. A little knowledge is indeed a dangerous thing in my hands.