What is Expert Flyer and is it worth it?

[Reggie]

Expert Flyer

For those that have been, or are subscribers to expertflyer.com do you have any comments on the value of this utility. Also which service, basic or premium would you recommend.

 

[Dave Noble]

Re: Expert Flyer

I have been using it for a while and find it invaluable. I have the premium subscription since I find being able to check on fares v useful ( which the basic subscription does not permit )

Dave

 

[v8Statesman]

Re: Expert Flyer

Given that my success rate for domestic upgrades from discount Economy -> Business is in the 90% range since subscribing, I find it very useful.

 

[aus_flyer]

Re: Expert Flyer

Incredibly beneficial.

I have premium access, and I believe the fare search facility has literally saved me thousands of dollars.

 

[NM]

Re: Expert Flyer

I took an annual premium subscription and find it an excellent tool. If you travel regularly or want to optimise your travel budget or experience, then its very useful.

 

[straitman]

Re: Expert Flyer

I took an annual premium subscription and find it an excellent tool. If you travel regularly or want to optimise your travel budget or experience, then its very useful.

NM (& others),

Where or how would you draw the line of value vs otherwise for the average punter :?:

 

[Dave Noble]

Re: Expert Flyer

NM (& others),

Where or how would you draw the line of value vs otherwise for the average punter :?:

I find it useful for hunting for fares and reading fare rules and routing rules and I have been able to use this information to extend ticket use where without the info I would have been buying extra tickets

I believe that the annual premium subscription can be obtained at USD90

It can make its value (imo) the 1st time you can use the availability alert to let you know when an award seat has been made available on a flight you want to take or when upgrade availability becomes available

Also useful for searching for days when specific classes are available for a ticket

For the average punter, only that punter can really decide how much it is worth to them. It has been great for looking for flights for my sister who wants to visit Oz at xmas to find a fare and availabilty for GBP850 when the cheapest that was obviously around was at GBP950. The saving more than covered a years membership

Dave

 

[straitman]

Re: Expert Flyer

For the average punter, only that punter can really decide how much it is worth to them.

Thanks Dave Noble a comprehensive answer with enough detail to enable a reasonable decision. :shock:

 

[NM]

Re: Expert Flyer

My reasons are very similar to Dave's, except less influence on fares and more on availability.

I find EF to be way easier to use than other free tools such as ITN. Its more reliable and has more information that the free tools. I find it easier to use than KVS and EF also provides info on A$ for fares (KVS only returns in US$, CA$, GBP, and Euro from memory).

The availability alerts are great for finding those hidden award and upgrade seats.

When planning a trip, I feel much more in control when I can see reliable detailed information about the various flight options and availability. I place significant value on being in control myself rather than relying on a travel agent to tell me the options.

 

[cabbage74]

Re: Expert Flyer

I am currently have a subscription to KVS, but this is going to change once it expires. I'm not unhappy with KVS as it did the job it needed to quite nicely (availablity for DONE4) However I have since seen EF and I like the completeness of it and that you don't seem to be sent off onto 3rd party websites for seating maps, fares etc.

IMHO if the "average punter" is just wanting deep discount economy tickets domestically there probably isn't a great deal of use for either EF or KVS.

 

[Reggie]

Re: Expert Flyer

Thanks Guys, I have taken the plunge and joined up on the premium, monthly to start with. The information is definitely comprehensive

I have since seen EF and I like the completeness of it and that you don't seem to be sent off onto 3rd party websites for seating maps, fares etc.

I have been trying to check for seating allocation on QF flights, but haven't been able to get it to work. Do we need to use seat guru or have I been doing something wrong?

 

[Dave Noble]

Re: Expert Flyer

I have been trying to check for seating allocation on QF flights, but haven't been able to get it to work. Do we need to use seat guru or have I been doing something wrong?

I don't know what you have been doing to know if it is wrong , but EF will show QF seatmaps if they are available. If all regular allocation has been taken then it will report that the seat map is not available

Dave

 

[Reggie]

Re: Expert Flyer

I don't know what you have been doing to know if it is wrong , but EF will show QF seatmaps if they are available. If all regular allocation has been taken then it will report that the seat map is not available

That would be the problem. I was lloking at flight SYD-CHC for Wed 7th, and others around this very close date, and it kept coming back not available. So I would guess that due to the closeness of the flights the regular allocation would have been taken then. I will try later dates. Dave, thanks again.

Reggie

 

[NM]

Re: Expert Flyer

Once a Qantas flight has reached a preset maximum percentage of the cabin being allocated, Qantas do not permit any further pre-allocaitons except for Platinum and Gold frequent flyers. The rest must be done at the airport at time of check-in. This allows maxi,mum flexibility for seating families/groups together. When this happens, the seat map is not available on EF or any other method.

 

[kpc]

Re: Expert Flyer

Hi Guys,
Does EF show T class avalability on QF domestic flights? KVS does not
Thanks

 

[Mal]

Re: Expert Flyer

Yes it does show T Class.

 

[simongr]

Re: Expert Flyer

Any word on QF award availability returning?

 

[Mal]

Re: Expert Flyer

Any word on QF award availability returning?

I think the following is the best you'll get:

We are also active in bringing back some of the information you have valued in the past which are no longer viewable on ExpertFlyer. We hope to make announcements about these services in the not too distant future.

There is an expertflyer lurker who visits here every now and again. Maybe they'll comment!

 

[sparoy]

Re: Expert Flyer

I have just joined the Gold AFF membership.
What is the procedure to get 15% discount of Expert Flyer annual premium subscription? Thanks.

 

[NM]

Re: Expert Flyer

I have just joined the Gold AFF membership.
What is the procedure to get 15% discount of Expert Flyer annual premium subscription? Thanks.

As a Gold AFF member you have access to a forum called "Gold Membership Privileges" under the Community Resources forum group. Instructions for redeeming all membership privileges can be found in that forum. If you cannot locate the instructions, send me a PM and I will direct you to it.