Expert Flyer membership: 99.99/year is it worth it?
Jun 19th, 2009, 02:28 AM
#2
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Yes.
(Or did you want an answer that is less stultifyingly stupid than the question?)
It depends on how often you plan travel, what type of travel you do, and how much money you have/make compared to how much you spend.
I use EF often, to check flight schedules, to check booking class availability, to check award seat availability on AA, to check seat maps, and to check on fare information. For me, it's worth it.
(Or did you want an answer that is less stultifyingly stupid than the question?)
It depends on how often you plan travel, what type of travel you do, and how much money you have/make compared to how much you spend.
I use EF often, to check flight schedules, to check booking class availability, to check award seat availability on AA, to check seat maps, and to check on fare information. For me, it's worth it.
Jun 19th, 2009, 05:45 AM
#3
I find it useful, but I'm used to it. I think its interface is pretty straightforward, but if I were starting out all over again right now I'd probably go with KVS instead - http://www.kvstool.com/ - which has more features, but a less intuitive interface.
I love "is it worth it" questions. How long is a piece of string theory?
I love "is it worth it" questions. How long is a piece of string theory?
Jun 19th, 2009, 07:54 AM
#4
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Rizzuto
I am a business frequent traveler, 125k/year. Cannot brag about money. Sorry that I annoyed you with what you considered a stupid question. Thanks for bothering.
Garyloo
Thanks! I will check kvstool.com
I am a business frequent traveler, 125k/year. Cannot brag about money. Sorry that I annoyed you with what you considered a stupid question. Thanks for bothering.
Garyloo
Thanks! I will check kvstool.com
Jun 19th, 2009, 10:34 AM
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Does anyone know where KVS pulls its Skyteam award inventory from? I don't have a subscription but from what I'm reading, it sounds like they pull from NW award search in the majority of cases (I'm basing this on the list of airlines plus the mention of additional availability for NW/KL/CO).
I'm just trying to gauge how useful it would be for me since I already have an EF subscription and NW award search is free anyway (and unfortunately, getting less and less accurate by the day).
I'm just trying to gauge how useful it would be for me since I already have an EF subscription and NW award search is free anyway (and unfortunately, getting less and less accurate by the day).
Jun 22nd, 2009, 12:08 PM
#6
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Just after i purchased ExpertFlyer they lost the ability to see United Flights. They were very nice and refunded my fee - it was just a few days after I bought it. I was very impressed with their integrity and if they had airlines that I fly I would absolutely buy it again. I found it easy to read which is not always the case with free tools like ITA Software.
Jun 22nd, 2009, 02:55 PM
#7
<i>Does anyone know where KVS pulls its Skyteam award inventory from? I don't have a subscription but from what I'm reading, it sounds like they pull from NW award search in the majority of cases (I'm basing this on the list of airlines plus the mention of additional availability for NW/KL/CO).</i>
I was wondering the same thing; KVS says it uses something called "ORT" which I must confess is a new one on me. GDS? Native system for some airline/s?
I was wondering the same thing; KVS says it uses something called "ORT" which I must confess is a new one on me. GDS? Native system for some airline/s?
Jun 22nd, 2009, 03:29 PM
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KVS simply queries the NWA.com/jp site. Frankly, I find KVS to be pretty useless. I subscribed for a while and stopped. It is simply too much of a "hobby" site.
I do, however, like ExpertFlyer, but I am pretty obsessive about my flight bookings. My take? If you travel a lot (75k + per year), look to maximize upgrades and awards, and if you are typically book on your own, then it is worth it. If you are a corporate traveler and book through the corporate TA, then don't bother. If you fly twice per year, ditto. It is kind of pricey, and if you can't pretty much guarantee that it will get you an award ticket or an upgrade that you otherwise wouldn't have gotten, then the other features don't pay for it.
I do, however, like ExpertFlyer, but I am pretty obsessive about my flight bookings. My take? If you travel a lot (75k + per year), look to maximize upgrades and awards, and if you are typically book on your own, then it is worth it. If you are a corporate traveler and book through the corporate TA, then don't bother. If you fly twice per year, ditto. It is kind of pricey, and if you can't pretty much guarantee that it will get you an award ticket or an upgrade that you otherwise wouldn't have gotten, then the other features don't pay for it.
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