Pro Tool: ExpertFlyer Premium
It’s taken me a few years to finally buy into ExpertFlyer‘s Premium subscription but it paid off within the first couple of days. I signed up for their 5 day free trial of the Premium subscription to test out the SWU (Systemwide Upgrade) alerts for American Airlines. The email and text message alert stating there was upgrade space available (C Fare Class) in Business Class for my flight from LAX to SYD made my day. American Airlines didn’t automatically clear my upgrade so knowing more than what the phone agents know really helps.
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- SWU Upgrade Alert
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- Specific Seat Alert for AA73
I had used the Seat Alerts app with the free subscription and found value in knowing the seating chart of my flight. The premium subscription takes it one step further. It allows you to search for award/upgrade availability on more than 80 airlines as well as find flight availability for over 400 airlines with detailed information about the fare class codes. To utilize the most useful feature, be sure to set alerts if you don’t find availability of what you’re looking (upgrades, awards, standby fare class code, etc.) for as they will alert you right away if it becomes available.
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- Seat Alerts App
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- Flight Alerts
The source of ExpertFlyer’s data is provide by two GDS services and is well worth the $99 per year subscription if you fly multiple times a year and are trying to redeem miles. It gives you the power of information that most travel agencies have access to so you’ll need to be an expert to use it.
I look forward to providing some more real life examples during 2017 when I can use it along with my American Airlines Executive Platinum status which I just qualified for this month.
8 Responses
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