Author Topic: Are These Award Travel Sites Worthwhile? (Read 4054 times)

Miami00 · « **on:** January 20, 2011, 08:18:14 PM »

Hi,

Does anyone have any thoughts about whether these award travel site are worthwhile?

AwardNexus.com
KVStool.com
Expertflyer.com

Thanks

Monsey · « **Reply #1 on:** January 20, 2011, 10:08:19 PM »

Awardnexus.com is quite expensive

Dan · « **Reply #2 on:** January 20, 2011, 10:20:31 PM »

How often do you book award tickets?

Miami00 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 21, 2011, 12:33:25 AM »

Quote from: Dan on January 20, 2011, 10:20:31 PM

How often do you book award tickets?

Dan, I don't travel that often. But I do have a large number of points and am planning a trip to Israel with many people so I want to be able to get the most number of reward seats i can. I also don't have a lot of extra time to work on this.
I'm trying to find out if these sites are reliable, efficient, and can save time.

Thanks

Dan · « **Reply #4 on:** January 21, 2011, 12:36:59 AM »

Quote from: Miami00 on January 21, 2011, 12:33:25 AM

Dan, I don't travel that often. But I do have a large number of points and am planning a trip to Israel with many people so I want to be able to get the most number of reward seats i can. I also don't have a lot of extra time to work on this.
I'm trying to find out if these sites are reliable, efficient, and can save time.

Thanks

AwardNexus can definitely save you time for Star Alliance and Oneworld awards. But it's expensive and overpriced IMHO and does nothing that you can't do on your own.

AsherO · « **Reply #5 on:** January 21, 2011, 12:39:10 AM »

Quote from: Dan on January 21, 2011, 12:36:59 AM

AwardNexus can definitely save you time for Star Alliance and Oneworld awards. But it's expensive and overpriced IMHO and does nothing that you can't do on your own.

What about Dan's Concierge Service?

Dan · « **Reply #6 on:** January 21, 2011, 12:45:39 AM »

Quote from: AsherO on January 21, 2011, 12:39:10 AM

What about Dan's Concierge Service?

Even more expensive but if you ask the handful of people who have done it I'm sure they'll all agree that I'm worth it

It's apples and oranges as I take care of everything from airline seats to hotels and cars and itinerary planning, and unlimited gchat time to pick my brain

Honestly I don't think I'll offer it publicly because I'm far too thorough for what most people need. I can't even count the dozens of hours that I've spent with my current client. They even canceled the first trip that I had already booked everything for, but I'm true to my word and am reworking everything for just the original quote. Honestly it's not worth my time but I do enjoy the challenge to a degree.

AsherO · « **Reply #7 on:** January 21, 2011, 12:51:36 AM »

Quote from: Dan on January 21, 2011, 12:45:39 AM

Even more expensive but if you ask the handful of people who have done it I'm sure they'll all agree that I'm worth it It's apples and oranges as I take care of everything from airline seats to hotels and cars and itinerary planning, and unlimited gchat time to pick my brain

Honestly I don't think I'll offer it publicly because I'm far too thorough for what most people need. I can't even count the dozens of hours that I've spent with my current client. They even canceled the first trip that I had already booked everything for, but I'm true to my word and am reworking everything for just the original quote. Honestly it's not worth my time but I do enjoy the challenge to a degree.

I think that's the most verbose description of the service thus far. Thanks for the info, I'll keep it in mind

moish · « **Reply #8 on:** January 21, 2011, 04:13:20 AM »

i find kvs to be quite helpful

Dan · « **Reply #9 on:** January 21, 2011, 07:38:40 AM »

Quote from: moish on January 21, 2011, 04:13:20 AM

i find kvs to be quite helpful

For what do you use it for?

moish · « **Reply #10 on:** January 21, 2011, 09:14:36 AM »

avilability on elal and star alliance

Dan · « **Reply #11 on:** January 21, 2011, 09:15:55 AM »

Quote from: moish on January 21, 2011, 09:14:36 AM

avilability on elal and star alliance

Why is it better than elal.com where there is an avaialbility calendar?
I can see the small convenience for ANA searches, but with greasemonkey it's not a big difference there either.

I do like the Minimum connect time reference tool on KVS though.

Miami00 · « **Reply #12 on:** January 25, 2011, 11:22:22 PM »

Has anyone actually used these sites?

moish · « **Reply #13 on:** January 26, 2011, 01:39:11 AM »

Quote from: Dan on January 21, 2011, 09:15:55 AM

Why is it better than elal.com where there is an avaialbility calendar?
I can see the small convenience for ANA searches, but with greasemonkey it's not a big difference there either.

I do like the Minimum connect time reference tool on KVS though.

i get an error when checking a biz award ticket on elal.com

isac · « **Reply #14 on:** January 27, 2011, 07:15:13 AM »

If AA or Co don't show availability online or phone then how do these programs help?

For example I needed 2 business seats (direct) Ny-La and all AA had available was 1, how would these programs help?

SuperFlyer · « **Reply #15 on:** January 29, 2011, 03:25:25 PM »

Kvs is tops !
Expertflyer has never helped me with anything so far.
Awarnexus is very expensive, but if you use it for a few flights, its perfect.

isac · « **Reply #16 on:** January 29, 2011, 04:20:00 PM »

are any of them free?
could someone explain to me how these sites would show/have availability if the airline's site or phone center doesn't

?

SuperFlyer · « **Reply #17 on:** January 29, 2011, 04:29:39 PM »

The airlines sites just don't search well.

The reps don't know their stuff. (Some aa do know)

When you search and you know what you are doing, it should be better.

Eli · « **Reply #18 on:** January 29, 2011, 08:09:53 PM »

Quote from: isac on January 27, 2011, 07:15:13 AM

If AA or Co don't show availability online or phone then how do these programs help?

For example I needed 2 business seats (direct) Ny-La and all AA had available was 1, how would these programs help?

Sir Isac...if it's not available, it's not available and these tools can't help you. But instead of relying on an agent to look for all options, why not try it yourself? It makes it much easier to call up CO and say "Please put the following itinerary on hold for me...2 seats in biz on CO flight XXX and then connecting to flight XXX at XXX etc."

KVS · « **Reply #19 on:** February 01, 2011, 05:51:46 PM »

Quote from: moish on January 21, 2011, 04:13:20 AM

i find kvs to be quite helpful

Quote from: SuperFlyer on January 29, 2011, 03:25:25 PM

Kvs is tops !
Expertflyer has never helped me with anything so far.
Awarnexus is very expensive, but if you use it for a few flights, its perfect.

Glad you're enjoying your KVS Tool memberships!

P.S. SuperFlyer: Could you please confirm the e-mail address on your account via PM?