Fare finding tool - which routes to monitor?

[Pete]

Hello all,

I'm working on a new utility for the V-Flyer Toolbox that will help you locate the cheapest fares in each cabin, however because of the volume of data involved, I have to limit it to a select number of routes.

So, over to you. Which routes would you like to have monitored? Which are the most popular, and which (potentially) fluctuate so much they're crying out for a tool of this kind? It's route-based, rather than flight - so I can get all the LHR-JFK flights in one hit, rather than having to specify VS009, 45, etc.

Pete

Edit: I'll add a poll to tally the votes. LHR-JFK, LHR-SFO, LHR-LAX, LGW-MCO & MAN-MCO are all on the list already, so this would just be for any additional ones that shouldn't be overlooked

[Neil]

MCO (Both MAN and LGW) would be a suggestion from me. The fares are all over the place depending on time of year so should be ideal for the tool.

The other obvious ones would be the majority of the US destinations, along with SYD, although I'm sure others will have their own opinions.

Yes I agree, MAN-MCO would be a good start, as Neil says fares are usually all over the place.

Yep definitely MAN-MCO for us too please Pete

thelaceys

MAN MCO works for me.

West coast would be good
London -> LAX, LAS, SFO

[Pete]

I see what you mean about MAN-MCO - very erratic pricing. Will include that!

LAS would be good for me.

Lgw - MCO also please

could I throw DXB in there... likely to be a regular holiday destination. Wouldn't grumble if BGI were to make an appearance as well!

Totally ambivalent about mouse land, I'm hoping to postpone that for a few more years yet. Or for ever if I'm lucky...

Pete,

My suggestions are : LHR - JFK, SFO, LAX & LAS.

Thanks.

Sounds great!

For me, MCO, JFK and LAX would be great

Hi Pete,

A vote for HKG.

Plus: both NYC routes
IAD
LAX, SFO

Look forward to seeing it.

Hi Pete - excellent news.

From me....MCO (both MAN and LGW), BGI, JFK, EWR and LAX....DXB too if we can...

Thanks

Jon

Hi Pete sounds a great idea, my suggestions are, like others:

New York (any airport) SFO, DXB, HKG & SYD and LAS.

Cheers

Cheeky vote for MIA, MCO, NYC, SFO please!!

Agree with robinnelson:
Has to be the popular US routes esp JFK/EWR, LAX and SFO and also MCO and Caribbean for the hols.

Great idea

Pete,

Another vote for LGW - MCO.

Thanks

Pete,

Another vote for LGW - MCO.

Thanks

Another +1 for LGW-MCO from me please

Thanks

David

I would like to see MIA and SFO, possibly SYD too.

[Pete]

So you can see what I'm working on (and make suggestions for improvements I may have overlooked), here's a screenshot of how it's coming together so far.

Up the top you can select the route, month and cabin. Once you've made that selection, the bottom bit is generated from the local database (built on an overnight data collection, so some of the fares may no longer be available - but generally this should show you where the cheap inventory is).

Above the calendar display, it'll tell you what the cheapest fare for this route is in the selected cabin over the whole future period of booking (approx. 336 days). The drop-down list next to it will let you see the dates that cheap fare is available and jump straight to it.

In the calendar itself, the lowest price available for each day is displayed (hot-linked direct to Virgin Atlantic's site so you can grab the flight) If it's the cheapest, there's a 'LOW' flag next to the price. Underneath that, there's an icon a bit like a mobile phone symbol which shows you how cheap/expensive this fare is in relation to all on this route/cabin. Then next to that, you can see whether the fare has been going up or down, and if it's been going up, what's the cheapest fare we've seen for this date/route/cabin combo.

For simplicities sake, it gets the price based on a return flight seven days later (because one-way flights are ridiculously expensive), so when you price up your own itinerary, you may get a different cost because you won't necessarily be flying back on the same day as being calculated in the tool. However, this is still a useful guide as to when it's cheaper to fly and which days to avoid, if possible. And when Virgin make noises about sale fares, this will show you where they actually are...

Cheeky vote for MIA, MCO, NYC, SFO please!!

I'll second these, Ryan!

Great idea Pete...look forward to using this y)

[honey lamb]

Logic would indicate that MCO would be a prime route given than between LGW and MAN there can be as many as 5 flights a day and many of our new posters are here to find out about that route. NYC would also be up there for the same reason and SFO seems to be a prime favourite with regular posters as well as LAX

For me personally, I would also like to see JNB as with a good fare I could quite easily be tempted to hop over to my brother!

Dammit I would like all routes to be there except for the Carribean as it's an area I can't see myself visiting as I see it as a "couples" destination but that's just me being selfish

[Pete]

Would it be better to separate JFK/EWR or just have NYC as an option?

[honey lamb]

Would it be better to separate JFK/EWR or just have NYC as an option?

I think that would depend on personal preferences. For some New York = JFK and maybe they haven't thought of EWR as an option. Others may want to connect and EWR may be better for that for some destinations. A lot of people whose first visit is to New York don't even think of EWR even though it has a lot of positives. When I first visited the USA all my American friends recommended that I should go to EWR rather than JFK and I think they were right!