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ITA only allows 4 segments in multi-seg itin?

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ITA only allows 4 segments in multi-seg itin?

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Old Jul 9, 2008 | 2:40 pm
  #1  
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ITA only allows 4 segments in multi-seg itin?

Since when does ITA only allow 4 segment in the multi-segment itin search? I seem to remember this being 6 or 7 last time I used it.

Lemme guess, they had to scale back the number of segs you can search for 'due to the high cost of fuel'.
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Old Jul 9, 2008 | 2:44 pm
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Wrong, ITA allows you to have a rather unlimited number of segments. However, you can only specify 3 intermediate stopovers through the multi-destination functionality. For transfers, you can use the ITA syntax on one line:

AAA:: CCC YY DDD ZZ+ EEE FFF
BBB

to fly from AAA to BBB via CCC then a segment of airline YY to DDD then several segments of ZZ to EEE and a connection in FFF before arriving in BBB.

Do this on 4 lines and you will get more than 20 segments!
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Old Jul 9, 2008 | 2:44 pm
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I'm pretty sure it's been 3 stopovers since I've been using it... though my memory sucks

Like the post above says - you can do unlimited transfers.
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Old Jul 9, 2008 | 2:50 pm
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Sorry, I meant stopovers, of course.

I'm quite certain it used to do more. Heck, even .bomb does more than that!
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Old Jul 9, 2008 | 2:58 pm
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Haha - yeah, Farecompare is also another that allows more. Personally, I really hate places that only allow 3, such as Expedia and a few local ones here in NZ. AA also only allows 4.

Perhaps ITA Hacker can comment on if/why this was changed on ITA?
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Old Jul 9, 2008 | 3:04 pm
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Look here http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=330932
and try the minconnect option. This works at least for short stopovers.
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Old Jul 9, 2008 | 7:50 pm
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Originally Posted by wijomas
Haha - yeah, Farecompare is also another that allows more. Personally, I really hate places that only allow 3, such as Expedia and a few local ones here in NZ. AA also only allows 4.

Perhaps ITA Hacker can comment on if/why this was changed on ITA?
It's been that way since at least 2003, so you'd have to be remembering longer ago than that.

This is mostly a way of controlling computing resource utilization. More stopovers means longer queries means we need more computers for this service we're offering for free to the public...

I'll see what our current utilization is looking like (after they get the site back up). Maybe we can consider upping the limits.
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Old Jul 9, 2008 | 8:05 pm
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I've generally found 4 to be enough for most of my trips, with transfers being added as has been mentioned in this thread. Though, a higher limit would be awesome, and I'm sure all of us here would appreciate it if it was possible! ^
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Old Jul 10, 2008 | 1:49 am
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Originally Posted by ITA Hacker
I'll see what our current utilization is looking like (after they get the site back up). Maybe we can consider upping the limits.
You should check how many users are currently using all 4 search boxes. Of those, only part would probably be interested in more. So might not be that many resources are needed.
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Old Jul 10, 2008 | 8:01 am
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Originally Posted by SmilingBoy
You should check how many users are currently using all 4 search boxes. Of those, only part would probably be interested in more. So might not be that many resources are needed.
Or perhaps a back-door page for FlyerTalkers.....
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Old Jul 18, 2008 | 2:45 pm
  #11  
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Suggestion: Put in all of your stopover points as connections using the route language mentioned by ranskis, then read the fare rules and see if stopovers are allowed. Play with the dates a bit to figure out what specific flights you want, then check availability in the proper fare bucket, then call up the airline or a TA to book.

Note that this strategy backfires is when you have HIP issues.
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Old Jul 18, 2008 | 4:16 pm
  #12  
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The limit should be 6 now.

You should still use the route language unless you're planning to stop somewhere for a while, since the search works better that way.
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Old Jul 18, 2008 | 5:06 pm
  #13  
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The 6 segment limit is great, thanks ITA Hacker!

Slightly OT: Is there any way (using routing language or other) to specify mixed classes of service (ie, 1st segment Economy, second segment Business)?
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Old Jul 21, 2008 | 9:56 am
  #14  
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Originally Posted by ITA Hacker
The limit should be 6 now.

You should still use the route language unless you're planning to stop somewhere for a while, since the search works better that way.
Excellent! Thanks for the added hook!
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Old Jul 21, 2008 | 10:56 am
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Originally Posted by wijomas
The 6 segment limit is great, thanks ITA Hacker!

Slightly OT: Is there any way (using routing language or other) to specify mixed classes of service (ie, 1st segment Economy, second segment Business)?
have you tried /f bc=j ? or y?
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