Why are my search results empty or missing airlines?
If you can't find a flight you expect to see, there are a few common reasons.
Cached vs. Live Search
seats.aero uses two different ways of finding award availability.
Cached Search
Cached search uses award data we've already collected and continuously update.
Cached results power:
- Explore
- Most Search results
Cached searches are limited to the routes listed on each mileage program's Routes page.
If a route isn't part of our cached coverage, it won't appear in cached search results.
Live Search
For some loyalty programs, Pro members can perform a live search directly against the airline's award inventory.
Live search:
- is available only in Search
- is not available in Explore
- only works for supported loyalty programs (shown with a ⚡ on our Status page)
- may be unavailable for very broad searches
If your search is too broad, we'll ask you to narrow it before running a live search.
Why doesn't every program support Live Search?
Not every airline or loyalty program allows reliable live searching.
Our Status page shows which programs currently support live search.
Why don't I see connecting itineraries?
This depends on how the results were found.
Cached searches currently track only the routes listed on each program's Routes page.
Live searches can return connecting itineraries when the loyalty program supports them.
As a result, a connection you find through Live Search may not appear in Explore or cached search.
Other reasons results may differ
You may also see differences because of:
- award availability changing
- expanded inventory for elite members or credit card holders
- passenger count
- dynamic pricing
- partner program differences
If you believe a flight should appear but doesn't, contact Support with:
- route
- date
- loyalty program
- passenger count
- cabin
- where you found the availability