Wildcard Use and Usage
Wildcards are special characters used in searches to represent one or more unknown characters, allowing for flexible pattern matching. They are commonly used in search functions to find and match specific patterns or represent a category. Content Optimizer Air uses the common wildcard character, the asterisk (*).
Specific wildcard usage in rule creation
The following rules have specific wildcard usage when creating or editing the rules.
All Airlines (**)
Most rules let you define airline application. When creating a rule and defining which airlines to apply the rule to, the default Airlines setting is for the rule to apply to All Airlines (**).
| Wildcard Use | Result |
|---|---|
|
** |
All Airlines |
| However, you cannot use a wildcard to define the first or second digit of the airline code. For example | |
| A* | All airlines with two-digit beginning with A (e.g., AA, A1, AZ) |
| *A | All airlines with two-digit ending with A (e.g., AA. BA, 2A) |
The All Airlines (**) can also be used in the following rules:
Exclude marketing/codeshare airlines
This rule excludes either the specified marketing only or codeshare combinations from shopping, availability results, and sell transactions. Marketing and/or codeshare airlines can be defined with wildcards (**) in specific circumstances.
| Marketing Airline | Operating Carrier | Result |
|---|---|---|
|
XX |
XX |
This setting will inhibit only those flights that are both marketed and operated by airline XX. It will not inhibit any codeshare flights that are either only marketed or only operated by airline XX. |
|
XX |
YY |
This setting will inhibit only those flights that are marketed by airline XX and operated by airline YY. |
|
XX |
Blank/null |
All flights marketed by airline XX and operated by any airline including XX are inhibited. |
|
XX |
** |
This setting will inhibit flights marketed by airline XX and operated by any airline other than XX. Flights marketed and operated by XX are still shown. |
|
** |
XX |
This setting will inhibit flights operated by airline XX and marketed by any airline other than XX. Flights marketed and operated by XX are still shown. |
The following settings are not allowed:
-
Marketing Carrier = blanks
-
Both Marketing Carrier and Operating Carrier = **
-
Marketing Carrier = ** and Operating Carrier = blanks
Exclude connections between airlines
In the Exclude city/airport connection(s) area, you can use wildcards (**) to define all airlines for the marketing or operating airline:
| First Marketing airline | First Operating airline | Second Marketing airline | Second Operating airline | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
XX |
XX |
YY |
YY |
This setting will inhibit only those results with flights that are both marketed and operated by airline XX that connect with flights both marketed and operated by airline YY. |
|
XX |
ZZ |
YY |
WW |
This setting will inhibit only those results with flights marketed by airline XX and operated by airline ZZ that connect with flights marketed by airline YY and operated by airline WW. |
|
XX |
Blanks/null |
YY |
Blanks/null |
This setting will inhibit only those results with flights that are marketed by airline XX and operated by any airline that connect with flights that are marketed by airline YY and operated by any airline. |
|
XX |
** |
YY |
** |
This setting will inhibit only those results with flights that are marketed by airline XX and operated by any airline other than XX that connect with flights that are marketed by airline YY and operated by any airline other than YY. |
|
** |
XX |
** |
YY |
This setting will inhibit only those results with flights that are marketed by any airline other than XX and are operated by airline XX that connect with flights that are marketed by any airline other than YY and are operated by airline YY. |
The following settings are not allowed:
-
Marketing Carrier = blanks
-
Both Marketing Carrier and Operating Carrier = **
-
Marketing Carrier = ** and Operating Carrier = blanks
Rules using wildcards to define other fields
Following are rules where wildcards define characters other than airlines.
Exclude Fare or Fare Family
This rule can have Fare Basis codes added to be used to restrict fares, and the applicable codes can be definied with one or more wildcard characters.
Enter up to 15 fare basis codes separated by a comma. Separate optional ticket designator with a /. Wildcards are allowed.
Exclude fares by brand name
The Exclude Fares by Brand Name rule expands the ability of Content Optimizer to allow agencies to influence Search responses to better suit their business needs. Wildcards can be used to define names of the brand to exclude in the Brand names field. Enter up to 10 brand names separated by a comma. Use * as a wildcard.
The full brand name can be entered, or wildcards can be used at the beginning or end of the text to handle multiple brands. The list of supported wild cards are:
| Restriction | Wildcard Use | Result |
| Restrict all brand names that end with Economy | *Economy | Brands like Basic Economy and Premium Economy would be restricted. |
| Restrict all brand names that begin with Economy | Economy* | Economy Plus and Economy Basic would be restricted. |
|
Restrict all brand names that contain ECON Note: Double wild cards are only processed if present at the beginning and the end, for example *ECON*. Scenarios where a wild card is in the middle of the brand name and another at the end of the brand name are not supported. |
*ECON* | Any brand containing ECON in its name would be restricted. E.g., Basic Economy, Economy Plus, Economic, Economico. |
| Restrict all brand names that begin with E and end with Y | E*Y | The brand Economy would be restricted. |