Why doesn't the Google QPX Express API return results for all airlines?

Question

I have enabled access to the Google QPX Express API to do some analytics on Delta ticket prices and fare classes. But the answer seems to include only flights from a limited set of airlines.

For example, the following query

{ "request": { "passengers": { "adultCount": 1 }, "slice": [ { "origin": "JFK", "destination": "SFO", "date": "2015-02-15", "maxStops": 0 } ], "solutions": 500 } } 

returns flights only for AS (Alaska Airlines), US (US Air), VX (Virgin America), B6 ​​(JetBlue) and UA (United Airlines).

If I add "permittedCarriers": [DL] , I get an empty answer. Similarly, I get an empty answer if I don't leave permittedCarriers and look for flights between Delta hubs (for example, "origin": "ATL", "destination": "MSP" ).

The documentation suggests that QPX Express should have most of the tickets available. Is there something wrong with my request? Why can't I see any results for Delta?

Answer 1

I received a response from the Google QPX Express help team about missing data for Delta. The answer was that

Delta data, as well as American Airline data, are not included in the QPX Express default search results. Access to their data requires the approval of these carriers.

After he reported that my plans to use the data were for research on purpsoses, he replied

America and Delta limit access to their price and availability to the companies they approve of, which are primarily airline ticket sales organizations. Unfortunately, access requests are viewed only for companies that plan to use the API for commercial purposes.