flight shows empty F cabin
Nov 21, 2014, 6:53 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: South Lakes U.K. & Thassos Greece
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Flight shows empty F cabin
I don't post here very often and if this subject has been covered I apologise now and having done a search could not find anything
I am booked LHR-ORD in early Jan on a redemption and 2-4-1 in J as F was not available when I made the booking(early Nov)
Just now done a dummy booking and both flights outbound 295/297 for my day of travel show all seats in F free with the exception of the usual suspects 1A/!K. So can anyone here shed some light on what might be going on.
Thanks in anticipation
Mods please feel free to move this
I am booked LHR-ORD in early Jan on a redemption and 2-4-1 in J as F was not available when I made the booking(early Nov)
Just now done a dummy booking and both flights outbound 295/297 for my day of travel show all seats in F free with the exception of the usual suspects 1A/!K. So can anyone here shed some light on what might be going on.
Thanks in anticipation
Mods please feel free to move this
Last edited by BravoKilo; Nov 21, 2014 at 7:02 am Reason: Basic error in title
Nov 21, 2014, 6:59 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: BA Gold, QF WP
Posts: 12,551
Seat maps are no indication of the number of booked passengers.
Even F is completely unsold, there is no guarantee that BA will release award inventory for that flight. It is more likely that BA will release award seats in the week leading up to the flight, rather than a few months before anyway.
Even F is completely unsold, there is no guarantee that BA will release award inventory for that flight. It is more likely that BA will release award seats in the week leading up to the flight, rather than a few months before anyway.
Nov 21, 2014, 7:05 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 12,046
The first important concept here is demand to come.
If BA believe that they can sell most seats to revenue passengers before the flight departs, even if bookings only materialise one or two days ahead of time, it makes sense not to release award inventory.
The second important concept is that sometimes it is worthwhile not to release any award seats, even if the cabin is almost empty, to ensure that those passengers who do decide to buy tickets pay cash rather than Avios.
Hope that helps.
If BA believe that they can sell most seats to revenue passengers before the flight departs, even if bookings only materialise one or two days ahead of time, it makes sense not to release award inventory.
The second important concept is that sometimes it is worthwhile not to release any award seats, even if the cabin is almost empty, to ensure that those passengers who do decide to buy tickets pay cash rather than Avios.
Hope that helps.
Nov 21, 2014, 8:25 am
#5
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: LGW
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 762
Do watch them, i managed to get 2 in F at original release, and then a month later 2 more in F. They alter the algorithms all the time and they change predictions so check once a day if you really want them.
Nov 21, 2014, 8:37 am
#6
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2008
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It can be a long and daunting time consuming process but ultimately worth it, sometimes.