I had to change a return ticket on CX from HKG to CDG, so I used the Tool to find availability for my class of travel, in order to give proper indications to the company’s TA which had to do the change.

It ended that there was not availability for my class on my desired day (Jun 5), but that there was plenty on both CX flights the previous day, which was also fine to me.

So I sent my query to the TA stating my preferences like this (I nevertheless mentioned the Jun 5 flight, in case changes in availability):
1) CX 261 on Jun 05 – But seems full
2) CX 263 on Jun 04
3) CX 261 on Jun 04.

The TA booked me on the CX 261 of Jun 04. When seeing that I went back to the Tool (how could we live without it?) where the availability was still there for CX 263 on Jun 04.

So I complained to the TA who gave this answer (well in French, I did the translation):

”When I checked the system, the flight (CX263) appeared as full.
As a reminder the reservation system Amadeus is an international system that enables many Travel Agencies to book tickets.

In addition it is possible that, when we did look at the availability, the airline had removed all the quotas to clean all active files on this flight. This is a regular procedure”.

What do you think of this explanation?

Is it true that airlines “clean” a flight? I can understand this notion, but am surprised it would be done on a flight that was far from full, more than 3 weeks before departure.

If they do so, would really the process “zero” out the flight temporarily?

For me analyzing the different files and removing those that should not be kept can only improve the availability, not reduce it, so I don’t see the need for blocking the flight completely.