Originally Posted by
eng3
I spent the past few days searching IAD-(CDG,LHR,BRU,FRA,MUC,ZRH) for early to Mid December (Wed-Sat departure) and have found zero PN PZ or IN > 0. looking at seatmaps, this makes sense as most flights are at least 33-50% full, many even more. IAD-BRU/FRA/LHR was mentioned as very low risk and even most of those are fairly full. Have you found clearance (minutes/hours/few days) after waitlisting with these types of flights? (PN/PZ/IN=0, more than 25-33% booked)? I know seat maps is a bad measure but I assume if a seat is taken, that's a actual booked seat (you just dont know how many havent selected seats yet).
I can find some PZ>0 on the return
On that other hand, with no change fees anymore, is there any risk to just booking now? Other than fare difference. If after a few days, PZ>0 is found on another routing, I assume I can just change the outbound leg (even if a domestic leg has cleared) without spending extra PP or risking my a return leg that has already cleared?
I personally would book now with the confirmed u/g on return flight and waitlist outbound. As you mention, you cancel for a flight credit that you could use to book another set of flights if they become available. I have done that several times this year and find it easy to do. Are you checking for open jaws (into one European city, out of another) or just pure round trips? In the past, open jaws have worked for me when visiting two or more destinations. You would also expand your chances of finding u/g availability if you were willing to do a 1 stop IAD--XXX-Europe, where XXX is EWR or ORD. In the past, both have had PZ to some cities when IAD did not.