Originally Posted by
Herb687
Depending on the route, it might not even tell you much until inside of a week to departure. (Different routes have far different advance booking curves)
A week??? Try hours. I have seen J and W inventory evaporate as close as 45 minutes before departure, as in going from 6 open seats in Business Class on a 772 transatlantic flight when we left for the airport to 0 when the check-in closed 45 minutes before departure. With very rare exceptions, whatever seats may be left unsold in the forward cabins - after cash and mileage upgrades - go to D1 and D2 passengers, not Buddy Pass riders.
If you absolutely, positively have to be there, buy a ticket.