I don't really get what AC is doing with TATL R space. I get the idea that they don't want to make it available months ahead of time because (presumably) of the latitude redemption folks, but 6 days out from my LHR-YOW flight, EF says it's J9 C9 D9 Z9 P9 R0 O9 E9 A2 N0 Y9 B9 M9 U9 H9 Q9 V9 W9 S9 T9 L9 K9. I get that anything can change, maybe the computer says a ton of last minute biz tickets will be sold for that flight, etc etc., but what is the point of advertising clearance windows as a status benefit if there is no R space even in a situation like this?

I know some people have reported seeing R space on TATL fares but I have not ever seen it on a single occasion since May 2024 on the routes I fly, even when they are P9 as in this example.

Maybe the idea is that having any R space at all, even within the clearance window, raises the latitude redemption problem (non-status pax can scoop up J seats for about 90k). And that going to the gate preserves the priority order that would have come through use of the clearance windows anyway. If so, I don't understand why the solution isn't to just raise the latitude redemption cost.