Dear all,

I'm new here. I'm looking to fly on a BA flight to Algiers. Ba2546 on the 17th JUL.
When I checked with someone at the airport I was told is oversold .

When I try to buy a ticket I can't.can'When I check Expert flyer seat map it shows plenty of empty seats. Can someone with more experience clarify this please. Thank you all,

ALPHABRAVOZERO Welcome to FT

Seats allocated are not an indication of seat sales.
With BA charging for seat selection, unless you have mid-top status, many people will not pay. Just take what the get at check-in or allocate for free closer to departure (where applicable)

Hi ALPHABRAVOZERO, welcome to Flyertalk and the BA page. Somebody will be along shortly to give you a more formal welcome, but in relation to your query, that route seems very popular because looking at EF for the days which BA fly the route around mid-July (Sunday / Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday) almost al the flights are sold out. For July 17th, EF says there are 2 'J' class (Business class) seats available but nothing in economy, there is 1J for the Monday and Tuesday flights and nothing on Wednesday, so what you were told at the airport was most likely correct at the time and I would hazard a guess the flight is currently oversold. In relation to your query on the seat maps, BA charge non-status passengers for seat assignments so in a lot of cases people won't pay the seat selection charge and wait to select their seat when check-in opens 24hrs before the flight, hence with BA you can never rely on their seat maps to see how busy a flight is.

Pilot37

Welcome to Flyertalk and welcome to the BA forum ABZ.

ALG is a special route since it comprises of two groups of travellers who wouldn't make up much of the rest of LGW's customer profile. The UK's Algerian diaspora, which has long roots in London, and oil / gas workers, and I'm guessing you are in the latter group. The first group typically make one annual trip to see their family, with huge luggage requirements and they book this way in advance, often as soon as the flights are put on sale. Though it's not that far away - Algiers is about the same distance as Naples - the idea of quick trips home doesn't seem to work, presumably due to the cost. So by the time the oil workers pitch up, on much shorter timeframes, the seats are gone. I vaguely recall BA also has staffing, weight and cargo limitations on this route so it wouldn't surprise me if BA doesn't actually sell every available seat on the route.

So it may be KLM or AF for you here.

Thank you so much!

Thank you so much!
Makes sense.

There is still availability in Club Europe, but only in the J fare bucket, and having had a look at BA.com, this prices out at over �1k one way.

J2 C0 D0 R0 I0 Y0 B0 H0 K0 M0 L0 V0 N0 O0 Q0 S0 G0

Thank you so much, it makes sense.

Thank you!