Determined vs Obsessive??
Nov 28, 2013, 4:18 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 228
Determined vs Obsessive??
When looking for availability using Avios to upgrade an existing booking, especially in the final few weeks before a flight, how many times a day/week is it healthy to look?
Or put more simply, when does determined to get the seats if they are released become obsessed with getting the seats?
I fear I am on a slippery slope.... but being told the cabin is still wide open makes me even more sure they will be released.....
Or put more simply, when does determined to get the seats if they are released become obsessed with getting the seats?
I fear I am on a slippery slope.... but being told the cabin is still wide open makes me even more sure they will be released.....
Nov 28, 2013, 4:27 am
#3
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Ipswich
Posts: 7,543
Why do you say that Sixth Freedom?
I've been checking (somewhat obsessively) for UuA on a TATL for Saturday and availability has been coming and going (on various days except mine
) throughout the day for most of this week.
I've been checking (somewhat obsessively) for UuA on a TATL for Saturday and availability has been coming and going (on various days except mine
) throughout the day for most of this week.
Nov 28, 2013, 4:34 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 228
Sixth Freedom
Once a day first thing in the morning should be sufficient.
Oh I'm in deep then!
windowontheAside
I've been checking (somewhat obsessively) for UuA on a TATL for Saturday and availability has been coming and going (on various days except mine ) throughout the day for most of this week.
That's the worst when you see other flights either side of yours having availability
Once a day first thing in the morning should be sufficient.
Oh I'm in deep then!
windowontheAside
I've been checking (somewhat obsessively) for UuA on a TATL for Saturday and availability has been coming and going (on various days except mine ) throughout the day for most of this week.
That's the worst when you see other flights either side of yours having availability
Nov 28, 2013, 4:34 am
#6
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,794
The verb declines in a particular way:
I am determined
You are a geek
He is obsessive
They are off their rocker.
My approach is to check every day - early in the morning UK time - up until 2 weeks before, but twice on Mondays. The main release of seats happens in the early hours of the morning. Then morning and afternoon in the final 2 weeks, and maybe 3 or 4 times a day in the days leading up to departure. It works well for me (e.g. on trips to Australia and New Zealand, which is where my Avios stash largely goes). I'm usually able to find a CW route a day or two before departure, using some flexibility.
Noting in this the "degree day" approach - there seems an algorithm that balances supply with known demand that heats up as you get near to departure. If it's a business route then there's a lot of movement mid morning and mid afternoon, less so late at night. Also as you go over "days before flight" deadlines that also seems to have a factor. So if the flight departs at 14 hrs, looking at 14:30 would be a good idea. Availability can show just hours before departure, and I've taken advantage of this to get to Sydney, booking just 3 hours beforehand.
I am determined
You are a geek
He is obsessive
They are off their rocker.
My approach is to check every day - early in the morning UK time - up until 2 weeks before, but twice on Mondays. The main release of seats happens in the early hours of the morning. Then morning and afternoon in the final 2 weeks, and maybe 3 or 4 times a day in the days leading up to departure. It works well for me (e.g. on trips to Australia and New Zealand, which is where my Avios stash largely goes). I'm usually able to find a CW route a day or two before departure, using some flexibility.
Noting in this the "degree day" approach - there seems an algorithm that balances supply with known demand that heats up as you get near to departure. If it's a business route then there's a lot of movement mid morning and mid afternoon, less so late at night. Also as you go over "days before flight" deadlines that also seems to have a factor. So if the flight departs at 14 hrs, looking at 14:30 would be a good idea. Availability can show just hours before departure, and I've taken advantage of this to get to Sydney, booking just 3 hours beforehand.
Nov 28, 2013, 4:37 am
#7
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: East Anglia, England
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 2,056
It's only obsessive to check frequently if it interferes with doing something else. Normally, I check once
in the morning and then in the evening before bed. Though I've never noticed a difference by checking
twice a day
H
in the morning and then in the evening before bed. Though I've never noticed a difference by checking
twice a day
H
Nov 28, 2013, 4:58 am
#8
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Cambridge, UK
Programs: BA Exec, Amex Plat, CX Gold, etc.
Posts: 87
Depends.
When I was trying to get F flights to BOS for my partner and I, I was obsessive until I learnt the pattern. I checked the flights on various days to see what I could guess, although of course previous behaviour is no guarantee. I figured it was the best I had.
I noticed that [retty much every day at 1220 (am) on the day before a flight availability in the F cabin released providing there was >=5 empty full fare seats. Once I learnt the pattern I checked once a day, but did stay up extra late on the day availability became free to nab the seats as soon as I could.
I'm now doing the same with YYC, but this time trying to get a friend upgraded from WTP to CW (the cabin we're travelling in)
When I was trying to get F flights to BOS for my partner and I, I was obsessive until I learnt the pattern. I checked the flights on various days to see what I could guess, although of course previous behaviour is no guarantee. I figured it was the best I had.
I noticed that [retty much every day at 1220 (am) on the day before a flight availability in the F cabin released providing there was >=5 empty full fare seats. Once I learnt the pattern I checked once a day, but did stay up extra late on the day availability became free to nab the seats as soon as I could.
I'm now doing the same with YYC, but this time trying to get a friend upgraded from WTP to CW (the cabin we're travelling in)
Nov 28, 2013, 6:28 am
#12
Join Date: May 2003
Location: SW18, UK
Programs: Mucci Diamond Hairbrush. And Nouveau Bronze
Posts: 1,393
You're focussing on the process, rather than the end result.
There are only two outcomes: successful, and unsuccessful.
And as we all know, the only one worth achieving is the former.
How you get there is immaterial...
There are only two outcomes: successful, and unsuccessful.
And as we all know, the only one worth achieving is the former.
How you get there is immaterial...
Dec 4, 2013, 9:22 am
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 228
Well T-48 and still no seats released. Only 3 booked in the F cabin and expertflyer shows: F9 A9 J9 C9 D9 R9 IC W9 E9 T9 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 OC G9
Seats available in J still on Avios.
Aircraft has changed to 74I - wonder if they are not releasing any more seats to proactively avoid having to offer service recovery compensation?
Seats available in J still on Avios.
Aircraft has changed to 74I - wonder if they are not releasing any more seats to proactively avoid having to offer service recovery compensation?
Dec 4, 2013, 9:46 am
#14
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: SAV/HHH
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold (current GGL), HH Diamond
Posts: 1,293
I disagree with this based upon my recent experience.
I have an upcoming CW return that I wanted to UUA to F.
I have managed to do so ... but my strategy was to check twice a day, and based upon how availability finally opened up for the final segment to upgrade ... I think that was good strategy.
I'd normally check once in the morning (US East Coast) and once in the evening. The other day on a whim, I checked at around 3pm and 1 seat was available for my date ... which was 10 or 11 days out at that point. Other dates in between also became available, all of which had not been available when I checked in the morning.
While checking twice a day for a couple weeks, I did notice that availability would often open at somewhere between T-48 and T-36 ... and sometimes at T-24.
I have an upcoming CW return that I wanted to UUA to F.
I have managed to do so ... but my strategy was to check twice a day, and based upon how availability finally opened up for the final segment to upgrade ... I think that was good strategy.
I'd normally check once in the morning (US East Coast) and once in the evening. The other day on a whim, I checked at around 3pm and 1 seat was available for my date ... which was 10 or 11 days out at that point. Other dates in between also became available, all of which had not been available when I checked in the morning.
While checking twice a day for a couple weeks, I did notice that availability would often open at somewhere between T-48 and T-36 ... and sometimes at T-24.
Dec 4, 2013, 1:09 pm
#15
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 277
Hmmm obsessive.. moi.. how very dare you... lol
So I booked WT+ Package to NYC (left last Thursday, got back Monday morning sob...) My strategy was, as I had, by my own doing chosen not to book in the Ba luxury sale and therefore missed out on CW CW (£1970 including hotel) and CW-F (£2500 incl hotel) options.
I opted to book WT+ and try for an upgrade paid or otherwise - that would equal or beat the total £2k which I had seen originally.
I checked at least 6 times a day, sometimes more and the Sunday evening before at 1930 - BAM - there it was availability... cue a frantic call to Ba who upgraded me...via avios.. £106 fee [cue the CW dance..]
So what happened..?? well.. this fuelled my obsession (I mean determination) further I decided to check for the inbound... cue checking online here and in NYC (twice a day) oh and a few phone calls (would have happily paid for upgrade too)...
Alas.. I was not going to be so lucky.. Was offered upgrade at airport however not guaranteed to sit together... so we declined.
Not sure what the moral of this story is.. but have fun checking and if you do get the upgrade make sure you do the dance.. it feels so much better, especially when you have saved some £ too
So I booked WT+ Package to NYC (left last Thursday, got back Monday morning sob...) My strategy was, as I had, by my own doing chosen not to book in the Ba luxury sale and therefore missed out on CW CW (£1970 including hotel) and CW-F (£2500 incl hotel) options.
I opted to book WT+ and try for an upgrade paid or otherwise - that would equal or beat the total £2k which I had seen originally.
I checked at least 6 times a day, sometimes more and the Sunday evening before at 1930 - BAM - there it was availability... cue a frantic call to Ba who upgraded me...via avios.. £106 fee [cue the CW dance..]
So what happened..?? well.. this fuelled my obsession (I mean determination) further I decided to check for the inbound... cue checking online here and in NYC (twice a day) oh and a few phone calls (would have happily paid for upgrade too)...
Alas.. I was not going to be so lucky.. Was offered upgrade at airport however not guaranteed to sit together... so we declined.
Not sure what the moral of this story is.. but have fun checking and if you do get the upgrade make sure you do the dance.. it feels so much better, especially when you have saved some £ too
Last edited by Dreaming of WT+; Dec 4, 2013 at 1:57 pm