Jan 1, 2014, 6:10 am

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

Last edit by: NWIFlyer

If you wish to request availability for a specific flight, please state the date and origin/departure airport codes, not just the flight number.

Please also restrict requests to BA/oneworld flights - flights for other airlines may be removed to avoid cluttering the thread and taking it away from BAEC.

As of 15 Oct 2014 flightstats.com no longer displays flight availability.

Fare class availability can be queried in various ways*:

* Please update wiki if you know of any others.
** Origin of data concealed

What do the codes mean?
Suppose we have a result as F1 A0 J9 C7 D0 RC IC W9 E9 T4 Y9 BC HC ...

This means:
There is 1 seat in the F bucket for sale
There are 0 seats in the A and D bucket for sale, but you can join the waitlist in case seats get released later.
There are at least 9 seats in the J, W, E and Y buckets.
The R, I, B and H buckets are closed to waitlisting.

There are two important things to note about how to interpret these numbers that many people don't understand as it is very counter intuitive:
1) There is NO direct relation to the actual number of seats available on the specific flight. They only mean that the airline is willing to sell this many seats on that specific flight. The airline may intend to oversell seats or withhold seats from sale for many reasons.

2) In the example above, the results show W9 E9 T4 (which are all WT+ buckets). This does not mean that there are 9+9+4=22 seats for sale. Interpret these numbers as "there are at least 9 seats for sale in WT+". There could really be anywhere between 9 and 22 seats for sale - we just can't tell from the numbers the system gives us. Therefore, the conservative approach of assuming that there are at least 9 seats for sale is usually the best one.

What does the "C" mean?
Closed to waitlisting.
In the example above we have RC, IC, BC and HC. This is different to A0 and D0: The A and D buckets are "full" but you can apply to join their waitlists (if your fare permits waitlisting). With R, I, B and H you cannot even request a seat.

The carrier will determine how to confirm your seat if it wishes. Sometimes this may happen immediately, other times only a few minutes before the flight's departure. The order of the waitlist is determined by the carrier privately, but your Executive Club status will push you towards the front of the queue. Many cheap fares do not allow waitlisting.

Differences for non-BA airlines

Some carriers (those using Sabre such as AA) only show a maximum of 7 available seats (not 9). Others only show a maximum of 5.
Some carriers use "L" instead of "0" (e.g., CL DL YL) to indicate you may waitlist for the seat. This tends to happen when the entire flight is on a list basis.

Help to check seat availability and flight loads

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Sep 28, 2014, 6:44 am

#136

Globaliser

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Join Date: Aug 2002

Location: London

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Posts: 38,644

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluesky

Yeah it's early but I still don't understand why class code O is closed so early?? It doesn't make sense at all. How come it can fill the Y class so quickly??

It's not a case of "closed so early". Rather, it's "not yet opened". It might be a number of weeks or even months yet before these classes are opened to bookings.

O class wouldn't help you, anyway, because there are no O class fares at the moment for those dates. The lowest filed fares for those dates are in N class - but that won't work for you either because N class has also not been opened yet.

At least there are N class fares already. In other cases, there might not even be fares filed yet in classes as low as N.

Sep 28, 2014, 7:40 am

#137

Calchas

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Mar 2013

Location: London

Posts: 17,007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluesky

Thanks Calchas

Yeah it's early but I still don't understand why class code O is closed so early?? It doesn't make sense at all. How come it can fill the Y class so quickly??

Very disappointed. I only want to fly with BA!!!

It isn't full, you're too early. BA doesn't want to sell any seats yet.

Oct 7, 2014, 4:47 am

#138

Down Low

Join Date: Jul 2014

Location: London

Programs: BAEC Silver

Posts: 772

Looking at the loads for the BA55 on 20 December LHR-JNB on flighstats.

Am I reading it write in saying that the flight is pretty much full already? Showing as just Y9 with no availability in any other classes.

Basically I am flying myself and three other family members and wondering if it is worthwhile splitting the PNR and putting myself on my own PNR and upgrading or just putting myself on my own PNR and hoping for an OpUp as I know chances of this happening on a four person booking are pretty much zero! (I know this isn't morally very nice but I'll have been working before the flight and hoping for some sleep

)

Cheers for any help.

Oct 7, 2014, 4:51 am

#139

nux

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Join Date: Jun 2012

Programs: BA Gold, QF WP

Posts: 12,551

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidrr16

Flightstats shows US POS availability.

UK POS availability for that flight is F0 A0 J1 C0 DC RC IC W9 E6 TC Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L3 VC SC NC QC OC G0. So likely full/oversold in F and J but W/Y not.

Oct 7, 2014, 5:51 am

#140

Globaliser

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Aug 2002

Location: London

Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.

Posts: 38,644

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidrr16

Looking at the loads for the BA55 on 20 December LHR-JNB on flighstats.

Am I reading it write in saying that the flight is pretty much full already?

"Full" is a pretty elastic concept when we have no idea how many bookings BA is prepared to hold for this flight at any one time. From experience, I would be reasonably confident that a LHR-JNB flight on the last Saturday before Christmas is likely to get to its overbooking limit at some stage and probably stay somewhere near there right up to departure. In addition, it'll be likely to be bottom heavy so that some op-ups will be needed. In that context, exactly when it reaches the overbooking limit and how the overbooking level is managed over time is probably not that important.

Have you thought about all the consequences of putting yourself on a separate PNR? For example, if you're currently Silver but none of the others are higher tier members, and all four of you are on the same PNR, then you would all get free seat pre-allocation. But if you split yourself off then the others would all have to pay for pre-allocation. Similarly, on the same PNR all four of you would a two-bag allowance, but if you split yourself off then the others will be down to one bag each. If these effects apply to you, is the slim chance of an op-up for you alone worth the grief you might get from the others?

Oct 7, 2014, 7:47 am

#141

Calchas

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Mar 2013

Location: London

Posts: 17,007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Globaliser

Similarly, on the same PNR all four of you would a two-bag allowance, but if you split yourself off then the others will be down to one bag each. If these effects apply to you, is the slim chance of an op-up for you alone worth the grief you might get from the others?

Not to mention the slim chance of one or three of you getting off loaded and rerouted separately from the other(s).

Oct 15, 2014, 1:57 pm

#142

jddssc121

Join Date: Oct 2007

Location: LAS

Programs: Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC

Posts: 273

flightstats website just lost the "flight availability" section

not sure if it's something broken, or if they pulled it. But as of this AM it's not there

Oct 15, 2014, 3:12 pm

#143

MPH1980

Join Date: Aug 2012

Posts: 2,676

Quote:

Originally Posted by jddssc121

flightstats website just lost the "flight availability" section

not sure if it's something broken, or if they pulled it. But as of this AM it's not there

Glad I'm not the only one to notice that. It went about sometime after midday Eastern ...

It's gone from all the menus and it's no longer in the FAQs ...

Oct 16, 2014, 4:35 am

#144

Oxon Flyer

Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Marriott Bonvoy

Join Date: May 2006

Location: Englandshire

Programs: SPG LT Plat, BA G, BD*LG, MG Blue+ ...

Posts: 16,035

Quote:

Originally Posted by MPH1980

Glad I'm not the only one to notice that. It went about sometime after midday Eastern ...

It's gone from all the menus and it's no longer in the FAQs ...

As noted here too :

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...ilability.html

Oct 20, 2014, 7:43 am

#145

BRAISKI

Join Date: Feb 2010

Location: YYZ / FRA

Programs: IHG RA; Avis First

Posts: 1,444

Oh no! So can't check any more the seat availability?!?!?

Oct 26, 2014, 12:50 pm

#146

chris1979

Join Date: Apr 2005

Location: London

Programs: BA Lifetime Gold & GGL & CCR, HH Diam, Bonvoy Titanium, IHG Spire, Tastecard

Posts: 7,549

Given that flightstats has been enhanced pretty much away, would someone with time and subscription please mind checking availability:

LHR JFK Thursday 30th October. (In particular BA175 but be keen to understand Y avail for the day)
JFK LHR Sunday 2nd November (again, in particular 112 but keen to understand full picture as believe almost all flights completely full.)

Thanks in advance.

Oct 26, 2014, 1:00 pm

#147

Calchas

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Mar 2013

Location: London

Posts: 17,007

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris1979

From a UK point-of-sale:

Code:

Flight Availability Search
Departing LHR on 30/10/14 0:00 for JFK
Returning on 02/11/14 0:00 
Flying BA  
Direct/Non-Stop Only
Point of Sale: UK


                                                                     Frequency
Flight        Stops  Depart             Arrive             Aircraft  Reliability     Available Classes
0 Connections
BA 117        0      LHR                JFK                744       Unavailable     F8 A7 J9 C9 D9 R9 IC W8 E7 T5 Y9 B5 H0 K0 M0 LC VC SC NC QC OC G0 
                     30/10/14 8:20      30/10/14 12:00               76% / 24m

0 Connections
BA (AA) 1516  0      LHR                JFK                77W       Unavailable     F0 A0 J9 C9 D9 RC IC Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 NC S9 OC QC G0 
                     30/10/14 9:45      30/10/14 13:40               77% / 19m

0 Connections
BA 175        0      LHR                JFK                744       Unavailable     F9 A9 J9 C9 D9 R9 IC W9 E9 T9 Y9 B9 H4 K2 M2 L1 V1 S1 NC QC O1 G0 
                     30/10/14 9:55      30/10/14 13:45               63% / 22m

0 Connections
BA 113        0      LHR                JFK                744       Unavailable     F4 A3 J9 C9 D9 R9 IC W9 E9 T7 Y9 B9 H3 K0 M0 LC VC SC NC QC OC G0 
                     30/10/14 11:30     30/10/14 15:25               40% / 43m

0 Connections
BA (AA) 1506  0      LHR                JFK                77W       Unavailable     F0 A0 J9 C9 D9 R9 I9 Y9 B9 H9 K9 MC LC VC NC SC OC QC GC 
                     30/10/14 12:35     30/10/14 16:35               87% / 15m

0 Connections
BA 177        0      LHR                JFK                744       Unavailable     F5 A5 J9 C9 D9 R9 IC W9 E9 T9 Y9 B9 H7 K2 M2 L1 V1 SC NC QC O2 G0 
                     30/10/14 13:15     30/10/14 17:15               70% / 23m

0 Connections
BA 173        0      LHR                JFK                744       Unavailable     F6 A6 J9 C9 D9 R9 IC W9 E9 T7 Y9 B8 H3 K2 M2 L1 V1 S1 N1 QC OC G0 
                     30/10/14 14:15     30/10/14 18:20               65% / 25m

0 Connections
BA 115        0      LHR                JFK                744       Unavailable     F0 A0 J9 C9 D9 R9 IC W6 EC TC Y5 B0 H0 K0 M0 LC VC SC NC QC OC G0 
                     30/10/14 16:10     30/10/14 20:20               55% / 31m

0 Connections
BA (AA) 1510  0      LHR                JFK                77W       Unavailable     F0 A0 J9 C9 D9 RC IC Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 NC S9 OC QC G0 
                     30/10/14 17:05     30/10/14 21:10               81% / 27m

0 Connections
BA 179        0      LHR                JFK                777       Unavailable     F6 A5 J9 C9 D9 R9 IC W9 E4 T2 Y7 B4 H0 K0 M0 LC VC SC NC QC OC G0 
                     30/10/14 18:00     30/10/14 22:00               42% / 32m

On the way back

Code:

Flight Availability Search
Departing LHR on 30/10/14 0:00 for JFK
Returning on 02/11/14 0:00 
Flying BA  
Direct/Non-Stop Only
Point of Sale: UK


                                                                     Frequency
Flight        Stops  Depart             Arrive             Aircraft  Reliability     Available Classes
0 Connections
BA 178        0      JFK                LHR                744       Unavailable     F1 A1 J0 C0 DC RC IC W1 EC TC Y0 B0 H0 K0 M0 LC VC SC NC QC OC G0 
                     02/11/14 8:30      02/11/14 20:15               89% / 37m

0 Connections
BA (AA) 1511  0      JFK                LHR                77W       Unavailable     F0 A0 J9 C9 D9 RC IC Y0 BC H0 K0 MC LC VC NC SC OC QC GC 
                     02/11/14 18:20     03/11/14 6:20                81% / 45m

0 Connections
BA 112        0      JFK                LHR                744       Unavailable     F0 A0 J2 C0 DC RC IC W1 EC TC Y0 B0 H0 K0 M0 LC VC SC NC QC OC G0 
                     02/11/14 18:30     03/11/14 6:20                82% / 12m

0 Connections
BA 174        0      JFK                LHR                777       Unavailable     F0 A0 J5 C2 D1 RC IC W0 EC TC Y0 B0 H0 K0 M0 LC VC SC NC QC OC G0 
                     02/11/14 18:55     03/11/14 6:55                72% / 34m

0 Connections
BA 176        0      JFK                LHR                777       Unavailable     F4 A2 J9 C9 D7 R7 IC W0 EC TC Y0 B0 H0 K0 M0 LC VC SC NC QC OC G0 
                     02/11/14 19:20     03/11/14 7:15                71% / 31m

0 Connections
BA (AA) 1517  0      JFK                LHR                77W       Unavailable     F0 A0 J9 C9 D9 RC IC Y0 BC H0 K0 MC LC VC NC SC OC QC GC 
                     02/11/14 19:30     03/11/14 7:35                73% / 70m

0 Connections
BA 116        0      JFK                LHR                744       Unavailable     F2 A0 J6 C6 D5 R4 IC W0 EC TC Y1 B0 H0 K0 M0 LC VC SC NC QC OC G0 
                     02/11/14 20:00     03/11/14 7:55                42% / 38m

0 Connections
BA (AA) 1515  0      JFK                LHR                77W       Unavailable     F0 A0 J9 C0 D0 RC IC Y0 BC H0 K0 MC LC VC NC SC OC QC GC 
                     02/11/14 20:35     03/11/14 8:35                74% / 74m

0 Connections
BA 172        0      JFK                LHR                744       Unavailable     F1 A1 J8 C8 D7 R7 IC W1 EC TC Y0 B0 H0 K0 M0 LC VC SC NC QC OC G0 
                     02/11/14 21:00     03/11/14 8:45                71% / 32m

0 Connections
BA 114        0      JFK                LHR                744       Unavailable     F2 A1 J4 C3 D3 R3 IC W0 EC TC Y0 B0 H0 K0 M0 LC VC SC NC QC OC G0 
                     02/11/14 21:30     03/11/14 9:20                61% / 41m

From a US point-of-sale

Code:

Flight Availability Search
Departing LHR on 30/10/14 0:00 for JFK
Returning on 02/11/14 0:00 
Flying BA  
Direct/Non-Stop Only


                                                                     Frequency
Flight        Stops  Depart             Arrive             Aircraft  Reliability     Available Classes
0 Connections
BA 117        0      LHR                JFK                744       Unavailable     F8 A8 J9 C9 D9 R9 W9 E6 T4 Y9 B9 H6 K1 M1 G0 
                     30/10/14 8:20      30/10/14 12:00               76% / 24m

0 Connections
BA 1516       0      LHR                JFK                77W       Unavailable     F0 A0 J9 C9 D9 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 G0 
                     30/10/14 9:45      30/10/14 13:40               77% / 19m

0 Connections
BA 175        0      LHR                JFK                744       Unavailable     F9 A9 J9 C9 D9 R9 W9 E9 T9 Y9 B9 H9 K6 M4 L1 O3 G0 
                     30/10/14 9:55      30/10/14 13:45               63% / 22m

0 Connections
BA 113        0      LHR                JFK                744       Unavailable     F4 A4 J9 C9 D9 R9 W9 E9 T7 Y9 B9 H9 K5 M3 L1 V1 S1 N1 O1 G0 
                     30/10/14 11:30     30/10/14 15:25               40% / 43m

0 Connections
BA 1506       0      LHR                JFK                77W       Unavailable     F0 A0 J9 C9 D9 R9 I9 Y9 B9 H9 K9 
                     30/10/14 12:35     30/10/14 16:35               87% / 15m

0 Connections
BA 177        0      LHR                JFK                744       Unavailable     F5 A5 J9 C9 D9 R9 W9 E9 T9 Y9 B9 H9 K8 M6 L2 O6 G0 
                     30/10/14 13:15     30/10/14 17:15               70% / 23m

0 Connections
BA 173        0      LHR                JFK                744       Unavailable     F8 A6 J9 C9 D9 R9 W9 E9 T9 Y9 B9 H9 K4 M2 O4 G0 
                     30/10/14 14:15     30/10/14 18:20               65% / 25m

0 Connections
BA 115        0      LHR                JFK                744       Unavailable     F0 A0 J9 C9 D9 R9 W7 Y5 B5 H0 K0 M0 G0 
                     30/10/14 16:10     30/10/14 20:20               55% / 31m

0 Connections
BA 1510       0      LHR                JFK                77W       Unavailable     F0 A0 J9 C9 D9 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 G0 
                     30/10/14 17:05     30/10/14 21:10               81% / 27m

0 Connections
BA 179        0      LHR                JFK                777       Unavailable     F6 A6 J9 C9 D9 R9 W9 E5 T3 Y7 B7 H4 K0 M0 G0 
                     30/10/14 18:00     30/10/14 22:00               42% / 32m

US POS on the way back

Code:

Flight Availability Search
Departing LHR on 30/10/14 0:00 for JFK
Returning on 02/11/14 0:00 
Flying BA  
Direct/Non-Stop Only


                                                                     Frequency
Flight        Stops  Depart             Arrive             Aircraft  Reliability     Available Classes
0 Connections
BA 178        0      JFK                LHR                744       Unavailable     F1 A1 J3 C0 W0 Y0 B0 H0 K0 M0 G0 
                     02/11/14 8:30      02/11/14 20:15               89% / 37m

0 Connections
BA 1511       0      JFK                LHR                77W       Unavailable     F0 A0 J9 C9 D9 Y0 H0 K0 
                     02/11/14 18:20     03/11/14 6:20                81% / 45m

0 Connections
BA 112        0      JFK                LHR                744       Unavailable     F0 A0 J8 C6 W0 Y0 B0 H0 K0 M0 G0 
                     02/11/14 18:30     03/11/14 6:20                82% / 12m

0 Connections
BA 174        0      JFK                LHR                777       Unavailable     F0 A0 J7 C5 D2 W0 Y0 B0 H0 K0 M0 G0 
                     02/11/14 18:55     03/11/14 6:55                72% / 34m

0 Connections
BA 176        0      JFK                LHR                777       Unavailable     F4 A4 J9 C8 D3 W0 Y0 B0 H0 K0 M0 G0 
                     02/11/14 19:20     03/11/14 7:15                71% / 31m

0 Connections
BA 1517       0      JFK                LHR                77W       Unavailable     F0 A0 J9 C9 D9 Y0 H0 K0 
                     02/11/14 19:30     03/11/14 7:35                73% / 70m

0 Connections
BA 116        0      JFK                LHR                744       Unavailable     F2 A1 J9 C4 D1 W0 Y1 B0 H0 K0 M0 G0 
                     02/11/14 20:00     03/11/14 7:55                42% / 38m

0 Connections
BA 1515       0      JFK                LHR                77W       Unavailable     F0 A0 J9 C0 D0 Y0 H0 K0 
                     02/11/14 20:35     03/11/14 8:35                74% / 74m

0 Connections
BA 172        0      JFK                LHR                744       Unavailable     F1 A1 J9 C6 W0 Y0 B0 H0 K0 M0 G0 
                     02/11/14 21:00     03/11/14 8:45                71% / 32m

0 Connections
BA 114        0      JFK                LHR                744       Unavailable     F2 A2 J8 C4 W0 Y0 B0 H0 K0 M0 G0 
                     02/11/14 21:30     03/11/14 9:20                61% / 41m

All courtesy of ExpertFlyer. Get yourself a subscription man!

Oct 26, 2014, 1:01 pm

#148

angatol

Join Date: Oct 2011

Posts: 4,964

.....

Last edited by angatol; Mar 1, 2015 at 1:00 am

Oct 26, 2014, 1:05 pm

#149

Calchas

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Mar 2013

Location: London

Posts: 17,007

Quote:

Originally Posted by angatol

Edit: beaten to it...

I thought Chris1979 was grown up enough not to need the information edited into bite-size chunks.

Oct 26, 2014, 1:12 pm

#150

angatol

Join Date: Oct 2011

Posts: 4,964

.....

Last edited by angatol; Mar 1, 2015 at 12:23 am