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Old 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.
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        Help to check seat availability and flight loads

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        Old Jan 19, 2016, 8:59 pm
          #2356  
         
        Join Date: May 2009
        Location: TPA Bay area
        Posts: 486
        Can't get the BA award availability ex NYC to open for any date on the calendar. Continue to get stopover error...

        Please, would like to know availability for 2 award seats ex NYC (JFK) to LCY on BA0002 or BA0004 on 21 June 2016. Thanks much!
        elizadoo is offline  
        Old Jan 20, 2016, 8:50 am
          #2357  
        Moderator: Qatar Airways
         
        Join Date: Jan 2014
        Location: LHR/NCE/MIA
        Programs: BAEC GfL & GGL, SQ Gold, Amex Centurion, Mucci des Chevaliers des Bons Mots et Qui Savent Moucher
        Posts: 9,023
        A colleague of mine is looking for Avios availability in W or J to MIA from LHR any date between 10-18 December. The dates show availability in Y, but nothing in his preferred cabin of choice.

        Could someone check EF please to see what the availability looks like? Is it simply BA not releasing the seats?
        msm2000uk is online now  
        Old Jan 20, 2016, 8:56 am
          #2358  
        Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
         
        Join Date: Nov 2010
        Location: TPA/ABZ
        Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
        Posts: 13,335
        Originally Posted by msm2000uk
        A colleague of mine is looking for Avios availability in W or J to MIA from LHR any date between 10-18 December. The dates show availability in Y, but nothing in his preferred cabin of choice.
        Rather annoyingly for him, there's J availability on both flights on the 19th December. Can he wait one more day?
        golfmad is offline  
        Old Jan 20, 2016, 9:02 am
          #2359  
        Moderator: Qatar Airways
         
        Join Date: Jan 2014
        Location: LHR/NCE/MIA
        Programs: BAEC GfL & GGL, SQ Gold, Amex Centurion, Mucci des Chevaliers des Bons Mots et Qui Savent Moucher
        Posts: 9,023
        Originally Posted by golfmad
        Rather annoyingly for him, there's J availability on both flights on the 19th December. Can he wait one more day?
        Thanks golfmad
        I'll ask, but his preferred dates were between 10-18 to head to MIA. Is EF also showing no availability in the Avios classes for W and J?
        msm2000uk is online now  
        Old Jan 20, 2016, 9:03 am
          #2360  
        Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
         
        Join Date: Nov 2010
        Location: TPA/ABZ
        Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
        Posts: 13,335
        Originally Posted by msm2000uk
        Thanks golfmad
        I'll ask, but his preferred dates were between 10-18 to head to MIA. Is EF also showing no availability in the Avios classes for W and J?
        Sorry I read the trip as MIA-LHR (wrong way around). Will have a look again when I can.
        golfmad is offline  
        Old Jan 20, 2016, 9:05 am
          #2361  
         
        Join Date: Aug 2012
        Posts: 2,676
        Originally Posted by elizadoo
        Can't get the BA award availability ex NYC to open for any date on the calendar. Continue to get stopover error...

        Please, would like to know availability for 2 award seats ex NYC (JFK) to LCY on BA0002 or BA0004 on 21 June 2016. Thanks much!
        Nothing available according to expertflyer.
        MPH1980 is offline  
        Old Jan 20, 2016, 9:24 am
          #2362  
        Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
         
        Join Date: Nov 2010
        Location: TPA/ABZ
        Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
        Posts: 13,335
        Originally Posted by golfmad
        Sorry I read the trip as MIA-LHR (wrong way around). Will have a look again when I can.
        I had a quick look at those date. On the whole the flights are wide open with 9s in many fare classes on most dates.

        There is reward availability LHR-MAD-MIA in J on IB on 16th DEC (BA514 connecting onto the IB6117). Not sure whether that's any use?
        golfmad is offline  
        Old Jan 20, 2016, 9:33 am
          #2363  
        Moderator: Qatar Airways
         
        Join Date: Jan 2014
        Location: LHR/NCE/MIA
        Programs: BAEC GfL & GGL, SQ Gold, Amex Centurion, Mucci des Chevaliers des Bons Mots et Qui Savent Moucher
        Posts: 9,023
        Originally Posted by golfmad
        I had a quick look at those date. On the whole the flights are wide open with 9s in many fare classes on most dates.

        There is reward availability LHR-MAD-MIA in J on IB on 16th DEC (BA514 connecting onto the IB6117). Not sure whether that's any use?
        Thanks for checking golfmad - I appreciate your help.

        Odd, that with 9's across the board, the Avios availability is so low.

        In terms of the routing via MAD, I think he is trying to use his Companion Voucher, and my understanding is the routing must be all on BA with a 2-4-1.

        Is IB6117 a BA codeshare...and if so, is there a BA flight number?
        msm2000uk is online now  
        Old Jan 20, 2016, 9:39 am
          #2364  
        Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
         
        Join Date: Nov 2010
        Location: TPA/ABZ
        Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
        Posts: 13,335
        Originally Posted by msm2000uk
        Thanks for checking golfmad - I appreciate your help.

        Odd, that with 9's across the board, the Avios availability is so low.

        In terms of the routing via MAD, I think he is trying to use his Companion Voucher, and my understanding is the routing must be all on BA with a 2-4-1.

        Is IB6117 a BA codeshare...and if so, is there a BA flight number?
        It's an IB operated flight so cannot be used with a 2-4-1. However, there are two seats available and as it's off-peak might be worth considering. Might be best booking that now and then waiting to see whether BA availability opens up nearer the time that could be used with the 2-4-1. Then book that and cancel the IB booking.
        golfmad is offline  
        Old Jan 20, 2016, 9:40 am
          #2365  
        Moderator: Qatar Airways
         
        Join Date: Jan 2014
        Location: LHR/NCE/MIA
        Programs: BAEC GfL & GGL, SQ Gold, Amex Centurion, Mucci des Chevaliers des Bons Mots et Qui Savent Moucher
        Posts: 9,023
        Originally Posted by golfmad
        It's an IB operated flight so cannot be used with a 2-4-1. However, there are two seats available and as it's off-peak might be worth considering. Might be best booking that now and then waiting to see whether BA availability opens up nearer the time that could be used with the 2-4-1. Then book that and cancel the IB booking.
        Good idea - I'll send it to my colleague and see what he thinks.

        Thanks golfmad! Massively appreciate the help!

        M
        msm2000uk is online now  
        Old Jan 20, 2016, 2:54 pm
          #2366  
         
        Join Date: Jan 2016
        Location: LHR/ATH
        Programs: Amex Platinum, LH SEN (Gold), BA Bronze
        Posts: 4,489
        Hi guys its coming up near the flights so I would be grateful if somone could give me an idea of how full the plane will be!

        BA0269 26JAN 15:15 LHR-LAX and

        BA0268 31HJAN 20:55 LAX-LHR!


        Let's see how full/empty the A388 will be and whether I was stupid to pay for seats.

        Thanks!
        ahmetdouas is offline  
        Old Jan 20, 2016, 3:00 pm
          #2367  
        Hilton Contributor Badge
         
        Join Date: Feb 2014
        Location: 38,000 feet
        Programs: LH HON, BA GGL, AF Plat, EK Plat
        Posts: 6,448
        Originally Posted by ahmetdouas
        Hi guys its coming up near the flights so I would be grateful if somone could give me an idea of how full the plane will be!

        BA0269 26JAN 15:15 LHR-LAX and

        BA0268 31HJAN 20:55 LAX-LHR!


        Let's see how full/empty the A388 will be and whether I was stupid to pay for seats.

        Thanks!

        BA 269 0 LHR
        26/01/16 15:15 LAX
        26/01/16 18:30 388
        Unavailable
        53% / 27m F4 A2 J9 C4 D2 RC IC W9 E9 T6 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O9 G9

        BA 268 0 LAX
        31/01/16 20:55 LHR
        01/02/16 15:15 388
        Unavailable
        65% / 28m F1 A0 J9 C9 D9 R5 I0 W9 E9 T6 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O9 G9
        nufnuf77 is offline  
        Old Jan 21, 2016, 3:04 am
          #2368  
         
        Join Date: Oct 2011
        Posts: 158
        Would be grateful if someone could check how busy BA0113 LHR-JFK is looking on 1st Feb.
        Spruce-Moose is offline  
        Old Jan 21, 2016, 3:28 am
          #2369  
         
        Join Date: Apr 2005
        Location: London
        Programs: BA Lifetime Gold & GGL & CCR, HH Diam, Bonvoy Titanium, IHG Spire, Tastecard
        Posts: 7,549
        Originally Posted by Spruce-Moose
        Would be grateful if someone could check how busy BA0113 LHR-JFK is looking on 1st Feb.
        BA 113 0 LHR
        01/02/16 11:20 AM JFK
        01/02/16 2:25 PM 777
        Unavailable
        81% / 15m F9 A8 J9 C1 D1 W9 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O9 G0
        chris1979 is offline  
        Old Jan 21, 2016, 4:14 am
          #2370  
         
        Join Date: Oct 2011
        Posts: 158
        Thanks Chris,

        Looks like it's pretty quiet so far.
        My hopes for the cheap paid upgrade to WT+ are now dwindling.
        Although there's a few days to go yet.
        Spruce-Moose is offline  


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