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Help to check seat availability and flight loads

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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 Mar 2, 2017, 6:59 am
          #4576  
        Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
         
        Join Date: Nov 2010
        Location: TPA/ABZ
        Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
        Posts: 13,257
        Originally Posted by dolfinco
        F4 A4 J7 C7 I7 O7 P0 Y9 E9 R9 W9 M9 B9 U9 K9 H9 Q9 L9 T0 V0 X0

        Does the above mean there is plenty of availability on the flight or is there no real way of telling due to the limit of 9 per category ?
        It means that there is likely to be plenty of availability in the fare classes showing 9 but less availability in the fare classes showing less than 9. Which fare class are you interested in booking or what other question are you trying to answer?
        golfmad is offline  
        Old Mar 2, 2017, 7:02 am
          #4577  
         
        Join Date: Jun 2013
        Location: ABZ
        Programs: BAEC Gold, IHG Gold
        Posts: 204
        Could someone kindly check BA2037 LGW-MCO tomorrow (3rd) return BA2036 on Sunday (5th)?

        Thanks again!
        w3andw4d is offline  
        Old Mar 2, 2017, 7:06 am
          #4578  
         
        Join Date: Dec 2016
        Location: South East England
        Programs: BAEC, MileagePlus
        Posts: 178
        Originally Posted by w3andw4d
        Could someone kindly check BA2037 LGW-MCO tomorrow (3rd) return BA2036 on Sunday (5th)?

        Thanks again!
        Results from ExpertFlyer.com
        Code:
        Flight Availability Search
        Departing LGW on 03/03/17 0:00 for MCO
        Returning on 05/03/17 0:00 
        Flying BA  
        Point of Sale: UK
        
        
                                                                             Frequency
        Flight        Stops  Depart             Arrive             Aircraft  Reliability     Available Classes
        0 Connections
        BA 2037       0      LGW                MCO                777       Daily           J0 C0 D0 R0 I0 W3 E0 T0 Y7 B7 H6 K5 M5 L5 V5 S0 N0 Q0 O0 G4 
                             03/03/17 11:35     03/03/17 16:25               80% / 29m

        Results from ExpertFlyer.com
        Code:
        Flight Availability Search
        Departing LGW on 03/03/17 0:00 for MCO
        Returning on 05/03/17 0:00 
        Flying BA  
        Point of Sale: UK
        
        
                                                                             Frequency
        Flight        Stops  Depart             Arrive             Aircraft  Reliability     Available Classes
        0 Connections
        BA 2036       0      MCO                LGW                777       Daily           J5 C5 D2 R0 I0 W1 E0 T0 Y1 B1 H1 K0 M0 L0 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0 G0 
                             05/03/17 18:25     06/03/17 7:30                70% / 30m
        xhemp is offline  
        Old Mar 2, 2017, 7:09 am
          #4579  
         
        Join Date: Aug 2012
        Location: Dubai
        Posts: 821
        Originally Posted by golfmad
        It means that there is likely to be plenty of availability in the fare classes showing 9 but less availability in the fare classes showing less than 9. Which fare class are you interested in booking or what other question are you trying to answer?
        Im trying to judge if the flight is going to be quiet which might mean more space in the back and no need to over pay on an upgrade.
        dolfinco is offline  
        Old Mar 2, 2017, 10:05 am
          #4580  
         
        Join Date: Jul 2008
        Location: London
        Programs: BA GGL & CCR, GFL
        Posts: 495
        Would someone possibly be able to check:

        BA109 LHR-DXB @ 21.50 on March 10th

        and

        BA106 DXB-LHR @ 02.25 on March 14th
        AdBoy is offline  
        Old Mar 2, 2017, 10:15 am
          #4581  
         
        Join Date: Oct 2015
        Programs: BA Gold for Life
        Posts: 1,392
        Originally Posted by AdBoy
        Would someone possibly be able to check:

        BA109 LHR-DXB @ 21.50 on March 10th

        and

        BA106 DXB-LHR @ 02.25 on March 14th
        BA () 109 0 LHR
        03/10/17 9:50 PM DXB
        03/11/17 8:35 AM 789
        W,Th,F,Sa
        56% / 46m F5 A4 J9 C4 D2 R0 I0 W9 E7 T2 Y6 B4 H1 K1 M1 L1 V1 S1 N0 Q0 O0 G0

        BA 106 0 DXB
        03/14/17 2:25 AM LHR
        03/14/17 6:25 AM 744
        Su,M,T,W,Th,Sa
        95% / 50m F6 A6 J9 C9 D9 R5 I0 W2 E1 T0 Y9 B4 H4 K4 M4 L4 V4 S4 N4 Q0 O0 G0
        Rubecula is offline  
        Old Mar 3, 2017, 1:13 am
          #4582  
         
        Join Date: Aug 2011
        Location: Los Angeles, CA
        Posts: 845
        Originally Posted by Sam Bee
        Ah, you're flying Y on a 787. My condolences.

        #NeverAgain
        Yeah, will be my first BA long haul 787 flight in WT
        B747forever is offline  
        Old Mar 3, 2017, 3:04 am
          #4583  
         
        Join Date: Oct 2010
        Location: AFC
        Programs: BA Silver
        Posts: 281
        Could someone please check lhr-maa ba35 11 March 2017

        Thanks
        Percy Pig is offline  
        Old Mar 3, 2017, 3:19 am
          #4584  
         
        Join Date: Oct 2007
        Location: London
        Programs: BA - Gold for Life, CCR & GGL; IC Spire Elite Ambassador; Diamond Hilton Honors; Hyatt Discoverist
        Posts: 6,720
        Originally Posted by Percy Pig
        Could someone please check lhr-maa ba35 11 March 2017

        Thanks
        According to Expertflyer:

        J8 C6 D5 R2 I0 W1 E1 T0 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O9 G0

        Separately, I understand that in Y there are 50+ seats available.
        TravellerFrequently is offline  
        Old Mar 3, 2017, 5:12 am
          #4585  
         
        Join Date: Jun 2015
        Location: LHR, LGW
        Programs: BAEC
        Posts: 3,445
        Could someone kindly look up:

        BA0175 LHR -JFK on the 8th Mar ( Next week )

        Thanks.
        rockflyertalk is offline  
        Old Mar 3, 2017, 5:14 am
          #4586  
         
        Join Date: Feb 2016
        Location: Lewes, UK
        Programs: BA Silver
        Posts: 231
        Originally Posted by rockflyertalk
        could someone kindly look up:

        Ba0175 lhr -jfk on the 8th mar ( next week )

        thanks.
        ba 175
        lhr 08/03/17 9:40
        jfk 08/03/17 12:45
        744
        f7 a6 j9 c7 d4 r0 i0 w9 e9 t5 y9 b9 h9 k9 m9 l9 v6 s5 n0 q0 o0 g9
        peterinlewesuk is online now  
        Old Mar 3, 2017, 8:45 am
          #4587  
         
        Join Date: Oct 2010
        Location: AFC
        Programs: BA Silver
        Posts: 281
        Originally Posted by TravellerFrequently
        According to Expertflyer:

        J8 C6 D5 R2 I0 W1 E1 T0 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O9 G0

        Separately, I understand that in Y there are 50+ seats available.
        Cheers!
        Percy Pig is offline  
        Old Mar 4, 2017, 11:56 pm
          #4588  
         
        Join Date: Jan 2015
        Location: UK
        Programs: BA Nada, HH Diamond, IHG Spire AMB, Marriott Plat, Accor Gold
        Posts: 510
        HI, could someone please check BA7, LHR-HND on the 24 March.

        Starting to get a bit worried with all the redemption downgrade stories.

        Thanks in advance.

        Craig
        strickers is offline  
        Old Mar 5, 2017, 12:01 am
          #4589  
         
        Join Date: Aug 2010
        Location: Gloucestershire
        Programs: BA Gold (ex-GGL, maybe future Silver), Hilton Diamond
        Posts: 6,201
        1. Downgrades are still very rare;

        2. We're three weeks out - in that time you could find the NRT flight gets cancelled on the day, the Government books an emergency royal visit to Japan that fills the F cabin, a flight full of connecting tourists from Paris fails to make it, or anything else that will have an impact on the numbers...

        That said, since you asked, wow...

        F1 A1
        J0 C0 D0 R0 I0
        W0 E0 T0
        Y0 B0 H0 K0 M0 L0 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0 G0

        (On the other hand, if it's got to Y0 there will clearly be a large number of flexible bookings that could evaporate rapidly).
        Cymro is offline  
        Old Mar 5, 2017, 12:05 am
          #4590  
         
        Join Date: Jan 2015
        Location: UK
        Programs: BA Nada, HH Diamond, IHG Spire AMB, Marriott Plat, Accor Gold
        Posts: 510
        Thanks Cymro. I'll ask again nearer the time. Just deciding on pre-booking seats, there's about 4 pairs left in CW or deciding to wait until the 7 day bronze point.
        strickers is offline  


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