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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 Apr 24, 2017, 4:05 am
          #4996  
         
        Join Date: Feb 2016
        Location: Lewes, UK
        Programs: BA Silver
        Posts: 231
        Originally Posted by mmxbreaks
        can someone check load on ba0173, wed 26, lhr-jfk. Thanks.
        ba 173
        lhr 26/04/17 11:20
        jfk 26/04/17 14:05
        744
        f1 a0 j9 c2 d0 r0 i0 w6 e4 t3 y9 b9 h9 k9 m9 l9 v9 s9 n0 q0 o0 g7
        peterinlewesuk is offline  
        Old Apr 24, 2017, 4:10 am
          #4997  
         
        Join Date: Mar 2015
        Programs: BA GGL
        Posts: 2,447
        Originally Posted by peterinlewesuk
        ba 173
        lhr 26/04/17 11:20
        jfk 26/04/17 14:05
        744
        f1 a0 j9 c2 d0 r0 i0 w6 e4 t3 y9 b9 h9 k9 m9 l9 v9 s9 n0 q0 o0 g7
        ^

        Good, bit of space then. Might even be paid airport upgrades based on that.
        mmxbreaks is offline  
        Old Apr 24, 2017, 8:31 am
          #4998  
         
        Join Date: Apr 2017
        Posts: 1
        Spare seats

        Can anyone kindly tell me the loading /spare seats for BA11 LHR to Changi 24/4/17
        Eggchick64 is offline  
        Old Apr 24, 2017, 8:36 am
          #4999  
         
        Join Date: Jan 2010
        Location: Cirencester
        Programs: BAEC Gold
        Posts: 234
        F5 a4 j9 c9 d9 r9 i9 w9 e9 t9 y9 b9 h9 k9 m9 l9 v9 s9 n9 q9 o9 g9
        all ahead full is offline  
        Old Apr 24, 2017, 8:38 am
          #5000  
         
        Join Date: Feb 2016
        Location: Lewes, UK
        Programs: BA Silver
        Posts: 231
        Originally Posted by eggchick64
        can anyone kindly tell me the loading /spare seats for ba11 lhr to changi 24/4/17
        ba 11
        lhr 24/04/17 19:55
        sin 25/04/17 16:05
        388
        f5 a4 j9 c0 d0 r0 i0 w9 e1 t0 y9 b9 h9 k8 m5 l2 v0 s0 n0 q0 o0 g9

        From UK booking point. Not sure about previous post showing lots of 9's
        peterinlewesuk is offline  
        Old Apr 24, 2017, 12:17 pm
          #5001  
         
        Join Date: Apr 2017
        Programs: None
        Posts: 3
        Spare Seats

        Hi,

        Please could someone let me know how busy BA2239 from LGW-LIM is? Travelling on 30th April 12:20-18:55.

        If it is not busy, are you more or less likely to get upgraded?
        mazmaz99 is offline  
        Old Apr 24, 2017, 12:19 pm
          #5002  
         
        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 mazmaz99
        Hi,

        Please could someone let me know how busy BA2239 from LGW-LIM is? Travelling on 30th April 12:20-18:55.

        If it is not busy, are you more or less likely to get upgraded?
        Expertflyer:

        BA 2239 LGW 30/04/17 12:20 LIM 30/04/17 18:55
        777 Su

        J9 C9 D9 R5 I0 W9 E9 T9 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O9 G9
        TravellerFrequently is offline  
        Old Apr 24, 2017, 12:38 pm
          #5003  
         
        Join Date: Aug 2010
        Location: Gloucestershire
        Programs: BA Gold (ex-GGL, maybe future Silver), Hilton Diamond
        Posts: 6,198
        Not busy = no need for upgrades.

        Too busy = downgrades for some, though upgrades are more common than downgrades overall.

        The ideal scenario for mass upgrades is an oversold flight in the cabins behind you, full but not oversold in your cabin, and empty in front of you.

        That's not common - if people start seeing that economy is £700 each way and premium economy is £500 then most of them will choose the cheaper option, hence no need to upgrade anyone. A change from a plane with a small business class to a large business class is the other way to find yourself moving forward...
        Cymro is offline  
        Old Apr 24, 2017, 4:49 pm
          #5004  
         
        Join Date: Apr 2017
        Programs: None
        Posts: 3
        Originally Posted by TravellerFrequently
        Expertflyer:

        BA 2239 LGW 30/04/17 12:20 LIM 30/04/17 18:55
        777 Su

        J9 C9 D9 R5 I0 W9 E9 T9 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O9 G9

        Thank you! Looks like there is still lots of availability - great!
        mazmaz99 is offline  
        Old Apr 25, 2017, 5:14 am
          #5005  
         
        Join Date: Mar 2015
        Programs: BA GGL
        Posts: 2,447
        Originally Posted by peterinlewesuk
        ba 173
        lhr 26/04/17 11:20
        jfk 26/04/17 14:05
        744
        f1 a0 j9 c2 d0 r0 i0 w6 e4 t3 y9 b9 h9 k9 m9 l9 v9 s9 n0 q0 o0 g7
        Any idea on the plane type too? I can't seem to find it 'cos my online booking isn't working atm!
        Thanks!
        mmxbreaks is offline  
        Old Apr 25, 2017, 5:16 am
          #5006  
         
        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 mmxbreaks
        Any idea on the plane type too? I can't seem to find it 'cos my online booking isn't working atm!
        Thanks!
        Shown as 744 on the ExpertFlyer information provided.

        ExpertFlyer now shows:

        BA 173 LHR 26/04/17 11:20 JFK 26/04/17 14:05 744

        F1 A0 J6 C0 D0 R0 I0 W5 E0 T0 Y9 B9 H9 K6 M3 L0 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0 G9

        Last edited by TravellerFrequently; Apr 25, 2017 at 5:23 am
        TravellerFrequently is offline  
        Old Apr 25, 2017, 5:16 am
          #5007  
         
        Join Date: Feb 2016
        Location: Lewes, UK
        Programs: BA Silver
        Posts: 231
        Originally Posted by mmxbreaks
        Any idea on the plane type too? I can't seem to find it 'cos my online booking isn't working atm!
        Thanks!
        Seat map currently showing a 52J 747. Thats the non 'refreshed' version
        peterinlewesuk is offline  
        Old Apr 25, 2017, 5:18 am
          #5008  
         
        Join Date: Mar 2015
        Programs: BA GGL
        Posts: 2,447
        Originally Posted by peterinlewesuk
        Seat map currently showing a 52J 747. Thats the non 'refreshed' version
        Yeah, as expected. Tried to upgrade... it worked, then it didn't, so I can't see the seat layout.

        Thanks for assistance.
        mmxbreaks is offline  
        Old Apr 25, 2017, 5:20 am
          #5009  
         
        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 mmxbreaks
        Yeah, as expected. Tried to upgrade... it worked, then it didn't, so I can't see the seat layout.

        Thanks for assistance.
        11 seats shown as blocked on ExpertFlyer and 1 seat available (20D).
        TravellerFrequently is offline  
        Old Apr 25, 2017, 7:01 am
          #5010  
         
        Join Date: Mar 2015
        Programs: BA GGL
        Posts: 2,447
        Originally Posted by TravellerFrequently
        11 seats shown as blocked on ExpertFlyer and 1 seat available (20D).
        I have no idea why that would be the case?

        Ended up with one assigned which is acceptable in the end.

        What's the latest on cabin load now that check-in has begun...?
        mmxbreaks is offline  


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