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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 Jun 21, 2017, 9:46 am
          #5341  
         
        Join Date: Jul 2009
        Location: Northumberland (The big bit between Newcastle & Scotland).
        Programs: BAEC & VS.
        Posts: 224
        Midlander

        Results from your BA196 and the earlier BA194 below.

        Results from ExpertFlyer.com

        Flight Availability Search
        Departing IAH on 08/22/17 12:00 AM for LHR
        Flying BA
        Point of Sale: UK


        Frequency
        Flight Stops Depart Arrive Aircraft Reliability Available Classes
        0 Connections
        BA 194 0 IAH LHR 777 Daily F3 A3 J9 C9 D9 R9 I9 W9 E9 T5 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O9 G0
        08/22/17 4:05 PM 08/23/17 7:25 AM 71% / 35m


        0 Connections
        BA 196 0 IAH LHR 777 Su,M,T,W F1 A0 J9 C9 D9 R9 I9 W9 E9 T5 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O9 G0
        08/22/17 8:25 PM 08/23/17 11:45 AM 79% / 40m
        Bat 21 is offline  
        Old Jun 21, 2017, 3:22 pm
          #5342  
        Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
         
        Join Date: Nov 2010
        Location: TPA/ABZ
        Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
        Posts: 13,248
        Originally Posted by Midlander
        I'm on a rewards booking with a 2-4-1 and I think that first is now full. After all that long discussion the other week about targeting avios bookings for downgrade, I'm not panicking (don't really do that) but I have got a little bit of a sinking feeling.
        Based on the numbers I'd say it's probably full or close to full but not oversold. This far out BA seems prepared to oversell the F cabin by 1 which would tally with the F1 A0 Expert Flyer results. Nearer to departure that willingness to oversell in F will be removed.

        I think it's highly unlikely that you will encounter any problems.

        Originally Posted by Midlander
        There does seem to be availability on the earlier flight - I don't suppose there's any way to offer to be bumped to the earlier flight is there?
        Not really. The airline won't accept that there's a problem until there actually is one.
        golfmad is offline  
        Old Jun 21, 2017, 5:32 pm
          #5343  
         
        Join Date: Feb 2016
        Programs: BAEC
        Posts: 65
        Thanks for the advice!
        Midlander is offline  
        Old Jun 22, 2017, 2:36 am
          #5344  
         
        Join Date: May 2015
        Posts: 11
        Originally Posted by peterinlewesuk
        UK position

        BA 122
        DOH 11/07/17 8:45
        LHR 11/07/17 14:05
        777
        F9 A0 J9 C5 D2 R0 I0 W9 E9 T5 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O9 G9
        Hi Peterinlewsuk (or anyone else that can help)

        Could you check BA0122 DOH-LHR 11/07/17 again for me please?

        It seems BA are not selling any tickets on this flight anymore or BA0123, I'm guessing it's due to being a MF crew during the strike and probably going to get cancelled?
        Hoping this will mean they put us on a Qatar Flight in J on either their A380/A350/777Qsuite

        Chris
        ThomasC3 is offline  
        Old Jun 22, 2017, 2:42 am
          #5345  
         
        Join Date: Jan 2012
        Location: London
        Programs: BAEC : GGL; HHonors : Diamond
        Posts: 181
        Originally Posted by ThomasC3
        Hi Peterinlewsuk (or anyone else that can help)

        Could you check BA0122 DOH-LHR 11/07/17 again for me please?

        It seems BA are not selling any tickets on this flight anymore or BA0123, I'm guessing it's due to being a MF crew during the strike and probably going to get cancelled?
        Hoping this will mean they put us on a Qatar Flight in J on either their A380/A350/777Qsuite

        Chris
        Here you go:
        Attached Images  
        timcjp is offline  
        Old Jun 22, 2017, 2:44 am
          #5346  
         
        Join Date: Jul 2009
        Location: Northumberland (The big bit between Newcastle & Scotland).
        Programs: BAEC & VS.
        Posts: 224
        Originally Posted by ThomasC3
        Hi Peterinlewsuk (or anyone else that can help)

        Could you check BA0122 DOH-LHR 11/07/17 again for me please?

        It seems BA are not selling any tickets on this flight anymore or BA0123, I'm guessing it's due to being a MF crew during the strike and probably going to get cancelled?
        Hoping this will mean they put us on a Qatar Flight in J on either their A380/A350/777Qsuite

        Chris
        Yes it looks like the BA0123/BA0122 is showing zero availability on days from start of strike - plenty of space on the Qatar flights - so I guess that is the plan.
        Bat 21 is offline  
        Old Jun 22, 2017, 4:17 am
          #5347  
         
        Join Date: May 2015
        Posts: 11
        Thanks timcjp & Bat21, looks as i guessed then, now to wait and see when/if its cancelled officially
        ThomasC3 is offline  
        Old Jun 22, 2017, 8:13 am
          #5348  
         
        Join Date: Jun 2013
        Programs: BA Silver, Honors Gold
        Posts: 169
        Can someone please check

        BA 1461 on AUG 27
        BA 794 on AUG 27
        BA 799 on AUG 31
        BA 1462 on AUG 31

        Thanks!
        EDIer is offline  
        Old Jun 22, 2017, 9:07 am
          #5349  
         
        Join Date: Jan 2016
        Programs: BAEC Silver, Avis Preferred, Hilton Gold
        Posts: 521
        Please could somebody check BA2764 for tomorrow, 23rd June?
        mickeyjaw is offline  
        Old Jun 22, 2017, 9:15 am
          #5350  
        Hilton Contributor Badge
         
        Join Date: Oct 2010
        Location: Switzerland
        Programs: AY+ Platinum, SK Gold, BAEC Silver, airbaltic VIP, Radisson VIP
        Posts: 6,531
        Originally Posted by mickeyjaw
        Please could somebody check BA2764 for tomorrow, 23rd June?
        What route? I figure it looks like either to/from LGW and shorthaul...
        florens is online now  
        Old Jun 22, 2017, 10:00 am
          #5351  
         
        Join Date: Jan 2016
        Programs: BAEC Silver, Avis Preferred, Hilton Gold
        Posts: 521
        Originally Posted by florens
        What route? I figure it looks like either to/from LGW and shorthaul...
        Correct on both counts!

        It's LGW-AMS and I'm interested in the likelihood of getting away with selecting aisle for my friend and window for myself at OLCI to try and get an empty middle seat between us.

        If all the cheap buckets are gone then I don't want to risk a stranger in the middle seat.

        If it shows a bunch of cheap buckets as a '9' then I might risk it...
        mickeyjaw is offline  
        Old Jun 22, 2017, 10:18 am
          #5352  
        Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
         
        Join Date: Nov 2010
        Location: TPA/ABZ
        Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
        Posts: 13,248
        Originally Posted by mickeyjaw
        Correct on both counts!

        It's LGW-AMS and I'm interested in the likelihood of getting away with selecting aisle for my friend and window for myself at OLCI to try and get an empty middle seat between us.

        If all the cheap buckets are gone then I don't want to risk a stranger in the middle seat.

        If it shows a bunch of cheap buckets as a '9' then I might risk it...
        Results from https://www.ExpertFlyer.com
        Code:
        Flight Availability Search
        Departing LGW on 07/23/17 12:00 AM for AMS
        Flying BA  
        Point of Sale: UK
        
        
                                                                             Frequency
        Flight        Stops  Depart             Arrive             Aircraft  Reliability     Available Classes
        BA 2764       0      LGW                AMS                319       Su              J9 C7 D3 R9 I7 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 N9 Q9 O6 S9 G6 
                             07/23/17 6:00 PM   07/23/17 8:20 PM             86% / 22m
        golfmad is offline  
        Old Jun 22, 2017, 2:43 pm
          #5353  
         
        Join Date: Dec 2003
        Location: Surrey, UK
        Programs: BA Gold....er now Silver...er now Bronze....er now Blue
        Posts: 3,507
        could someone please check the following:

        12 July BA 249
        16 July BA 248

        (looking particularly for T class)

        thx!
        irmster is offline  
        Old Jun 22, 2017, 2:51 pm
          #5354  
        Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
         
        Join Date: Nov 2010
        Location: TPA/ABZ
        Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
        Posts: 13,248
        Originally Posted by irmster
        could someone please check the following:

        12 July BA 249
        16 July BA 248

        (looking particularly for T class)

        thx!
        This is LHR-GIG-LHR
        UK POS

        12 July BA 249 - T3
        16 July BA 248 - T5
        Attached Images  
        golfmad is offline  
        Old Jun 22, 2017, 3:06 pm
          #5355  
         
        Join Date: Dec 2003
        Location: Surrey, UK
        Programs: BA Gold....er now Silver...er now Bronze....er now Blue
        Posts: 3,507
        Originally Posted by golfmad
        This is LHR-GIG-LHR
        UK POS

        12 July BA 249 - T3
        16 July BA 248 - T5
        great, thx!
        irmster is offline  


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