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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 22, 2015, 2:15 pm
          #781  
         
        Join Date: Nov 2014
        Location: Essex
        Programs: BA Gold; Hilton Diamond; IHG Spire Ambassador,
        Posts: 93
        Hi,

        Could someone please check the following:

        BA209-10th May LHR-MIA
        BA208-20th May MIA-LHR and

        AA1195-11th May MIA-CUN
        AA2422-20th May CUN-MIA

        Many thanks
        FDX Traveller is offline  
        Old Mar 22, 2015, 2:36 pm
          #782  
         
        Join Date: Aug 2010
        Location: Sheffield, UK
        Programs: BA - Silver,Hilton-Diamond, IHG - PlatAmb, GHA - Plat
        Posts: 766
        Hi FDX,

        BA209 : F9 A6 J9 C9 D6 R4 I2 W9 E7 T3 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q4 O9 G9
        BA208 : F7 A4 J9 C9 D9 R8 I1 W9 E7 T4 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N7 Q1 O9 G9

        AA1195 : J7 D7 I7 Y7 B7 H7 K7 M7 L7 V7 G7 S7 N7 Q7 O7
        AA2422 : J7 D7 I7 Y7 B7 H7 K7 M7 L7 V7 G7 S7 N7 Q7 O7

        Andy
        atmorris is offline  
        Old Mar 22, 2015, 2:44 pm
          #783  
         
        Join Date: Nov 2014
        Location: Essex
        Programs: BA Gold; Hilton Diamond; IHG Spire Ambassador,
        Posts: 93
        Originally Posted by atmorris
        Hi FDX,

        BA209 : F9 A6 J9 C9 D6 R4 I2 W9 E7 T3 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q4 O9 G9
        BA208 : F7 A4 J9 C9 D9 R8 I1 W9 E7 T4 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N7 Q1 O9 G9

        AA1195 : J7 D7 I7 Y7 B7 H7 K7 M7 L7 V7 G7 S7 N7 Q7 O7
        AA2422 : J7 D7 I7 Y7 B7 H7 K7 M7 L7 V7 G7 S7 N7 Q7 O7

        Andy
        Many thanks Andy
        FDX Traveller is offline  
        Old Mar 23, 2015, 7:00 am
          #784  
         
        Join Date: Jan 2009
        Location: Near Edinburgh
        Programs: BA Silver
        Posts: 9,034
        Originally Posted by golfmad
        Looks wide open (UK pos) apart from discounted WT+ and discounted Y.

        J9 C9 D9 R9 I9 W9 E1 TC Y9 B8 H8 K8 M8 L8 V6 S4 N2 QC OC G0
        Just to show how things can change significantly in the few days before a flight, the above was the availability at midday (UK time) on 17th March for the BLR-LHR departing 7am India time (GMT+5:30) on 19th March.

        When I checked on 18th March, BA were selling no seats on ba.com for the flight and by the time it departed, it was full. I was op-up'd from WT+ to CW.
        Paralytic is offline  
        Old Mar 23, 2015, 8:12 am
          #785  
         
        Join Date: May 2014
        Location: Newcastle/London & Worldwide
        Programs: BAEC Gold, Virgin Flying Club Silver
        Posts: 818
        Hi can someone check for me the BA008 from HND to LHR on Thursday 26th March

        Thanks

        Chris
        Chris9642 is offline  
        Old Mar 23, 2015, 8:28 am
          #786  
        Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
         
        Join Date: Nov 2010
        Location: TPA/ABZ
        Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
        Posts: 13,250
        Originally Posted by Chris9642
        Hi can someone check for me the BA008 from HND to LHR on Thursday 26th March

        Thanks

        Chris
        With a UK POS:

        F5 A5 J9 C9 D9 R9 IC W9 E1 TC Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O9 G7
        golfmad is offline  
        Old Mar 23, 2015, 12:05 pm
          #787  
         
        Join Date: Apr 2013
        Programs: BA Exec Club; Gold
        Posts: 189
        BA43 LHR - CPT on Thursday 26th?

        My parents have separate PNRs as my old man can't stay in CPT as long, so Mum's silver benefits couldn't extend to book him a seat.

        Even now at T-72 seat map isn't good. Currently she is in 62K, and he is in 4K, but they want to sit together (only 17 J&K or 20 A&B available), so they're thinking about letting those go to sit downstairs together in the dormitory.

        Do this, or hold out a bit longer do you think?
        Milnio87 is offline  
        Old Mar 23, 2015, 2:08 pm
          #788  
         
        Join Date: Aug 2010
        Location: Sheffield, UK
        Programs: BA - Silver,Hilton-Diamond, IHG - PlatAmb, GHA - Plat
        Posts: 766
        Originally Posted by Milnio87
        BA43 LHR - CPT on Thursday 26th?

        My parents have separate PNRs as my old man can't stay in CPT as long, so Mum's silver benefits couldn't extend to book him a seat.

        Even now at T-72 seat map isn't good. Currently she is in 62K, and he is in 4K, but they want to sit together (only 17 J&K or 20 A&B available), so they're thinking about letting those go to sit downstairs together in the dormitory.

        Do this, or hold out a bit longer do you think?

        J8 C8 D6 R4 I3 W2 E1 T1 Y0 B0 H0 K0 M0 G0

        In future, can you please also state which month you need the data for, as takes away the guess work

        The only 2 seats together are 20AB as of 2008GMT
        atmorris is offline  
        Old Mar 24, 2015, 1:31 am
          #789  
         
        Join Date: Jan 2014
        Programs: BA Bronze
        Posts: 46
        Could someone please look at:

        LHR-HND on 5th August BA0007
        HND-LHR on 9th August BA0008

        LHR-NRT on 5th August BA0005
        NRT-LHR on 9th August BA0006

        Just noticed that the outbound route to NRT has nearly doubled in price so want to know whether I need to book HND out and NRT back before the prices go up too much. Would be travelling on Premium Eco. If anyone could give shed any light, much appreciated. Sorry for not being clued up!

        Also, thanks in advance and if anyone could just clarify, the numbers given are for how many seats BA are willing to sell? As in prices could go up or down. Thanks.

        Last edited by travelgirl88; Mar 24, 2015 at 1:42 am
        travelgirl88 is offline  
        Old Mar 24, 2015, 2:23 am
          #790  
         
        Join Date: Aug 2012
        Posts: 2,676
        Originally Posted by travelgirl88
        Could someone please look at:

        LHR-HND on 5th August BA0007
        F9 A9 J9 C9 D9 R9 I9 W9 E9 T9 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V7 S4 N9 QC O9 G9
        HND-LHR on 9th August BA0008
        F7 A7 J9 C5 D3 R1 IC W9 E3 TC Y8 B3 HC KC MC LC VC SC NC QC OC G0

        LHR-NRT on 5th August BA0005
        F9 A9 J9 C9 D9 R7 I1 W9 EC TC Y9 B9 H9 K9 M7 L5 V3 SC NC QC OC G0
        NRT-LHR on 9th August BA0006
        F9 A9 J9 C4 D2 RC IC W9 E2 TC Y9 B2 HC KC MC LC VC SC NC QC OC G0
        Just noticed that the outbound route to NRT has nearly doubled in price so want to know whether I need to book HND out and NRT back before the prices go up too much. Would be travelling on Premium Eco. If anyone could give shed any light, much appreciated. Sorry for not being clued up!

        Also, thanks in advance and if anyone could just clarify, the numbers given are for how many seats BA are willing to sell? As in prices could go up or down. Thanks.
        NRT is definitely looking busier than HND on the outbounds - looks much of a muchness on the returns.

        The number is the number of seats at minimum that BA are willing to sell - so that's 'at least 9' or whatever - and yes - those numbers can go up and down.

        There will also be different pricing bands within any individual booking code - so a booking code by itself doesn't tell you pricing.
        MPH1980 is offline  
        Old Mar 24, 2015, 5:26 am
          #791  
         
        Join Date: Apr 2005
        Location: London
        Programs: BA Lifetime Gold & GGL & CCR, HH Diam, Bonvoy Titanium, IHG Spire, Tastecard
        Posts: 7,549
        could someone kinldy please check following flights:

        Thursday 2nd April BA 217

        Tuesday 7th April BA 172

        many thanks in advance.
        chris1979 is offline  
        Old Mar 24, 2015, 5:33 am
          #792  
         
        Join Date: Aug 2012
        Posts: 2,676
        Originally Posted by chris1979
        could someone kinldy please check following flights:

        Thursday 2nd April BA 217

        Tuesday 7th April BA 172

        many thanks in advance.
        Cities?
        MPH1980 is offline  
        Old Mar 24, 2015, 5:50 am
          #793  
         
        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 chris1979
        could someone kinldy please check following flights:

        Thursday 2nd April BA 217

        Tuesday 7th April BA 172

        many thanks in advance.
        Originally Posted by MPH1980
        Cities?
        Apols, was multitasking.

        Thursday 2nd April BA 217 LHR IAD

        Tuesday 7th April BA 172 JFK LHR

        thank you again in advance.
        chris1979 is offline  
        Old Mar 24, 2015, 6:07 am
          #794  
         
        Join Date: Aug 2012
        Posts: 2,676
        Originally Posted by chris1979
        apols, was multitasking.

        Thursday 2nd april ba 217 lhr iad
        f3 a2 j9 c5 d3 rc ic w9 e2 tc y9 b9 h9 k9 m9 l9 v9 s9 n6 q3 o9 g0


        tuesday 7th april ba 172 jfk lhr

        thank you again in advance.
        f3 a2 j9 c9 d9 r2 ic w9 e2 t1 y9 b9 h9 k9 m9 l9 v6 s4 nc qc o5 g0
        MPH1980 is offline  
        Old Mar 24, 2015, 6:13 am
          #795  
        Ziz
         
        Join Date: Feb 2008
        Location: Canada
        Programs: BA Silver
        Posts: 1,254
        Could someone please check two flights for me?

        April 1 BA99 (LHR-YYZ)
        April 9 BA98 (YYZ-LHR)

        Thanks!
        Ziz is offline  


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