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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 Aug 3, 2016, 5:03 am
          #3406  
         
        Join Date: Feb 2013
        Posts: 90
        Originally Posted by FeedbirdNiner
        "This class is closed however the wait list is open, please contact the airline".
        What does this mean exactly? I'm trying to find an award seat in first. I'm in J now but would like to join my spouse in F. Does wait list mean there might actually still be an open seat ? I've tried to book with $ just to see if it's open and even then it won't give me Ord as an option. Much appreciated.
        Sizook is offline  
        Old Aug 3, 2016, 5:12 am
          #3407  
         
        Join Date: Feb 2011
        Location: London
        Programs: BA Silver, ZSL Silver
        Posts: 2,552
        Originally Posted by Sizook
        What does this mean exactly? I'm trying to find an award seat in first. I'm in J now but would like to join my spouse in F. Does wait list mean there might actually still be an open seat ? I've tried to book with $ just to see if it's open and even then it won't give me Ord as an option. Much appreciated.
        Currently showing the following CX807 (ORD-HKG):
        F3 A3 J6 C5 D3 I2 W5 R5 E4 Y7 B5 H4 K1 ML LL VL SL NL QC O1

        Looks like there are some rev seats in F, but a ba.com Avios would show Avios seats. If going to NRT, just search ORD-HKG (and then HKG-NRT if that's necessary, but there's no F) rather than ORD-NRT. If wanting to upgrade with cash call whoever issued the ticket and ask just for that sector.

        I've heard CX does open things up close to the flight, but have no experience myself. If booking with CX miles, then I have no idea!
        gustavmahler is offline  
        Old Aug 3, 2016, 5:26 am
          #3408  
         
        Join Date: Feb 2013
        Posts: 90
        Originally Posted by gustavmahler
        Currently showing the following CX807 (ORD-HKG):
        F3 A3 J6 C5 D3 I2 W5 R5 E4 Y7 B5 H4 K1 ML LL VL SL NL QC O1

        Looks like there are some rev seats in F, but a ba.com Avios would show Avios seats. If going to NRT, just search ORD-HKG (and then HKG-NRT if that's necessary, but there's no F) rather than ORD-NRT. If wanting to upgrade with cash call whoever issued the ticket and ask just for that sector.

        I've heard CX does open things up close to the flight, but have no experience myself. If booking with CX miles, then I have no idea!

        I'm sorry to have mistyped. All this searching had me going all over the place. My destination is Hkg not Nrt. It's to Hong Kong I need to get to but avois shows zero for first in August 4. Thank you , sir.
        Sizook is offline  
        Old Aug 3, 2016, 5:44 am
          #3409  
        Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
         
        Join Date: Nov 2010
        Location: TPA/ABZ
        Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
        Posts: 13,248
        Originally Posted by A P Yu
        Since the FLY Departure Control system was rolled out.
        Thanks. So there is some benefit to FLY after all
        golfmad is offline  
        Old Aug 3, 2016, 6:27 am
          #3410  
         
        Join Date: May 2016
        Location: UK
        Programs: British Airways Executive Club Gold, Global Entry
        Posts: 363
        Originally Posted by Sizook
        What does this mean exactly? I'm trying to find an award seat in first. I'm in J now but would like to join my spouse in F. Does wait list mean there might actually still be an open seat ? I've tried to book with $ just to see if it's open and even then it won't give me Ord as an option. Much appreciated.
        Sorry, I didn't realise you wanted reward availability. That's just the return based on general availability. Have you had any luck?
        FeedbirdNiner is offline  
        Old Aug 3, 2016, 6:30 am
          #3411  
         
        Join Date: May 2016
        Location: UK
        Programs: British Airways Executive Club Gold, Global Entry
        Posts: 363
        Originally Posted by Sizook
        I'm sorry to have mistyped. All this searching had me going all over the place. My destination is Hkg not Nrt. It's to Hong Kong I need to get to but avois shows zero for first in August 4. Thank you , sir.
        EF shows no reward F availability from LON to HKG for 4th Aug at the moment.
        FeedbirdNiner is offline  
        Old Aug 3, 2016, 8:39 am
          #3412  
         
        Join Date: Feb 2013
        Posts: 90
        Originally Posted by FeedbirdNiner
        EF shows no reward F availability from LON to HKG for 4th Aug at the moment.
        Thanks sir. Not sure what LON is but I needed Ord-Hkg. Was willing to try any gateway for CX but now it's hard to find domestic. Better luck next time I guess. I just wanted to know if there were any seats empty in first to know my chances of anything opening up. Sorry for all the confusion .thank you to all that helped out.

        Last edited by Sizook; Aug 3, 2016 at 8:48 am
        Sizook is offline  
        Old Aug 3, 2016, 11:30 am
          #3413  
         
        Join Date: May 2016
        Programs: British Airways
        Posts: 21
        Hi, would someone please be so kind as to check the following flights below for me?

        3 August
        BA226 ATL-LHR
        4 August
        BA760 LHR-BGO

        Thank you in advance!
        jamhat is offline  
        Old Aug 3, 2016, 11:35 am
          #3414  
         
        Join Date: Sep 2010
        Location: Las Vegas
        Programs: BA Gold; Hilton Honors Diamond
        Posts: 3,228
        Originally Posted by jamhat
        hi, would someone please be so kind as to check the following flights below for me?

        3 august
        ba226 atl-lhr
        4 august
        ba760 lhr-bgo

        thank you in advance!
        BA226: US POS - f4 a2 j9 c0 w9 y9 b5 h1 k1 m1 l1 v1 s1 g9
        BA226: UK POS - f4 a2 j9 c0 dc rc ic w9 ec tc y9 b9 h9 k9 m9 l7 v4 s1 nc qc oc g9

        BA760: UK POS - j0 c0 dc rc ic y0 b0 h0 k0 m0 lc vc nc qc oc sc g0
        Geordie405 is offline  
        Old Aug 3, 2016, 11:37 am
          #3415  
         
        Join Date: May 2016
        Programs: British Airways
        Posts: 21
        Thank you, Geordie405! The first flight looks pretty light.

        Originally Posted by Geordie405
        BA226: US POS - f4 a2 j9 c0 w9 y9 b5 h1 k1 m1 l1 v1 s1 g9
        BA226: UK POS - f4 a2 j9 c0 dc rc ic w9 ec tc y9 b9 h9 k9 m9 l7 v4 s1 nc qc oc g9

        BA760: UK POS - j0 c0 dc rc ic y0 b0 h0 k0 m0 lc vc nc qc oc sc g0
        jamhat is offline  
        Old Aug 3, 2016, 8:18 pm
          #3416  
         
        Join Date: May 2015
        Posts: 13
        Hi - Could someone please look up the loads for NZ30, Air New Zealand AKL-EZE on the 12th August. Particularly interested in premium economy fare bucket (A, O, E and U I believe? but not sure)

        Much appreciated.

        Thanks
        fatnakedman is offline  
        Old Aug 3, 2016, 9:31 pm
          #3417  
         
        Join Date: Nov 2012
        Posts: 8
        Would someone be so kind as to check the load of the following flight

        05AUG16
        BA008
        HND-LHR

        Thanks!
        justjack0 is offline  
        Old Aug 3, 2016, 10:03 pm
          #3418  
         
        Join Date: Nov 2015
        Programs: BA Gold
        Posts: 166
        Originally Posted by fatnakedman
        Hi - Could someone please look up the loads for NZ30, Air New Zealand AKL-EZE on the 12th August. Particularly interested in premium economy fare bucket (A, O, E and U I believe? but not sure)

        Much appreciated.

        Thanks
        NZ 30
        AKL 08/12/16 20:05
        EZE 08/12/16 16:45
        772
        C4 D4 Z1 J0 U4 E4 O4 A4 Y7 B7 M7 H7 Q7 V7 W7 T7 L7 S7 G7 X0 K5 P0

        You're right, premium economy is U, E, O, A.
        Pocalypse is offline  
        Old Aug 3, 2016, 10:05 pm
          #3419  
         
        Join Date: Nov 2015
        Programs: BA Gold
        Posts: 166
        Originally Posted by justjack0
        would someone be so kind as to check the load of the following flight

        05aug16
        ba008
        hnd-lhr

        thanks!
        ba 8
        hnd 08/05/16 8:50
        lhr 08/05/16 13:05
        777
        f1 a1 j3 c0 w4 y9 b7 h7 k7 m5 l4 v3 s2 n1 q1 o1 g1
        Pocalypse is offline  
        Old Aug 4, 2016, 12:09 am
          #3420  
         
        Join Date: May 2015
        Posts: 13
        Originally Posted by Pocalypse
        NZ 30
        AKL 08/12/16 20:05
        EZE 08/12/16 16:45
        772
        C4 D4 Z1 J0 U4 E4 O4 A4 Y7 B7 M7 H7 Q7 V7 W7 T7 L7 S7 G7 X0 K5 P0

        You're right, premium economy is U, E, O, A.
        Thansk buddy!
        fatnakedman is offline  


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