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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 4, 2017, 2:56 am
          #4801  
         
        Join Date: Mar 2009
        Location: London
        Programs: BAEC Silver, Priority Club Gold, Herts Pres Circle
        Posts: 492
        Originally Posted by pondhopper79
        Hello

        Could someone check loads for BA295 on 6 April.

        Thank you!
        Hi,

        What is the route?
        MHendo84 is offline  
        Old Apr 4, 2017, 3:15 am
          #4802  
         
        Join Date: Jan 2010
        Location: Cirencester
        Programs: BAEC Gold
        Posts: 234
        Lhr-ord ba295

        f2 a1 j9 c0 d0 r0 i0 w9 e0 t0 y9 b8 h4 k3 m0 l0 v0 s0 n0 q0 o0 g5
        all ahead full is offline  
        Old Apr 4, 2017, 4:56 am
          #4803  
         
        Join Date: Jun 2015
        Location: London
        Programs: BAEC Silver, Avis Preferred Plus, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
        Posts: 114
        Originally Posted by all ahead full
        Lhr-ord ba295

        f2 a1 j9 c0 d0 r0 i0 w9 e0 t0 y9 b8 h4 k3 m0 l0 v0 s0 n0 q0 o0 g5
        Thank you!
        pondhopper79 is offline  
        Old Apr 4, 2017, 5:46 am
          #4804  
        Fontaine d'honneur du Flyertalk
         
        Join Date: Jul 2001
        Location: Morbihan, France
        Programs: Reine des Muccis de Pucci; Foreign Elitist (according to others)
        Posts: 19,172
        Right. Time to be a bit of a cow. Why do people not download Expertflyer? You've got the information instantly. Do the cognoscenti here not reckon it?
        PUCCI GALORE is offline  
        Old Apr 4, 2017, 5:48 am
          #4805  
        Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
         
        Join Date: Nov 2010
        Location: TPA/ABZ
        Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
        Posts: 13,248
        Originally Posted by PUCCI GALORE
        Right. Time to be a bit of a cow. Why do people not download Expertflyer? You've got the information instantly. Do the cognoscenti here not reckon it?
        My dear... what do you mean by "download Expertflyer"?
        golfmad is offline  
        Old Apr 4, 2017, 5:55 am
          #4806  
        Fontaine d'honneur du Flyertalk
         
        Join Date: Jul 2001
        Location: Morbihan, France
        Programs: Reine des Muccis de Pucci; Foreign Elitist (according to others)
        Posts: 19,172
        Originally Posted by golfmad
        My dear... what do you mean by "download Expertflyer"?
        Oh Sweeheart - doesn't it download when you click on it? I know that it's not an App. Tell me what terminology I should have used.
        PUCCI GALORE is offline  
        Old Apr 4, 2017, 6:00 am
          #4807  
        Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
         
        Join Date: Nov 2010
        Location: TPA/ABZ
        Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
        Posts: 13,248
        Originally Posted by PUCCI GALORE
        Oh Sweeheart - doesn't it download when you click on it? I know that it's not an App. Tell me what terminology I should have used.
        I think you're asking why people don't subscribe to Expertflyer and access the information themselves rather than ask on this thread? It's a very good question and I honestly don't know the answer. It's an invaluable tool for anyone flying a decent amount. I wouldn't be without it.
        golfmad is offline  
        Old Apr 4, 2017, 6:04 am
          #4808  
        Fontaine d'honneur du Flyertalk
         
        Join Date: Jul 2001
        Location: Morbihan, France
        Programs: Reine des Muccis de Pucci; Foreign Elitist (according to others)
        Posts: 19,172
        Originally Posted by golfmad
        I think you're asking why people don't subscribe to Expertflyer and access the information themselves rather than ask on this thread? It's a very good question and I honestly don't know the answer. It's an invaluable tool for anyone flying a decent amount. I wouldn't be without it.
        Spot on - I could not manage without it. It's not 100% infallible, but almost.
        PUCCI GALORE is offline  
        Old Apr 4, 2017, 6:13 am
          #4809  
         
        Join Date: Jun 2015
        Location: London
        Programs: BAEC Silver, Avis Preferred Plus, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
        Posts: 114
        Originally Posted by PUCCI GALORE
        Right. Time to be a bit of a cow. Why do people not download Expertflyer? You've got the information instantly. Do the cognoscenti here not reckon it?
        I think the answer for me is that I am an infrequent flyer. This may be the first time I've ever checked loads, and I certainly wouldn't look more than once or twice a year (you'll prove me wrong with some thread histories now!). I believe to view flight loads you need a subscription to expertflyer, costing around $120 a year. So for me it's a no brainer to simply ask here. Even if you didn't care about $120, sat at my desk this morning it was easier to ask the question of this forum, of which there appear to be plenty of willing helpers, than faff with signing up to expert flyer.

        Happy to be shown the error of my ways if I have this wrong.....
        pondhopper79 is offline  
        Old Apr 4, 2017, 7:15 am
          #4810  
         
        Join Date: Mar 2009
        Location: London
        Programs: BAEC Silver, Priority Club Gold, Herts Pres Circle
        Posts: 492
        This is probably suited elsewhere but although I don't fly too much in a year, only leisure travel. I have found the features of expertflyer invaluable for me so far.

        Cost $100 for the annual sub and I find the value just in the ability to alert me to Award Inventory.

        I also like to contribute to the community in a small way so do post here when i can. I do find it would be helpful if people followed the wiki instructions when asking for Flight Availability.
        MHendo84 is offline  
        Old Apr 4, 2017, 7:39 am
          #4811  
         
        Join Date: Jun 2015
        Location: London
        Programs: BAEC Silver, Avis Preferred Plus, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
        Posts: 114
        Originally Posted by MHendo84
        This is probably suited elsewhere but although I don't fly too much in a year, only leisure travel. I have found the features of expertflyer invaluable for me so far.

        Cost $100 for the annual sub and I find the value just in the ability to alert me to Award Inventory.

        I also like to contribute to the community in a small way so do post here when i can. I do find it would be helpful if people followed the wiki instructions when asking for Flight Availability.
        Ah yes I see now. I didn't mention origin and destination airports. Apologies, my bad!
        pondhopper79 is offline  
        Old Apr 4, 2017, 1:57 pm
          #4812  
         
        Join Date: Jun 2008
        Programs: BA Executive Club, Bronze
        Posts: 438
        Trying to book a RTW but having issues with my LHR-GIG flights, can someone confirm availability on the above flight in L class on 4th, 5th and 6th August 2017?
        Furton is offline  
        Old Apr 4, 2017, 2:12 pm
          #4813  
         
        Join Date: Mar 2009
        Location: London
        Programs: BAEC Silver, Priority Club Gold, Herts Pres Circle
        Posts: 492
        Originally Posted by Furton
        Trying to book a RTW but having issues with my LHR-GIG flights, can someone confirm availability on the above flight in L class on 4th, 5th and 6th August 2017?
        BA249 has;
        04/08/17 = L9
        05/08/17 = L8
        06/08/17 = L9

        Matt
        MHendo84 is offline  
        Old Apr 4, 2017, 2:35 pm
          #4814  
         
        Join Date: Jun 2008
        Programs: BA Executive Club, Bronze
        Posts: 438
        Originally Posted by MHendo84
        BA249 has;
        04/08/17 = L9
        05/08/17 = L8
        06/08/17 = L9

        Matt
        Thanks, must be the OW RTW tool playing up, so frustrating!
        Furton is offline  
        Old Apr 4, 2017, 2:49 pm
          #4815  
         
        Join Date: Mar 2009
        Location: London
        Programs: BAEC Silver, Priority Club Gold, Herts Pres Circle
        Posts: 492
        Originally Posted by Furton
        Thanks, must be the OW RTW tool playing up, so frustrating!
        I forgot to add that those figures i gave were for a UK point of sale, did you require a different POS?
        MHendo84 is offline  


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