Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > Airlines and Mileage Programs > British Airways | Executive Club
Reload this Page >

Help to check BA seat availability and BA flight loads

Community
Wiki Posts
Search
Old Jul 9, 2017, 11:09 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: Tobias-UK
This is community help desk which allows members to assist each other in finding out how many seats are available on any given flight.

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 and probably unauthorised (so buyer beware)


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.
Print Wikipost

Help to check BA seat availability and BA flight loads

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 11, 2018, 8:25 am
  #1531  
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: London / Brighton
Programs: BAEC Gold / M-Life Gold / HH Diamond
Posts: 1,635
Originally Posted by Betty Johnson
Can someone please check the loads for the following two flights:

17 May 2018: BA 0282 LAX - LHR
27 May 2018: BA 0281 LHR - LAX

Many thanks in advance!
Here you go...
BA 282 LAX
17/05/18 15:30LHR
18/05/18 10:10388
Daily
75% / 60mF7 A6 J9 C9 D9 R9 I9 W9 E6 T2 Y9 B9
H9 K9 M9 L8 V7 S5 N3 Q0 O0 G0

BA 281 LHR
27/05/18 11:30LAX
27/05/18 14:50789
Daily
92% / 21mF8 A7 J9 C9 D9 R9 I0 W9 E2 T0 Y9 B9
H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N8 Q3 O0 G0
Lucanesque is offline  
Old Apr 11, 2018, 10:20 am
  #1532  
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Programs: BA Silver, Honors Gold
Posts: 169
Thanks, but have you got correct return date?

BA5 LHR-NRT 17/4/18
BA6 NRT-LHR 23/4/18
EDIer is offline  
Old Apr 11, 2018, 11:17 am
  #1533  
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: London / Brighton
Programs: BAEC Gold / M-Life Gold / HH Diamond
Posts: 1,635
Originally Posted by EDIer
Thanks, but have you got correct return date?

BA5 LHR-NRT 17/4/18
BA6 NRT-LHR 23/4/18
Oops, sorry!

BA 5 LHR
17/04/18 15:45NRT
18/04/18 11:15789
Daily
58% / 26mF5 A4 J6 C0 D0 R0 I0 W9 E5 T0 Y9 B9
H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q0 O9 G9

BA 6 NRT
23/04/18 12:55LHR
23/04/18 17:20789
Daily
90% / 26mF1 A0 J4 C1 D0 R0 I0 W0 E0 T0 Y0 B0
H0 K0 M0 L0 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0 G0
Lucanesque is offline  
Old Apr 11, 2018, 6:04 pm
  #1534  
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Programs: BA Silver, Honors Gold
Posts: 169
Thank you!

I'm no expert in understanding these stats, but is BA6 pretty much full?
(and if so, is this common?)
EDIer is offline  
Old Apr 12, 2018, 12:23 am
  #1535  
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 532
Originally Posted by EDIer
Thank you!

I'm no expert in understanding these stats, but is BA6 pretty much full?
(and if so, is this common?)
What it says is there is 1 seat in first and 4 seats in biz that could be sold rest is not available.

As for common. Don't know about longer term but there's almost no availability that whole week (Uk point of sale).

23rd
F1 A0 J7 C3 D2 R1 I0 W0 E0 T0 Y0 B0 H0 K0 M0 L0 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0 G0

24th
F2 A1 J7 C3 D4 R3 I0 W9 E6 T1 Y8 B7 H6 K3 M0 L0 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0 G0

25th
F2 A1 J7 C3 D3 R3 I0 W4 E0 T0 Y0 B0 H0 K0 M0 L0 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0 G0

26th
F1 A0 J0 C0 D0 R0 I0 W0 E0 T0 Y0 B0 H0 K0 M0 L0 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0 G0

27th
F1 A0 J1 C0 D0 R0 I0 W0 E0 T0 Y0 B0 H0 K0 M0 L0 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0 G0

28th
F1 A0 J0 C0 D0 R0 I0 W0 E0 T0 Y5 B0 H0 K0 M0 L0 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0 G0

29th
F4 A3 J4 C2 D0 R0 I0 W2 E0 T0 Y9 B9 H9 K5 M0 L0 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0 G0
tinkicker is offline  
Old Apr 12, 2018, 12:29 am
  #1536  
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 532
Originally Posted by tinkicker
What it says is there is 1 seat in first and 4 seats in biz that could be sold rest is not available.

As for common. Don't know about longer term but there's almost no availability that whole week (Uk point of sale).

Just to add: If you use Japan as a point of sale there are a few Econ seats available there and a bit more biz as well.

BA 6
NRT
04/23/18 12:55 PM
LHR
04/23/18 5:20 PM
789
Daily
84% / 28mF1 A0 J7 C3 D0 R0 I0 W1 E0 T0 Y6 B4 H0 K0 M0 L0 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0 G0
tinkicker is offline  
Old Apr 12, 2018, 1:51 am
  #1537  
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,756
Originally Posted by peterinlewesuk
UK POS - Looking pretty cosy!

BA 16
SIN 15/04/18 22:35
LHR 16/04/18 5:05
777
F2 A0 J0 C0 D0 R0 I0 W0 E0 T0 Y0 B0 H0 K0 M0 L0 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0 G0
I'm a little confused. When people refer to the UK Point of Sale in their replies to requests, does this mean that the numbers aren't necessarily accurate? I would have thought that the seats are either sold or unsold, regardless.
PAL62V is offline  
Old Apr 12, 2018, 1:59 am
  #1538  
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, ITA Club Executive, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,599
Originally Posted by PAL62V
I'm a little confused. When people refer to the UK Point of Sale in their replies to requests, does this mean that the numbers aren't necessarily accurate? I would have thought that the seats are either sold or unsold, regardless.
Availability obviously has a correlation with what’s sold, but it is not a true reflection. Availability reflect what the airline is willing to sell at a specific point in time.

Moreover, the airline may be willing to make seats in certain fare classes more or less available depending on the market (POS).
ringingup is offline  
Old Apr 12, 2018, 2:08 am
  #1539  
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: BAEC GfL
Posts: 336
Can someone please check the loads for the following two flights:

19 April 2018: BA 189 LHR - EWR
22 April 2018: BA 112 JFK - LHR

Many thanks in advance!
Royalscot is offline  
Old Apr 12, 2018, 3:23 am
  #1540  
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, ITA Club Executive, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,599
Originally Posted by Royalscot
Can someone please check the loads for the following two flights:

19 April 2018: BA 189 LHR - EWR
22 April 2018: BA 112 JFK - LHR

Many thanks in advance!
POS UK

19 April 2018: BA 189 LHR - EWR
F5 A4 J9 C2 D2 R0 I0 W9 E9 T9 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O9 G9

22 April 2018: BA 112 JFK - LHR
F1 A0 J9 C2 D0 R0 I0 W4 E1 T0 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O0 G9
ringingup is offline  
Old Apr 12, 2018, 4:07 am
  #1541  
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: BAEC GfL
Posts: 336
Ringingup thanks for the quick response
Royalscot is offline  
Old Apr 12, 2018, 11:55 am
  #1542  
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 245
Please could someone check loads for BA512 LHR - MAD on 16 APR. Many thanks in advance.
Voda_boy is offline  
Old Apr 12, 2018, 2:47 pm
  #1543  
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: London / Brighton
Programs: BAEC Gold / M-Life Gold / HH Diamond
Posts: 1,635
Originally Posted by Voda_boy
Please could someone check loads for BA512 LHR - MAD on 16 APR. Many thanks in advance.
Here you go...

BA (IB) 512 LHR
16/04/18 9:15MAD
16/04/18 12:4032A
Daily
71% / 19mJ4 C2 D0 R0 I0 Y9 B0 H0 K0 M0 L0 V0
N0 O0 Q0 S0 G0
Lucanesque is offline  
Old Apr 12, 2018, 3:08 pm
  #1544  
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Programs: BA executive
Posts: 1
Seat map BA2159/2158

Hi Could anyone help with the CW seat map for
BA2159 Gatwick /UVF15/07/18
BA 2159 Gatwick/UVF 19/07/18
BA 2158 UVF /Gatwick 02/08/18
Many Thanks

Last edited by CM1408; Apr 13, 2018 at 5:33 am
CM1408 is offline  
Old Apr 12, 2018, 4:43 pm
  #1545  
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 447
Originally Posted by Wozza2404
If you haven't been upgraded to CW before and haven't purchased a CW ticket in the past I'd say your chances are very good.
Just for the record - I did end up getting bumped from WT+ to CW, very nice start to the holiday indeed. Thanks very much!
Wozza2404 likes this.
just_starting is offline  


Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.