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Help to check BA seat availability and BA flight loads

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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.
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Help to check BA seat availability and BA flight loads

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Old Aug 27, 2017, 7:02 am
  #256  
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Singapore
Programs: BA Gold, SPG Gold, KF Gold/PPS
Posts: 204
Originally Posted by florens
Results from https://www.ExpertFlyer.com
Code:
Flight Availability Search
Departing SIN on 09/15/17 12:00 AM for SYD
Flying BA  
Direct/Non-Stop Only
Point of Sale: UK


                                                                     Frequency
Flight        Stops  Depart             Arrive             Aircraft  Reliability     Available Classes
0 Connections
BA 15         0      SIN                SYD                777       Daily           F4 A1 J0 C0 D0 R0 I0 W0 E0 T0 Y9 B9 H9 K6 M3 L0 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0 G0 
                     09/15/17 7:25 PM   09/16/17 5:10 AM             97% / 19m
Results from https://www.ExpertFlyer.com
Code:
Flight Availability Search
Departing SYD on 09/20/17 12:00 AM for SIN
Flying BA  
Direct/Non-Stop Only
Point of Sale: UK


                                                                     Frequency
Flight        Stops  Depart             Arrive             Aircraft  Reliability     Available Classes
0 Connections
BA 16         0      SYD                SIN                777       Daily           F9 A9 J9 C9 D9 R9 I0 W9 E0 T0 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M8 L6 V3 S0 N0 Q0 O0 G9 
                     09/20/17 2:50 PM   09/20/17 9:05 PM             95% / 6m
Nice one many thanks

am booked in R class it looks like on both ways so let's see what happens, the way in looks pretty full in J with zeros across the board!
srs507 is offline  
Old Aug 27, 2017, 11:25 am
  #257  
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Glasgow
Programs: BA Silver,
Posts: 15
Could someone please check BA271 LHR-LAS 29th Aug.
I'm hoping to get a cheap AUP.

Thanks
Dolphinshark is offline  
Old Aug 27, 2017, 5:23 pm
  #258  
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Plymouth, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 1,159
Originally Posted by Dolphinshark
Could someone please check BA271 LHR-LAS 29th Aug.
I'm hoping to get a cheap AUP.

Thanks
Here you are:

BA 271 0 LHR
29/08/17 12:20 LAS
29/08/17 15:05 744
Su,T,Th
53% / 33m

F2 A1 J9 C0 D0 R0 I0 W9 E0 T0 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O9 G9
snaxmuppet is offline  
Old Aug 29, 2017, 12:07 am
  #259  
Moderator, Emirates
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Where My Heart Is
Programs: BAEC Silver, FB Platinum, KQ Asante Gold, Shebamiles Blue, Emirates Blue
Posts: 3,386
Hi All

Grateful if someone could check loads on LHR-DME 31/08/17 BA237 for me please.

Well within 72hrs of departure now and, although I know it's not a good indicator, only 4 seats selected in Y and have now been able to select a bulkhead. If it looks like it's busy, I might go back to my duo seat.

Thanks

S
Saltire74 is offline  
Old Aug 29, 2017, 1:09 am
  #260  
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Hertfordshire, UK
Programs: BA Blue, Qatar Gold, Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire Ambassador, Marriott Gold
Posts: 494
Can someone please check BA39 from HKG to LHR today on 29/08/17 @ 23:10. Thanks in advance
Ryanfozzie is offline  
Old Aug 29, 2017, 1:12 am
  #261  
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver, ZSL Silver
Posts: 2,552
Originally Posted by Ryanfozzie
Can someone please check BA39 from HKG to LHR today on 29/08/17 @ 23:10. Thanks in advance
Here's BA 32 for tonight (dep 23:10).

F1 A0 J6 C0 D0 R0 I0 W7 E0 T0 Y3 B3 H3 K3 M3 L3 V3 S3 N3 Q0 O0 G0
gustavmahler is offline  
Old Aug 29, 2017, 1:25 am
  #262  
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Hertfordshire, UK
Programs: BA Blue, Qatar Gold, Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire Ambassador, Marriott Gold
Posts: 494
Originally Posted by gustavmahler
Here's BA 32 for tonight (dep 23:10).

F1 A0 J6 C0 D0 R0 I0 W7 E0 T0 Y3 B3 H3 K3 M3 L3 V3 S3 N3 Q0 O0 G0
Sorry for the wrong flight number. Thanks!!
Ryanfozzie is offline  
Old Aug 29, 2017, 3:37 am
  #263  
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: BHX
Programs: BA GGL CCR GfL, SQ Gold, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond, Marriott Plat, Cafe Nero Loyalty Card (7 Stamps)
Posts: 7,328
Originally Posted by Saltire74
Hi All

Grateful if someone could check loads on LHR-DME 31/08/17 BA237 for me please.

Well within 72hrs of departure now and, although I know it's not a good indicator, only 4 seats selected in Y and have now been able to select a bulkhead. If it looks like it's busy, I might go back to my duo seat.

Thanks

S
Wiiiiiiiiiide open.

J9 C9 D9 R9 I9 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O9 G0
Wozza2404 is offline  
Old Aug 29, 2017, 3:39 am
  #264  
Moderator, Emirates
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Where My Heart Is
Programs: BAEC Silver, FB Platinum, KQ Asante Gold, Shebamiles Blue, Emirates Blue
Posts: 3,386
Originally Posted by Wozza2404
Wiiiiiiiiiide open.

J9 C9 D9 R9 I9 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O9 G0
Fantastic. Thanks Wozza2404

S
Saltire74 is offline  
Old Aug 30, 2017, 8:49 am
  #265  
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Programs: AA, BA, B6, DL, D8, EI
Posts: 38
Another check please for WT on BA174 JFK-LHR on Sep 1. Confused b/c ExpertFlyer is showing all seats as occupied or blocked.
sadeconomy is offline  
Old Aug 30, 2017, 8:54 am
  #266  
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Lewes, UK
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 231
Originally Posted by sadeconomy
Another check please for WT on BA174 JFK-LHR on Sep 1. Confused b/c ExpertFlyer is showing all seats as occupied or blocked.
UK Position

BA 174
JFK 01/09/17 19:00
LHR 02/09/17 7:10
777
F5 A3 J9 C0 D0 R0 I0 W9 E0 T0 Y9 B8 H5 K5 M4 L1 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0 G5

It's pretty normal at this timescale before flight to have all vacant seats showing as blocked. Doesn't mean it's full as they still have tickets available in all cabins.

Quick look has just shown 5 vacant in F, 5 vacant in J, 10 vacant in W but everything in Y either blocked or occupied. My status on EF is a lowly Bronze - likely a higher status would show more free rather than blocked.
peterinlewesuk is offline  
Old Aug 30, 2017, 9:15 am
  #267  
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Programs: AA, BA, B6, DL, D8, EI
Posts: 38
Originally Posted by peterinlewesuk
UK Position

BA 174
JFK 01/09/17 19:00
LHR 02/09/17 7:10
777
F5 A3 J9 C0 D0 R0 I0 W9 E0 T0 Y9 B8 H5 K5 M4 L1 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0 G5

It's pretty normal at this timescale before flight to have all vacant seats showing as blocked. Doesn't mean it's full as they still have tickets available in all cabins.

Quick look has just shown 5 vacant in F, 5 vacant in J, 10 vacant in W but everything in Y either blocked or occupied. My status on EF is a lowly Bronze - likely a higher status would show more free rather than blocked.
Thank you so much. As a lowlier (BA) Blue it is much appreciated!
sadeconomy is offline  
Old Sep 1, 2017, 5:18 am
  #268  
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 14
Hi, could someone please check BA 251 LHR - SCL, for tomorrow 02/09?
Thanks in advance.
go787 is offline  
Old Sep 1, 2017, 5:20 am
  #269  
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Lewes, UK
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 231
Originally Posted by go787
Hi, could someone please check BA 251 LHR - SCL, for tomorrow 02/09?
Thanks in advance.
UK Position

BA 251
LHR 02/09/17 21:55
SCL 03/09/17 8:30
789
F5 A5 J1 C0 D0 R0 I0 W9 E0 T0 Y9 B9 H6 K3 M3 L2 V1 S0 N0 Q0 O0 G9
peterinlewesuk is offline  
Old Sep 1, 2017, 6:47 am
  #270  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Silver, Hilton Honors Gold
Posts: 627
Would anyone be able to kindly check BA452 LHR-IBZ for tomorrow (02/09/2017) please? Greatly appreciated. Thanks.
wheatbeer is offline  


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