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Help to check BA seat availability and BA flight loads

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

Old Sep 12, 2017, 12:11 am
  #346  
Hilton Contributor Badge
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Switzerland / Estonia
Programs: AY+ Platinum, BAEC Silver, airbaltic VIP, HH Diamond, Radisson VIP, IHG Diamond Elite
Posts: 6,510
Originally Posted by Daveoc64
Could someone please check BA0008 HAN-LHR on Saturday 16th September?
Results from https://www.ExpertFlyer.com
Code:
Flight Availability Search
Departing HND on 09/16/17 12:00 AM for LHR
Flying BA  
Direct/Non-Stop Only
Point of Sale: UK


                                                                     Frequency
Flight        Stops  Depart             Arrive             Aircraft  Reliability     Available Classes
0 Connections
BA 8          0      HND                LHR                777       Daily           F1 A1 J0 C0 D0 R0 I0 W0 E0 T0 Y0 B0 H0 K0 M0 L0 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0 G0 
                     09/16/17 8:50 AM   09/16/17 1:10 PM             81% / 17m
florens is offline  
Old Sep 12, 2017, 10:30 am
  #347  
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Silver, HH Diamond, Radisson Gold, IHG Gold, Marriott Gold, Shangri La Jade
Posts: 264
BA173 LHR-JFK tomorrow (13th Sept) at 1120

Thank you!
sarahluv is offline  
Old Sep 12, 2017, 11:21 am
  #348  
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold; Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 3,217
Originally Posted by sarahluv
BA173 LHR-JFK tomorrow (13th Sept) at 1120

Thank you!
With a UK POS for BA 173 it's as follows:

F1 A1 J4 C0 D0 R0 I0 W6 E4 T0 Y2 B1 H0 K0 M0 L0 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0 G0

Hope that helps!
sarahluv likes this.
Geordie405 is online now  
Old Sep 12, 2017, 1:23 pm
  #349  
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Silver, IHG Spire Ambassador, Accor Silver, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 276
BA184 EWR>LHR on Thursday 14th September?

Thanks !
ibbitsc is offline  
Old Sep 12, 2017, 11:12 pm
  #350  
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: London
Posts: 46
BA028 HKG-LHR 23.45 Fri. 15 Sep?

Thanks in advance!
k_cheng is offline  
Old Sep 13, 2017, 4:10 am
  #351  
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: London
Programs: Many. Too many. I came here to cut them down. I failed.
Posts: 2,998
Originally Posted by ibbitsc
ba184 ewr>lhr on thursday 14th september?

Thanks !
thu 14sep17 newark /london area
ewr lhr 14/1820#0615 ba 184

f5 a5 j6 c0 dc rc ic w3 ec tc y6 b1 h0 k0 m0 lc vc sc nc qc oc g0
Sam Bee is offline  
Old Sep 13, 2017, 4:11 am
  #352  
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: London
Programs: Many. Too many. I came here to cut them down. I failed.
Posts: 2,998
Originally Posted by k_cheng
ba028 hkg-lhr 23.45 fri. 15 sep?

Thanks in advance!
fri 15sep17 hong kong /london area
hkg lhr 15/2345#0535

ba 28 f2 a1 j4 c0 dc rc ic w3 ec tc y3 b0 h0 k0 m0 lc vc sc nc qc
oc g0
Sam Bee is offline  
Old Sep 13, 2017, 5:40 am
  #353  
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 16
LGW / BGI

BA2155 LGW/BGI 24th Sept
BA2154 BGI/LGW 5th Oct

Thanks
Ngl100 is offline  
Old Sep 13, 2017, 5:42 am
  #354  
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Switzerland / Estonia
Programs: AY+ Platinum, BAEC Silver, airbaltic VIP, HH Diamond, Radisson VIP, IHG Diamond Elite
Posts: 6,510
Originally Posted by Ngl100
BA2155 LGW/BGI 24th Sept
BA2154 BGI/LGW 5th Oct

Thanks
Results from https://www.ExpertFlyer.com
Code:
Flight Availability Search
Departing LGW on 09/24/17 12:00 AM for BGI
Flying BA  
Point of Sale: UK


                                                                     Frequency
Flight        Stops  Depart             Arrive             Aircraft  Reliability     Available Classes
0 Connections
BA 2155       0      LGW                BGI                777       Su,M,T,Th,F,Sa  F9 A9 J9 C9 D9 R9 I9 W9 E9 T9 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O9 G9 
                     09/24/17 11:25 AM  09/24/17 3:05 PM             74% / 23m
Results from https://www.ExpertFlyer.com
Code:
Flight Availability Search
Departing BGI on 10/05/17 12:00 AM for LGW
Flying BA  
Point of Sale: UK


                                                                     Frequency
Flight        Stops  Depart             Arrive             Aircraft  Reliability     Available Classes
0 Connections
BA 2154       0      BGI                LGW                777       Daily           F9 A9 J9 C9 D9 R9 I9 W9 E9 T9 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O9 G1 
                     10/05/17 5:10 PM   10/06/17 6:20 AM             84% / 18m
florens is offline  
Old Sep 13, 2017, 1:18 pm
  #355  
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Newcastle/London & Worldwide
Programs: BAEC Gold, Virgin Flying Club Silver
Posts: 818
Hi can someone please check the loads on BA2733 ACE>LGW on Sunday 17th September.
Im trying to upgrade to Club but website showing Sold Out and ExpertFlyer showing quite a few seats.

Economy looks empty but is this just showing who has selected seats rather than actual loads? An accurate load check would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Chris9642 is offline  
Old Sep 14, 2017, 3:06 am
  #356  
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 46
Could someone check

BA217 LHR-IAD 3/10/17
BA292 IAD-LHR 9/10/17

No status so trying to decide if I need to stump up for a seat reservation. Thanks in advance.
loftus1961 is offline  
Old Sep 14, 2017, 3:24 am
  #357  
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: London
Programs: Many. Too many. I came here to cut them down. I failed.
Posts: 2,998
Originally Posted by Chris9642
Hi can someone please check the loads on BA2733 ACE>LGW on Sunday 17th September.
Im trying to upgrade to Club but website showing Sold Out and ExpertFlyer showing quite a few seats.

Economy looks empty but is this just showing who has selected seats rather than actual loads? An accurate load check would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Tis full in Business. Probably more comfortable down back.

SUN 17SEP17 LANZAROTE /LONDON AREA
ACE LGW 1845 2250 BA2733
J0 C0 DC RC IC Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 N8 Q1 OC SC G0
Sam Bee is offline  
Old Sep 14, 2017, 3:26 am
  #358  
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: London
Programs: Many. Too many. I came here to cut them down. I failed.
Posts: 2,998
Originally Posted by loftus1961
Could someone check

BA217 LHR-IAD 3/10/17
BA292 IAD-LHR 9/10/17

No status so trying to decide if I need to stump up for a seat reservation. Thanks in advance.
Not at the moment.

TUE 03OCT17 LONDON AREA /WASHINGTON
LHR IAD 0940 1245
BA 217 F9 A9 J9 C9 D9 R9 I9 W9 E3 TC Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O9 G5

MON 09OCT17 WASHINGTON /LONDON AREA
IAD LHR 09/2220#1030 BA 292
F6 A5 J9 C9 D9 R9 I9 W9 E9 T5 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9
O9 G9
Sam Bee is offline  
Old Sep 14, 2017, 3:31 am
  #359  
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 46
Many thanks.
loftus1961 is offline  
Old Sep 14, 2017, 5:46 am
  #360  
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: MME (midway between NCL and LBA)
Programs: BA Gold, AF/KL Gold, Hilton Gold, Nordic Choice Gold
Posts: 740
Could I ask for BA1327 NCL-LHR on 22 October 2017.

Prices seem pretty steep and no avios availability.

Thanks
tigertanaka is offline  

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