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
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.
Help to check BA seat availability and BA flight loads
#1366
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: London / Brighton
Programs: BAEC Gold / M-Life Gold / HH Diamond
Posts: 1,631
#1367
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: London / Brighton
Programs: BAEC Gold / M-Life Gold / HH Diamond
Posts: 1,631
Your friend may be in luck if they want to buy an AUP today, they've opened up 3 x J seats for sale (see posts above!) so if they get to the airport early they may be able to snag one. I also did a quick award / upgrade search for you, no availability for Avios showing.
#1368
Join Date: Mar 2016
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 677
Please could someone check BA175 from LHR to JFK tomorrow, 23 March. I am assuming it is zeroed out. Looking forward to trying the new CW service but its always nice to get a ping at the gate.
#1370
Join Date: Mar 2016
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 677
Thanks. Looks pretty full then. Presume that is due to the cancellations of all NYC flights yesterday.
#1371
Join Date: Mar 2016
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 677
Gahhh....and now showing a 7hr 20 min delay :-(
Last edited by Newly Wed; Mar 22, 2018 at 3:16 am Reason: Typo
#1373
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: London / Brighton
Programs: BAEC Gold / M-Life Gold / HH Diamond
Posts: 1,631
OpUp I tend to agree with you, unless you happen to be the highest CIV on the flight and they need to move someone forward for some reason (I'm guessing that as you're "just" gold, that won't be you ). AUP tho, I think you stand a chance of snagging that if you get in quick tomorrow - I've done it myself in several places around the world (not just LHR), my experience is that if there's space on the plane they're more than happy to get some cash for it.
#1374
Join Date: Sep 2017
Programs: BAEC - Gold
Posts: 47
OpUp I tend to agree with you, unless you happen to be the highest CIV on the flight and they need to move someone forward for some reason (I'm guessing that as you're "just" gold, that won't be you ). AUP tho, I think you stand a chance of snagging that if you get in quick tomorrow - I've done it myself in several places around the world (not just LHR), my experience is that if there's space on the plane they're more than happy to get some cash for it.
#1375
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 2,447
What's Saturday's LHR-HKG looking like? BA31, 24th March 2018.
Thanks!
Thanks!
#1376
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Perth WA/ UK
Programs: BA Gold, Priority Club Gold, Accor Silver, Virgin Australia Gold
Posts: 1,750
Can anyone advise on the I class load FRA-LHR tomorrow BA903? 767 service? Booked on later 319 service but coming in from DOH back end of 6am so hoping to be able to nab X2 seats on the 903.
Nivsy.
Nivsy.
#1379
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Perth WA/ UK
Programs: BA Gold, Priority Club Gold, Accor Silver, Virgin Australia Gold
Posts: 1,750
#1380
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Silver, Vietnam Airlines Lotusmiles Platinum
Posts: 2,374
Lhr - arn 27/3 ba786
Hi All
Can I please get some help from you?
Im travelling LHR - ARN on Tuesday 27/3 on BA786 and booked HBO, but now need to take a bag.
Homestly im trying to be a cheapskate if I can, and see what my chances of getting that “full flight, check bag for free” message are?
Ive got to take a bottle of wine which is a gift, and had not planned originally to check anything!
Your help is appreciated!
Can I please get some help from you?
Im travelling LHR - ARN on Tuesday 27/3 on BA786 and booked HBO, but now need to take a bag.
Homestly im trying to be a cheapskate if I can, and see what my chances of getting that “full flight, check bag for free” message are?
Ive got to take a bottle of wine which is a gift, and had not planned originally to check anything!
Your help is appreciated!