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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 2, 2018, 1:48 am
  #2161  
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 10,147
Originally Posted by Hawes7701
Morning (from the U.K.)

looking for current seat availability and loads in business class on BA79 LHR - MCT on August 8th.

This is one of the flights operated by a Qatar a330 so I can’t see any seat maps until check in. I’m travelling with wife so particularly interested in how many pairs of seats are still available.

Thanks!!!

There's 4 rows of Business in a 2-2-2

1A blocked, 1B free, same with 1J/K

All middle seats are free and 4 AB and 4JK are free at present as pairs. I'm unable to do a screenshot at present.

BA (**) 790
LHR - 08/08/18 8:00 PM
MCT - 08/09/18 6:30 AM
332
Su,W,Th,F,Sa
25% / 44m
J6 C2 D2 R2 I0 Y7 B4 H1 K1 M1 L1 V1
S1 N0 Q0 O0 G0
PETER01 is offline  
Old Aug 2, 2018, 3:12 am
  #2162  
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 508
Originally Posted by PETER01
There's 4 rows of Business in a 2-2-2

1A blocked, 1B free, same with 1J/K

All middle seats are free and 4 AB and 4JK are free at present as pairs. I'm unable to do a screenshot at present.

BA (**) 790
LHR - 08/08/18 8:00 PM
MCT - 08/09/18 6:30 AM
332
Su,W,Th,F,Sa
25% / 44m
J6 C2 D2 R2 I0 Y7 B4 H1 K1 M1 L1 V1
S1 N0 Q0 O0 G0
thank you so much. Really very much appreciated.

Has anyone flown one of these Qatar operated routes and if so, can you confirm whether the seat map and subsequent seat selection does indeed become available at T24 check in? Only ask as the U.K callcentre shuts at 20.00 which is the exact departure time of this flight and wondering if I will be able to select seats online or whether I will need to call the US Call centre.

Thanks again.
Hawes7701 is offline  
Old Aug 2, 2018, 5:41 am
  #2163  
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Programs: BAEC - Lowly blue
Posts: 282
Sorry all I've been an idiot... we're flying on the 12th of March, not the 11th. Could someone check the following:

BA143 on 12th March 2019 in First?
Lewis King is offline  
Old Aug 2, 2018, 6:00 am
  #2164  
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Peterborough, UK
Programs: BA Silver; IHG Spire; Avis P+; Global Entry
Posts: 1,505
Hi All,

Just to add to this, for the people that do not have EF access, i have been using the tool below to check the availability, It may not be as comprehensive as EF but works for me

https://flightavailability.bcdtravel...MnAvlMain.aspx
Amygdala28 and anyuser like this.
aidy is offline  
Old Aug 2, 2018, 7:06 am
  #2165  
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Programs: BAEC - Lowly blue
Posts: 282
Originally Posted by aidy
Hi All,

Just to add to this, for the people that do not have EF access, i have been using the tool below to check the availability, It may not be as comprehensive as EF but works for me

https://flightavailability.bcdtravel...MnAvlMain.aspx

This is great! Thank you!
Lewis King is offline  
Old Aug 2, 2018, 8:52 am
  #2166  
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: London
Programs: Many. Too many. I came here to cut them down. I failed.
Posts: 2,999
Originally Posted by aidy
Hi All,

Just to add to this, for the people that do not have EF access, i have been using the tool below to check the availability, It may not be as comprehensive as EF but works for me

https://flightavailability.bcdtravel...MnAvlMain.aspx
Thought that was great - can hang up the GDS on this forum!

But had a check of random flight - LHR-BKK 01 Dec:

BCD travel: J9 C9 D9 R4 W5 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V3

vs the GDS:

LHR BKK/ 1515#0945 BA 9
J9 C9 D9 R9 I6 W9 E4 TC Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O9 G0

Seems miles out? And missing important classes - i.e. I,E,T,O

Was going to compare something closer - but it wouldn't show tomorrows LCY-MAN - routing everything via DUB?

This is tomorrows LGW-NYC:

J2, C2, D2, W4, E2, T2, Y4, B3, H3, K3, M1, L1, V1, S1, O1

VS GDS:

LGW JFK 1635 1935 BA2273
J2 C2 DC RC IC W4 E3 T2 Y4 B3 H3 K1 M1 L1 V1 SC NC QC OC G0

Then it clicked - they are US based, so everything will be a US PoS.
Sam Bee is offline  
Old Aug 2, 2018, 9:57 am
  #2167  
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Peterborough, UK
Programs: BA Silver; IHG Spire; Avis P+; Global Entry
Posts: 1,505
Originally Posted by Sam Bee
Thought that was great - can hang up the GDS on this forum!

But had a check of random flight - LHR-BKK 01 Dec:

BCD travel: J9 C9 D9 R4 W5 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V3

vs the GDS:

LHR BKK/ 1515#0945 BA 9
J9 C9 D9 R9 I6 W9 E4 TC Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O9 G0

Then it clicked - they are US based, so everything will be a US PoS.
Strange as i had this for the BKK flight

J9 C9 D9 R9 I5 W9 E1 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V7

still different but not as far off
aidy is offline  
Old Aug 3, 2018, 12:39 am
  #2168  
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 285
Hi,

I'd be very grateful if someone could check the flight load for BA12 on 06 Aug SIN-LHR in Y.

Thanks for your help.
MrCheapSeats is offline  
Old Aug 3, 2018, 2:25 am
  #2169  
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 10,147
Originally Posted by MrCheapSeats
Hi,

I'd be very grateful if someone could check the flight load for BA12 on 06 Aug SIN-LHR in Y.

Thanks for your help.
Here you go. UK POS

F6 A5 J9 C3 D0 R0 I0 W9 E9 T9 Y9 B9
H9 K9 M9 L9 V6 S3 N3 Q0 O0 G9
PETER01 is offline  
Old Aug 3, 2018, 2:35 am
  #2170  
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 285
Thanks!
MrCheapSeats is offline  
Old Aug 5, 2018, 6:46 am
  #2171  
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: AMS
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Gold, TK M&S Nobody
Posts: 2,471
Could someone check BA217 LHR-IAD for tomorrow [6th Aug] please?

Thanks
etiene is offline  
Old Aug 5, 2018, 8:18 pm
  #2172  
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: London
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold & GGL & CCR, HH Diam, Bonvoy Titanium, IHG Spire, Tastecard
Posts: 7,549
Originally Posted by etiene
Could someone check BA217 LHR-IAD for tomorrow [6th Aug] please?

Thanks
BA 2170LHR
06/08/18 11:00 AMIAD
06/08/18 2:05 PM744
Daily
89% / 14mF1 A0 J9 C2 D0 R0 I0 W8 E0 T0 Y7 B1H0 K0 M0 L0 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0 G0
chris1979 is offline  
Old Aug 6, 2018, 2:27 am
  #2173  
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: AMS
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Gold, TK M&S Nobody
Posts: 2,471
Originally Posted by chris1979
BA 2170LHR
06/08/18 11:00 AMIAD
06/08/18 2:05 PM744
Daily
89% / 14mF1 A0 J9 C2 D0 R0 I0 W8 E0 T0 Y7 B1H0 K0 M0 L0 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0 G0
Thanks!
etiene is offline  
Old Aug 8, 2018, 1:21 am
  #2174  
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Programs: BAEC - Gold
Posts: 47
Could someone check BA79 LHR-MCT for 12 August, and the return BA80 MCT-LHR for 18th August please?

Thanks
sudge27 is offline  
Old Aug 8, 2018, 2:14 am
  #2175  
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: London
Programs: Many. Too many. I came here to cut them down. I failed.
Posts: 2,999
Originally Posted by sudge27
Could someone check BA79 LHR-MCT for 12 August, and the return BA80 MCT-LHR for 18th August please?

Thanks
332? So one of the QR planes I assume. Enjoy. I've been in August. Could walk more than a metre without my sunglasses steaming up...

LHR MCT 1955#0625 BA 79
J7 C4 D3 RC IC Y8 B5 H2 K2 M2 332 L2 V2 S2 N2 QC OC G0

MCT LHR 0805 1315 BA 80
J7 C3 D3 R3 I3 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O9 G6
Sam Bee is offline  


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