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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 Nov 21, 2018, 11:31 pm
  #2746  
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 36
is this a full flight BA 2169 LGW to FL 3rd Jan and BA 2168 FL to LGW 12th Jan thanks
shearwood40 is offline  
Old Nov 22, 2018, 1:38 am
  #2747  
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: BAEC Gold, IHG Spire, Inc Amb
Posts: 86
Could someone please check the following flights.

BA225 on 28NOV18 LHR-MSY
BA280 on 06DEC18 LAX-LHR

Thanks

Last edited by Peter Ould; Nov 22, 2018 at 1:39 am Reason: Added route
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Old Nov 22, 2018, 1:38 am
  #2748  
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: BAEC Silver, IHG Diamond
Posts: 7,699
What are the loads like on BA281, 9th Dec 12:30pm from LHR-LAX please?
xenole is offline  
Old Nov 22, 2018, 1:40 am
  #2749  
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: BAEC Gold, IHG Spire, Inc Amb
Posts: 86
Originally Posted by xenole
What are the loads like on BA281, 9th Dec 12:30pm from LHR-LAX please?
Looks like you're going the other way from me a few days later
Peter Ould is offline  
Old Nov 22, 2018, 2:58 am
  #2750  
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 10,084
From EF and all UK point of sale:

Originally Posted by neofung
Hey guys much appreciated for your help to check loafing for BA28 and BA32 on 27 Nov thanks



BA28 - F1 A0 J9 C5 D2 R0 I0 W9 E5 T0 Y9 B9
H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N0 Q0 O0 G9

BA32 - F6 A5 J9 C4 D0 R0 I0 W7 E7 T7 Y9 B9
H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q0 O0 G6

Originally Posted by shearwood40
is this a full flight BA 2169 LGW to FL 3rd Jan and BA 2168 FL to LGW 12th Jan thanks
J0 C0 D0 R0 I0 W0 E0 T0 Y0 B0 H0 K0
M0 L0 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0 G0

J4 C3 D2 R1 I0 W7 E6 T4 Y9 B9 H9 K9
M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O9 G9

Originally Posted by Peter Ould
Could someone please check the following flights.

BA225 on 28NOV18 LHR-MSY
BA280 on 06DEC18 LAX-LHR

Thanks
LHR-MSY - J9 C3 D0 R0 I0 W9 E1 T0 Y9 B9 H9 K9
M8 L5 V1 S0 N0 Q0 O0 G9 - (789, 4 class plane on a 3 class flight at the moment)

LAX-LHR - F6 A5 J6 C1 D1 R0 I0 W5 E0 T0 Y9 B9
H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N4 Q0 O0 G9

Originally Posted by xenole
What are the loads like on BA281, 9th Dec 12:30pm from LHR-LAX please?
F5 A4 J9 C9 D9 R7 I5 W5 E3 T0 Y9 B9
H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O0 G9

Pete

Last edited by PETER01; Nov 22, 2018 at 3:04 am Reason: correcting loads
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Old Nov 22, 2018, 3:21 am
  #2751  
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: BAEC Gold, IHG Spire, Inc Amb
Posts: 86
Originally Posted by PETER01

LHR-MSY - J9 C3 D0 R0 I0 W9 E1 T0 Y9 B9 H9 K9
M8 L5 V1 S0 N0 Q0 O0 G9 - (789, 4 class plane on a 3 class flight at the moment)
I noticed they'd changed plane yesterday so was curious how the new map looked. I'm reading this as a plane with lots of space in all cabins?

LAX-LHR - F6 A5 J6 C1 D1 R0 I0 W5 E0 T0 Y9 B9
H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N4 Q0 O0 G9
Thanks
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Old Nov 22, 2018, 3:25 am
  #2752  
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 36
thanks for the info
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shearwood40 is offline  
Old Nov 22, 2018, 3:43 am
  #2753  
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: UK
Programs: BA EC
Posts: 524
Originally Posted by PETER01
From EF and all UK point of sale:



BA28 - F1 A0 J9 C5 D2 R0 I0 W9 E5 T0 Y9 B9
H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N0 Q0 O0 G9

BA32 - F6 A5 J9 C4 D0 R0 I0 W7 E7 T7 Y9 B9
H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q0 O0 G6



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

J4 C3 D2 R1 I0 W7 E6 T4 Y9 B9 H9 K9
M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O9 G9



LHR-MSY - J9 C3 D0 R0 I0 W9 E1 T0 Y9 B9 H9 K9
M8 L5 V1 S0 N0 Q0 O0 G9 - (789, 4 class plane on a 3 class flight at the moment)

LAX-LHR - F6 A5 J6 C1 D1 R0 I0 W5 E0 T0 Y9 B9
H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N4 Q0 O0 G9



F5 A4 J9 C9 D9 R7 I5 W5 E3 T0 Y9 B9
H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O0 G9

Pete
thx for your help
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Old Nov 22, 2018, 3:44 am
  #2754  
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 10,084
Originally Posted by PETER01
LHR-MSY - J9 C3 D0 R0 I0 W9 E1 T0 Y9 B9 H9 K9
M8 L5 V1 S0 N0 Q0 O0 G9 - (789, 4 class plane on a 3 class flight at the moment)
Originally Posted by Peter Ould
I noticed they'd changed plane yesterday so was curious how the new map looked. I'm reading this as a plane with lots of space in all cabins?
As I understand it, EF just shows what BA are willing to sell and not how many passengers have actually purchased tickets, how many are actually in a specific cabin etc and which is understandably commercially sensitive information. BA would be very happy if they could sell 9 J seats at full fare in the last week and that would possibly fill the F cabin but it's hard to say as J9 means there are 9 or MORE seats for sale and only BA will know what that exact amount is.

The seatmap on EF shows a fair amount of seats unallocated in CW, WTP and economy (sorry I can't do a screenshot at the moment) At just over 7 days out I would expect this to fill up with Bronzes/OW Rubys, families/groups being allocated 3/4 days out etc so I'd expect it to change

The First cabin is blocked off. As I understand it they will (officially) only fill it when CW is full and overbooked and they have physically more passengers than seats. However, some on FT have reported being able to move into the F cabin and it sticking, others not so lucky and have been re-allocated a CW seat and perhaps not to their liking!

So to summarise in my view, empty or empty ish seatmaps can't be relied upon, EF does give some indication re overselling/overbooked and EF can show a fair few seats available which can then all change in the last few days, even in the T-24 period and which is my experience at LAX, a main route for me the last 12-18 months.

Others including at @Globaliser, @corporate-wage-slave, @KARFA, @rossmacd etc etc are far far more experienced than me at this kind of stuff but that's my amateur view! Perhaps they will endorse my comments, explain it better or correct me!

Pete

Last edited by PETER01; Nov 22, 2018 at 3:52 am
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Old Nov 22, 2018, 4:15 am
  #2755  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,464
Originally Posted by PETER01
Others including at @Globaliser, @corporate-wage-slave, @KARFA, @rossmacd etc etc are far far more experienced than me at this kind of stuff but that's my amateur view! Perhaps they will endorse my comments, explain it better or correct me!
There is not much to add to your post, so consider it "endorsed"
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Old Nov 22, 2018, 4:32 am
  #2756  
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,474
Yes, I'm OK with the comments above.

G9 indicates this flight isn't yet sold out in WT, whereas E1 suggests WTP is full or overbooked. There again they're not giving up S space. So I think this flight will go out decently but not fully loaded in WT, full in WTP with some upgrades into CW, and at the moment if they sell a few more CW seats in the next week or so then Flub may well be needed.
PETER01 likes this.
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Old Nov 22, 2018, 4:55 am
  #2757  
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: BAEC Gold, IHG Spire, Inc Amb
Posts: 86
Originally Posted by corporate-wage-slave
Yes, I'm OK with the comments above.

G9 indicates this flight isn't yet sold out in WT, whereas E1 suggests WTP is full or overbooked. There again they're not giving up S space. So I think this flight will go out decently but not fully loaded in WT, full in WTP with some upgrades into CW, and at the moment if they sell a few more CW seats in the next week or so then Flub may well be needed.
This is exactly what I'm interested in. I'm sat in WTP as a Gold so interested in the chances of the gods of DUT smiling on me.
Peter Ould is offline  
Old Nov 22, 2018, 5:05 am
  #2758  
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,474
Originally Posted by Peter Ould
This is exactly what I'm interested in. I'm sat in WTP as a Gold so interested in the chances of the gods of DUT smiling on me.
If you normally travel CW then you need quite a fair bit of praying. If you are essentially a WTP or WT traveller then you may be in with a chance. The reason being that there isn't so big a push from WT, just a lot of WTP sold. If WT had sold well, then you would be better placed. Still this is all conjecture, I may be wrong.
corporate-wage-slave is online now  
Old Nov 22, 2018, 5:15 am
  #2759  
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: BAEC Gold, IHG Spire, Inc Amb
Posts: 86
Originally Posted by corporate-wage-slave
If you normally travel CW then you need quite a fair bit of praying. If you are essentially a WTP or WT traveller then you may be in with a chance. The reason being that there isn't so big a push from WT, just a lot of WTP sold. If WT had sold well, then you would be better placed. Still this is all conjecture, I may be wrong.
Intercontinental flights, the company policy is Premium Economy.

I also happen to be a CofE priest, so would be capable of praying in the CW upgrade if I was normally a J flyer, but I'm not sure that's near the top of God's priority list this week.
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Old Nov 22, 2018, 8:28 pm
  #2760  
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Newcastle/London & Worldwide
Programs: BAEC Gold, Virgin Flying Club Silver
Posts: 818
Can someone please check BA10 BKK-LHR on 24/11/18.

Thank you.
Chris9642 is offline  

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