Discrepancy between Expert Flyer & BA Avios availability
Jan 2, 2018, 7:53 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 53
Discrepancy between Expert Flyer & BA Avios availability
Question for the BA experts. I'm in WTP on a flight from IAD to LHR later this week and trying to switch seats (seeking one of the window/aisle pairs). My BA seat map shows three available seats, but BA says 8 WTP seats on this flight are available for Avios redemption. Expert Flyer shows four seats available (three of which are handicap accessible) and three blocked off. What might explain the difference between the number of Avios bookings available and what Expert Flyer is showing in terms of availability? Thanks!
Jan 2, 2018, 8:07 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
EF seat maps and ba.com seat maps may not correlate to each other close to the time of the flight because of Theoretical Seating (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/brit...ts-status.html), but further out from the date of the flight the correlation is usually accurate.
Jan 2, 2018, 8:13 am
#3
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TPA/ABZ
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
Posts: 13,248
Question for the BA experts. I'm in WTP on a flight from IAD to LHR later this week and trying to switch seats (seeking one of the window/aisle pairs). My BA seat map shows three available seats, but BA says 8 WTP seats on this flight are available for Avios redemption. Expert Flyer shows four seats available (three of which are handicap accessible) and three blocked off. What might explain the difference between the number of Avios bookings available and what Expert Flyer is showing in terms of availability? Thanks!
First of all, there is not a one to one relationship between the number of tickets available for sale (or the number of reward redemptions available) and the seat map. The seat map may look fuller or emptier than the number of tickets available for sale. That flight looks quiet at the moment with the following loads:
F9 A9 J9 C9 D9 R9 I0 W9 E0 T0 Y9 B9H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O0 G9
and there are indeed several Avios tickets available for redemption in WTP. BA's revenue management have taken a decision that that's reasonable given their ability to move people around with operational upgrades if required.
In terms of the seat map itself (below) you are seeing the results of theoretical seating for which you may find more information in this thread:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/brit...ts-status.html
Results from https://www.ExpertFlyer.com
Code:
Seat Map Search: Departing IAD on 01/05/18 for LHR Flying BA flight 216 in Premium Economy A B D E F G J K 33 W X - + X - - - X W 34 W - H - - - - H - W 35 W - - - - - - H - W 36 W - - - - - - L L W A B D E F G J K Seats Premium Only P Available + Handicap-Accessible H Paid & Premium # Occupied - Blocked X Lavatory L Paid $ Location Exit Row E Wing W Upper Deck U
Jan 2, 2018, 9:30 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 53
This is incredibly helpful! I am, indeed, looking at that flight. I figured that upgrades might play into the mix (and I am hoping that an upgrade clears up one of the seats I'm looking for!). Realistically (w/o any status) when might I expect to see any potential changes to the seat map. Would it all be in the last 24 hours? Thanks!