Does BA open more award seats closer to departure?
May 17, 2018, 12:16 pm
#1
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Join Date: Jul 2008
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Does BA open more award seats closer to departure?
Hi,
Does BA open up more First/Club award seats to NYC closer to the departure date? I'm looking for 2 seats (I know it's last minute) in July but the availability is nil or very limited. On Expertflyer I"m seeing that these cabins are wide open on some the dates that I'm looking at.
Does BA let the planes fly with empty seats or are they proactive in filling them up as award redemptions?
Does BA open up more First/Club award seats to NYC closer to the departure date? I'm looking for 2 seats (I know it's last minute) in July but the availability is nil or very limited. On Expertflyer I"m seeing that these cabins are wide open on some the dates that I'm looking at.
Does BA let the planes fly with empty seats or are they proactive in filling them up as award redemptions?
May 17, 2018, 12:19 pm
#2
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: living near Malaga
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Posts: 2,112
Hi,
Does BA open up more First/Club award seats to NYC closer to the departure date? I'm looking for 2 seats (I know it's last minute) in July but the availability is nil or very limited. On Expertflyer I"m seeing that these cabins are wide open on some the dates that I'm looking at.
Does BA let the planes fly with empty seats or are they proactive in filling them up as award redemptions?
Does BA open up more First/Club award seats to NYC closer to the departure date? I'm looking for 2 seats (I know it's last minute) in July but the availability is nil or very limited. On Expertflyer I"m seeing that these cabins are wide open on some the dates that I'm looking at.
Does BA let the planes fly with empty seats or are they proactive in filling them up as award redemptions?
Its a busy route ( to/from London? ) so the odds are with you. Just keep checking and good luck..
May 17, 2018, 3:49 pm
#4
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
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After the 355 day input, probably the best chance of seeing more seats is either after a Sale has ended, and then about 3 days before departure. But additional seats can come available at any stage. Personally I think it's best to book any cabin you are prepared to fly in, then keep an eye on the cabin you want to fly in.
Don't forget to check LGW-JFK (though it's not BA's best offering in CW, and there is no First), and consider places likes BOS and PHL which sometimes are easier.
Don't forget to check LGW-JFK (though it's not BA's best offering in CW, and there is no First), and consider places likes BOS and PHL which sometimes are easier.
May 18, 2018, 1:13 am
#5
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Oxon, UK
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Hoping for a late release of An Avios seat in F from JNB to LHR in a couple of weeks. EF suggests that currently availability is good (F7, A7) on one of the daily flights. But only one seat in PE currently available for Avios. I wonder if Mr Cruz’s reported intention to allow Avios to be used for any available seat (over and above the current part-pay offer) will ever come into effect.
May 18, 2018, 1:34 am
#6
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: London
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I can’t speak for the USA in first , however I do follow the London Malaga availbilty as I travel there frequently.
This is changes all the time. I am going this Sunday and I booked a paid for ticket as nothing was available
Since booking I have Done a daily reward search. It has ranged from an early flight , no flights and an afternoon flight ( this mornings search ) so it changes quite a bit.
The other week week there was nothing. On Sunday morning I searched at 10:30am. Flight from London city. Was airbourne at 1pm
i dont have have to go , and can go at nil notice so it works for me most of the time unless I chicken out and buy a revenue fare like this week.
This is changes all the time. I am going this Sunday and I booked a paid for ticket as nothing was available
Since booking I have Done a daily reward search. It has ranged from an early flight , no flights and an afternoon flight ( this mornings search ) so it changes quite a bit.
The other week week there was nothing. On Sunday morning I searched at 10:30am. Flight from London city. Was airbourne at 1pm
i dont have have to go , and can go at nil notice so it works for me most of the time unless I chicken out and buy a revenue fare like this week.
May 18, 2018, 1:43 am
#7
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: London
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Hoping for a late release of An Avios seat in F from JNB to LHR in a couple of weeks. EF suggests that currently availability is good (F7, A7) on one of the daily flights. But only one seat in PE currently available for Avios. I wonder if Mr Cruz’s reported intention to allow Avios to be used for any available seat (over and above the current part-pay offer) will ever come into effect.
This was / is a good resource for checking though...
https://baredemptionfinder.com/
May 18, 2018, 2:08 am
#8
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Ipswich
Posts: 7,543
I tracked short notice F and J availability daily for JNB-LHR in April for a couple of months earlier this year. I saw nothing in the 10 day window that would have worked for us, and I'm not sure there was anything at all in the whole month. So I hope you are lucky, but I wouldn't get too hopeful.
May 18, 2018, 2:13 am
#9
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Glasgow / London
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Posts: 3,457
I fly to JNB in F regularly (in fact I'm here right now!) and the cabin is almost always full. Your best chance of late award availability is mid-week, most likely Tuesday and Wednesday nights, although Saturday nights are often a little quieter too. Note also that it is now winter over here, so loads will be a little lighter.
May 18, 2018, 5:28 am
#10
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Oxon, UK
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Posts: 1,952
Thanks all. I have been pretty lucky with JNB in the past but I know it is generally popular. As I can see a good number of empty seats on one flight that is not too far away I’m hoping one may become available. I am keeping an eye with EF and BA redemption finder.
May 19, 2018, 3:34 pm
#13
Join Date: Jan 2003
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As I have posted previously I had one wonderful occasion when a J seat became available the day before I wanted to fly, got to the airport and found the flight fairly heavily overbooked in J, so got an op-u/g to F.
Just this week I was looking to advance a trip and get onto a flight that was fully booked in both CE and ET. Then 2 days before departure, 2 ET seats opened up, one of which was available as a standard (not just Gold) Avios seat, Obviously the flight was 100% full on the day..
No rhyme, reason, logic or anything else to why the computer says what it does !
Just this week I was looking to advance a trip and get onto a flight that was fully booked in both CE and ET. Then 2 days before departure, 2 ET seats opened up, one of which was available as a standard (not just Gold) Avios seat, Obviously the flight was 100% full on the day..
No rhyme, reason, logic or anything else to why the computer says what it does !
May 19, 2018, 4:45 pm
#14
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Join Date: Apr 2001
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..Does BA open up more First/Club award seats to NYC closer to the departure date? I'm looking for 2 seats (I know it's last minute) in July but the availability is nil or very limited. On Expertflyer I"m seeing that these cabins are wide open on some the dates that I'm looking at.
May 19, 2018, 9:46 pm
#15
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Manhattan Beach, California
Programs: BMI Diamond Club Gold forever
Posts: 6,367
My experience with the west coast flights is that BA tends to use AUPs to fill J and F cabins. So if you like to pay cash to move up this can be good. If you want to use miles, it means less opportunity...