Alternatives to Seatspy...
Jul 31, 2021, 4:08 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: BA Gold, Avis President
Posts: 438
Alternatives to Seatspy...
Hello,
I really value Seatspy's functionality with making searching for Avios reward bookings so clear...
However its become a paid site after years of free searches...anybody know of a free alternative...??
Chris
I really value Seatspy's functionality with making searching for Avios reward bookings so clear...
However its become a paid site after years of free searches...anybody know of a free alternative...??
Chris
Jul 31, 2021, 4:19 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 12,262
Rewardflightfinder
Which is fairly pants. Just regular checks on BA.com is the only fail safe way
Was a bit of discussion here yesterday if you want a nose Rewardflightfinder shows available when it isnt
Which is fairly pants. Just regular checks on BA.com is the only fail safe way
Was a bit of discussion here yesterday if you want a nose Rewardflightfinder shows available when it isnt
Jul 31, 2021, 4:25 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA, VS, HH, IHG, MB, MR
Posts: 26,871
There isn’t one because of how BA works. Unlike most airlines reward seats do not have a dedicated GDS bucket so most systems cannot see it.
Reward Flight Finder is similar but updates a lot less often (daily vs hourly in my observations). If you are looking for super peak dates then you need SeatSpy (eg half term seats). If your needs are vaguer, eg Barbados on any dates in Oct or Nov, then RFF may do.
Reward Flight Finder is similar but updates a lot less often (daily vs hourly in my observations). If you are looking for super peak dates then you need SeatSpy (eg half term seats). If your needs are vaguer, eg Barbados on any dates in Oct or Nov, then RFF may do.
Jul 31, 2021, 9:46 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 13,048
I don't begrudge anybody for developing a useful product / service and then charging a reasonable amount for it. Hosting a popular website isn't cheap, not to mention the serious number of hours needed to develop and improve the site. If Seatspy or similar were actually offering it for free, then you can be quite sure that you are the product rather than the customer...
Jul 31, 2021, 10:26 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: 4éme
Posts: 12,042
Jul 31, 2021, 11:14 am
#6
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 3,190
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/brit...atspy-com.html
SeatSpy is where it's at. RFF is, to be honest, a poor second. However, if you would value/use other tools take a look at Expert Flyer, also subscription, but boat (or plane) loads of capability!
rb211.
Jul 31, 2021, 3:23 pm
#8
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Cheltenham
Programs: KLM Plat for Life , BA Gold, HH Silver, (Other half Diamond), IHG Gold
Posts: 2,398
I still pay my £2.99 each month but I have to say I am finding it increasingly unreliable , showing availability when there is none . I emailed them querying this but never got a response .
Aug 20, 2021, 8:16 am
#9
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 6
I use Reward Flight Finder. Bronze members are free & they check daily. Pay & they will check more frequently. I just bagged flights to Japan next year. I pay £2.99 per month & think that is excellent value.
Aug 20, 2021, 8:24 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA, VS, HH, IHG, MB, MR
Posts: 26,871
Two posts in 2 years and both supporting RFF in the face of criticism over data theft :-)
Aug 20, 2021, 10:27 am
#13
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: AC, AS, BA Silver/OW Sapphire, DL, SQ/*A Silver, Bonvoy Gold, HH Gold
Posts: 161
The subscription price is very reasonable, while the main added value is that it is not only BA. If you are an occasional flyer on any of the other participating airlines, the convenient forward-view of all seats available across these airlines is the main reason for paying essentially a Starbucks latte a month...
Sep 21, 2021, 9:32 am
#14
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 1,347
Anyone else seem to have found that changes to seatspy have effectively halved the number of alerts you can set up on the £2.99 plan? It says they've introduced functionality that allows you to input different dates for the return and outbound leg, but in essence this seems to make it that you are now creating 2 alerts for a return trip, so you can now only set up alerts for 2 return journeys rather than the 4 that were permitted until recently. Unless I'm doing something wrong? (It seems to not affect pre-existing alerts but as soon as you delete one and then try to add another it won't let you if it means you will now have more than 2 return journeys).
Apr 24, 2023, 3:16 pm
#15
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 267
I signed up for RFF as Amex UK gave me 3 months money back for their gold plan. But, having learned that they stole data I unsubscribed and am looking into Sestspy now.
At least they’re not limited to BA. Would be nice if Qatar was available but overall looks like a good site. Expert flyer is more expensive and goofy if I may say so but could be a valued alternative.
At least they’re not limited to BA. Would be nice if Qatar was available but overall looks like a good site. Expert flyer is more expensive and goofy if I may say so but could be a valued alternative.