availability tool
 

i am using a pretty good availability tool. i think i am, at least.

it only shows 0-9 on the normal fares and not on upgrade fares like R, F and E. do they not normally do that? if they dont, then how can you ever tell that there are or are not upgradable seats available?

Yes.

They do not provide the mileage-deduct buckets.

You can't, unfortunately. The only to know if there are mileage-deduct seats available is if you call them and speak with them. Repeat as desired.

You will never know without calling, but there are 2 indicators:

1) Z9 might have availability; Z0 never has.
2) positive standard BF award availability

Another trick is to check loads on different days, and for different subsequent weeks. Usually one will be able to discover a route specific pattern. (e.g. friday has low load factors from EWR to GRU)

Very true. In my experience, whenever there is Standard First / BusinessFirst availability, there has been a seat available for a mileage-deduct upgrade.

i was just curious. i am paid FC this weekend. no seats have filled with elite ups. i was curious to see if CO hadnt released R's or F's or if there just werent any elites on the flights.