Flight Availability/Loadings & Upgrade Probability Help Desk

[Sprucegoose]

PLEASE INCLUDE DATE, FLIGHT NUMBER, ORIGIN & DESTINATION IN ALL REQUESTS

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>>>> ADDED BY ADMIN (6 Sept 2010) <<<<

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Background to this thread
We have noticed an increase in the posting of questions about seat availability on specific flights. These are all valid questions and we all appreciate the efforts our members go to to provide answers.

The only drawback is that our forums can become "cluttered" with specific questions about availability on specific flights. This tends to reduce the overall usability of our site.
We have therefore created this new consolidated thread where you can ask questions about seat availability on specific flights. Hopefully, this will reduce clutter and improve useability.

Guidelines for posting in this thread
Please post questions about availability of specific flights or upgrade probability in this new consolidated thread. Be sure to include the airline, flight number, date, origin and destination and any other relevant detail.

When answering questions, please include the original question. This will assist in readability and management of the thread.

Thanks!

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For Questions about Aircraft Configuration and Seat Availability, please use this thread:​

Understanding [Fare Buckets] Expert Flyer

I'd appreciate some help understanding the information EF provides. For example, F6 A6 J9 C9 D9 I0 B9 H9 K9 M9 R9 L9 V9 S0 N0 Q0 O0 X0 E0 What letters do I look at to try to work out how many seats are still available in economy? What letters do I look at to try to work out how many...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

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See this thread for hints on how to read loadings:

Interpreting and Understanding Expert Flyer​

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If looking for, say Qantas points upgrades, look for A class for First, mid to high D or any I class for Business and any R for Premium Economy.

Look for the most expensive category of the cabin YOU are currently booked in as being sold out e.g. J0 to first, W0 to Business & Y0 to PE for increased op-up chances. Also, look for availability on the discount premium buckets (A, P, I, D, U, T & Z inventories).

Conversely, look for high numbers in the discount economy buckets (N, O, Q, E & X inventories) for reduced op-up chances.

Seat maps can be a VERY rough guide but note that just because a seat is not showing as allocated does not mean that seat hasn't been sold. Not everyone pre-selects seats.

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>>>> END OF ADMIN UPDATE <<<<

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Original thread title: update on QF93 on 12 sept

Appreciate it if someone could check EP for loadings.

thnxs

SPRUCE

 

[Sprucegoose]

Hi AllFlying on QF 93 MEL_LAX on Wednesday 29th June. Currently on a Premium Economy Airfare and am Gold Status. Have had an upgrade request on for over a month to go to BUsiness. Anyone know the chance of this coming through or the load levels?THanks!P.S. Posted this in operations post but i think it belongs here not there, if a mod could delete it would be appreciated

How did it go here Ben?

 

[zahra01]

Chance of me upgrading my paid Business flight to First with ff pts on A380 LAX-Mel ?

Hi,
Husband & I fly back from LAX to Melb in the middle of August. I checked on expert flyer and saw there's no FF seats in first. When i look at the seat plan though, there are empty seats in first. So if i put my name on the list with qantas to request the upgrade for us, and these seats are still empty on the day of the flight, will I have a chance to get them, or do they leave them empty as they are not "FF seats" ??
I am lucky to be going business class as it is, i know,, I just thought for the return sector home which is 16 hrs, First would be a really good treat that I'd never have been able to actually pay $$ for.

 

[opusman]

Re: Chance of me upgrading my paid Business flight to First with ff pts on A380 LAX-M

Hi,
Husband & I fly back from LAX to Melb in the middle of August. I checked on expert flyer and saw there's no FF seats in first. When i look at the seat plan though, there are empty seats in first. So if i put my name on the list with qantas to request the upgrade for us, and these seats are still empty on the day of the flight, will I have a chance to get them, or do they leave them empty as they are not "FF seats" ??
I am lucky to be going business class as it is, i know,, I just thought for the return sector home which is 16 hrs, First would be a really good treat that I'd never have been able to actually pay $$ for.

All empty seats are available for upgrades afaik, but unless you have some status with Qantas you will be at the back of the queue. Never know your luck but don't hold your breath

 

[Alanslegal]

Re: Chance of me upgrading my paid Business flight to First with ff pts on A380 LAX-M

Hi,
Husband & I fly back from LAX to Melb in the middle of August. I checked on expert flyer and saw there's no FF seats in first. When i look at the seat plan though, there are empty seats in first. So if i put my name on the list with qantas to request the upgrade for us, and these seats are still empty on the day of the flight, will I have a chance to get them, or do they leave them empty as they are not "FF seats" ??

I think your use and interpretation of Expert Flyer is a not as accurate as it could be because you mention that you checked EF and saw no F class FF tickets. This would mean that you are only searching under the Awards and Upgrades category, and although this is useful knowing what awards are available, it isn't a good reflection on what QF "thinks" their seats are really worth and how it could affect your upgrade chances.

Looking at a seat map is also not that precise because AFAIK the cabin could be completely sold out or full but a handful of passengers have not pre-allocated / chosen their seat and thus the seat is available, but it really isn't.

Thus, we search under Flight Availability and then a whole list of letters pop up, and in the case of F class we are looking specifically at F, A, numbers. So the higher those numbers are, preferably in the A's, then we have an idea on how many seats QF is really wanting to still sell.

Recheck your flight times with Flight Availabilty, and come back with the results and we'll see if we can have an educated guestimate for your upgrade chance. But that said, mid August is still a long way out and seat availabilty can change alot from now and then. But good luck though!

 

[zahra01]

Re: Chance of me upgrading my paid Business flight to First with ff pts on A380 LAX-M

I think your use and interpretation of Expert Flyer is a not as accurate as it could be because you mention that you checked EF and saw no F class FF tickets. This would mean that you are only searching under the Awards and Upgrades category, and although this is useful knowing what awards are available, it isn't a good reflection on what QF "thinks" their seats are really worth and how it could affect your upgrade chances.

Looking at a seat map is also not that precise because AFAIK the cabin could be completely sold out or full but a handful of passengers have not pre-allocated / chosen their seat and thus the seat is available, but it really isn't.

Thus, we search under Flight Availability and then a whole list of letters pop up, and in the case of F class we are looking specifically at F, A, numbers. So the higher those numbers are, preferably in the A's, then we have an idea on how many seats QF is really wanting to still sell.

Recheck your flight times with Flight Availabilty, and come back with the results and we'll see if we can have an educated guestimate for your upgrade chance. But that said, mid August is still a long way out and seat availabilty can change alot from now and then. But good luck though!

Thanks, now that you point it out, my search was not the smartest. I checked the availability in F=9, and a=8. So what does that mean exactly...are 'A" seats more likely to be allocated to upgrading pax etc.
Also, I hope to reach silver status before the flight, not that it will probably make much difference to my chances as Silver is pretty low down the chain !

 

[serfty]

With Qantas, A class represents discounted "First Class".

Having discounted First class availability generally indicates that First Sales are low and Qantas are looking to fill the cabin.

No Qantas First class cabin has more than 14 First class seats so A8 means that Qantas are prepared to sell over ½ the cabin at a discount. Close to the flight date this can indicate a better chance for upgrades.

 

[lovestotravel]

Following on from the above..

QF94/94 - I have a paid J seat and have submitted a request for a points upgrade to F

Chances of this happening with Gold status (by the time I fly)

 

[serfty]

...

Chances of this happening with Gold status (by the time I fly)

In post #1 there's a tip that may help you check the loadings yourself.

 

[fjc]

In post #1 there's a tip that may help you check the loadings yourself.

I had a look at that site, even registered but still can't find the info that I want (probably just me <LOL>). Can SKS advise on the likelihood of my getting the requested upgrade to J / Y+:

QF007 Wed 7 Sept SYD - DFW

Also, possibility if I request the following upgrades:

Sun 16 Oct QF108 - JFK - LAX
Thu 20 Oct QF012 - LAX - SYD

Thanks

 

[tuapekastar]

I had a look at that site, even registered but still can't find the info that I want (probably just me <LOL>). Can SKS advise on the likelihood of my getting the requested upgrade to J / Y+:

QF007 Wed 7 Sept SYD - DFW

Also, possibility if I request the following upgrades:

Sun 16 Oct QF108 - JFK - LAX
Thu 20 Oct QF012 - LAX - SYD

Thanks

I'll leave it up to others to interpret the raw data, but here are the loadings:

QF7 SYD-DFW

J9 C9 D9 I9 W9 R6 T4 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N6 Q1 G0 E0

QF12 LAX-SYD

F3 A1 J9 C9 D9 I0 W9 R8 T0 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O9 G0 E0

QF108 JFK-LAX

J9 C9 D9 I0 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q3 G0 E0

 

[Sprucegoose]

Following on from the above..

QF94/94 - I have a paid J seat and have submitted a request for a points upgrade to F

Chances of this happening with Gold status (by the time I fly)

what is the date of travel?

 

[deka2]

I have surprised my wife with an extended weekend in Auckland for her imminent Birthday.

Flying QF49 21/07/11 departing 18.25.

Both are only NB

Upgrade request for J.

Would anyone be able to look at the loadings for me.

 

[samiam]

i have surprised my wife with an extended weekend in auckland for her imminent birthday.

Flying qf49 21/07/11 departing 18.25.

Both are only nb

upgrade request for j.

Would anyone be able to look at the loadings for me.

j9 c9 d9 i7 u2 y9 b9 h9 k9 m9 l9 v9 s9 n9 q9 o9 g0 x9

 

[deka2]

Thanks Samiam for looking that up for me.

j9 c9 d9 i7 u2 y9 b9 h9 k9 m9 l9 v9 s9 n9 q9 o9 g0 x9

Any chance someone could explain what it means, and what would be the odds of the upgrade going through.

 

[serfty]

See here:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....scussion/understanding-expert-flyer-9314.htmlIt's a little dated that thread, but the concept's the smae.

FWIW, E/F now does show basic QF award fare buckets (P, U, Z & X)

 

[deka2]

Very interesting thread. Doesn't look to good with only a U2, if I'm interpreting it correctly.

 

[serfty]

Very interesting thread. Doesn't look to good with only a U2, if I'm interpreting it correctly.

Actually U2 is good, especially this close to the flight.

 

[deka2]

Here's hoping.

I will post the result when known.

 

[eosphoros]

Hi guys,

I'm flying SYD-LHR this Sunday (24/07). Currently booked QF31 in Y but was wondering what would be the best option (re: different flights) in trying to score an op-up (2 pax) or should I not even bother? (I am SG, partner is NB, same PNR)

Many thanks!

 

[Ewing]

Hi guys,

I'm flying SYD-LHR this Sunday (24/07). Currently booked QF31 in Y but was wondering what would be the best option (re: different flights) in trying to score an op-up (2 pax) or should I not even bother? (I am SG, partner is NB, same PNR)

Many thanks!

I would be very surprised if anyone got an op up out of Y on that flight based on current loading. Y is very lightly loaded - at least 9 seats available in all economy booking classes including deeply discounted fares, and at least 9 classic award seats.

To put things in perspective, I can buy an economy seat on that flight for $1272 including taxes all the way from SYD-LHR. That seems pretty cheap to me only 6 days out