Seat availability on checkmytrip

[Pollywaffle]

Hi all.

I don't post much on this forum but I am a constant lurker and I am always learning something from you all.

I have a couple of questions about a flight I am taking. I will be flying economy on QF108 LAX-SYD on 11 Dec 08 and I've just been looking on www.checkmytrip.com to see what seats are available.

Looking at availability on this flight, I can see that there are some random seats already allocated here and there and there are entire chunks allocated (I am seeing that all seats in rows 58 to 63 are taken).

My questions:
- If a seat on checkmytrip is showing as not available, does that mean someone is sitting there or can it also mean the airline has blocked these off for some reason?
- Is seat availability on checkmytrip a good indicator of how busy a flight is?

I suppose I am trying to figure out if it's worthwhile keeping the seat I have been allocated in row 35 (assuming Qantas don't changes things) or request something towards the rear of the plane, which (for now) is showing as quite empty - including some of the window seats with only one seat beside them.

Thanks in advance, PW.

 

[Maca44]

According to expert flyer, with the exception of a few seats such as bulkhead row 58 and seat 64E they are all available. The rows of two seats in rows 70 to 73 have been allocated, and the forward rows from 34 to 52 are quite full.

 

[serfty]

Checkmytrip seat maps should be used as a guide only. They do give some indication, but many seats (blocked or otherwise).

Here's an image of that flight's WHY seat map from expert flyer:

(Click on it for large image)​

Note there are no seats showing as allocated further back than row 71.

 

[Pollywaffle]

Thanks for Experflyer map.

I assume the white boxes are free seats, but what do the blue boxes and blue boxes with white crosses signify?

Thanks

 

[Maca44]

Thanks for Experflyer map.

I assume the white baes are free seats, but what do the blue boxes and blue boxes with white crosses signify?

Thanks

Blue boxes means the seat has been pre-allocated, and the blue boxes with the cross means the seat has been blocked.

 

[edwardaggie98]

According to expert flyer, with the exception of a few seats such as bulkhead row 58 and seat 64E they are all available. The rows of two seats in rows 70 to 73 have been allocated, and the forward rows from 34 to 52 are quite full.

Which have you found to be more reliable - SeatCounter or ExpertFlyer?