EF seatmap and load figures show different results?

Looking at PE availability on VS23 on EF for June 3rd, the EF load numbers show about 16 seats available, VAA's own seatmap shows no seats available (for pre-selection) and EF seatmap shows 3 seats free. Why is there a discrepancy on EF between the seatmap and the load numbers?

Second question, when online check-in opens -24hrs to the departure, does EF then reflect the true seating availability situation?

Thanks to the gurus who understand this!

I would personally never, ever believe a single thing that EF says.

Many times (and quite a few times in the last few weeks) I have seen people on here believing that their flights are empty when in fact I knew that they were full and overbooked.

I am having the same issues with my flights on 29th May and 2nd June to ORD.

I am now expecting them to be full and will do OLCI and try to get to the airport early to try and buy exit seats :w

[honey lamb]

I am having the same issues with my flights on 29th May and 2nd June to ORD.

I am now expecting them to be full and will do OLCI and try to get to the airport early to try and buy exit seats :w

Leanne, I see you are flying economy. If you have booked directly with Virgin Atlantic you can phone up to 48 hours in advance and buy the exit row seats
LINK

I would personally never, ever believe a single thing that EF says.

Many times (and quite a few times in the last few weeks) I have seen people on here believing that their flights are empty when in fact I knew that they were full and overbooked.

This is all pretty counter-intuitive then really isn't it; does this sort of suggest that the part of EF for loads is actually useless (at least for VAA?) and is genuinely mis-leading (and therefore not worth paying for)? If that's the case is there ANY accurate info around loads on VAA flights anywhere?

Tinkerbelle are you able to PM me or reply with any actual true loads for my flight 23 on the June 3rd, 24 on June 8th???

Thx.

I would personally never, ever believe a single thing that EF says.

Many times (and quite a few times in the last few weeks) I have seen people on here believing that their flights are empty when in fact I knew that they were full and overbooked.

I'm on VS7 on 31st May and having checked EF this morning I get a "fairly empty" view of:
J9 D9 R9 Z8 W8 S8 K6 Y9 B9 L9 M9 Q9 X9 N9 O9

On the seatmap however I have now have no choice at all. (previously I could have a selected some great ones like 97K or 134H!! ) )

EF must get their data from somewhere. Is it old or just rubbish?

I find EF to be pretty accurate actually.
The seatmap only shows reserved seats (not sold seats). Many people do not reserve their seat at time of booking which is why they show up as empty on the seat map. Actually they are unallocated rather than empty.

I find EF to be pretty accurate actually.
The seatmap only shows reserved seats (not sold seats). Many people do not reserve their seat at time of booking which is why they show up as empty on the seat map. Actually they are unallocated rather than empty.

But that doesn't ring true; the W9 K9 S7 availability listing for the flight shows a dozen or so seats left, but the seat map shows 2, at most, available.

So on that basis, there are more seats "sold and reserved" (according to the EF SEAT map) than have actually BEEN sold (according to the EF fare code available-listing for the flight)... That doesn't make sense.

For various reasons EF is pretty accurate, for some it is not necessarily. Note that EF takes it's data from VS, however sometimes VS will oversell so availability on VS mismatches EF. On seat maps, EF does have some problems, for example it often does not show the front rows of PE, so while the numbers may show seats, the seat map on EF is missing rows so you do not see them. Vizbiz, do a visual compare of the EF seat map to determine whether it shows all the rows?

I have tested EF often in terms of the seat map, by moving my requested seat, and I can see that reflected on EF very quickly. So in some things it can be very accurate.

I use EF frequently to determine upgrade availability, based on loads and the seat map, and have then called VS to seek an upgrade, again I have found it to be generally very good.

But no, it is not perfect.

But that doesn't ring true; the W9 K9 S7 availability listing for the flight shows a dozen or so seats left, but the seat map shows 2, at most, available.

Thats because VS (like all the airlines) sell more seats than they actually have.
Also the total of W, K and S seats does not equal how many are available. It just means - in your example - that there are at least 9 seats available as a W or S fare and up to 7 as a K fare.
So if you wanted to buy 9 seats you could only get the K fare on the 7 and then have to pay the S or W for the other 2.

Confused yet ? you are meant to be. That is how the airlines price their seats !!

[mitchja]

What you also have to remember is that EF pulls it's data from the GDS system (global distribution system - the system travel agents use to book flights) and this can contain different info and data compared to the direct booking system VS use.