Just booked a return flight with Swiss to London in June. Not only was it CHF300 return with 23kg hold bag, when I came to seat selection, which is included in the price, the plane was empty with only a couple of seats taken.
Great, but will this flight actually take place??
Almost certainly. Empty on one leg wouldn’t be justifications to cancel a rotation, both legs would have to be completely empty, before they even considered it. There likely will be cargo in the belly which, on short haul routes, consists more of higher value goods - gold for example but high-end watches and other luxury items.
And what you see on the screen is not how many people are travelling but how many have selected their seats. With airlines charging for seat selection, in some cases, some passengers don’t bother.
But it never hurts to have a plan B. Should you get a cancellation notice more than 14 days out no cancellation compensation will apply. If you have a preferred alternative flight, including connections via LH Group hubs, you are in a much better position than being presented with take-it or leave-it. Reservation agents have limited time and if you present them with a reasonable alternative they may leap at it.
Particularly this. As Swiss include a 8Kg carry on bag in their cheapest fare (currently - this will change soon) but not seat reservatoin, the proportion booking this is usually quite high.
A lot of business people end up flying with just a couple of days notice - especially on a route like that so I don’t suppose the airline are unduly worried as June is a long way away.
Just might be that many people have not bothered to select a seat - doesn’t mean it is empty.
Could it also be the third party bookers buying up seats which haven’t been sold to an actual passenger yet? Is that also a thing?
Not so much on this type of flight. Short haul mixed Business and VFR (visiting Friends and Relatives)
Exactly. I had a free seat selection on the British Airways flight 48 hours before the departure and there were about 75% of seats available. The plane was full, of course.
Yes, Automatic seat selection is usually free, but choosing a specific seat typically costs extra.
It depends on the type of ticket that you have chosen. With Swiss a ticket with luggage allows free selection of seats any time. With BA it only allows you to choose seats 48 hours before. The cheapest tariffs usually have neither luggage, nor seats selection.
or…radioactive material. No, I am not making this up.
I’m a bit wary about booking flights to the UK for summer, is it expected that flights will be cancelled due to fuel costs, or reduced demand from people not travelling due to higher costs?
Of course, but there are many forms of radioactive material. Some are permitted on passengers flight subject to strict regulations. For example those used in medical procedures and have short half-lives. Usually transported by dedicated cargo aircraft but not always. IATA’s Dangerous Goods Regulations have almost 100 pages on this.
Ever heard about self-fulfilling prophecies?
Sometimes dumb optimism is good.
If your flight(s) are cancelled 14 days or more in advance the airline is required to refund you in full or reroute you that you must agree to. Less than 14 days they will also have to pay you compensation and refund/reroute. If necessary they also need to cover overnight and incidental expenses.
As I mentioned above always have a plan B.