Whats happening on the CPT route

Have got a couple of UC(G's)LHR-CPT-LHR booked, returning the 1st April(no joke). Virgin have just reduced the route to 3 flights a week for April and replaced a 346 with a 343, so less seats for everyone.
Now, there are 8 available seats on the return trip for UC showing on the seat map, but when you try and book a fare it is only showing availability CPT-JNB-LHR.

Any idea why VS would cut the flights in half and then put a smaller plane on the route? Also why is there no direct fare availability but seat space showing?

If the CPT route is full, what would the chances be of Virgin allowing me to fly back out of JNB(where there are seats available, but not G's) and release needed space in UC from CPT? Do airlines use logic in seat management or is it 'no G availability, no seat'.

Any ideas from you experienced flyers out there???
Thanks

Mark.

[mitchja]

The CPT route is a seasonal route and only operates October to April. As you ar travelling in early April, VS are always starting to scale that route down by then by putting smaller A/C on that route as demand drops off. The JNB service is a year round route though.

One reason why there are no fares showing but there are seats showing could be down to those seats being sold but just not allocated yet.

Regards