Delhi load levels

Just a few quick questions. I'm flying on VS300/301 LHR-DEL this month and was wondering what the load levels usually are on this route? I know that they use the A343 all the time so there are fewer Y and J seats than the A346, but it seems that W is pretty open on both my flights (out 20th back 27th) and according to the Expedia seat tool (as seen in General Discussion) J is pretty full (only a few seats open each way).

So my questions are: Is this a busy route for VS? Should I expect the flight to become 100% (or greater) full getting closer to the date? Will PE fill? What are Y levels like?

I'm trying to gauge the chances of getting a G class upgrade with miles at the airport. I'm on a K class ticket so cannot book an advance upgrade (had to book online and no option to choose S class online, I know I may have to pay a ticket upgrade though at the airport).

[RichardMannion]

Hi Kryten,

DEL is a strange route - it does indeed fill up quickly at either end (Y and J) but W holds off. But then with it being an A343, hardly surprising. The last couple of times I went, lowest Y fare was indeed a Y, and other time was a W (it was a last minute booking).

On my W booking, I inquired at time of booking to shift up to Upper using miles and there was no availability, but on the day the guys in the Clubhouse were able to arrange it. I found the treatment as a Gold on the DEL route to be very good but that may be due to other reasons, I always stay at the same hotel as the crew - so enjoy!

Thanks,
Richard

Thanks for the info. I guess that I'll have to put up with a PE seat, was really hoping to use miles for a UC upgrade as I've golt a lot of travelling that week (LAX-ORD-STL-IAD-LHR-DEL all in one week!) and I'm probably going to be in real need of sleep.

Oh well I guess I'll ask on the day and see what happens. Seems weird that W doesn't fill though, I guess there are a lot of people in Y travelling on pleasure for holiday etc and a lot of Business people use J to visit the offshore offices. I'm visiting on behalf of a customer of ours and they are very tight when it comes to flights (they are not happy about the K fare and wanted me to fly discounted economy [:0] Never going to happen!)

Don't forget to factor in a Air India/Jet Airways cancellation that could sneak up on you and ruin things

Originally posted by VS_Lover
Don't forget to factor in a Air India/Jet Airways cancellation that could sneak up on you and ruin things

So that happens often? The desk agent when I was flying out the IAD the other week said that the DEL route was a bit of a gamble at the moment with load and even going or not with weather (although I think she may have been confused with Mumbai as I think all the DEL flights have been going?). I suppose if Air India cancel a 744 then that could really screw things up!

I guess it will just be wait and see and prep myself for a long PE flight.