Seatfrog - certain services unavailable

[Bayum]

How are Seatfrog seats distributed? Just had a look for my journey tomorrow but the majority of the xx:59 midday non-stop services from York to Kings Cross are listed unavailable whereas there seems to be plenty of availability on other services. A shame but makes me question how it works.

 

[Tazi Hupefi]

Once a train reservation load hits an upper threshold, they can be disabled automatically.

Similarly, if people buy the fixed upgrades via Seatfrog or a secret price bid wins, that can end the auction and eliminate availability far earlier.

If a train is suspected to be disrupted or problematic, they can be manually withdrawn too, e.g. during bad weather. Can happen when there's a shortage of staff or catering supplies and the first class offering may be reduced.

Some trains are now permanently unavailable simply because the yield management strategy for that service calculates more money can be made without selling a Seatfrog upgrade, particularly peak time services popular with business passengers.

 

[racklam]

Something at LNER in relation to this must have changed recently. Before August there was almost always availability to swap a ticket to York-KX trains throughout the early morning peak (and often for £10). In the past month, generally the earliest train with any availability has been the 08:13 ex-Middlesbrough (with the swap price generally north of £20).

Seems a shame - those trains are (anecdotally) no more than about 40% before Peterborough, and even after generally no more than 75% full. I guess if that's the yield management strategy that works, then that's all that matters.