How Do Airlines Create Their Flight Numbers?

Question

I've always wondered what the system was.

Answer 1

The IATA (the people who regulate the airlines) reccommend that all west to east and south to north flights have even numbers and the opposite directions have odd. This is the popular trend but there is no set rule that the airlines have to follow. Another popular trend is that 4 digit numbers are either international flights(any flight leaving the country), codeshare flights(a flight under one airline's name that is flown by another airline's plane and crew), or flights into small airports(such as new york to buffalo). While 3 digits are domestic flights. You will see however that there may sometimes be an exception with interantional flights that fly heavy flown populated routes (such as from New York to Paris or Los Angelos to Hong Kong)

Answer 2

From just looking through the schedules of some major airlines it is easy to see that, yes, there are some numbering systems in use. All US airlines that I know of fly eastbound transatlantic flights with even numbers and return with an odd number. Most are eastbound + 1 like 2/3 or 14/15 but some are different and do not match up, especially with routes like JFK - LHR with American having six per day. BA does this but AF and LH are reversed as far as the even/odd directional thing goes.

Domestically some things appear intentional but others random. Coast to coast flights with some of the majors are odd westbound and even eastbound. JFK to LAX on AA or UA, for example, have some numbers like 1, 3, 17, 19, 25, etc.

A while back and in the civil forum someone posted a list of all of the Delta Air Lines flight number categories. It out from 1 - 199 which I think was all international, then up to the 9000s which where company ferry flights, charters, etc. Maybe someone has some new lists like that for you to see.

Answer 3

As it turns out, flight numbers contain no special codes, other than the fact that they're generally assigned sequentially in order of flight departure time. They are usually assigned by an airline's marketing department. Airlines try to pick a sequence of numbers that's easy for travelers to remember.

Answer 4

I worked for American Airlines for almost seven years and I can tell you that all airlines create their flight numbers which comes from the head office.

Answer 5

Sean B above is correct. I fly very frequently and I noticed exactly what he said. Also, an airline I used to fly - had the flights to Honolulu from Chicago as flight #2 there, and #4 back home.

Answer 6

The routes are the numbers for instance. a British Airways aircraft leaves London Heathrow at 1000 on a tuesday bound for Orlando, that'll be flight BA3425 (made up) and the return from Orlando will be BA3426 (because the return is always one above the outbound), the tuesday the week after the flight will go again with the same number and return as well, these numbers are regulated i think by the FAA and associated aircraft agencys, hope that helps.

Answer 7

Dizy : when you call airlines and book one depending the
desination of flight that will show on boarding ticket and the
number is announced over the loud speakers in terminal before
loading on passingers. ( Sample flight 45 to Saltlakecity ready)

Answer 8

Me too! I wonder...
I don't know how it's done, but i know why it's done. It's so you can tell the flighs apart for the baggage claims. there are probably several flights comming from one place using the baggace claim. So, If they say "United Airlines From Chicago" on four of the baggage claims, you're gonna be confused, but if they say "United Airlines from Chicago 280" on one of the baggage claims and you were on that flight, you know where to go!

Answer 9

Random Number Generator perhaps? :P I dont have much airline experience. Each airline may have thier own set up.

Answer 10

Sean B gave you a good response. I was a flight attendant for a couple of years and what he says is what is done, for the most part. I vote for Sean B's answer!