David Megginson wrote:



The difference, I think, is that the carriers have human dispatchers on the
ground to worry about all of the details for them, including filing the
original or revised flight plans. It's the same as a rich person who can
afford to pay someone to stand in line to get concert tickets -- the ticket
office isn't showing favouritism even though the rich person has it easier
that everyone else.

The dispatcher only checks the computer-generated route and fuel burn, then
issues a dispatch release to the crew. The flight plan itself, unless changed,
is auto-filed by the carrier's flight plan computer and does not go to a FSS or
to a DUAT/DUATS interface.