Flight number assignments

Just curious, are the flight numbers for commercial carriers random, or is a
10:30 am flight from detroit to atlanta always American 2188, for example?

Michael Ware wrote:
Just curious, are the flight numbers for commercial carriers random, or is a
10:30 am flight from detroit to atlanta always American 2188, for example?

I don't know how the flight numbers are assigned, but yes, as
a rule, AA 2188 is the 10:30 am flight. Once upon a time, back in
the Good Old Days of paper, United used to publish (quarterly?) a
little book that was its entire schedule for that time period. In the
back of the book were a few pages that listed all flights in flight
number order, and also listed the type of aircraft that *usually*
was used on that route.

One of the reasons for this flight number consistency is flight planning.
By having the same number, and the same route unless re-routed due
to weather or something else, the flight plan is just a "copy & paste"
with just a few changes, such as crew, fuel, W&B, etc.

Michael Ware wrote:
Just curious, are the flight numbers for commercial carriers random, or is a
10:30 am flight from detroit to atlanta always American 2188, for example?


The airlines pick them for themselves. They are the same typically for
the same time each day. Many pick even numbers for north/west bound
flights for example.

"Michael Ware" wrote in message newsbebf.86365

Just curious, are the flight numbers for commercial carriers random, or is
a
10:30 am flight from detroit to atlanta always American 2188, for example?

As Ron pointed out, airlines assign their own numbers, although I believe
there may be some coordination to ensure that you don't have 4 or 5
different flights with the same number operating in the same area at the
same time. Having said that, I can recall many instances where there were
two air carrier flights of the same number on frequency.

Most carriers assign their numbers in some sort of series form. For
example, all the DL shuttle flights between Boston and New York are 19xx,
increasing with the time of day up to about flt #1940 or so, with even #s
inbound to BOS [I think] , and odds outbound to NY. US shuttles are
numbered similarly, but in the 20xx range. American Eagle flights are
4-digit, in the 45xx to 47xx range, iirc, with more detail shown by the last
2 digits. Once you get to know the system for a particular carrier, you can
make a pretty good guess at the flt # based on origin, dest, and time of
day; likewise, with just a flight number, you can identify city pairs.

Then of course some consideration has to be given to possible interpretations
by passengers. If an ailine unthinkingly assigns a Flight 666 you can be sure
some whacko will firebomb the airline.

The companies themselves don't seem too superstitious about it though -
after the Delta tragedy in DFW, American didn't hesitate to to assign Flight
191 - I'll bet that number is not used much these days!

G Faris

I recall reading TWA retired Flight 800 after the 747 went into Long
Island Sound. Then again, TWA is now retired as well..