America West FlightFund (Discontinued Program) - Why use the short HP for America West?

Just a dumb question when the search function didn't help me, but why is American West called HP?

Al

Because "HP" is the official two letter code used for America West, just like "AA" is for American Airlines, and "WN" is for Southwest.......get it?

The first time I came across the code, I thought "Huh? Hewlett-Packard Airlines"? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I think it stands for Hardly Passes... as in that it hardly passes

for an airline
FAA inspections
your luggage on to your destination


http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

------------------
Bob

There's no place like home...
there's no place like home...
there's no place like home.
www.wmonline.com (http://www.wmonline.com)
www.sunriseair.net (http://www.sunriseair.net)

Hate Passengers - http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif Well that's how it feels sometimes...

"Hyperactive Prostate"

In all seriousness, doesn't HP date back to the time it was 'Hughes Air West' as in Howard Hughes? Maybe it is short for something like 'Hughes' Property' reflecting his ownership of the airline.

Hughes Air West and Republic were absorbed into Northwest, it's my understanding that the code "HP" was just a random assignment, as was "WN" for Southwest.

Hey, how about these opposites:

WN vs. NW

Southwest vs. Northwest
fun vs. serious
peanuts vs. pretzels
Coke vs. Pepsi (???)
low fares vs. high fares
"no hubs" vs. dominated hubs
Pax first vs. Pax last
no F/C vs. F/C cabin

thanks for all the useful info. Now I can say that I have been on HP and WN to the Non-FTs and they would look at me like I am from another planet.

Al

I think anyone, FT or non-FT, would look at you strangely if you say "I flew on HP yesterday". HP is for writing. "America West" is for speaking. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

JS My point exactly. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Now the definitive answer from the yahoo board!

AW was already taken by Air Niger. Other A's that were taken-

IATA ICAO Airline Name
---------------------------
AA...AAL American Airlines (USA)
........EGF American Eagle (USA)
AB...BER Air Berlin (Germany)
AC...ACA Air Canada
AD...LSS Lone Star Airlines (USA)
AE...MDA Mandarin Airlines (Taiwan)
AF...AFR Air France
AG...ABR Air Contractors
AH...DAH Air Algerie (Algeria)
AI...AIC Air India
AJ...ABB Air Belgium
AK...AXM Air Asia
AL...SXY Skyway Airlines (USA)
AM...AMX Aeromexico
AN...AAA Ansett Australia
AO...AYC Aviaco (Spain)
AP...ADH Air One (Italy)
AQ...AAH Aloha Airlines (USA)
AR...ARG Aerolineas Argentinas (Argentina)
AS...ASA Alaska Airlines (USA)
AT...RAM Royal Air Maroc (Morocco)
AU...AUT Cielos del Sur (Argentina)
AV...AVA Avianca (Colombia)
AW...AWN Air Niger
AX...BIM Binter Mediterraneo (Spain)
AY...FIN Finnair (Finland)
AZ...AZA Alitalia (Italy)
A3...AEE Aegean Aviation (Greece)
A4...SWD Southern Winds (Argentina)
A6...MLP Asia Pacific Airways (Malaysia)

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gifEnhance the new smilies! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by afang:
Just a dumb question when the search function didn't help me, but why is American West called HP?

Al</font>

As an ex "HP" employee, we used to say it meant Happy Passenger...WE LIED. But the truth is that it was the two letter code available at the time America West became an airline.

HP for HAPPY PASSENGER say it all!

Nice to see, that employees have a sense of humor, also!