Originally Posted by
guv1976
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
"Unfortunately, the airlines have used the definition of a through flight being aircraft with the same flight numbers, regardless of whether one changes aircraft or not."
Actually, I thought that the airlines (and the OAG) refer to that as a "direct flight." Do the airlines even use the term "through flight," or is that merely a lay term?
Not to mention "non-stop" flights which "direct" flights (which have enroute stops on the same plane) are often confused with.
Since the OP's flights are operated by two different airlines, this would not be considered a "through" itinerary.
But UA is a great user of the "through flight" concept having several flights to Europe and Asia that have domestic sectors with the same flight numbers as overseas sectors, yet are on different aircraft and thus require deplaning and reboarding.
BTW, airlines will not protect connections where two separate tickets and PNRs are involved and the inbound is late making it impossible to make the onward flight. In such cases it is at the discretion of the onward airline to rebook the passenger on its next flight. However, there could be an additional charge if this involves a non-flexible fare.