FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Two flights with same flight number cause nightmare at Swanwick ATC

May 30, 2013 | 7:20 pm

#11

fti

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Quote:

Originally Posted by icarusKiD

I had a suspicion about this a few months ago. I was headed from DEN to MSP on DL and it was arriving a hour late. There was a large tour group connecting to CDG (AF codeshare I think). The MSP - CDG flight was the same flight number. They made a heroic announcement they were "holding the plane" for that group and they should deplane first. I figured they actually couldn't leave the gate until the flight sharing the same number landed. Maybe I'm just a cynic...

Unfortunately airlines often don't hold the connecting flight in case of delays of the first flight under that flight number. That is the fallacy of "direct flights" with one flight number but a "change of gauge." Pretty deceptive if you ask me, but the US government allows it.

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