my understanding is that many don't know which airport is referred to by (what I can only refer to as) the "conventional, 3-letter airport codes", e.g., IAD, LGA, ORD, etc., and are asking for a mouse-over or some other quick access to the expansion of those codes.
The intention of my post was to point out:
(1)
in addition to those "conventional, 3-letter airport codes", there exist ALSO alternate, NON-conventional 3-letter codes, e.g., "WAS" for Reagan and Dulles, "CHI" for both Midway and Ohare. Any discussion using those alternate, non-conventional codes is fraught with ambiguity; exactly WHICH airport (of LGA, JFK and EWR, possibly BWI) is being referred to as "NYC?":
(2) any quick access to codes expansion that includes the alternates is bound to promote their inherent ambiguity.
How those alternate "codes" came into use no-one seems to know. Certainly they don't come from UA tix agents, airport luggage handlers nor even (most) FT-ers, all of whom to my experience, use the "conventional, 3-letter airport codes."
Indeed after 15 years of charging airfare I just saw the alternates used for the first time on a
credit card statement and immediately suspected identity theft; what/where, exactly are "CHI" and "YTO?" I have nothing
from UA saying I was headed there. Once I inquired of a 1K phone agent she just blandly said, "Oh....they...appear..."
Use of the alternate codes should be abandoned, in the interest of communication.
I understand you are probably surprised to learn of my interest in clarity.
