BA Flight Numbers
Jan 31, 2019, 3:46 pm
#17
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: London, Babylon-on-Thames
Programs: BAEC Blue (back to Earth)
Posts: 1,498
I think Canada 3000 then Lufthansa were the first to break the convention that long haul westbound was odd and east was even, late 80s and early 90s.
BTW you learn something new every day.
BA037 was the Billy No Mates of flight numbers.
The current BA LHR flight nos date from about 1978 ish, whenever the “BeaLine” callsign was retired from short haul flying and the whole company began using “Speedbird”.
BTW you learn something new every day.
BA037 was the Billy No Mates of flight numbers.
The current BA LHR flight nos date from about 1978 ish, whenever the “BeaLine” callsign was retired from short haul flying and the whole company began using “Speedbird”.
Aug 18, 2019, 4:46 pm
#18
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: LON
Programs: BA Gold; LH FTL; IHG Diamond; Marriott Gold; ALL Gold
Posts: 1,758
Interestingly the (absent) BA37 marks the turning point between the outbound being the lower number of the pair to the higher number of the pair (but always an odd number). Is there any rhyme or reason for that?
Aug 18, 2019, 7:50 pm
#19
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold / Hilton Diamond / IHG Diamond Ambassador / Marriot Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 2,527
In the early 90’s MNL, TPE and SEL were extensions of the 31/32. Osaka KIX was 17/18 if my memory serves me and FUK NGO were either 19/20 or 20/21 I would err more towards 19/20. CGK was and extension of KUL on the 33/34.
i can’t remember what BNE, PER,MEL, AKL and CHC used to be.
i can’t remember what BNE, PER,MEL, AKL and CHC used to be.
Aug 19, 2019, 5:31 am
#24
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Lancashire
Programs: BA GfL, Hilton Gold
Posts: 540
In the early 90’s MNL, TPE and SEL were extensions of the 31/32. Osaka KIX was 17/18 if my memory serves me and FUK NGO were either 19/20 or 20/21 I would err more towards 19/20. CGK was and extension of KUL on the 33/34.
i can’t remember what BNE, PER,MEL, AKL and CHC used to be.
i can’t remember what BNE, PER,MEL, AKL and CHC used to be.
Aug 19, 2019, 4:56 pm
#25
Join Date: Oct 2015
Programs: BA Gold for Life
Posts: 1,388
In the early 90’s MNL, TPE and SEL were extensions of the 31/32. Osaka KIX was 17/18 if my memory serves me and FUK NGO were either 19/20 or 20/21 I would err more towards 19/20. CGK was and extension of KUL on the 33/34.
i can’t remember what BNE, PER,MEL, AKL and CHC used to be.
i can’t remember what BNE, PER,MEL, AKL and CHC used to be.
Oct 1, 2019, 3:32 am
#26
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 1
In relation to BA37/38/39
I have a theory that it may be to do with Chinese Superstition,
Numbers is Chinese are either lucky/unlucky.
so LHR - PEK
any number ending in 8 is considered very lucky in chinese custom, so make sense to have one of the flights use that number.
number 9 is also considered lucky, 7 can be seen as both.
So maybe BA made a conscious choice to pair 8/9 together instead of 7/8. as it works well with local customs.
So it could be a marketing decision.
I have a theory that it may be to do with Chinese Superstition,
Numbers is Chinese are either lucky/unlucky.
so LHR - PEK
any number ending in 8 is considered very lucky in chinese custom, so make sense to have one of the flights use that number.
number 9 is also considered lucky, 7 can be seen as both.
So maybe BA made a conscious choice to pair 8/9 together instead of 7/8. as it works well with local customs.
So it could be a marketing decision.
Last edited by apolloandhecate; Oct 1, 2019 at 3:32 am Reason: added more clarity
Jul 7, 2020, 4:25 pm
#27
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TPA/ABZ
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
Posts: 13,240
This is a bit freaky!
BA48 serves Seattle.
The Admiralty Chart published by the UK Hydrographic Office covering that area including part of the SEA airfield itself is number 48.
The British Admiralty chart 48 is known as BA48.
BA48 serves Seattle.
The Admiralty Chart published by the UK Hydrographic Office covering that area including part of the SEA airfield itself is number 48.
The British Admiralty chart 48 is known as BA48.
Jul 7, 2020, 5:24 pm
#28
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: UK
Programs: Mucci, BA, AF
Posts: 10,124
I can't think of any with BA, but IB does this deliberately on BCN. IB800 is the 0800 MAD-BCN, IB1700 is the 17:00, IB1730 is the 17:30...
