Inbound and outbound: why same flight number?
Feb 20, 2017, 2:01 pm
#7
Join Date: Mar 2008
Programs: DL-Pyrite Medallion
Posts: 314
I see your 'smiley face' so I realize you're just having some fun, but from the serious operational side of things, when there's 50 planes all buzzing around ATL airspace coming and going it makes it real hard to for ATC to have a meaningful discussion with us if everybody's callsign is simply "Delta". In fact, from the pointy end of the plane, we get irritated at marketing when they choose too many flight numbers that sound similar headed into a particular airport at the same time. It leads to big trouble on the radios when Delta 505 and Delta 509 are speaking to the same controller on a busy frequency.
Feb 20, 2017, 2:53 pm
#8
In memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2005
Location: PIT
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Highway route #'s 22 / 222 / 322 / 422 / 72 / 272 . . .
Are all in the same area. WOW! That was fun driving!
Thanx for alowing me a brief interlude!
Feb 20, 2017, 4:05 pm
#9
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Wayne, PA USA
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Posts: 7,242
My understanding is that, with the NW merger and the SkyReam expansion, Delta ran out of flight numbers. I'm told this is also why international flights aren't confined to the 10s and 100s anymore. Actually kind of sad.
Feb 20, 2017, 5:44 pm
#10
In memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2005
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Feb 20, 2017, 6:50 pm
#12
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: Non-Affiliated
Posts: 7,430
And undoubtedly DL would charge us a 5 digit flight number "convenience" fee for the privilege. Of course this would be waved for Delta 360 members, or anyone who spends 100K annually on their DL cobranded Amex.
Feb 20, 2017, 6:59 pm
#13
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,880
Well, yes, it probably would probably break Delta's IT systems, but the bigger issue is that the FAA's ATC system limits flight numbers to four digits.
Feb 20, 2017, 7:25 pm
#14
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta PlM, 1M
Posts: 6,363
I would assume the far most important issue with assigning flight numbers is that two with the same airline-code/number can not be operating at the same time.
As such, a return from an outstation is a logical way to reuse numbers.
That and "direct" flights where the same plane flies A-B-C :-)
As such, a return from an outstation is a logical way to reuse numbers.
That and "direct" flights where the same plane flies A-B-C :-)
Feb 20, 2017, 7:33 pm
#15
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: LAX/BUR, RDU
Programs: DL SM, AAdvantage, SPG
Posts: 1,360
I agree, and I've also seen ATC append letters to flight numbers within the same area control with similar/same flt numbers to avoid this confusion.