Same flight number going and returning?
Aug 12, 2021 | 3:07 pm
#31
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Just seeing this thread now but I was wondering the same as AA 2289 goes LAX to MIA and back the day as 2289 on the return. Just seems odd. And with it being a full Transcon I dont believe that crew returns. But I see above the same crew is not necessarily the reason behind the same flight number.
Aug 12, 2021 | 3:22 pm
#32
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Thx.. Kind of what I thought But 10,000 options for flight numbers though no? Although maybe restrictions on zero in the first spot and tbh i've never thought about how many diff flights there are in a single day. However, having the same # as a flight flying intra Asia or something is okay no? Or you cant have the same flight number flying anywhere at the same time?
Aug 12, 2021 | 5:18 pm
#33
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Thx.. Kind of what I thought But 10,000 options for flight numbers though no? Although maybe restrictions on zero in the first spot and tbh i've never thought about how many diff flights there are in a single day. However, having the same # as a flight flying intra Asia or something is okay no? Or you cant have the same flight number flying anywhere at the same time?
Aug 12, 2021 | 7:18 pm
#34
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I know regulators currently limit flight numbers to 4 digits but is there any valid reason prohibiting them from going to 5? Adding a single digit would yield a tenfold increase in available numbers.
Aug 12, 2021 | 7:47 pm
#35
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Most likely legacy ATC and reservation/ticket systems. Just like Y2K, these things require massive amounts of work to fix/validate.
Aug 12, 2021 | 7:56 pm
#36
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I understand it might befuddle reservations systems, but doesnt ATC already use tail registration numbers to address general aviation aircraft? If they can use those, there must be some flexibility in their systems.
Aug 12, 2021 | 8:02 pm
#37
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Aug 12, 2021 | 8:34 pm
#38
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Okay. So making the final 'character' alphanumeric should solve the problem.
Four numerical characters yields 10 x 10 x 10 x 10 = 10,000 potential flight numbers.
Three numerical characters + a fourth alphanumerical (omit O and I to avoid confusion with 0 and 1) yields 10 x 10 x 10 x 34 = 34,000 potential flight 'numbers'.
"Delta flight 123Z is now departing for Timbuktu from Gate E17" wouldn't cause me to have a mental meltdown.
Four numerical characters yields 10 x 10 x 10 x 10 = 10,000 potential flight numbers.
Three numerical characters + a fourth alphanumerical (omit O and I to avoid confusion with 0 and 1) yields 10 x 10 x 10 x 34 = 34,000 potential flight 'numbers'.
"Delta flight 123Z is now departing for Timbuktu from Gate E17" wouldn't cause me to have a mental meltdown.
Aug 12, 2021 | 8:40 pm
#39
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Okay. So making the final 'character' alphanumeric should solve the problem.
Four numerical characters yields 10 x 10 x 10 x 10 = 10,000 potential flight numbers.
Three numerical characters + a fourth alphanumerical (omit O and I to avoid confusion with 0 and 1) yields 10 x 10 x 10 x 34 = 34,000 potential flight 'numbers'.
"Delta flight 123Z is now departing for Timbuktu from Gate E17" wouldn't cause me to have a mental meltdown.
Four numerical characters yields 10 x 10 x 10 x 10 = 10,000 potential flight numbers.
Three numerical characters + a fourth alphanumerical (omit O and I to avoid confusion with 0 and 1) yields 10 x 10 x 10 x 34 = 34,000 potential flight 'numbers'.
"Delta flight 123Z is now departing for Timbuktu from Gate E17" wouldn't cause me to have a mental meltdown.
Aug 12, 2021 | 8:53 pm
#40
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Darn you beat me to it.. Maybe some confusion though between a flight that was 9700 and 97000. Someone could easily mix it up and say "97 hundred and 97 thousand". But true to your point if you open it up to 5 numbers you are at 100,000 options or 90,000 if you dont use zero's in the first spot.
Aug 12, 2021 | 9:01 pm
#41
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For situations like this, I have also seen Flightaware/FR24 (and presumably ATC systems) append a character to the original flight number (if <=3 digits).
Aug 13, 2021 | 12:44 am
#42
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I think you'd have more luck doing a "callsign split" for a large enough operation than adding numbers. It just slows down communication that much more to have the extra number (remember, standard format for reading numbers will be [for example] "Speedbird Two Four Three", not "Speedbird Two Forty-Three").
Aug 13, 2021 | 1:08 am
#43
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I think you'd have more luck doing a "callsign split" for a large enough operation than adding numbers. It just slows down communication that much more to have the extra number (remember, standard format for reading numbers will be [for example] "Speedbird Two Four Three", not "Speedbird Two Forty-Three").
How many flight numbers are wasted on codeshares?
Aug 13, 2021 | 1:22 am
#44
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Tons on codeshares. This is the main cause of lack of numbers. I wish everything was just booked as operating carrier code. I get the idea behind them, but they just cause aggravation to everyone. (Cant tell you how many passengers I've seen wait in line at DL to checkin for DL98XX to AMS)
Aug 13, 2021 | 8:31 am
#45
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seems like the current system of occasionally using the same number for a flight out and the return is a lot easier than upending tons of legacy systems and going to five digits, not really sure what the upside is supposed to be here.