Why the same flight number for different equipment on the same day?
 

I often wondered why DL uses the same flight number for two different pieces of equipment on the same day? Case in point DL2. There is a 763 that flies LGW-JFK and on the same day they have a 757 routed JFK-LAX. Are they running out of flight numbers?

Marketing gimmick. The unenlightened will think it's a non-stop (unless they look closely). Never buy such a flight as you'll only be credited direct miles AFAIK.

There was a thread somewhere on which airlines do it and DL is one of them.

I always thought that you were only credited direct miles if it was the same piece of equipment making a stop. Are you sure that this the case with 2 different pieces of equipment also?

Yes, Palal is correct. I'll see if I can dig up the link again, the "same flight number" is specifically referenced as far as miles earning.

Found the link. Text below is from the SkyMiles Member Guide (my bolding):

On nonstop and direct or connecting flights with no change in flight number (whether or not the itinerary requires a change in aircraft), mileage credited will be calculated based upon the distance from origin to final destination, regardless of the number of stops

On connecting flights that require both a change of plane and flight number, mileage credited will be calculated based upon the distance from origin to destination for each segment of the trip. However, use of connecting itineraries in lieu of nonstop and/or direct flights for the accumulation of additional mileage is not permitted. Delta reserves the right to limit mileage credit for an itinerary to the number of connecting flights actually traveled or the maximum number of segments shown in Delta’s published schedule for a connection between any two cities, whichever is less

Maybe most of you will regret the loss of miles compared to a connecting flight, but I will view the use of the same flight number as beneficial under the new award redemption rules. Especially for someone like me who has to connect in ATL CVG or JFK to go somewhere. Since DL now limits the number of flights one can take on an award, I have found myself in situations where I cannot go somewhere because I would exceed the maximum of 4 flights. If there is a single number to do DEN-ATL-XXX, I may be able to go where I want to go by taking that single flight number all the way to XXX. That way, I still have 3 flights to connect to my final destination.

Very good point. When you're on an award, you don't earn miles, so it's probably to your benefit.

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8310/4.2.2 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102)

isn't this one of the practices that has been mentioned as deceptive and possibly banned if there ever is actually a passenger's bill of rights?

Well, if it's not, it ought to be. Somebody should file a class action deal to stop this practice right now. I am tired of Grandma and Grandpa from being misled that they won't have to change planes on their "direct" flight.

Yeah, it's very annoying. Also, you can't select or see your seat assignments online because the website things it's the same plane (since it is the same flight number), but when you open the seating chart, the program kinda gets confused because it's two different planes for the same flight number.

I always thought it was funny on DTW-ATL they used flight 130 which is also ATL-MUC.

So when we arrive in ATL every time they say "there is an equipment change" (we are on a MD-88 DTW-ATL). Of course there is - geez.

And never assume, not even for a moment, that you cannot miss your second segment under the same flight number because "it is not a connection." Because you most certainly can miss the ongoing segment if your origination flight is delayed.

While this may not currently be illegal, it is def deceptive. I know that most carriers do it, but it still isn't "right". I can't imagine that the benefits that DL gets outta this outweigh the cost in goodwill. :rolleyes:

The practice is older than the hills.... I still remember changing gauge at Orly 15 years ago on TWA from a 767 to a 727 on a single flight number from IAD to GVA.

You remember details of a flight 15 years ago? Now THAT is amazing.