Changing Flight Numbers

ATCVectors

Newbie
Jan 29, 2004
3
0
Quick question for you people out there in the know:

Why does USAirways constantly change their flights numbers on the same routes?
There are some airlines that keep the same flight number/route for months even years. I can remember PAA and TWA doing this.


Thanks
ATCVectors
 
It's part of the marketing plan. Gotta keep the customers guessing. It's what has made US Airways the powerhouse it is today!
 
Second that Oldie. We have asked Management for years and they can never give us an answer. The only flights that ever seem to stay the same, are the International ones.
 
Hope777 said:
Second that Oldie. We have asked Management for years and they can never give us an answer. The only flights that ever seem to stay the same, are the International ones.
That's not quite true. The transcon flights seem to keep the same number.

Flight 1 has always been a PIT-LAX flight.

Flight 86 has always been a SAN-PHL flight with 87 as the PHL-SAN flight.
 
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #5
For example:

USA74 is PIT-MHT A321 until Feb6
USA150 is PIT-BOS A321 until Feb6

Then on Feb8

USA74 is now PIT-BOS A321
USA150 is now PIT-MHT A321

Same routes, but flip flopping of flight numbers. Doesn't make any sense to me. Can you imagne if public transportation -bus lines change their route numbers every other month?? I say pick a route, pick a number and stick with it! This would would have to save some money on paperwork alone!


ATCVectors
 
It's part of the marketing plan. Gotta keep the customers guessing. It's what has made US Airways the powerhouse it is today!

Half correct!

It also keeps the agents guessing! It helps to keep things lively at the airport when we don't know the flight numbers. In every suggestion program we have had, scheduling has been off limits.
 
Not to argue with or answer the question of this thread, but more to offer a little insight...

It is infrequent, but with various airline schedule changes there occassionally end up being two flights with similiar or identical flight numbers on the same ATC frequence at the same time (United 1234 & US 1234, say). This is reported to OCC by the pilots and investigated. If it turns out to be a problem (it didn't happen because one of the flights was behind schedule, for example), the flight number gets changed at the next opportunity. Maybe someone from OCC can shed more light - I don't know if there is any discussion between the airlines involved to decide who's number to change.

Jim
 
Actually what Mark said is more the answer we get from Management. They sell MHT-LAX direct for marketing reasons. But its funny when the flight goes back to BOS-LAX the next schedule change.
 
MarkMyWords said:
Maybe it has to do with marketing same plane service from SFO to MHT and PHX to BOS?
MARKETING? You sure there is a marketing department in US Mark?

LOL


I think it is done to confuse those granny terrorists we see roaming the airports!!



:lol:
 
What drives me crazy is how US shifts the times of flights by 5-15 minutes every bloody month. For example, take the 4 p.m. ish DCA-PHL. This flight has been at 3:50, 3:55, 4:00, 4:05, 4:10, etc. so many times it's ridiculous. Or the 10 a.m. ish SEA-PHL, which has been 10:20, 10:15 and now 10:00 (and of course next month the 6ish and 10ish SEA-PHL departures are merged into a single 9ish SEA-PHL departure). For someone who flies the same routes and almost the same routing week after week, it gets frustrating to not have a consistent schedule ... especially when the kiosk locks you out 30 minutes before departure!
 
BoeingBoy said:
Not to argue with or answer the question of this thread, but more to offer a little insight...

It is infrequent, but with various airline schedule changes there occassionally end up being two flights with similiar or identical flight numbers on the same ATC frequence at the same time (United 1234 & US 1234, say). This is reported to OCC by the pilots and investigated. If it turns out to be a problem (it didn't happen because one of the flights was behind schedule, for example), the flight number gets changed at the next opportunity. Maybe someone from OCC can shed more light - I don't know if there is any discussion between the airlines involved to decide who's number to change.

Jim
If this is the case, would it not make sense to keep flight numbers the same? If different airlines have similar flight numbers into the same area and the problem is fixed....leave it alone. By changing them on a monthly basis you are only looking for problems. It seems that as soon as you get into a familiar routine with flight numbers and times, they change them. We sure haven't added more flights that would require a revolving door of flight numbers. The passengers, ramp,C/S, Crews, MTC, and outside vendors all get used to a schedule, and then it changes often by only a few minutes.
 
Wings 396,

You are correct. I was just saying that once in a great while there is a valid reason for changing numbers. I don't understand the constant changes any more than anyone else.

As for the changing departure times for the same flight I can only give a possibility for seasonal changes (not monthly ones). I assume the schedules are still formulated using average summer or winter winds aloft, which affects flying times (moreso on longer flights than shorter ones, obviously). That could account for changing times twice a year, but not monthly.

Jim
 
I understand what you are saying. One would think that if the Airlines "Fine Tuned"
their flight numbers so they didn't conflict one another, it would stay that way.
As for time chages, I have seen them change by less than 5 minutes in many cases. Or then we have the Odd Ball times....4:42p , 7:59p etc....another fine idea.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top