The Meaning of a Flight Number

Have you ever wondered the meaning of flight number listed on your airline ticket? Well, you can learn a lot about flight from the number.

Technically, flight number is a combination of numbers and letters, usually preceded by a two-letter code of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), an association of international air transport. Airline flight numbers compiled code according to the importance of a route.

"Airlines often provide lower rates to a more prestigious flight or long-distance route," said Patrick Smith, a pilot and author of "Cockpit Confidential". "If the flight number is 001 on schedule for an airline, it's usually a long journey as the London-Sydney or Paris-New York".

Flight number also has elements of the planning function and is usually grouped geographically. Smith said most airlines provide even number for eastbound flight, while flying toward the west get odd numbers.

According to information from Qantas Airlines news site, news.com.au, they provide an odd number for outgoing international flight. While even numbers for incoming flights to Australia. Qantas flight numbers between 1-399 are international flights, including codeshare flights. Flight number which is more than 400 is domestic services. Meanwhile, flight route across the Pacific as the United Airlines uses three numbers beginning with "8". In some Asian cultures, this figure is considered as a lucky number.

Qantas said they also enter number "8" in the Hong Kong flight number. These also tend to avoid numbers that are thought to bring bad luck like number "13". Example, there is no flight number like QF666 or QF13. As a general rule, flight number with four-digit started with "3" or above, for example "3493", indicates that the flight is a codeshare flight operated by that airline. On the other hand, sometimes the flight number will never replaced. "Flight number can be used for years, even though the departure time and the type of aircraft has changed," said Smith.

In fact, in some cases, the flight number last longer than the airline itself. For example, some flight numbers used by Delta Airline for European route has been used since Pan Am Airline was still flying. "Then Pan Am sold their European route to Delta over 20 years ago," said Smith. A flight number is also couldn't be used anymore for some reason, for example an accident. "After the accident, one of the first things should be done is 'retire' that flight number, as this is seen as a form of respect," said Smith.

For example, there is no flight number 11 operated by American Airlines at Boston-Los Angeles route. It is intended to honor the tragedy that occurred on September 11, 2001, when the Boeing 707 was hijacked and flown into the World Trade Center, United States.