AA flight numbers and times (just AA or other US carriers)

[Matt_01]

Another useless question. I never pay much attention to flight numbers however while doing some trip planning I noticed and started to wonder why AA domestic flight numbers are AAxx, AAxx_, AAxx_x. When looking at FR24 the domestic flights that start with AAxx or AAxx_ appear to fly the same daily routes without much variation. Then there are the those with AAxx_x flight numbers and these seem to change with a bit of regularity. As an example when searching SFO-LHR in Jan 22 via the QF website there were some connection options AA2023 (SFO-DFW) and AA1851 (SFO-LAX) to BA flights. When I looked at FR24 in the past 12 months they were operating:

• AA2023 - between Mar 20-Nov 20 JAX-CLT (with the same flight number seemed to be used in both directions) and from Nov 20-current LGA-DFW
• AA1851 - between Mar 20-Jan 21SDL-DFW again with the same flight number in both directions) and from Jan 21-current MSY-CLT.

As I had nothing better to do I went back to a couple of flights that I had taken (and still had records of) and looked these flight numbers up on FR24.

• AA2328 – actual route flown DFW-NYC. According to FR24 during the past 12 months AA2328 was Mar 20 – ATL-LAX, then not used until Jul 20 when it became DCA-MIA, stopped again until Jan 21 then ORD-CLT (2 flights) and seems to be now running ORD-CLT.
• AA6080 – actual route flown SFO-LAX. According to FR24 during the past 12 months AA6080 was Mar - Nov 20 RNO-LAX, between Nov 20 – Jan 21 YYZ – PHL, Jan-Mar 21 and finally Mar 21- current PHL-LEX

Is this variation/ changing flight numbers like the above unique to AA (possibly other US carriers) or is it common across most airlines. I am only comparing with QF and VA as I regularly travel the same routes and mostly the same flight numbers. The only thing I have ever really noticed is the changes in time when switching between the summer and winter schedule.

Why do US carriers vary flight times often e.g. SFO-LAX returned flight times of 1h 24m, 1h 39m, 1h 30m, 1h 31m all on the same day, how and what science determines this level of accuracy a year in advance. Same goes for the odd departure times of e.g 07:08, 19:19 or 21:02, I cannot recall a single flight that has taken off or landed to the minute as published.

Just curious.

 

[drron]

AA has been doing this for years.Sometimes when we have booked flights - usually we book ~ 9 months out - the flight number and/or time will change 3 or 4 times.Always if 4 numerals but does occur with the 3 numeral flights at times.

Covid has also changed things at QF.Our current hoped for SYD-PER flight which was booked 8 months ago has had 1 flight number change and 3 time changes.Now back to the originally booked flight number and time.Changes were related to the rapid border changes at one end.

 

[DC3]

Another useless question. I never pay much attention to flight numbers however while doing some trip planning I noticed and started to wonder why AA domestic flight numbers are AAxx, AAxx_, AAxx_x.

And AA1 JFK-LAX, AA2 LAX-JFK.

 

[Matt_01]

And AA1 JFK-LAX, AA2 LAX-JFK.

You raise a good point and now I do not have to ask another meaningless question, I can ask it here - what is it with xx1/2.

I think I have flown AA1 at some stage. Do airlines pick xx1/xx2 routes routes on historical, perceived, importance value. Take QF, I think QF1/2 used to run via BKK, DXB and now SIN. I am not 100% sure but I think once BA1/2 was on the Concord and at some point later LCY-JFK. Other airlines I took a random look at were JL1/2 JP-US (SFO), SQ1/2 (SG-HK) VA1/2 (SYD-LAX), I could not find a CX1/2.

 

[Mattg]

You raise a good point and now I do not have to ask another meaningless question, I can ask it here - what is it with xx1/2.

I think I have flown AA1 at some stage. Do airlines pick xx1/xx2 routes routes on historical, perceived, importance value. Take QF, I think QF1/2 used to run via BKK, DXB and now SIN. I am not 100% sure but I think once BA1/2 was on the Concord and at some point later LCY-JFK. Other airlines I took a random look at were JL1/2 JP-US (SFO), SQ1/2 (SG-HK) VA1/2 (SYD-LAX), I could not find a CX1/2.

It varies by airline, each has their own flight numbering convention.

Many use flights 1/2 for their most prestigious routes, but some don't. For example, LH1/2 are regular Lufthansa commuter flights between FRA-HAM. Lufthansa's most prestigious route (arguably), FRA-JFK, is LH400. Meanwhile, MUC-HAM flights have numbers like LH2076.