Guide to abbreviations [Why the F in QF?]

[phill84]

Is there a list/quide to abbreviations on AFF some where? Could I get directions to it please?

 

[Mattg]

Absolutely.

See here: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ions/abbreviations-and-explanations-5056.html

 

[phill84]

Thank you, that was quick!

 

[phill84]

Just wondered why an F is used in the abbreviation for Qantas Airways?

 

[Mattg]

Just wondered why an F is used in the abbreviation for Qantas Airways?

As in "QF" for Qantas? QF is the IATA international airline code for Qantas. That's why all Qantas flights are numbered with QF, e.g. QF129.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Just wondered why an F is used in the abbreviation for Qantas Airways?

Do you mean 'F' or 'QF'?

 

[kevrosmith]

Some may suggest that it stands for "Qantas Flight", but they're just a coding system created by IATA - the International Air Transpot Association. Another set of codes that are used in Aviation are ICAO - International Civil Aviation Organization, and Qantas' ICAO code is QFA. Cathay is CX in IATA world, but CPA in ICAO world. They're just codes.

 

[phill84]

Thanks, I was wondering why QF was used here on AFF for Qantas Airways as it doesn't have an F but understand now it's an international code. I did always think the flight signs at airports (QF) refered to Qantas Flight. It seems to make sense, but apparently it's also the int. code.

As in "QF" for Qantas? QF is the IATA international airline code for Qantas. That's why all Qantas flights are numbered with QF, e.g. QF129.

 

[phill84]

QF as used here on AFF for Qantas.

Do you mean 'F' or 'QF'?

 

[Mattg]

Thanks, I was wondering why QF was used here on AFF for Qantas Airways as it doesn't have an F but understand now it's an international code. I did always think the flight signs at airports (QF) refered to Qantas Flight. It seems to make sense, but apparently it's also the int. code.

It's exactly the same reason JQ is used for Jetstar. EK is used for Emirates, SQ for Singapore Airlines, and so on.

 

[Dr Ralph]

QF as used here on AFF for Qantas.

You do know you can edit your posts dont you?

 

[pshepvic]

JQ is the only one there that is somewhat logical though - J for Jetstar and Q for Qantas (ie. They're part of the Qantas group). To me SQ & EK make no logical sense, compared to others like VA, AA, BA, NZ etc. Then you get the really weird ones that bear no relation to the airline name at all - 3K for example!

 

[JohnPhelan]

What about the very weird DJ for the old Virgin Blue??

 

[Mattg]

My personal favourite, while it has no correlation to the name of the airline, would have to be "4U". (Germanwings.)

 

[serfty]

.. Then you get the really weird ones that bear no relation to the airline name at all - 3K for example!

... and GK (!?!!) as well ...

 

[seanpodge]

JQ is the only one there that is somewhat logical though - J for Jetstar and Q for Qantas (ie. They're part of the Qantas group). To me SQ & EK make no logical sense, compared to others like VA, AA, BA, NZ etc. Then you get the really weird ones that bear no relation to the airline name at all - 3K for example!

With some of them, it's a case of which airline came in first. For example, AC stands for Air Canada, which was around long before Air China came into being. Air China's code is CA, which comes from the PR China's original national airline called Civil Aviation Administration of China, or CAAC, which was apparently run along similar lines to the Soviet era Aeroflot (which still uses the code SU despite the Soviet Union having been dead for over 25 years now) before its airline arm was split up into various airlines such as Air China, China Eastern (MU) and China Southern (CZ) in the late 1980s.

I would imagine however that airlines would quite like a catchy IATA code. I wonder if some airlines would ever consider changing their code to a better one or even if it's possible to do so.

 

[SeatBackForward]

9W for Jet Airways always interested me.

 

[JohnPhelan]

I would imagine however that airlines would quite like a catchy IATA code. I wonder if some airlines would ever consider changing their code to a better one or even if it's possible to do so.

Absolutely - When Virgin Blue changed to Virgin Australia, DJ became VA. And some years after Teal became Air New Zealand, it changed from TE to NZ.

 

[seanpodge]

Absolutely - When Virgin Blue changed to Virgin Australia, DJ became VA. And some years after Teal became Air New Zealand, it changed from TE to NZ.

Oh, I forgot about the VA one!

 

[Franky]

Is there a list/quide to abbreviations on AFF some where? Could I get directions to it please?

type in 'abbreviations' in the search box in the top RH corner, and up it comes..