As your flight departure date approaches, it’s completely normal to go through a range of emotions, To ensure your first flight goes as smoothly as possible, there are specific details you should acquaint yourself with, and one of these is your flight number. Here is an essential guide on how to find flight number along with other information you might be interested to know before taking your first flight.
What is a Flight Number?
Flight number is a combination of the airline’s IATA code and 1-4 digits which is unique to each flight. The airline’s code, approved by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), consists of two characters, and is written in uppercase letters.
A flight number is like the identification number of each flight and it aids air traffic control in organizing and tracking flights in the air. A flight number facilitates in tracking the number of flights that run on a specific route on a specific day.
How do Airlines Assign Flight Numbers?
Airlines rely on a complex algorithm to determine flight numbers, taking into consideration the past and present flight numbers of all airlines. However, there are a set of traditional rules as to how flight numbers are created. Traditionally, flights heading east and north are assigned even numbers, while those going west and south are assigned odd numbers. However, these rules aren’t universally rigid.
Some airlines assign even numbers to outbound flights and odd numbers to inbound flights, and each airline may have its unique criteria for flight number assignment. Additionally, the use of single or double-digit numbers may indicate that a route holds prestige for the airline. In the world of aviation, it appears that nothing is left to chance.
How to Find Your Flight Number?
Thinking where to find your flight number? To find your flight number you will need to check your booking confirmation or your flight ticket. The flight number will be printed on your boarding pass as well.
To find your flight number, simply locate it on your ticket. The first two letters (or one letter and one digit) of the flight number indicate the airline, while the second two letters (or one letter and one digit) represent the flight number itself. The IATA airline code, consisting of two letters, is used to identify a particular airline. This code is followed by the flight number, which can be one to four digits long.
