When you fly, you'll see flight numbers like VN-A151 or VN-A886. But what do these numbers actually mean? Are they just for show, as you might think?
The flight number includes both letters and numbers, with the first letter being the airline code. But that's not the most important part. The flight number is crucial because it helps you check information about the departure gate or flight status. It can even be an indicator of whether you'll have a great flight or one with fewer amenities.
Interestingly, few people notice that flights heading east or north are assigned even numbers, while those heading west or south are assigned odd numbers. Return flights are usually numbered one digit higher or lower than the outbound flight between the same destinations. For example, if you're traveling between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, flight 1209 will be southbound, while 1208 will take you northbound.
Furthermore, flight numbers with 1 or 2 digits are reserved for major airlines and long-haul flights. This means that the lower your flight number, the more prestigious the airline you're flying with. If you have a ticket on one of these flights, you can be confident in the service and quality of the flight.
Another important thing to note is that if the flight number has 4 digits, usually starting with 3 or higher, it's a codeshare flight. Understanding codeshares is important because your ticket may be booked by one airline, but you may actually fly on multiple flights operated by different airlines with different flight numbers. Knowing the codeshare will help you understand your itinerary.
One thing is certain: a flight number can be reused multiple times over many years with completely different itineraries and aircraft. However, if a flight is involved in an accident, its number is immediately retired. Aviation history has proven this, as in the case of American Airlines flight AA11, on the Boston-Los Angeles route, which took off for the last time on September 11, 2001, before being hijacked and flown into the World Trade Center. Since then, the AA11 flight number has been removed from AA's inventory, and you won't find any AA flights with that number anymore.