Traveling via air for the first time or even if you are a frequent flyer, flight number plays a crucial role to have a smooth journey. For say, if you are traveling on USA to India flight but you are unaware of the flight number, you may have to experience an unwanted hassle. In case you find it difficult to find the flight number on the air ticket, follow simple hacks by Tripbeam and locate the flight number. But remember every flight has a unique identifying number, regardless of the airline and destination. So you have to be careful to find the flight number. Moreover, the flight number is used for many reasons like tracking flights.
Flight Number – An Introduction
In simple words, a flight number is a combination of codes, as well as numbers. In general, a flight number consists of 1-to-4- number digits and the airline’s two-character IATA code and 2 characters normally written in uppercase letters. A flight number is always approved by International Air Transport Association first like Air India – flight tickets to India from USA – AI 187 (New Delhi to Toronto).
For example –
- AC for Air Canada is the IATA code
- 1-to-4-digit number denotes the flight route
- AI 187 – Air India’s flights from New Delhi to Toronto
With the flight number, you can identify and track each flight that runs on a specific route on a specific date. Thus, it helps Air Traffic Control to manage and track the flights up in the air. Normally, IATA codes are simple but you might get confused with the numbers. IATA has assigned even numbers to flights flying to East and North like 2, 4, 6,8, 10, etc. (any number that can be exactly divided by 2), and odd numbers to flights flying to West and South like 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, etc. (numbers that cannot be divided by 2). The same rule applies to state outbound and inbound flights.
For example –
- AI 185 – flight number is for the Air India flight from New Delhi to Vancouver.
- AI 186 – flight number is for the Air India flight from Vancouver to New Delhi.
A flight number reveals a lot of information that you (maximum passengers) cannot even imagine like: –
- air carrier’s flagship connections (usually lower value numbers).
- domestic flights have flight numbers between 3000 and 5999.
- shared flights have flight code numbers over 6000.
- charter flights start with the number 8.
For example –
- Air India Flight – New Delhi to Vancouver – AI 186
- Lufthansa Flight – Mumbai to Toronto ( two stopovers) – LH – 757, LH – 6794, and LH – 6570.
IATA – A Short Guide
IATA means International Air Transport Association. This is a travel and tourism organization that facilitates liaison among all the airlines across the globe. At present, there are 278 airlines associated with the IATA firm as members. So you have a wide range of options to book cheap flights to India from the USA. International Air Transport Association establishes rules and regulations like policies for airlines to ensure all flight operations are up to standard without any problems and the safety of aircraft and air travelers is on point. IATA also caters to vital information for passengers that you can also find on flight booking websites or airlines to keep flyers informed with the latest updates and crucial details.
Some Popular Airline Codes for Flights
- AI stands for Air India
- AC stands for Air Canada
- EK stands for Emirates
- BA stands for British Airways
- AF stands for Air France
- AS stands for Alaska Airlines
- AA stands for American Airlines
How To Find Flight Number?
Well, the trick to locating the flight number is very simple. You just need to understand the flight number pattern or structure. For example, if you have direct flight tickets from India to US by Air India, see the pattern of direct flights number and Air India flights code. Then you can very easily find the flight number on either the flight ticket or a boarding pass. Still, in case you find it quite complex to discover the flight number, then remember whenever you book your flight tickets, you always receive a booking confirmation along with your flight number. So go to either your e-mail or text messages to see the flight number.
- Understand the flight number pattern or structure formation.
- Check the flight number on either the flight ticket or the boarding pass.
- Go to your email box or the messages received on the registered number to locate the flight number.
Useful Hack – have a look at the pattern of the flight number to ease your work to find the flight number.
- AI 126: Air India flight from Chicago to Delhi
- SG 4001: SpiceJet flight from Hyderabad to Goa
- AA 292: American Airlines flight from New York to New Delhi
List of Information Listed on Flight Tickets
This are the list of things you can find on the air ticket apart from your flight number: –
- Passenger name
- Details of the Flight Ticket issuing agency
- Date of issuing the ticket
- Validity of the ticket
- Origin and destination details
- Date and time of departure
- Payment method
- Flight cancellation and refund policies
- Breakdown of costs
Need of Flight Ticket Number
A Flight Ticket Number plays a crucial role to have a hassle-free travel journey from start to end. Although the chances of boarding a wrong flight are near to none, the flight number can help you direct to the accurate flight with zero effort. For say, if you are traveling via the USA to India flight, you would not need to go to several counters and ask people for assistance in locating the right flight.
Also Read: 12 Travel Hacks For First Time Travelers From The USA To India