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Today we talk again about what are codeshare flights in aviation, expanding what it is, What is it for and its benefits?.
Have you ever arrived at the airport, searched for your check-in desk or gate number and you haven't found your flight on the departure screens? You see a flight to your destination, with the correct time, but not with your flight number, are you confused? Is that your flight in disguise? Is there anyone you can consult? Welcome to the world of airline codeshares!
Lately there has been a lot of talk about the agreements of shared code that more and more airlines sign and doubts are generated about their true benefits, o no, for passengers. That is why we are going to talk again about this type of agreement.
What are airline codeshares??
Although this topic had already been discussed a long time ago, before some comments on networks, I had the idea of going deeper into this topic and thanks to an excellent publication by the OAG consultant we can have more and updated information about this type of air trade agreement.
First we must put the birth of codeshare in context, dating their first attempts from 1986. In those days, airlines wanted to expand their networks with limited risk, but in many cases they were restricted as to where they could fly from and to..
Some airlines created a workaround, a codeshare where they placed their code and a flight number on a flight operated by another airline with which they had a business relationship. A great way to virtually expand your own operational network, generate more sales and tell customers you could sell them a ticket to almost anywhere in the world, even if it wasn't on your own plane.
Since then, Airlines have fallen in love with the idea of codeshares and today they are common in all markets, but how do they work and what are the benefits?
How do codeshares work in aviation??
In the world of aviation data, We refer to the "operating carrier" and the "marketing carrier". The operating carrier is the airline that flies the plane, provides cabin crew, etc., and the marketing carrier is the airline that sells tickets for the flight.
Why do shared codes exist??
An airline recognizes that there is demand in its market to fly to a destination, but the airline does not operate flights to that destination (or at least not often enough).
The shared code solution:
- The airline meets a friend, another airline, which can connect and take passengers from a point the airline already flies to and take them to their final destination.
This allows the operating airline to keep most of the revenue from that ticket sale while “feeding traffic” to the friend.. and with luck, that friendly airline, which can be in the same airline alliance, can feed them traffic in the other direction, essentially scratching each other's backs. Everyone wins: Airlines have the opportunity to get more traffic and more revenue, and create a superior travel experience with a hassle-free journey for the passenger.
For this to happen, The operating carrier sends its schedules to the marketing carrier. The marketing carrier places its flight number in the service and distributes the service of that operating carrier with its own flight number. Suddenly, flight BA173 from LHR to JFK becomes AY5473: It is a British Airways service, but in which Finnair sells seats as codeshare.
To be more effective, airlines try to offer similar prices on flights. Nevertheless, Sometimes you can get a bargain from a codeshare airline whose fares haven't quite synced with the operating airline's most recent fares.. With demand changing minute by minute, this is not a surprise, but it can be an opportunity for the smart traveler to save some money. If you have saved US $200, Do you really care if your ticket Lufthansa has an Austrian Airlines flight number?
Benefits for everyone
The busy network map below shows all US domestic routes. in which Iberia, the largest airline in Spain, has shared codes operated by a partner airline of Oneworld Alliance:
If you didn't know, it seems that Iberia operates in everything USA. Nevertheless, all these flights are operated by American Airlines, with an Iberia flight number in the service. This allows Iberia sell a flight from Madrid a Houston, for instance, with a direct flight to Miami and then a connection to the IB4945, This way the airline has a broader network of destinations, without necessarily having to put a plane in that entire network of destinations that we see.
While we can expect airlines to operate shared codes within its global alliances, Many airlines also codeshare with airlines that are not in their alliance or do not have an alliance., This also generates a technological and systems integration challenge., and above all itineraries to coordinate flights.
This is expected to benefit the passenger flying on airline A who can connect to airline B under the same reservation., generating a calmer trip for the traveler, that even your suitcase will be checked until its final destination, something that would not happen if the shared code.
Have you ever flown on a flight under this modality?? Tell me your experience in the comments.
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