# Announcement: Flight number xxxx "WITH SERVICE" to city yyyy...Shut up, dammit **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 14, 2025, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-flight-number-xxxx-with-service-to-city-yyyy-shut-up-dammit/1025686 "2025-12-14T15:02:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2025, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-flight-number-xxxx-with-service-to-city-yyyy-shut-up-dammit/1025686/21 "2025-12-14T23:37:42Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > …but at large ones there are so many flights that announcing each one would just result in a constant barrage of noise. Yup. They do tend to make the announcement only in the vicinity of the gate, I’ve noticed. Still, if there are multiple fights boarding at nearby gates, it’s still a cacophony. ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2025, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-flight-number-xxxx-with-service-to-city-yyyy-shut-up-dammit/1025686/22 "2025-12-15T01:04:16Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > other customers really appreciated hearing about the great offers that were available I am not a frequent flyer, and I promise I never once appreciated the sales pitch… ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2025, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-flight-number-xxxx-with-service-to-city-yyyy-shut-up-dammit/1025686/23 "2025-12-15T01:07:58Z")
> [@Kron](#): > > I am not a frequent flyer, and I promise I never once appreciated the sales pitch i wonder if they are so deluded that they believe it, or they know that it’s bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2025, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-flight-number-xxxx-with-service-to-city-yyyy-shut-up-dammit/1025686/24 "2025-12-15T01:15:39Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > i wonder if they are so deluded that they believe it, or they know that it’s bullshit. Very likely the latter. But I can guarantee that the airline gets a cut from people using their co-branded credit card (which is issued by a big bank). And, of course, getting someone to get the airline’s credit card creates a certain level of functional brand loyalty, because the points/miles are only going to be applicable only to that airline. It’s not unlike the unsolicited credit card offers you may get in the mail – they know that the take-up rate is very low, but those who do apply make it worth it. But, compared to direct mail, the announcement over the PA about the airline’s credit card is essentially zero cost to the airline – even if only one passenger in a hundred flights asks for an application, they probably still make money on the deal. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2025, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-flight-number-xxxx-with-service-to-city-yyyy-shut-up-dammit/1025686/25 "2025-12-15T01:20:35Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Flight number xxxx, which is going to city yyyyy. Which if you are on flight xxxx you may well actually want to be going to zzzz, with a brief stop- maybe even a change of planes at yyyy. This is why they say it that way. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2025, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-flight-number-xxxx-with-service-to-city-yyyy-shut-up-dammit/1025686/26 "2025-12-15T01:47:32Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > The “with service to …” announcements are something that I’ll always intimately associate with train travel, the announcement echoing through the huge cathedral-like train station! Right. I’d suggest that it’s a holdover from the days of train travel, when a typical departure announcement would be, “Train 54 from Toronto to Montreal _with service to_ Guildwood, Oshawa, Port Hope, Trenton, Belleville, Kingston, Brockville, and Dorval is ready for boarding.” In other words, if you were only going to Kingston, then you wanted to ride the Toronto-Montreal train, which the “with service to … Kingston” told you. The phrase doesn’t translate well to air travel, when aircraft go between two points, and that’s pretty much it. “Flight 543 with service from Toronto to Montreal is ready for boarding.” Maybe they should add, “If you’re going to Kingston, tough, you should have taken the train.” ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2025, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-flight-number-xxxx-with-service-to-city-yyyy-shut-up-dammit/1025686/27 "2025-12-15T02:00:29Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > , “Train 54 from Toronto to Montreal _with service to_ Guildwood, Oshawa, Port Hope, Trenton, Belleville, Kingston, Brockville, and Dorval is ready for boarding.” In other words, if you were only going to Kingston, then you wanted to ride the Toronto-Montreal train, which the “with service to … Kingston” told you. Correct. > [@Spoons](#): > > The phrase doesn’t translate well to air travel, when aircraft go between two points, and that’s pretty much it. Not always. You have stopovers, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2025, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-flight-number-xxxx-with-service-to-city-yyyy-shut-up-dammit/1025686/28 "2025-12-15T14:07:13Z")
Funny how British Airways doesn’t say “calling at.” ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2025, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-flight-number-xxxx-with-service-to-city-yyyy-shut-up-dammit/1025686/29 "2025-12-15T14:41:57Z")
> [@robby](#): > > Also, not everyone knows their flight number.\* But everyone knows their destination And that’s how you end up in Paris, Texas 🤣 ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2025, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-flight-number-xxxx-with-service-to-city-yyyy-shut-up-dammit/1025686/30 "2025-12-15T15:29:01Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > > [@robby](#): > > > > Also, not everyone knows their flight number.\* But everyone knows their destination > > And that’s how you end up in Paris, Texas 🤣 Good point! Or Panama City, Florida instead of the Panama City, Panama. This actually happened years ago to my stepson who was supposed to be visiting his father stationed in Panama, but instead spent the night in Florida until he could get on the correct flight. I assume modern boarding pass scanners help prevent this. In the case of my stepson, he was a minor traveling by himself, and the airline employee at the connecting airport brought him to the wrong gate…and they never scanned his boarding pass (or it predated the scanners). ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2025, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-flight-number-xxxx-with-service-to-city-yyyy-shut-up-dammit/1025686/31 "2025-12-15T15:43:01Z")
> [@robby](#): > > > [@Babale](#): > > > > > [@robby](#): > > > > > > Also, not everyone knows their flight number.\* But everyone knows their destination > > > > And that’s how you end up in Paris, Texas 🤣 > > Good point! Or Panama City, Florida instead of the Panama City, Panama. Or [Auckland, New Zealand instead of Oakland, California](https://time.com/archive/6711008/air-travel-auckward-landing/). ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2025, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-flight-number-xxxx-with-service-to-city-yyyy-shut-up-dammit/1025686/32 "2025-12-15T16:27:32Z")
> [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > Or [Auckland, New Zealand instead of Oakland, California](https://time.com/archive/6711008/air-travel-auckward-landing/). Something very similar happened in an episode of _Full House_ (most likely inspired by that real life incident). Yes, I am ashamed that I remember that. > **[Come Fly With Me](https://fullhouse.fandom.com/wiki/Come_Fly_With_Me)** > > Come Fly With Me is the season six premiere of Full House. It originally aired on September 22, 1992. Jesse and Becky argue over getting Nicky and Alex's hair cut (see #Quotes). Jesse and the Rippers have just finished another summer of touring.... > While at the airport, Stephanie and Michelle meet some members of the International Young People’s Choir, who are preparing to get on a flight to Auckland, New Zealand. Stephanie develops a crush on Terry, one of the members. Terry invites Michelle and Stephanie to come aboard the airplane and see the choir off on their journey, and they accept because they believe that D.J. wants nothing to do with them. But before they can get back off the airplane and head back to the airport, the plane takes off. > > Michelle and Stephanie initially think that they’re just flying across the bay to Oakland when Michelle asks Terry where the plane is headed, misunderstanding him because of his accent. But then the flight attendant (who is American) makes the announcement right before takeoff that the plane should arrive in “Auckland, New Zealand, in 14 hours”, much to Stephanie and Michelle’s horror. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2025, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-flight-number-xxxx-with-service-to-city-yyyy-shut-up-dammit/1025686/33 "2025-12-15T17:51:41Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > The phrase doesn’t translate well to air travel, when aircraft go between two points, and that’s pretty much it. True, especially with the hub system most use. Though I did once get a flight on Southwest that I thought was non-stop ABQ to BWI (this was also when the Wright Amendment was still active). Turned out it was actually a direct flight, which meant that the flight was something like SAN-ABQ-OKC-STL-BWI all on the same flight number. So I got to sit through two additional airports without being able to get off the plane. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2025, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-flight-number-xxxx-with-service-to-city-yyyy-shut-up-dammit/1025686/34 "2025-12-15T18:20:24Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Their response was that since I was a frequent flyer I’ve heard the spiel so many times, but other customers really appreciated hearing about the great offers that were available. I have flown a commercial airplane exactly once in the past 27 years. Did I appreciate the commercial? No, no I really didn’t… ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2025, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-flight-number-xxxx-with-service-to-city-yyyy-shut-up-dammit/1025686/35 "2025-12-15T20:01:42Z")
[Or in Chile instead of Indiana.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valparaiso_(play)) ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2025, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-flight-number-xxxx-with-service-to-city-yyyy-shut-up-dammit/1025686/36 "2025-12-15T20:04:47Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Not always. You have stopovers, etc. In the U.S., not so much anymore, with (as has been noted) Southwest being an exception. Most flights on the other carriers are largely hub-and-spoke, and it’s common for the same plane to, once it arrives at the non-hub airport, to then be used (with a different flight number) for a return flight to the same hub. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2025, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-flight-number-xxxx-with-service-to-city-yyyy-shut-up-dammit/1025686/37 "2025-12-15T22:08:08Z")
> [@Ancient\_Nerd](#): > > With the background noise and distortion of a PA system, clarity is more important than grammatical perfection. The white zone is for loading & unloading of passengers only ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2025, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-flight-number-xxxx-with-service-to-city-yyyy-shut-up-dammit/1025686/38 "2025-12-15T22:09:04Z")
didja get a balloon flight in in Cappadocia? ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2025, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-flight-number-xxxx-with-service-to-city-yyyy-shut-up-dammit/1025686/39 "2025-12-15T22:18:47Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > didja get a balloon flight in in Cappadocia? Yes, sure did! It was absolutely amazing! They said there were 120 balloons in the air that morning. That sounds about right from what I could see. We were on the fence about doing a balloon ride, but all of the guides said this was one place you definitely want to do it. Our pilot was fantastic. He really knew what he was doing. He skimmed along the valleys, and got within a few meters of the formations and a cliff edge, then ultimately went up to a max altitude of 1,000 meters for a wide view. He ended by landing right in the pickup trailer. We picked one of the smaller balloons that had just 8 passengers. Others carried up to 32 or so! ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2025, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-flight-number-xxxx-with-service-to-city-yyyy-shut-up-dammit/1025686/40 "2025-12-15T23:01:00Z")
> [@robby](#): > > Yes, sure did! It was absolutely amazing! They said there were 120 balloons in the air that morning. That sounds about right from what I could see. That’s one of those things I’ve never thought about doing, but I bet I’d enjoy it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-flight-number-xxxx-with-service-to-city-yyyy-shut-up-dammit/1025686.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-flight-number-xxxx-with-service-to-city-yyyy-shut-up-dammit/1025686.md?page=3)