How do aircraft’s get assigned to routes?

[IF.Kaden]

I’ve always been curious about how it works. Who assigns them?

My flight tonight (UA1778) was originally on a 737 MAX 9 but when checking it last night it changed but showed no aircraft. When I woke up I checked and it was changed to a 737-900ER.

Or even on FR24 you’ll see your flight scheduled and it’ll say “7M9” but doesn’t show the exact plane. Does someone like assign planes to routes? Or how does it work.

[Mort]

Every airline has a dispatch team, who carefully structure the schedules of flights and which aircraft will work them. The aircraft type has to do with the length of the flight and passenger numbers. The tail number is based off availability.

[IF.Kaden]

Thank you! This helps.

My other question is why do they change planes sometimes?

Like mine. It was supposed to be a 737 MAX 9 but got changed to a 737-900ER

[Aviation_Alex]

There are actually dedicated teams at most airlines that do this. They try to schedule an aircraft on a route to ensure maximum utilization of it while also allowing turnaround times. For example if a route is typically run on a 737-900 but the route is light that day, they may switch to a different aircraft type.

[Aviation_Alex]

It could be due to maintenance, flight crew, weather, loads or aircraft location.

[Mort]

@IF.Kaden

My other question is why do they change planes sometimes?

Probably has something to do with availability. A MAX 9 and a 739ER are similarly configured, so maybe United ops felt a 739 was better suited for the route because it would fly another leg out of your destination. The system is so insanely complicated.

[AlexNine99]

@IF.Kaden

I’ve always been curious about how it works. Who assigns them?

A big team of people and a beefy computer.

[AviatorVJ]

United knew you were an av geek and decided to play with you and not put you on a MAX 9.

Jokes aside my take is that it may have to undergo urgent maintenance or maybe it has to fly another route suited for the B737-900ER after.

[IF.Kaden]

@Aviation_Alex

There are actually dedicated teams at most airlines that do this. They try to schedule an aircraft on a route to ensure maximum utilization of it while also allowing turnaround times. For example if a route is typically run on a 737-900 but the route is light that day, they may switch to a different aircraft type.

I see I see. That makes sense so thank you.

@Aviation_Alex

It could be due to maintenance, flight crew, weather, loads or aircraft location.

Yeah the plane I was originally supposed to be on was coming in from YVR but it had gotten delayed by like 6 hours 😬

@Mort

Probably has something to do with availability. A MAX 9 and a 739ER are similarly configured, so maybe United ops felt a 739 was better suited for the route because it would fly another leg out of your destination. The system is so insanely complicated.

I’d like to see that system lol. It would be neat to see.

[IF.Kaden]

United is gonna pay for this 😡