Which Flight Number Should You Use for an Airport Transfer?

If your flight confirmation shows two flight numbers, or your journey includes a connection, it isn't always obvious which one to enter when booking an airport transfer.

The rule is simple:

Use the flight number of the flight that actually lands at the airport where your transfer starts.

If that flight is a codeshare and two flight numbers are shown, use the operating flight number if you can identify it. If you're unsure, send both.

Here's how to get it right.

Why Does Your Transfer Company Need a Flight Number?

Your arrival time alone doesn't identify your flight.

At a busy airport such as Antalya Airport (AYT), several aircraft may be scheduled to arrive within the same few minutes. A flight number allows the transfer operator to identify the specific arrival connected to your booking.

It can also be used to check whether the flight is running to schedule or has been delayed.

That's why a flight number such as TK2410 is more useful than simply entering:

“Arriving at 18:40.”

The flight number tells the transfer operator which arrival to look for.

What If Your Ticket Shows Two Flight Numbers?

This usually happens with a codeshare flight.

A codeshare allows more than one airline to sell seats on the same flight under different flight numbers.

For example, your itinerary might show:

AB1234
Operated by Airline B as XY5678

These aren't necessarily two separate flights. They can be two different numbers for the same aircraft.

The airline that sells the flight under its own code is known as the marketing carrier.

The airline actually flying the aircraft is the operating carrier.

For an airport transfer, the operating flight number is generally the most useful one because it identifies the flight being physically operated.

In the example above, that would be:

XY5678

If you're not certain which number is correct, simply provide both:

AB1234 / XY5678

There's no need to guess.

Where Do I Find the Operating Flight Number?

Open your airline confirmation, e-ticket or airline app and look at the details for your arrival flight.

Look for wording such as:

Operated by

[airline]

or:

Flight operated by

[airline]

The operating flight number may be shown next to it.

This is particularly worth checking when the airline you booked with is different from the airline named under “Operated by.”

Which Flight Number Do I Use If I Have a Connecting Flight?

Use the last flight in your journey — the one that lands at your transfer airport.

For example:

Manchester → Istanbul → Antalya

Your itinerary might contain:

Manchester → Istanbul — AB123
Istanbul → Antalya — AB456

If your driver is meeting you at Antalya Airport, enter:

AB456

Why?

Because AB456 is the flight that actually brings you to Antalya.

Your first flight ends in Istanbul, so it isn't the flight your transfer company needs to follow for your Antalya pickup.

The same rule applies no matter where your journey begins.

Berlin → Istanbul → Antalya

Use the Istanbul → Antalya flight.

Amsterdam → Istanbul → Gazipaşa

Use the Istanbul → Gazipaşa flight.

London → Frankfurt → Antalya

Use the Frankfurt → Antalya flight.

A useful way to remember it is:

Which flight will I step off immediately before meeting my airport transfer?

That's the flight number you need.

What If My Connecting Flight Is Also a Codeshare?

Apply both rules together.

Suppose your journey is:

Amsterdam → Istanbul → Antalya

Your final segment shows:

AB200
Operated by Airline B as XY300

First, you've identified the correct segment: Istanbul → Antalya.

Next, you've identified that it's a codeshare.

You can therefore enter the operating flight number:

XY300

If you're unsure, provide:

AB200 / XY300

This gives the transfer operator both references for the same arrival.

Don't Enter Your PNR by Mistake

A PNR or booking reference is not a flight number.

This is an easy mistake to make because both appear prominently on airline confirmations.

For example:

Booking reference (PNR): ABC123

Flight number: TK2410

If your transfer booking asks for Flight Number or Flight No., you need TK2410, not ABC123.

The same applies to your e-ticket number. A ticket number, booking reference and flight number are three different things.

How Can You Recognise a Flight Number?

Flight numbers normally contain an airline designator followed by numbers.

Examples might look like:

TK2410
PC2028
XQ150

Spacing can vary between booking systems, so you may also see a flight displayed as:

TK 2410

That doesn't change what the number represents.

Check the Airport Code as Well

This is particularly important when travelling to Alanya because visitors commonly use one of two airports:

AYT — Antalya Airport

GZP — Gazipaşa-Alanya Airport

They are different airports.

If you've booked a transfer from Antalya Airport, check that the final flight on your itinerary arrives at AYT.

If you've booked a transfer from Gazipaşa-Alanya Airport, check for GZP.

For example:

Düsseldorf → Antalya (AYT)

For an Antalya Airport pickup, use the flight number attached to that AYT arrival.

For:

Oslo → Istanbul → Gazipaşa (GZP)

use the flight number for the Istanbul → GZP segment.

Checking the airport code takes only a few seconds and can prevent a much bigger booking mistake.

A Few Real-World Examples

Direct flight

Your journey:

Düsseldorf → Antalya

Flight: XY1234
Arrival airport: AYT

Enter:

XY1234

Connecting flight

Your journey:

London → Istanbul — AB100
Istanbul → Antalya — AB200

Enter:

AB200

Codeshare flight

Your confirmation shows:

AB1234
Operated as XY5678

Both refer to the same arrival.

Enter:

XY5678

If you're unsure:

AB1234 / XY5678

Connecting flight with a codeshare

Your journey:

Amsterdam → Istanbul — AB100
Istanbul → Antalya — AB200 / operated as XY300

For your Antalya Airport transfer, enter:

XY300

or provide both:

AB200 / XY300

What If You Enter the Wrong Flight Number?

Don't panic, but correct it as soon as you notice.

An incorrect flight number can make it harder for the transfer operator to match your booking with the right arrival.

Common mistakes include entering:

the first flight of a connecting journey;
a PNR instead of a flight number;
the return flight instead of the arrival flight;
a flight arriving at a different airport;
an old flight number after the airline changed the itinerary.

If your flight details change after you've booked your transfer, send the updated information to your transfer provider.

What If Your Flight Is Delayed?

If you've supplied the correct flight number, the transfer operator can identify the flight associated with your booking and, depending on its systems, monitor changes to its arrival status.

The important point is that you don't need to calculate a new arrival time yourself simply because the airline reports a delay.

Keep your transfer provider informed if your itinerary itself changes — for example, if you're moved to another flight or your arrival airport changes.

Waiting-time and delay policies vary between transfer companies, so check the conditions attached to your booking.

What Should You Enter as the Arrival Time?

Use the scheduled arrival time shown on your flight itinerary, unless your transfer provider specifically asks for something different.

Don't add your own estimate for:

passport control;
baggage collection;
walking through the terminal;
or possible delays.

For example, if your flight is scheduled to land at 16:20, don't change the arrival time to 17:00 because you think baggage collection will take 40 minutes.

The flight number and scheduled arrival information allow the transfer booking to be associated with the actual flight.

Before You Submit Your Transfer Booking

Take a quick look at your itinerary and check:

Airport: Does your final flight arrive at the airport where your transfer begins?

Flight: Have you selected the final arriving flight rather than an earlier connection?

Codeshare: Is there an “Operated by” flight number?

Date: Is the local arrival date correct, particularly if you land after midnight?

Flight number: Have you entered the flight number rather than your PNR?

For travellers heading to Alanya, also double-check whether your arrival airport is Antalya (AYT) or Gazipaşa-Alanya (GZP).

Frequently Asked Questions

My ticket has two flight numbers. Which one should I give the transfer company?

If they're codeshare numbers for the same flight, use the operating flight number if you can identify it. If you're unsure, provide both numbers.

I have a connecting flight. Which flight number should I enter?

Enter the flight that lands at the airport where your transfer begins. For Berlin → Istanbul → Antalya, for example, use the Istanbul → Antalya flight.

Is my booking reference the same as my flight number?

No. Your booking reference or PNR identifies your reservation. Your flight number identifies a particular flight.

Should I enter the scheduled or estimated arrival time?

Unless your transfer provider says otherwise, use the scheduled arrival details from your itinerary. Don't manually add time for baggage collection or passport control.

What if my airline changes my flight after I book the transfer?

Send your transfer provider the new flight number and any changes to your arrival airport, date or itinerary.

The Simple Rule to Remember

When booking an airport pickup, don't ask:

“Which flight did my journey start with?”

Ask:

“Which flight actually lands at the airport where my driver is meeting me?”

That's the flight number your transfer provider needs.

For a direct flight, the answer is obvious.

For a connecting journey, use the final arriving flight.

For a codeshare, use the operating flight number when you can identify it — or provide both numbers if you're unsure.

And if you're travelling to Alanya, always check the airport code as well:

AYT = Antalya Airport

GZP = Gazipaşa-Alanya Airport

Those few checks help ensure your transfer booking is matched to the right arrival from the start.