Codeshare Finder

Find all codeshare routes operated or marketed by an airline.

Finder

How to Use

1
Enter a flight number to look up
Input the marketing carrier's two-letter IATA code followed by the flight number (for example, LH 400 or UA 901). The tool identifies the operating carrier and any other airlines marketing the same flight.
2
View operating carrier and codeshare partners
Review which airline actually operates the aircraft and crew for this flight, and see the full list of partner airlines marketing seats on the same departure under their own flight numbers.
3
Check booking and service implications
Note the operating carrier's check-in counter, baggage policies, and service standards that will apply, as these are governed by the operating carrier's procedures regardless of which marketing carrier issued the ticket.

About

The Codeshare Finder clarifies the often-opaque relationship between the airline that sells a ticket and the airline that actually operates the flight. Using IATA schedule data that includes both operating and marketing carrier designations per SSIM format, the tool resolves any flight number to its operating carrier and lists all codeshare marketing carriers selling the same physical departure.

Codeshare agreements are ubiquitous in modern commercial aviation: the three global alliances (Star Alliance, SkyTeam, oneworld) collectively operate thousands of codeshare arrangements, and even airlines outside alliances maintain bilateral codeshares for network access. IATA estimates that codeshare itineraries account for more than 30% of all international scheduled passenger revenue, making this one of the most commercially significant practices in airline distribution.

For travelers, knowing the operating carrier is essential because service standards, baggage policies, check-in procedures, and IATA Irregular Operations (IROPS) handling all follow the operating carrier's procedures rather than those of the ticket-issuing marketing carrier. IATA Resolution 788 codified mandatory operating carrier disclosure in booking flows, ensuring passengers can make informed decisions about the actual on-board experience they will receive.

FAQ

What is a codeshare agreement and how does it work?

A codeshare agreement is a commercial arrangement under which two or more airlines market and sell seats on the same physical flight using different flight numbers. The operating carrier (wet-lease or own metal) provides the aircraft and crew while the marketing carrier sells tickets under its own flight number and retains commercial control of its allocated seat inventory. IATA Resolution 788 requires airlines to disclose the operating carrier to passengers at the time of booking and on boarding passes. Codeshares are negotiated bilaterally and must be approved by the aviation authorities of the countries involved, as they can affect traffic rights under bilateral air services agreements.

How does a codeshare differ from an interline agreement?

An interline agreement allows two airlines to issue a single ticket covering segments on both carriers, with baggage through-checked to the final destination, but each segment operates under the originating airline's flight number with no seat inventory sharing. A codeshare goes further: the marketing carrier actively sells specific seats on the operating carrier's flight under its own flight number, enabling seamless booking through the marketing carrier's reservations system. IATA's Multilateral Interline Traffic Agreements (MITA) govern the financial settlement for interline tickets, while codeshare seat revenue allocation is governed by bilateral commercial contracts.

What are the passenger-visible effects of traveling on a codeshare flight?

Passengers on codeshare flights check in at the operating carrier's counter, are bound by the operating carrier's baggage allowance policies and in-flight service standards, and are subject to the operating carrier's delay and cancellation procedures. However, frequent flyer miles may be earned under the marketing carrier's program at rates governed by their bilateral agreement. IATA Resolution 724 requires operating carriers to honor the frequent flyer status of passengers booked through codeshare marketing carriers, including elite tier benefits such as seat upgrades and lounge access, to the extent the marketing carrier's program tier maps to the operating carrier's standards.

What is a blocked space codeshare versus a free-flow codeshare?

In a blocked space (or hard block) codeshare, the marketing carrier purchases a fixed number of seats from the operating carrier regardless of how many are sold, bearing inventory risk. In a free-flow (or soft block) codeshare, the marketing carrier accesses operating carrier inventory dynamically through IATA's Global Distribution System (GDS) interfaces without pre-purchasing seats, reducing financial risk but potentially limiting availability. Most modern codeshare agreements use a hybrid model with a combination of allocated seats and access to remaining capacity. The IATA Passenger Standards Conference governs technical standards for codeshare seat availability communication through EDIFACT and NDC protocols.

Are there routes where codeshares are restricted or prohibited?

Some bilateral air services agreements restrict codeshare arrangements on specific routes to protect national carriers or limit third-country codesharing, where an airline from country C codeshares on a route between countries A and B. The U.S.-China bilateral air services agreement, for example, has historically limited codeshare arrangements differently than the more liberal EU-US Open Aviation Area. Additionally, antitrust immunity (ATI) — which allows airlines to jointly coordinate pricing and capacity on certain routes — is granted selectively by the U.S. DOT and EU competition authorities and is distinct from codeshare approval, though the two are often pursued together for alliance joint ventures.