How to read the departures board

Time, flight status, and number: what to watch

Next to the time there is almost always a status — on time, delayed, boarding in progress or final call — that requires different actions: only the last two require heading straight to the gate. The flight number, two letters and some digits, should always be compared with the one on your boarding pass: in rare cases two flights to similar destinations appear together on the board, and confusing them is an easy mistake to avoid with one more check.

The gate appears late, and that's fine

The gate often remains empty or generic until final assignment, based on the operational availability of the hub, happens — at many airports only one or two hours before departure. Setting a push notification on the airline app for gate changes avoids having to check the board at regular intervals waiting for the information to appear.

Codeshare flights and local boards

On codeshare flights the board generally shows only the actual operating carrier number: those who purchased the ticket with another brand must check on their boarding pass or confirmation email which code is actually to be searched for. Once the terminal is located, it is best to focus on the local boards of that area, which are shorter and quicker to scan than the general one, and in case of discrepancy between the two, trust the board closest to the gate, because it reflects the most recent information.

When the board is not enough

In case of delay or operational uncertainty, cross-referencing the board, airline app and audio announcements provides a more reliable picture than relying on a single source: the physical board at some hubs is updated a few minutes behind the latest developments communicated to ground staff.

If you are looking for your flight and cannot find it among the board's lines, check the operating carrier code on your boarding pass before panicking: on a codeshare the airline you paid is often not the one that appears on screen.