# Airline code and api codes

**URL:** <https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/airline-code-and-api-codes/53305>\
**Category:** AeroAPI\
**Created:** [August 5, 2019, 1:08pm UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/airline-code-and-api-codes/53305 "2019-08-05T13:08:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![brewlabtechnology](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussions.flightaware.com/brewlabtechnology/32/46011_2.png) [@brewlabtechnology](https://discussions.flightaware.com/u/brewlabtechnology)\
**Post date:** [August 5, 2019, 1:08pm UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/airline-code-and-api-codes/53305/1 "2019-08-05T13:08:10Z")

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Hi, I would like to ask -

**1.** Between ICAO and IATA, which is use as a priority or it is used interchangeable by Flightaware? Would it be better to track flight schedule using ICAO or IATA for flightaware api?

**2**.When searching for Jetstar Asia going from Singapore to Indonesia, the correct flight information is display in actualIdent. However when I searched for Lion Air, the actual Ident field is missing, and the ident is displaying correct fight information.

Can I assume **actual Ident** is given priority for accurate flight information, followed by **Ident** if the first field is missing? This is vital for us to know if the results are accurate.

**3.** Does flightaware have a) an code line that enable search on airline ID itself, b) an code line that enable search on flight numbers.

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**Author:** ![ottergoose](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussions.flightaware.com/ottergoose/32/117480_2.png) [@ottergoose](https://discussions.flightaware.com/u/ottergoose)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2019, 3:44pm UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/airline-code-and-api-codes/53305/2 "2019-08-06T15:44:52Z")

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Use ICAO codes whenever possible; they are globally unique, IATA isn’t.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![brewlabtechnology](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussions.flightaware.com/brewlabtechnology/32/46011_2.png) [@brewlabtechnology](https://discussions.flightaware.com/u/brewlabtechnology)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2019, 3:57pm UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/airline-code-and-api-codes/53305/3 "2019-08-06T15:57:34Z")

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Thank you ottergoose for answering my first question. I understood now.  
Would you be able to answer the other 2 questions, if you know the answers as well?

Thank you in advance.

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**Author:** ![dogrock](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussions.flightaware.com/dogrock/32/118974_2.png) [@dogrock](https://discussions.flightaware.com/u/dogrock)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2019, 4:05pm UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/airline-code-and-api-codes/53305/4 "2019-08-06T16:05:25Z")

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When an `actual_ident` is present in XML v2 AirlineFlightSchedules it indicates a codeshare flight where the `actual_ident` represents the operating carrier and `ident` is the ticketing carrier.

The only required parameters in AirlineFlightSchedules are `startDate` and `endDate`. Filtering by just an ICAO airline identifier or flight number is possible, but will likely yield many results.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![brewlabtechnology](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussions.flightaware.com/brewlabtechnology/32/46011_2.png) [@brewlabtechnology](https://discussions.flightaware.com/u/brewlabtechnology)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2019, 4:10pm UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/airline-code-and-api-codes/53305/5 "2019-08-06T16:10:24Z")

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Thank you Sir.  
Would you be so kind to answer question number 3 as well if it no trouble? It is something my developer is trying to find out.

Thank you in advance.