English lit. time!

Anyone out there who has a somewhat-literate position:

Is the term “alternate flights” or “alternative flights“?

Question came up at work, and I’m interested in everyone’s input.

Thanks!

Posted February 6th, 2007 in General, Work Stuff.

9 comments:

  1. Josh:

    Alternate. An alternative flight would involve birds, or some other kind of way of flying.

    February 6th, 2007 at 9:30 pm
  2. Yaffa:

    Alternate, assuming you are talking about various flight choices (for example, which route you’ll be taking or which airline carrier). If, however, you mean a flight that caters to those “different from the usual, unconventional” i.e., an airline flight for transsexual nudists with an inexplicable affinity for hot pink spandex, then the correct term would be alternative.

    If you’re talking about flights of stairs, though, that’s a whole other can of worms.

    February 6th, 2007 at 10:13 pm
  3. Lisa Hertel:

    Depends on context. Alternate could mean “every other,” or a secondary option. Alternative could mean secondary option, or it could refer to sexual preference. I prefer alternative, personally.

    February 6th, 2007 at 11:41 pm
  4. MikeTheMan:

    Thanks for your input.

    The context is “Your flight was canceled, choose a different flight”.

    In your opinion, which would be the proper choice? Alternate or Alternative?

    February 7th, 2007 at 10:21 am
  5. MikeTheMan:

    Thanks for your lovely examples – I’ll be sure to raise them when we discuss this topic at work. :)
    How does this apply to a flight of stairs? Can you provide examples for an “alternative flight of stairs”?

    February 7th, 2007 at 10:25 am
  6. Josh:

    As we all explained, the correct form to use in that context is “alternate flight”.
    The only reason for you to use an alternative flight is if there are no aircraft of any kind flying, and you must use a witch’s broom or attach dozens of birds to your shirt or something like that.

    February 7th, 2007 at 10:29 am
  7. MikeTheMan:

    Thanks for that.
    It’s now very clear, and I hope it’ll clarify it for others here as well.

    February 7th, 2007 at 10:45 am
  8. Yaffa:

    Alternate would mean “every other” were it alternating, no?

    February 7th, 2007 at 11:03 am
  9. Yaffa:

    Obviously you’ve never been to San Fransisco.

    February 7th, 2007 at 11:10 am

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