The birthday paradox: tested in real life?

Originally posted by twhitehead
OK, here is my analysis of some data I have access to. These are flights on a chartered aircraft.
Column 1, is the number of passengers on the flight.
Column 2, is the number of flights with no double birthdays.
Column 3, is the number of flights with two double birthdays.
Column 4, is the number of flights with three double birthdays.
Column 5, is ...[text shortened]... 2612
27243
28111
2921
3021
311
321
331
3511
402

I think what you have there is evidence your airline is going bust...

Over 100 flights with 4 or fewer people on them.

Originally posted by googlefudge
I think what you have there is evidence your airline is going bust...

Over 100 flights with 4 or fewer people on them.

We are paid by the flight not by the number of passengers on board.
Also, I excluded all passengers for whom we did not have birthday information, so those flights actually had more passengers on.
I have also counted as a 'flight' a return flight, and in reality it is a different set of passengers in each direction (so only about half the numbers listed actually were on board at any given time).

The aircraft only has about 22 seats and depending on cargo and the weather it may not be able to fill them all.