Narrative:

While holding short of rw 17R for departure I hear the controller clear [our flight number] to line up and wait -- I read back line up and wait. We taxied into position and then another flight; [with a similar call sign] asked the tower if that line up and wait was for them or us ... Tower asked who was on the rw; I answered [with our flight number]; then the tower cleared us for to. On our to roll; [similar call sign] asks the tower if the original line up and wait had been for them; and the tower said yes.a contributing factor in my mind was that as we approached the ramp area for 17R departures; and weather was in the area (lots of rain) the ground controller had several flights go to clearance to get reroutes -- and cleared them to the end of the ramp (full length) but had us take the shorter route keg .... Because of this I had the expectation that we would probably be going straight out without a reroute delay; while the other flights were being delayed. So when we approached the hold short line and the tower called for [us] to line up and wait; even though there were other flights waiting I thought that they were holding because of the weather; so it made perfect sense that we would be going out immediately. I still believe the tower cleared us to line up and wait -- but regardless I definitely read back [our flight number] and she missed it if in fact the original call was for [the other flight].three things that I can immediately think of to help reduce incidences like this from happening 1) crew members should be careful about the expectations they have about what is going on - and be very vigilant about call sign usage; especially near the rw.2) ATC should be more careful at dfw about the call signs -- we have all heard many times when they call a very similar but incorrect call sign -- some crew member's answer and correct them; others just do not answer.3) the company should have a review process that checks the marketing schedules and flight numbers for similar flight numbers -- I know they like to keep similar series numbers for certain markets to make it easy; but having a four digit flight number with only the last digit different should be avoided.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air carrier flight crew reported a runway incursion when they took a clearance intended for another aircraft with a similar call sign.

Narrative: While holding short of RW 17R for departure I hear the controller clear [our flight number] to line up and wait -- I read back line up and wait. We taxied into position and then another flight; [with a similar call sign] asked the tower if that line up and wait was for them or us ... tower asked who was on the RW; I answered [with our flight number]; then the tower cleared us for TO. On our TO roll; [similar call sign] asks the tower if the original line up and wait had been for them; and the tower said yes.A contributing factor in my mind was that as we approached the ramp area for 17R departures; and weather was in the area (lots of rain) the ground controller had several flights go to clearance to get reroutes -- and cleared them to the end of the ramp (full length) but had us take the shorter route KEG .... Because of this I had the expectation that we would probably be going straight out without a reroute delay; while the other flights were being delayed. So when we approached the hold short line and the tower called for [us] to line up and wait; even though there were other flights waiting I thought that they were holding because of the weather; so it made perfect sense that we would be going out immediately. I still believe the tower cleared us to line up and wait -- but regardless I definitely read back [our flight number] and she missed it if in fact the original call was for [the other flight].Three things that I can immediately think of to help reduce incidences like this from happening 1) Crew members should be careful about the expectations they have about what is going on - and be very vigilant about call sign usage; especially near the RW.2) ATC should be more careful at DFW about the call signs -- we have all heard many times when they call a very similar but incorrect call sign -- some crew member's answer and correct them; others just do not answer.3) The company should have a review process that checks the marketing schedules and flight numbers for similar flight numbers -- I know they like to keep similar series numbers for certain markets to make it easy; but having a four digit flight number with only the last digit different should be avoided.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.