Whether you’re a frequent first class flyer, or a trip at the front of the plane is still firmly on your bucket list, a luxury flight is the best start to a trip.
18.03.2024 - 22:59 / cntraveler.com / Airlines
Ever heard of “fifth freedom flights” and “the freedoms of the air”? The latter may sound more like poetic prose than legal jargon, but this phrase—unbeknownst to most casual fliers—actually denotes the five official rights that make international air travel possible.
The first four are simple, essentially outlining an airline’s right to fly to (and pass over) other countries from, and on the way back to, its home country. So, for example, a United Airlines plane can fly passengers between New York and London, and pass through Canadian airspace along the way, all thanks to the first four freedoms of the air.
The fifth freedom, however, is far more interesting—and useful—for travelers. That’s because the rule makes it possible for an airline to fly between two countries when neither is its home base. Why should you care? Well, in addition to impressing your friends at trivia night, knowing about these fifth freedom routes can help you save money, earn points and miles, and have a more comfortable in-flight experience.
Fifth freedom flights carry passengers between two countries that are different from the home base of the airline operating the flight. These types of routes are allowed by aviation regulatory authorities as long as at least one segment of the flight begins or ends in the airline's home country. For example, Emirates flies from New York JFK to Milan and from Newark to Athens, but both flights then continue on to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, where the carrier is based. Since US and European airlines also fly similar routes, the increased competition can result in some great deals on airfare.
Another example is KLM's flights from its home base of Amsterdam to Santiago, Chile, with a stop in Buenos Aires. It can sell tickets from Amsterdam to either South American city, but also for the leg between Buenos Aires and Santiago. That segment is considered a fifth freedom flight because KLM is a Dutch airline selling tickets to passengers between two cities outside of the Netherlands.
These international carriers can at times offer a better in-flight product than local carriers. For instance, on the KLM flight between Buenos Aires and Santiago, travelers might be able to fly business class on a wide-body jet, an option not typically available on short-haul domestic routes.
Before an airline can fly a new fifth freedom route, it must be approved by all three countries involved—which, as you can imagine, can result in lengthy negotiations. If approved, they can be a boon for international airlines looking to substantiate a new, long-distance flight by scheduling the aircraft with an extra stop along the way. Not every destination can fill a plane with passengers, so pairing up a route with
Whether you’re a frequent first class flyer, or a trip at the front of the plane is still firmly on your bucket list, a luxury flight is the best start to a trip.
The Riviera Maya in Mexico has long been an unquestionable destination favorite, lined with dozens of beachfront resorts and a lively nightlife scene. But travelers yearning for a more laidback, bohemian vibe can now fly further south into Tulum’s brand-new Felipe Carrilo Puerto International Airport (TQO), which welcomed its first-ever international flights just last week.
"And the sexiest new nonstop route of the year is ... "
It’s now less of a hassle for some pet owners to bring their furry family members on American Airlines flights.
The 2024 Reward Seat Availability Survey reviews Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, and United flight rewards.
American Airlines is making it easier to travel with pets, changing its policy to allow travelers to bring a free carry-on bag in addition to their furry friend.
Romance is in the air — literally — thanks to Icelandair’s newest plan to set passengers up on in-flight dates.
A transatlantic United Airlines flight was forced to turn around on Friday after one of its toilets malfunctioned and began leaking into the cabin, the German outlet RTL first reported.
Spirit Airlines is bringing more affordable domestic flights to popular destinations this summer.
Low-cost airline Breeze Airways is introducing its first-ever branded credit card card with flight perks and is also adding five new cities to its network this fall in its continued efforts to expand just three years after its founding.
On a recent spring day, I started mildly stressing about booking my family’s Thanksgiving flights for four people traveling from San Francisco to Raleigh, North Carolina. Airfare deals have been much harder to come by in the aftermath of the pandemic due to the strong return in travel demand, so I had a feeling we needed to act fast if we were going to fly at a decent price during a popular travel period.
This week, US airlines are launching their first nonstop flights to the new Tulum airport—meaning it's about to get a lot easier for Americans to visit the ever-popular Riviera Maya destination on Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula.