Flight Glossary

A ticket priced far below its true value due to an airline pricing mistake — sometimes 70–90% cheaper than normal.

A limited-time promotional fare, typically lasting 24–72 hours, where an airline offers significantly discounted prices to drive bookings.

When airlines release large numbers of unsold seats at steep discounts close to departure — the purest form of a flight deal.

A letter code (A–Z) assigned to each seat on a flight that determines the price, flexibility, and miles earned — not the same as cabin class.

The pricing tier within a cabin — airlines divide each cabin into multiple buckets with different prices, and release them strategically to maximise revenue.

An extra charge airlines add on top of the base fare, officially to cover fuel costs — but often used as a hidden margin that can dwarf the advertised fare.

A booking trick that removes fuel surcharges from a fare by adding a hidden onward segment — highly effective but against airline rules.

The science behind why flight prices change constantly — airlines optimise revenue by selling different seats to different passengers at different prices.

Specific dates — usually peak travel periods — when airlines block the use of promotional fares, award redemptions, or discount booking classes.

A return trip where you fly into one city but depart home from a different one — great for multi-city trips.

A deliberate break of 24 hours or more at a connecting city, turning a layover into a mini city trip — often free or very cheap to add.

A flight taken purely to reach the departure airport of a cheaper or better-timed outbound flight — sometimes called a "throwaway".

Booking a flight to a city beyond your real destination, and getting off at the stopover — sometimes the cheapest way to reach a hub city.

An overnight flight that departs late at night and arrives early in the morning — named after the tired, red eyes of passengers who sleep badly on planes.

A flight operated by one airline but sold under two or more different flight numbers — you may check in with an airline that doesn't own the plane.

A commercial arrangement between two airlines allowing them to handle each other's passengers and baggage on a single booking.

A global partnership between airlines — Star Alliance, Oneworld, and SkyTeam — that lets member carriers share routes, lounges, and frequent flyer benefits.

A major airport used as a transfer centre by one or more airlines — the bigger the hub, the more flights and competitive fares you can find there.

The two-letter airline codes (BA, LH, QR) and three-letter airport codes (LHR, AMS, DXB) that identify every carrier and airport in the world.

The technology backbone connecting airlines, hotels, and travel agents — Amadeus, Sabre, and Travelport are the three main systems that power most flight searches.

The time you spend waiting at a connecting airport between two flights — from a 45-minute sprint to a 12-hour wait. Shorter isn't always better.

Not the same thing: a nonstop flight has no stops, a "direct" flight may land at intermediate airports. The difference can mean an extra 2 hours in your journey.