Travel Glossary · Air Travel
Positioning Flight
Definition
Positioning Flight: A positioning flight is a separate trip you take to reach the city where your main itinerary starts, usually to access a better fare, route, or award seat.
Travelers position for many reasons: a premium-cabin sale from another gateway, a nonstop that does not operate from their home airport, an award seat available only from a particular city, or a cruise or tour that begins elsewhere. A separate domestic flight to reach that starting point can save money or time overall.
The catch is protection. A positioning flight is usually a separate ticket, so if it runs late and you miss your long-haul departure, the second airline has no obligation to help. Bags typically must be collected and rechecked. The usual safeguard is to arrive the day before, or at least leave a very generous buffer, and to review your travel insurance.
In private aviation the term means something different: flying an empty aircraft to where your charter begins, a cost that may be built into the quote. It is worth asking about when you compare charter prices.
Example: A traveler in Los Angeles books a separate flight to New York the day before to start a Europe trip on a much lower business-class fare from JFK.
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