TYPES OF FLIGHT

Types of flight depend on the length of the flight and the destination.

Charter Flights

A charter flight is mainly used by tourists travelling on a package holiday, i.e. the tour operator books both the flights and accommodation for the holidaymaker. The holiday companies tend to block book the seats on particular flights then sell them themselves, which is where they make a profit. The holidaymaker will deal directly with the travel company rather than directly with the airline.

For independent travellers who are flexible with travel dates and times charter flights can be an excellent place to get a cheap flight. Waiting until the last minute to buy a charter flight can mean excellent discounts as the tour operator or airline will want to sell the seat at a price rather than make a loss.

Scheduled Flights

Scheduled flights run a bit like buses and trains as they work to specific timetables throughout the day and night. Scheduled flights are usually booked direct with the airline and are often used by frequent travellers. Many airlines run a summer and winter schedule, depending on the popularity of the destination.

Domestic Flights

A domestic flight is an internal flight – it runs within the borders of a particular country. For example, a flight from Heathrow to Edinburgh is classed as a domestic flight, as is a flight from Sydney to Perth. Domestic flights can often outweigh the benefits of driving from one location to another, both in terms of cost and time saving.

Long Haul and Short Haul

Different airlines class different flight times as long or short haul, but usually an air journey of approximately 3 hours or more is classed as long haul. Normally a long haul flight travels to another continent and may involve a stop over for refuelling.

Standby Flights

Flying on a standby ticket is for travellers who have no time commitments. Standby flights are issued by airlines to fill seats that haven’t been booked. The more popular routes and times are likely to have limited numbers of standby tickets, whilst flights leaving at less popular times, such as the middle of the night, are more likely to have standby seats available.

Passengers can wait for several days for a standby flight to become available, and there is no guarantee that there will be a seat. However, if you’re willing to take a risk and want a cheap flight this is the way to do it.

Airline Classes

Different airlines have different categories of flying class and range from First Class to Economy with a range of different levels in between, such as Business and Club.

The higher the class the more space the traveller gets and the more luxuries they’ll experience during their flight (and of course the more they’ll pay).