What is a positioning flight? How to find amazing flight deals

Did you know you could be saving hundreds, if not thousands, on every trip you take simply by flying from another airport? It’s called a positioning flight. And it’s one of the best-kept secrets among savvy travelers looking to get the most out of their budget. By booking a separate, often much cheaper flight to a different departure city, you can unlock some of the best international flight deals that wouldn’t otherwise be available from your home airport.

Positioning flights can be especially valuable if you live in a smaller or mid-size city. Here airfare tends to be higher due to fewer airlines and limited flight options. Major airport hubs frequently offer cheap flights because they have more airlines and more competition. Flying out of hubs might seem out of reach, but with a well-planned positioning flight, you can drastically cut the cost of your trip.

This strategy isn’t just for the ultra-experienced traveler either—it’s something anyone can use to make travel more affordable. In this guide, I’ll explain exactly what a positioning flight is, how to find the best deals, and how to calculate whether it’s worth it for your next trip. I’ll also share real-life examples and practical tips to ensure your positioning flights go smoothly.

Whether you’re booking with cash or using points and miles, understanding positioning flights can save you hundreds of dollars. Helping you see the world for less! So, if you’re ready to maximize your travel budget and take your flight-searching skills to the next level, keep reading to find out how positioning flights can work for you.

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What is a positioning flight?

A positioning flight is when you take a separate flight to position yourself at another airport that offers a much cheaper fare to your final destination. These are typically used for long-haul flights. Where departing from a larger or different airport can significantly reduce the cost of your trip.

For example, let’s say you live in Fargo and you want to go to Romania. Instead of flying directly from Fargo, you could book a cheaper regional flight to New York City and then catch a much cheaper flight to Romania. Both flights are on separate reservations, but together they save you a lot of money.

Positioning flights are great when your long-haul flight doesn’t take you directly to your final destination. A common example is flying to Istanbul and then booking a separate flight from Istanbul to Cappadocia to save money.

In some cases, you can also combine positioning flights with points and miles to further reduce your cost. Used correctly, a positioning flight should always lower your total cost from your home airport to your final destination. Especially if you’re flying out of smaller or mid-size airports where flights are typically more expensive.

Why do positioning flight save you money?

Positioning flights work because airfare pricing is heavily influenced by demand, competition, and the size of the airport. Smaller airports generally have higher prices because they have fewer airlines, fewer direct flights, and less competition. Larger airports, particularly major hubs like New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles, have more airlines competing for your business, which often results in lower prices for long-haul flights.

Airlines may also offer deals or mistake fares from certain airports. Making these deals worthwhile to fly there first to take advantage of the low fare. By adding a positioning flight into your travel plan, you can benefit from these price differences and pay significantly less than if you booked a direct flight from your home airport.

When should you take a positioning flight?

While positioning flights can save you a lot of money, they’re not always the best option. The key is to add up the total cost of your positioning flight and long-haul flight and compare it to the price of flying directly from your home airport. If the combined cost is lower, and the inconvenience is minimal, a positioning flight may be the right choice.

When considering a positioning flight, you should also factor in other elements, like the time of year, flexibility with your travel dates, and whether the positioning airport is easily accessible. For example, if you have to drive several hours or stay overnight at an airport hotel, those costs and inconveniences should be considered in your decision.

Taking advantage of award deals with positioning flights

One of the best ways to maximize your points and miles for long-haul flights is by combining positioning flights with award deals. Often, award availability for premium cabins, like business class, is limited at your local airport, especially if you live in a smaller city.

By flying to a major hub using a positioning flight, you open up far more opportunities to redeem points for these sought-after seats. For example, while you might not find a business class award from your home airport, a short positioning flight to a larger airport could offer several options for long-haul business class flights at the same or lower points cost.

If you’re considering using points and miles, keep in mind that available credit card offers can play a huge role in earning these rewards quickly. Many airlines and travel brands partner with credit card companies, like Capital One and American Express, to provide generous sign-up bonuses.

Ultimately, positioning flights not only help you find better award availability but also give you a chance to leverage credit card offers to maximize your travel savings. With a little planning, you can secure premium seats and pay far less than you would flying directly from your home airport.

Choosing the right positioning airport

The key to making a positioning flight work is choosing the right positioning airport. Your positioning airport should be somewhere that you can reach easily and cheaply.

For me, Kansas City is my home airport, and I frequently use Chicago, Dallas, and New York City. These cities have large airports, are served by many airlines, and often offer cheap fares, which makes them ideal options for positioning flights. You can also consider smaller regional hubs that still have plenty of flight options.

Don’t forget that if a deal comes from a different airport, as long as the combined cost is still cheaper than flying directly from home, it’s worth considering.

Tips for Booking Positioning Flights

When booking positioning flights, timing is crucial. One of the biggest risks with booking separate reservations is missing your connection due to a delayed or canceled flight. If your positioning flight arrived late and you miss your long-haul flight, you may not be compensated since the bookings are on separate itineraries.

To minimize this risk, I recommend booking your positioning flight for the day before your long-haul flight whenever possible. This gives you plenty of buffer time in case of delays and allows you to get a good night’s rest near the airport before your long journey. You can often find affordable hotel stays by using points, like Hyatt points, to stay near the airport.

If flying in the day before isn’t an option, aim for at least 6 to 8 hours between flights. This might sound excessive, but it’s better to be safe than sorry, especially if you’re traveling internationally.

Hidden Benefits of Positioning Flights

In addition to saving money, positioning flights can offer other advantages. For example, you may have the opportunity to explore a new city during your layover. If you plan your flights strategically, you could spend a night or two in a city like New York, Paris, or Istanbul before continuing on to your final destination. This allows you to turn what would have been just a layover into a mini vacation.

Another benefit is flexibility. By booking separate reservations, you can mix and match airlines, dates, and even classes of service to find the best combination that fits your budget and schedule.

Beware of delays and cancellations

One of the major questions I get asked is about the time between your flights. If your first flight, which isn’t included on your reservation is delayed and you miss your other flight you’ve got a huge problem.

I generally recommend booking your positioning flight the evening before your long-haul flight and using World of Hyatt points for a cheap points redemption near the airport. But if you can’t make that work I recommend at least 6 (if not 8-10) hours between your flights, giving yourself plenty of time.