Types of Airline Flights – Guide to Fare Differences

Types of Airline Flights – Commercial Airline Cost Trends

Undoubtedly, air travel has become the most preferred form of transportation certainly for international flights. But, also in the United States for traveling domestic flights, particularly long-haul flights. Airline flights have also become very economical. In 2021 the cost in inflation adjusted dollars was practically 50% of what it was in 1995, however in 2022 the difference decreased to only 33% as the airlines took a post-covid opportunity to significantly increase the cost of travel.

Despite significant consolidation of the airline industry, this cost reduction has been a result of less regulation and increased competition. This is due to the introduction of low-cost airline carriers. While the traditional low-cost carriers (Southwest and Jet Blue) have increased their fees to be more in line with the original big three major airlines (American, United and Delta), the entree of other low-cost carriers (Frontier, Spirit, Allegiant, etc.) contributes to continuing to push ticket prices lower.

Types of Airline Flights

Fundamentally, there are four basic types of commercial airline flights. If you are only interested in commercial flights, and not private flights, then the four are direct flights, connecting flights, non-stop flights, and charter fights. Here is what you need to know about each type of flight.

Non-Stop Flights

Let’s start with non-stop flights. They are always my first choice, even if the cost may be a little bit higher. Non-stops fights are the most convenient and smooth riding, and they avoid your luggage getting lost or you not making the connection.

In addition, non-stop does not always mean most expensive.  Connecting flights can be more costly than non-stop. When booking trips take a look at each option for the best in timing, budget, and number of stops. 

However, non-stop flights are the most desired flights and sought after, which means they fill up faster than other options. We recommend you book early if you want a non-stop flight, as the cost will increase when there are less available seats.

Direct Flights

A direct flight connects you between cities also, but the difference lies in the itinerary. Direct flights include a stop, but you technically do not have a change in flight number or aircraft. Direct flights, just as connecting flights will increase your total amount of travel time.  In most cases, you can expect an hour or more travel time than a non-stop flight.

Low cost airlines, that just fly short-haul flights, tend to offer more direct flights. This has been the model that airlines like Southwest have used since they started. I have taken many Southwest flights where I stayed on the same plane during a brief stop prior to my final destination. Fortunately, they are usually quicker turning the plane around, than the traditional full-service airlines.

Connecting Flights

Connecting flights do just that – connect us from one city to another. There will be a change of aircraft along with different boarding passes and different seats.  You may have limited time to get to your connecting gate due to delays and the distance between gates. Generally, an itinerary is planned with at least than 35 minutes between flights. However, airport layout and size can make a difference and require more time between arrival and departure. I do not recommend booking a connecting flight with less that an hour of transfer time in any large complex airport (e.g. JFK, DFW, MIA, PHL, CLT, IAD and ORD to name a few).

I recently booked a connecting flight between JFK and Athens, and a return from Paris to JFK, both flights with Aer Lingus thru Dublin. The logic was that I could fly business class on the Atlantic crossing and save a lot of money, while I assumed I would be fine flying domestic in Europe. The connections were adequate, time-wise, so I thought it would work out fine.

Two major problems:

1. Aer Lingus has decided to become a low-cost carrier for flights in Europe in order to compete against Ryan Air, so there is absolutely no service on the European leg of the flight. Like, I had to pay for a cup of coffee, I believe they did offer tap water for free. (By the way, don’t drink tap water on a plane).
2. On the return, they lost one of my bags at the transfer in Dublin, and I didn’t get it back in NYC until two days later. Fortunately, I had a Tile in my bag, and I was able to know and tell the airline where the bag was at all times. We strongly recommend placing Tiles, or any similar tracking device in your luggage.

However, I haven’t totally given up on connecting flights. I have booked a connecting flight on Etihad Airlines in 2025 taking Robin and I, first class, to Mumbai in India. On connecting flights, they offer no-cost layovers in Abu Dhabi including the cost of a hotel room.

Charter Flights

Yes, charter airline flights are considered commercial flights. They differ from regular scheduled commercial flights in that they are typically booked for specific groups or purposes, such as corporate travel, sports teams, or vacation packages, rather than being available for individual ticket sales to the general public.

Charter flights can offer more flexibility in terms of scheduling and destinations, but they still operate under commercial aviation regulations.

Fare Classes of Service

Most commercial airlines have different flight classes. The exception is Southwest and Jet Blue. But, both are in the process of changing their business models to be more like the traditional US major airlines.

The class of service that you choose on a flight can have a lot to do with the comfort and service you will receive. The fare will also vary greatly, so this is where having loyalty status with an airline can make a big difference in getting free upgrades. Airlines will have different terminology for these different classes of service. For example, Delta Airlines calls its Domestic Premium Economy Class, Comfort Class to distinguish it from their Premium Economy International Class of Service. Other commercial airlines use different terminology.

Here is our best attempt to explain the essential differences in the various airline classes of service:

First Class/Business Class

• Location: At the very front of the plane.
• Comfort: Offers the most luxurious experience with fully lie-flat seats or even private suites. Seats are significantly wider with ample legroom.
• Amenities: High-end meal service, premium beverages, personal service, access to exclusive lounges, priority boarding, and often additional perks like larger and better in-flight entertainment systems, pajamas and amenity kits.
• Price: The most expensive class, often several times the cost of Premium Economy.

Commercial airlines will call their premier class either First or Business Class. The designation of First Class or Business Class flights can be confusing. On US domestic flights, the premium cabin is usually called First Class. On international flights, most commercial airlines call their premium class seats, Business Class. However, some international carriers (e.g. Singapore Airlines and Emirates) have both a First and Business Class section on their international flights. .

First Class seats or Business Class seats come in two forms. For most domestic short-haul flights, the seats shown below on the left are typical. For International destinations, or longer-haul first class and business class flights, usually you can get better, more comfortable seats, known as lie-flat seats. Airlines may or may not have flat beds in their Business Class or First Class section. This can make a big difference on the price they charge for their best seats.

Premium Economy Class

• Location: Between Economy and Business Class.
• Comfort: Enhanced comfort compared to Economy with more legroom (5-7 inches more), wider seats, and greater recline.
• Amenities: Improved meal options, priority boarding, and sometimes complimentary checked luggage. However, it doesn’t match the luxury of First Class
• Price: More expensive than Economy but significantly cheaper than First Class.

Here again, terminology may be confusing. Premium economy class can vary significantly between international and domestic flights. It may be called economy plus, or comfort plus, on domestic flights rather than Premium Economy. Here are some key differences:

International Flights

• More Amenities: International premium economy often includes additional amenities such as larger personal TV screens, laptop power ports, and upgraded food service, including complimentary drinks.
• More Space: You typically get more legroom (about 5-7 inches extra). And, wider seats, width (1-2 inches extra), and seat recline (2-3 inches extra).
• Separate Cabin: On many international routes, premium economy is in a separate cabin, providing a quieter and more comfortable experience.

Domestic Flights

• Fewer Amenities: Domestic premium economy usually offers fewer amenities compared to international flights. The focus is more on extra legroom and slightly better service. Sometimes includes complimentary alcoholic drinks and priority boarding. On domestic flights, this class of service may also be referred to as economy plus or main cabin extra.
• Less Space: The additional space is often less generous than on international flights, with fewer inches of extra legroom and seat width.
• Integrated Cabin: Premium economy on domestic flights is often part of the main economy cabin, with no separate section.

Overall, while premium economy on both international and domestic flights offers a step up from standard economy, the international version tends to provide a more enhanced experience.

In summary, First Class offers a top-tier, luxurious experience with extensive amenities and comfort, while Premium Economy provides a more comfortable and upgraded experience compared to standard Economy, but without the luxury and exclusivity of First Class.

Regular Economy (Main Cabin)

• Location: The standard seating area on the plane.
• Comfort: Basic seating with standard legroom and width.
• Amenities: Basic meal service (if provided), and often requires payment for checked luggage and other extras.
• Price: Most affordable option for budget-conscious travelers.

This is the service and lack of comfort that the vast majority of us have learned to live with. For most of us that are rather sizeable individuals, regular economy seats are not very comfortable. Full-service carriers have added more seats over the years to improve their annual revenue and the economics of their commercial operation. As a result, economy passengers now have less leg room and basic services like complimentary meals are no longer offered.

There are a few hacks that can help improve upon the lack of leg room and the other discomforts of the main cabin. First, if possible try to get a seat in the exit row. You will probably need to book early to do this, have a high loyalty status with the airline, or in the case of Southwest pay to be one of the first to board. Also, having a credit card with an airline can provide earlier boarding and in some cases free checked baggage. You may have to pay additional fees for these better seats or for extra checked bags, but it can be worth it.

Basic Economy

• Location: Same physical seats as regular economy.
• Comfort: No difference in seat comfort compared to regular economy.
• Amenities: Limited or no seat selection, no upgrades, and often no carry-on baggage allowance. Changes or cancellations are usually not allowed.
• Price: Cheapest fare option, but with significant restrictions.

These are the cheapest tickets, and it is a fairly new service class that has been introduced by the full-service carriers to help them compete against the low-cost carriers. It is fine if you don’t care where you sit, or are willing to pay additional fees for seat selection. Also, there is often no luggage provision, checked bags or carry-on. If you add the costs for these extras you will be back to the regular economy fare.

Personally, I am not interested in this service as it is very limiting. Also, I find it annoying when I use a search engine to find lower cost flights, and the cost of basic economy is what is quoted as an economy fare.

Choosing An Airline

Gathering all the options before booking a flight is important. Please check our post on Reservations and DIY Travel Budget Strategies to see how we gather information and try to keep the costs down.

Also, if you are trying to decide which specific airline to fly among the US traditional full-service carriers, we suggest that you read our post: United vs American Airlines and Delta: Which is Best?

Generally speaking, we don’t fly the newer low-cost airline budget carriers (e.g. Allegiant, Spirit, Frontier, etc.) However, in Europe, we found that the budget airlines tend to have the more available itineraries and, since we have less loyalty to the major European carriers, we found ourselves flying them quite often.

Here is the process we go through in booking an airline flight:

Priority #1: Is there a direct airline route?

When you can fly direct from point A to point B you eliminate a lot of potential problems, and you will arrive much earlier than other alternatives. You eliminate the possibility of missing a connection and the additional possibility of your luggage not being on the second flight. You miss the hassle of having to connect through airports that were not designed for easy connections (JFK, DFW, MIA, PHL, CLT and ORD to name a few) and you can take it a little easier when rushing to get off the first flight. This factor will dictate in many cases which airline we choose to fly.

For example, if we are traveling to one of the airlines’ main hub-locations, then that can sometimes dictate our choice of airline. A good example is when you are visiting Amsterdam. Amsterdam has a very good airport, Schiphol, that doesn’t get a lot of attention like some of the other more populous European cities. (That may be because of recent anti-tourist protests).

However, the countries’ former flag-carrier, KLM, offers a great transatlantic service, especially with its partnership with Delta. It is a more convenient way of flying into mainland Europe.

Priority #2: Can we use airline miles to reduce the cost or fly for free?

We didn’t make this priority one, since we value our time more than just about anything else. But it can sometimes be as important as priority one in making a decision. Robin and Cos are enrolled in all the major airline loyalty programs. We tend to fly Delta and American more than the other airlines. So we have more points banked in their programs, and we do check with them first.

We also have their branded credit cards. We use the cards for extra points and priority boarding when we travel with them. However, if we are flying to JFK, we will strongly consider Jet Blue or Delta. If flying to Baltimore and Nashville, we prefer Southwest, and to Hawaii, Hawaiian Airlines. Cos is also enrolled in the British Airways Avios program which also includes Air Lingus and Iberia. He hasn’t done it yet, but there are ways of getting good deals with the Avios points on the US American Airlines flights.

For more information about using points, click here to see below.

Of course, we look at the total cost before we choose an airline. Sometimes, we are flying one way, but mostly it is roundtrip. A round trip option will normally be cheaper than two one-way tickets between the same two cities. A round-trip is almost always a better option. We have booked round trip, even if the flights are months apart at the beginning and the end of a long trip.

Priority #3: Generally, don’t fly overnight.

Sometimes, you can’t avoid having to fly overnight. Flying from the USA to Europe is a good example where that is the general case. But why fly overnight coming back from the west coast to the east coast of the USA? Okay, you will lose a day, but you will avoid feeling dead the next day you are back east. We understand this can save you a day in a hotel, but is it worth the pain?

Priority #4: Long Distance Airlines Rules

When we are really travelling long distances, like USA to Australia, we try to break up the trip. We do this by staying somewhere in-between for a few days as a stop-over. Normally this will cost you a little extra money but there are some places where it is free.

One good example is to fly through Iceland on the way from the USA to Europe. Icelandair will let you do the layover at no extra cost. Also, Etihad and Emirates offer similar free layovers with hotel costs also covered on connections thru the United Arab Emirates.

Recently, we flew from Florida to New Zealand in 2023, and we made two planned stops. We did a little skiing in Salt Lake City, and then on to Maui, Hawaii for a little rest. It is all part of a ninety-day Asia/Pacific trip. So we spent some extra time getting there as well as returning thru Hawaii on the return. But, it sure helped us with jet lag.

By the way, we have a service that holds all our winter ski wear and equipment in Salt Lake City. So that really helps to eliminate hauling our ski luggage.

Quick Airlines Booking:

If you want the details on how to make your own online airline reservations please see our Reservations Post. However, Here is an easy quick way to search for low-cost flights and to make airline bookings: WayAway.

We also have used Expedia to book some of our flights. I particularly like to use Expedia when I am flying on an airline that I don’t know and I have no direct relationship (i.e., loyalty program) with them.

However, in general we prefer booking directly with the airline. It is the best way if you need to make changes as you can deal direct with the airline. Following is our approach for deciding which carrier we use for different itineraries:

Airline Loyalty Points: Additional Information

Airline (and Hotel) loyalty point are very important to helping keep your travel costs down. They are also important to get positioned in the airlines frequent flyer tiers. If you want to become an expert on this subject, we recommend you visit The Points Guy This website (for which we have no affiliate relationship) has a world of information about airline points and how to get credit card bonuses. They will tell you which cards to get and when the best time is to apply.

Here is an example of when it is best to use points. Let’s say you want to upgrade a one way flight from New York to Los Angeles. Currently, the difference on most airlines between coach and first class is about $1000. Since most airline points are worth about $.01, if you can get the upgrade for anything less than 100,000 points than this can be a good deal. The Points Guy has valuations for all frequent flyer and hotel loyalty programs, so this is a good way to decide when to use points. Cos will soon be issuing a spreadsheet tool to help you keep track and value your points (stay tuned).

Purchasing Additional Loyalty Points

While we don’t recommend this as a common practice sometimes it even makes sense to buy extra points. You might want to do this when you need a few points for a trip, or an upgrade, etc. Here are some of the programs where you can buy extra points. We will attempt to provide you with promotions when they are available: