As someone who loves to travel and is always on the lookout for ways to save money, I’ve learned to think outside the box when it comes to booking flights. One of the most useful tricks I’ve picked up over the years is booking positioning flights. If you’re unfamiliar with the concept, don’t worry—I’m here to explain how it works and how it can help you save big on your next trip.
What Is a Positioning Flight?
A positioning flight is essentially a flight you take to reposition yourself to a different airport or city to take advantage of a cheaper long-haul fare. Airlines often price flights differently depending on where they originate, and sometimes, booking a flight from a nearby city—instead of your home airport—can save you hundreds of dollars.
For example, if you’re flying internationally from the U.S., fares out of major hubs like New York City (JFK) or Los Angeles (LAX) can be significantly cheaper than smaller regional airports. The trick is finding a cheap domestic flight to one of these hubs—the positioning flight—to unlock those savings.
How I Used a Positioning Flight to Save Money
Let me walk you through an example of how I used this strategy to save over $1000 on a trip to Tahiti for Shayne and I. Our home airport is in Phoenix, but flights from Phoenix to Tahiti were priced around $1,200 each roundtrip. Not ideal. After doing a bit of research, I found that flights from San Francisco to Tahiti were only $550 roundtrip. That’s a huge difference!
I booked a positioning flight from Phoenix to San Francisco for $125 roundtrip. Even after adding that cost to the $550 fare from San Francisco to Tahiti, my total came to $675 each—still a savings of $525 each (or $1050 for 2 tickets) compared to booking directly from Phoenix.
Tips for Booking Positioning Flights
If this strategy sounds appealing, here are some tips to help you make the most of it:
- Research Thoroughly: Use flight search engines like Google Flights, Skyscanner, or Momondo to compare prices from different departure cities. Be flexible with your travel dates and times for the best deals.
- Consider Nearby Airports: Don’t limit yourself to just one major hub. Sometimes smaller airports in neighboring cities offer great deals, too.
- Account for Layovers: When booking separate tickets for a positioning flight and your main flight, allow plenty of time between connections. I usually plan for at least 4-6 hours, in case of delays, and use the layover time to enjoy the lounge.
- Pack Light: When you’re looking to save money, you might book your positioning flight on a budget airline like Spirit or Frontier, which tend to have strict baggage rules. Try to travel with just a carry-on to avoid extra fees.
- Look for Nonstop Options: Book nonstop flights for your positioning leg to minimize the chances of missing your connection. This is a non-negotiable for me, but if a nonstop flight is not an option for you, consider booking your positioning flight a whole day early and spend the night in an airport hotel. Make sure you do the math to see if this still makes sense for you.
- Book the Positioning Flight First: Always secure your positioning flight before booking the main flight to ensure the timing works out.
- Factor in Extra Costs: Don’t forget to include costs like airport transfers, meals, or overnight stays if your flights don’t align perfectly. Even with these added expenses, you’ll often come out ahead.
A Few Words of Caution
While positioning flights can be a great money-saver, they do come with some risks. If you’re flying two separate tickets and your first flight is delayed or canceled, the airline operating your second flight has no obligation to accommodate you. Travel insurance can help mitigate this risk, as can giving yourself ample buffer time between flights.
Also, be mindful of visa and transit requirements if your positioning flight takes you through another country. Make sure you have the necessary documentation to avoid any hiccups.
Why It’s Worth It
For me, the savings and flexibility of booking positioning flights are absolutely worth the extra effort. Not only does this strategy make travel more affordable, but it also opens up opportunities to explore additional cities. For instance, during my layover in New York City, I had time to grab a slice of pizza in Manhattan and visit a museum—a fun bonus to my trip.
If you’ve been around here for awhile, you know we use and love JetSetClub.co to find ultra-cheap international flights. Remember our $550 flight to Tahiti? This was a Jet Set Club deal. We’ve also booked flights from Phoenix to Barcelona and Paris for under $250 roundtrip and have also flown Oahu to Sydney for $140. All from Jet Set Club deals. You can get all their deals delivered straight to your inbox for just $59 a year. Sign up HERE.
If you’re willing to do a little extra planning, positioning flights can be a fantastic tool for budget-conscious travelers. The next time you’re searching for flights, take a moment to look beyond your home airport and see if repositioning could save you some serious cash.
