Have you heard of the term ‘red-eye flight’, but didn’t know what it was? As you prepare yourself to travel again, we have 21 essential travel terms you should know before your next flight trip. Travel Terms Every Traveller Should Know

Understand the meaning of all of these basic words, which will come in handy at the time of booking and/or during your trip.

Are you familiar with these generic travel words?

1. What is an MCT?

Abbreviation for ‘Minimum Connection Time’. The amount of time determined by the airport signifies the least amount of time a traveller needs to make their next connecting flight. Various variables are taken into account, such as passing through security checkpoints, baggage transfer time, and how vast the airport is, as well as, whether the traveller is connecting from a domestic to domestic or domestic to international flight and vice versa.

Airlines are not obliged to offer assistance to the traveller(s) if their chosen itinerary does not meet this criterion. Therefore, if the passenger misses their flight, they may incur additional costs by purchasing new tickets to get to their final destinations.

2. What is an LCC airline?

Abbreviations for ‘Low-Cost Carrier’, but also known as ‘low-cost airline’ or ‘budget airlines’. Travellers usually have limited services when compared to major full-service carriers, but this allows the airline to provide lower fares. For example, checked luggage, meal services, or specific seat allocations are offered at extra cost to passengers who would need these services.

3. What is an IFE? Travel Terms Every Traveller Should Know

Abbreviation for ‘In-flight Entertainment‘. It is an entertainment library that allows travellers to stream movies, shows, music, games, and e-books during their flight. Chat services and other informative content, such as updated travel status and airport information, may also be provided through the system.

4. What is a PNR? Travel Terms Every Traveller Should Know

Abbreviation for ‘Passenger Name Record’, but also known as a ‘Record Locator’. This is usually a code of six alphanumeric characters provided with the E-ticket confirmation. This unique code allows travellers to manage their bookings as well as do online check-in.

5. What is a red-eye flight?

Red-eye flights are flights leaving in the evening or at night and arriving at the destination in the morning. The term “red-eye” is derived from the situation people experience when the blood vessels in their eyes expand. This situation may be apparent to some people because of fatigue or lack of sleep.

6. What is a seat pitch?

A seat pitch is a distance measured from one point to the same point on the seat situated in front/behind that seat. For certain travellers this difference between seats might be a deciding factor when deciding which airline to fly with, as it may determine the level of comfort for a passenger, especially on long-haul flights.

7. What are bulkhead seats?

Bulkhead seats are the row of seats right behind (or facing) the wall/partition within the aircraft. Although bulkhead seats provide slightly more legroom and eliminate the discomfort of a reclining forward seat in your limited free space, these seats are also designated for passengers with lap infants, and the seat rests between the seats are fixed and cannot be lifted.

8. What are bassinet seats?

Bassinet seats are designated seats on the aircraft, usually the bulkhead seats or rows, for passengers with infants. Most airlines have a detachable cot (or basket-like bed) to attach to the wall for infants to rest while the parent is seated right in front. This is based on a “first come, first served” basis and must be reserved/requested prior to the departure date as airlines also have specific age and weight restrictions.

9. What is a jet bridge?

The jet bridge is an enclosed, movable connector that is extended from the airport to the aircraft that allows passengers to embark and disembark.

10. What is a layover flight?

A layover flight may also be known as a ‘connecting flight’. This means that the aircraft will make a stop en route and the passenger will have to disembark from one flight and then embark again. Is a layover the same as a stopover? It is, but a longer layover. We explain it further, so please continue reading our blog about ‘How do layovers work?’.

11. What is a stopover flight?

A stopover flight is a longer layover flight that may include a traveller (visa and travel restrictions may be required depending on the country) leaving the airport for sightseeing and then returning for their connecting flight. Also, check out some of our recommended airports for a stopover.

12. What is a nonstop flight?

A nonstop flight is one that does not require the aircraft to make any en-route stops. For example, a flight from Sydney to Paris that transfers a passenger from one airport to another is a “nonstop flight” when it does not make any stops between those two airports. What is the difference between nonstop vs direct flights?

13. What is a codeshare flight?

A codeshare flight is a flight that is marketed by one airline but operated by another. The agreement between two or more airlines allows the carrier to share its two-letter identification code on the flight schedules of others. Travellers are able to fly on multiple airlines with a single ticket while earning rewards or air miles under the partnership agreement.

14. What are airline partners or airline alliances?

Airline partners or ‘airline alliances‘ are formed when airlines form special partnerships between two or more carriers to offer their respective loyal customers a better travel experience. For example, airlines have agreements allowing travellers to earn loyalty points while flying on operated flights among the same alliance. Travellers can also enter specific airport lounges.

15. What are frequent flyer miles or frequent flyer programs?

Also known as a “FFP”, the frequent flyer program is a loyalty program provided by many airlines. Travellers who enroll in a FFP are able to accumulate points through their flights (mileage) or by purchasing goods and services in exchange for rewards.

16. What is a ‘no-show’? Travel Terms Every Traveller Should Know

A ‘no-show’ refers to when a passenger does not cancel their reservation and fails to show up for their confirmed flight in time. All flights scheduled on the same itinerary will also be cancelled without an option for a refund, losing the full ticket value. For the majority of the ticket rules, travellers have an option for a refund, the “no-show” penalty fee (varies per airline) will be deducted from the refund amount.

17. What are fare basis codes?

Fare basis codes are also known as ‘fare classes’. Airline tickets are associated with a special code of letters and numbers that categorizes the fare according to rules or restrictions set by the airline. For example, within the Economy class, various fare classes exist. Some allow for more reward mileage, exempt airline penalty fees for making changes to the itinerary, etc.

18. What is a flexible travel option or flexible ticket?

A flexible ticket is a new flexible option offered by the airlines in lieu of the recent COVID-19 outbreak when it comes to changing or rebooking their travel.

19. What are blackout dates?

Blackout dates are dates identified by the airline that is exempted from special flight promotions. For example, special sale fares are not available for flying during the high-peak season. This also applies to redeeming specific airline rewards, such as exchanging your earned mileage for a free flight, the airline may provide their frequent flyers with specific dates on which these rewards cannot be redeemed.

20. What is a travel bubble?

Travel bubbles form when two or more countries decide to open their borders to one another without having to need further quarantine measures. However, certain travel requirements, such as requesting a negative coronavirus test within 72 hrs of the flight may still be required at the time of check-in. Luckily, the pandemic is behind us.

21. What is an open-jaw ticket?

An open-jaw ticket is a round trip itinerary when the origin or destination is not the same on either the outbound and return sectors or both: For example, the three types of open-jaw situations are as follows:

1. Destination Open-jaw: departs from CITY A to CITY B, then returns from CITY C back to CITY A
2. Origin Open-jaw: departs from CITY A to CITY B, then returns to CITY B from CITY C
3. Double Open-jaw: departs from CITY A to CITY B, then returns CITY C to CITY D

Useful travel terms that will benefit your travel experience

Although these are some of the basic terms that are being used in the travel industry, we hope our list of these essential travel lingos has helped provide you with some clarification for your next adventure. Now that you’re a savvy traveller, where would your next travel destination be?

Whenever the time comes for you to book your next flight, don’t forget to check out the best flight deals on Expedia.