What The Heck Is A “Positioning Flight?” (And Why You Should Care)

A positioning flight is a separate, usually inexpensive, one-way ticket that gets you to a major airport where your main international flight begins. A lot of small towns (and even large ones) are airport deserts - or more accurately called a spoke airport. They’re tough to reach and leave from directly. An example is Edmonton, AB (a city of 1M+). It’s usually not possible to fly directly to the place you want to go, so you can use a positioning flight instead to get to a better hub.

Example:

Instead of booking Edmonton to Tokyo on a single ticket, you might fly Edmonton → Seattle on WestJet for $120, then Seattle → Tokyo in business class (often for half the cost). This strategy can significantly reduce travel costs while unlocking better routes, seats, and perks.

Why Positioning Flights Work

1. Lower Overall Prices

• Booking two separate legs (short-haul + long-haul) often beats single-ticket fares
• Major hubs have more competition, which leads to better deals
• Ideal for cost-conscious travelers and business flyers

2. Better Award Seat Access

• Premium cabin redemptions often originate from large airports like YVR, YYZ, SEA, or LAX
• Deals & sales appear here more frequently

3. Improved Travel Experience

• Avoid regional jets and access full-service aircraft with lie-flat seats
• Enjoy better lounges and elite benefits offered at hub airports

How to Book a Positioning Flight

• Use Google Flights to find international fare deals from major hubs
• Search for a separate, cheap domestic flight to connect you to that hub
• Leave sufficient time between flights in case of delays

Positioning flights are a smart, repeatable tactic for:

• Saving money on long-haul airfare
• Accessing better flight products and award space
• Gaining flexibility by leveraging major hub pricing

Bottom line: mastering positioning flights lets you snag cheap long-haul fares, unlock premium cabins, and gives you a repeatable win.