Fifth Freedom Flights: The Airline Loophole for Cheaper Fares and Nicer Seats

Ever heard of “fifth freedom flights” and “the freedoms of the air”? The latter may sound more like poetic prose than legal jargon, but this phrase—unbeknownst to most casual fliers—actually denotes the five official rights that make international air travel possible.

The first four are simple, essentially outlining an airline’s right to fly to (and pass over) other countries from, and on the way back to, its home country. So, for example, a United Airlines plane can fly passengers between New York and London, and pass through Canadian airspace along the way, all thanks to the first four freedoms of the air.

The fifth freedom, however, is far more interesting—and useful—for travelers. That’s because the rule makes it possible for an airline to fly between two countries when neither is its home base. Why should you care? Well, in addition to impressing your friends at trivia night, knowing about these fifth freedom routes can help you save money, earn points and miles, and have a more comfortable in-flight experience.

What are fifth freedom flights?

Fifth freedom flights carry passengers between two countries that are different from the home base of the airline operating the flight. These types of routes are allowed by aviation regulatory authorities as long as at least one segment of the flight begins or ends in the airline’s home country. For example, Emirates flies from New York JFK to Milan and from Newark to Athens, but both flights then continue on to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, where the carrier is based. Since US and European airlines also fly similar routes, the increased competition can result in some great deals on airfare.

Another example is KLM’s flights from its home base of Amsterdam to Santiago, Chile, with a stop in Buenos Aires. It can sell tickets from Amsterdam to either South American city, but also for the leg between Buenos Aires and Santiago. That segment is considered a fifth freedom flight because KLM is a Dutch airline selling tickets to passengers between two cities outside of the Netherlands.

These international carriers can at times offer a better in-flight product than local carriers. For instance, on the KLM flight between Buenos Aires and Santiago, travelers might be able to fly business class on a wide-body jet, an option not typically available on short-haul domestic routes.

How do airlines get a fifth freedom flight approved?

Before an airline can fly a new fifth freedom route, it must be approved by all three countries involved—which, as you can imagine, can result in lengthy negotiations. If approved, they can be a boon for international airlines looking to substantiate a new, long-distance flight by scheduling the aircraft with an extra stop along the way. Not every destination can fill a plane with passengers, so pairing up a route with another nearby city makes sense from an efficiency standpoint.