Use fifth-freedom flights to save on international travel

(NewsNation) — Airports are preparing for what could be the busiest Fourth of July travel season as AAA reported that 70 million people are expected to travel this year, 8% higher than prepandemic levels in 2019.

Peak summer travel and expensive airline tickets have many Americans struggling to find affordable options, especially for international trips. However, it’s still possible with what the industry calls “secret flights,” also called fifth-freedom flights.

What are fifth-freedom flights?

A fifth-freedom flight is a route in which a carrier from a specific country flies passengers between two other nations that are not its home base.

NewsNation’s travel editor Peter Greenberg told “Morning in America” Tuesday that these flights have been around for 30 years.

He emphasized that while these flights aren’t typically advertised on travel websites like Expedia, they can offer significant savings on airfare, provided travelers are willing to do a bit of extra research.

For example, Greenberg highlighted someone looking to travel from New York to Milan could secure a $512 flight on Emirates, a Dubai-based airline, instead of flying on a U.S.-based carrier.

He noted that Emirates files an A380 aircraft on this route, flying from New York to Milan and continuing on to Dubai, but these flights are open to general passengers.

Where to find fifth-freedom flights

Greenberg said Official Airline Guide publishes information on flights worldwide. Travelers can view this guide to find flights based on specific city pairs, such as New York to Milan, which may not appear on mainstream travel websites.

He advised travelers to break from relying solely on popular travel sites and consider using independent resources like Official Airline Guide. Alternatively, checking directly on websites like Emirates or Turkish Airlines can also help travelers find better deals.