Jack's Ultimate Travel Glossary

Ever seen a word or phrase on Google Flights, your booking confirmation, or even in one of our Flight emails and thought… ‘What on earth does that mean?’

Well, we’re here to help demystify the key travel terms you might stumble upon, and hopefully answer some of your questions! So, let’s get started:

24-hour rule

The 24-hour rule gives passengers the ability to cancel a flight booking for free, so long as it is at least seven days before departure, and was booked through the airline.

• What airlines have a 24-hour cancellation policy? Any airline flying to, from, or within the US must allow for a full refund within 24 hours of booking, due to a regulation from the US Department of Transportation.

Airline alliance

An airline alliance is an agreement between multiple airlines to share routes (code sharing), airport lounges, and allows travelers to earn frequent flier miles across all participating airlines.

• What are the top 3 airline alliances? The three major airline alliances are Oneworld, SkyTeam, and Star Alliance.
• What airlines are in Star Alliance? Star Alliance consists of 26 airlines, with the main member airlines being Austrian, Brussels Airlines, Air Canada, Lufthansa, SWISS, and United. Find a full list here.
• What airlines are in Oneworld? Oneworld has 15 airlines, with the main member airlines being British Airways, American, Alaska Airlines, Finnair, and Iberia. Find a full list here.
• What airlines are in SkyTeam? SkyTeam is made up of 18 airlines (and 1 suspended member); the main member airlines are KLM, Air France, Delta Air Lines, and Aeromexico. Find a full list here.

Budget airline/low-cost carrier

A budget airline (or low-cost carrier) is an airline that includes little to no extras in their base fares, with full-size cabin bags or in-flight meals coming at an additional cost.

• What airlines are budget airlines? The main budget airlines in Europe are Ryanair and easyJet, and in North America, Frontier Airlines and Allegiant Air are the main two.

Bulkhead seat

A bulkhead seat is a seat situated behind any wall on a plane, e.g., on the front row, or behind the galley or toilet.

• Is a bulkhead seat worth paying extra? For some travelers, yes. They usually come with extra legroom since there’s no seat in front — no need to worry about someone reclining on you! 
• What are the disadvantages of a bulkhead seat? You’ll have to store all your items in the overhead compartments since there’s no seat in front, and armrests are usually not movable.

Codeshare

A codeshare is an agreement where one airline operates a flight, but its partner airlines also sell seats on that same flight using their own flight numbers.

• What are the benefits of codeshare flights? Codeshares allow you to combine flights with different airlines in one booking, which makes the booking and check-in process much easier.
• How do I know if a flight is a codeshare? Your booking confirmation may say “Operated by [airline],” or show multiple flight numbers for the same flight.

Error fare

An error fare is when an airline or booking system incorrectly prices a fare, offering a huge discount to the normal fare price.

• Is it okay to book an error fare? Generally yes, but there are a couple of things that you should/shouldn’t do when you spot one. Find our top tips here.

Exit row seat

An exit row seat is a seat that’s next to one of an aircraft’s emergency exits.

• Is the exit row a good seat? An exit row seat is great value with extra legroom, but it’s worth noting that you may need to be able to help the crew should the worst happen — that’s why you usually must be over 16 and able-bodied to book these seats.

Fifth freedom flight

A fifth freedom flight is a commercial route where an airline flies between two countries, neither of which are the airline’s home country.

• What’s an example of a fifth freedom route? Sydney (SYD) to Christchurch (CHC) with Emirates, Oslo (OSL) to Stockholm (ARN) with Ethiopian Airlines, and New York (JFK) to Frankfurt (FRA) with Singapore Airlines.
• Are there any benefits? It’s often a chance to have a more premium experience on a short-haul route with better in-flight service, more inclusions in your base fare, and larger planes. Having flown the Emirates route between Sydney and Christchurch on an A380, I can vouch it’s well worth it!

Full-service airline 

A full-service airline has additional extras in their base fares like checked baggage, entertainment, and a snack or meal on board.

• What airlines are full-service? Examples of full-service airlines include Emirates, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, EVA Air, and Garuda Indonesia.

Multi-city flight

A multi-city flight is a type of airline ticket that includes multiple flights to multiple different places in just one booking.

• How do I book a multi-city flight? You’re able to find and book multi-city flights quite easily through Google Flights or an airline’s website. Find our full how-to guide here.

Open-jaw flight

An open-jaw flight is a return ticket where you fly into one city and out of a different one, so you don’t return from the airport you initially landed in.

• Why? An example would be if someone was planning to do a road trip along the coast of Australia, they could book to fly into Melbourne, and home from Brisbane — thus driving the distance between the two during their trip.
• Is open-jaw more expensive? Generally no, it usually works out cheaper than if you were to book two one-way flights.

Peak season 

Peak season (or high season) is a destination’s busiest and most popular time of year for tourists, usually coinciding with its dry season.

• Downside? Flight prices tend to run higher during the peak season because of the increase in demand, and you’ll likely pay more for hotel stays and tours too.

Self-transfer

Self-transfer is where you book two separate tickets with different airlines (or the same in some cases), rather than a single ticket that takes you from A to B.

• Is self-transfer worth it? Self-transfer is a good idea for travelers who want to save money, are traveling light, and have a good amount of time between flights.

Shoulder season 

Shoulder season is the middle ground between a destination’s peak (high) and off-peak (low) season.

• Is it worth it? Absolutely, you’ll get the best of both worlds by visiting at this time of year, with cheaper flight prices and fewer crowds than in the peak season, while still having nice weather.

Stopover

A stopover is a program many airlines offer (and usually for free!) to help you break up a long journey by spending 1–10 days in their home city.

• What airlines offer stopover programs? There are many, but Icelandair, Turkish Airlines, Etihad Airways, TAP Air Portugal, Qatar Airways, and Singapore Airlines have some of the best stopover programs.
• What are the usual perks? Airlines like Etihad Airways and Turkish Airlines offer free hotel stays, while others like Singapore Airlines and TAP Air Portugal offer discounts on hotels, as well as attractions and restaurants.

Transit visa 

A transit visa is a document that allows a traveler to pass through a country, but not stay there.

• Do I need a transit visa? This depends entirely on the passport you’re traveling on, the transit country, and whether you plan to leave the airport. You’re best checking with your local government for up-to-date information.

We hope that’s helped clear things up for you! Still got a burning question or an industry term that goes over your head? Feel free to comment below and we’ll get it answered for you :-)