Fifth-freedom routes: Traveling with leading international airlines without ever entering their home countries

Fifth-freedom routes present a fascinating aspect of air travel that allows North American travelers to enjoy premium aircraft and service, often at a lower cost. Have you ever booked a flight from the U.S. to Europe, only to discover that an Asian or Middle Eastern airline operated it? If so, you might have encountered a fifth-freedom flight.

In technical terms, a fifth-freedom flight is one where a carrier operates between two countries that are not its home base. These routes usually serve to link those markets to the airline's primary country. For instance, Emirates operates an Airbus A380 from Christchurch International Airport (CHC) in New Zealand to Sydney Airport (SYD) in Australia, with that same flight continuing on to Dubai International Airport (DXB).

There are multiple reasons an airline might opt for this approach. Factors such as distance (considering Dubai to Sydney is already a 14-hour journey), attracting passengers in new markets, and optimizing aircraft usage are some potential motivations.

Numerous fifth-freedom routes operate globally, but here are some of the top options for North American travelers to explore, along with tips on how to book them using points and miles.

Travel from New York to Milan and Athens, Greece, with Emirates

Experiencing Emirates' first class is one of the most sought-after bucket-list adventures imaginable. Fortunately, you don't need to travel to Dubai to enjoy it.

Emirates runs two fifth-freedom routes from the New York area to Europe, including flights from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) and from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Athens International Airport (ATH) in Greece. The Milan route features the Airbus A380, which includes an onboard bar and showers, while the Athens service is operated by the Boeing 777. Both flights continue on to Dubai after their stop in Europe.

Furthermore, Emirates provides service from DXB to Mexico City International Airport (MEX). Due to the long distance and the altitude of MEX, this flight makes a stop at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) in both directions, creating another fifth-freedom route. Notably, this is the only North American fifth-freedom route operated by Emirates that lacks a first-class cabin—the Boeing 777-200LR used for this route offers only business class.

A thrilling new addition to the Emirates route network is the latest fifth-freedom connection from Miami International Airport (MIA) to El Dorado International Airport (BOG) in Bogotá, Colombia, operated by a Boeing 777. This aircraft features a first-class cabin, making it an excellent opportunity to experience the renowned Emirates service on a short journey.

For a comprehensive guide on the best strategies to book awards on Emirates, check out our detailed walkthrough. Generally, you'll want to focus on two key currencies: Emirates' own Skywards program and Air Canada Aeroplan. Both are transfer partners of American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One miles, and Marriott Bonvoy.

To give you an idea of what to expect in terms of pricing, here are the redemption rates for Emirates flights from JFK to MXP:

Travel from the US to Europe or Asia with Singapore Airlines

Until Singapore reintroduced the world’s longest flight from Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) to EWR, the airline had a solid reason for its extensive array of North American fifth-freedom routes. Aside from the Airbus A350-900ULR, most planes cannot reach many U.S. cities from Singapore without refueling. While the airline has made some adjustments to its transpacific routes over the years, Singapore currently operates the following fifth-freedom routes from the U.S.:

• JFK to Frankfurt Airport (FRA) on the Boeing 777-300ER
• George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston to Manchester Airport (MAN) in the UK on the Airbus A350
• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Narita International Airport (NRT) in Tokyo on the Boeing 777-300ER

If you’re aiming to fly in economy class, you can book with Star Alliance partners such as United MileagePlus and Aeroplan. However, if you wish to fly in premium cabins, Singapore does not provide award space for its partners, so you’ll need to book through the Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer program.

Fortunately, earning these miles is straightforward, as KrisFlyer partners with all five major transferable points currencies: Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Capital One, and Marriott Bonvoy.

One-way saver awards are priced as follows:

Keep in mind that booking through KrisFlyer allows you to waitlist for award tickets if your preferred flight and/or class of service isn’t available at the time you make your reservation.

Travel from Los Angeles or Seattle to Paris with Air Tahiti Nui

This fifth-freedom option connects French Polynesia with mainland France, allowing you to fly from LAX or Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) on Air Tahiti Nui's Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

As per the American Airlines' partner award chart, if you wish to fly Air Tahiti Nui to Paris, the mileage rates begin at 30,000 miles for economy, 40,000 miles for premium economy, and 57,500 miles for business class.

Travel from Newark or Washington, DC, to Togo with Ethiopian Airlines

Unfortunately, Ethiopian Airlines has discontinued its service between LAX and Dublin Airport (DUB), but it continues to operate a fifth-freedom flight from EWR and Dulles International Airport (IAD) near Washington, D.C., to Lome—Tokoin International Airport (LFW) in Togo.

As a member of Star Alliance, you can book this flight to West Africa using points and miles. If you go through Aeroplan, you'll require only 40,000 points for economy or 70,000 points for business class, which is a great value for an almost 10-hour journey.

Ways to accumulate points and miles for booking fifth-freedom flights

Earning points and miles to transfer to the above programs for booking fifth-freedom flights is quite straightforward. Amex, Capital One, and Chase points all convert to Air Canada Aeroplan and Singapore KrisFlyer at a 1:1 ratio.

Here are some of the top credit cards currently available that come with attractive welcome bonuses:

• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
• The Platinum Card® from American Express
• American Express® Gold Card
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
• Chase Sapphire Reserve®

In summary

Fifth-freedom routes aren't just for aviation enthusiasts. Under the right conditions, they can offer unique advantages for North American travelers. The international airlines operating these routes often provide a significantly better inflight experience than many American carriers, even in economy class.

When flying from New York to Frankfurt, why would you choose an outdated Boeing 767 from United Airlines or Delta Air Lines when Singapore Airlines offers a modern and roomy Airbus A380 on the same route?

Don't restrict yourself while planning your next adventure. Instead, think about using your hard-earned points and miles for one of these unique routes.