No major airport nearby? Here’s how seasoned travelers still land incredible flight deals

In-the-know travelers realize that scoring a fantastic mistake fare or an astonishingly good flight deal can be nearly as thrilling as the journey itself. But have you ever considered how those living far from major airports manage to access these amazing offers?

For those in smaller towns and rural areas, booking positioning flights is the hidden gem you should always remember. At times, it can be worthwhile to purchase a completely separate round-trip ticket just to reach the departure airport of the flight deal.

Here’s all you need to understand about positioning flights and how to leverage them for your next big adventure.

What exactly is a positioning flight?

The term positioning flights can mean different things based on whom you ask. In the realm of commercial aviation, airlines utilize positioning flights to move an aircraft from one location to the next airport in its itinerary, typically without any passengers aboard. For everyday travelers, a positioning flight refers to a flight that takes you from your current location to the airport where your main itinerary starts.

When it comes to positioning flights, your aim is often to reduce your overall travel expenses or to gain more flexibility in your travel plans. Most major airlines can assist you in pricing an itinerary that takes you from point A to any point B you desire. However, this convenience often comes at a premium—sometimes a significant markup—because you're ticketing every flight with the same airline and its partners. By opting for a positioning flight, you are exchanging the ease of a single ticket for potential savings and greater schedule flexibility.

A positioning flight can be either domestic or international. For instance, in July 2019, a round-trip ticket from Austin to Santorini, Greece, for my best friend's wedding would have set me back $3,800 or 160,000 United MileagePlus miles. Instead, I found a more affordable option by booking a low-cost international positioning flight from Austin to Frankfurt, followed by a separate ticket from Germany to Greece.

In a similar vein, I secured an inexpensive Southwest round-trip award ticket to Los Angeles to set myself up for an incredible $250 mistake fare journey to New Zealand in 2016.

When is it worthwhile to book a positioning flight?

If you're near a major airport hub, you might not need this guide. But for those of us who aren’t, booking positioning flights can truly change the game.

Consider booking a positioning flight in the following scenarios:

• When a fantastic flight deal is accessible only from certain cities.
• If booking your main flights from another airport offers significant savings.
• If driving to the major airport for the flight deal is too much hassle.
• If you wish to explore another destination on the way without being restricted by layover rules.

Keep the following in mind when booking a positioning flight:

• Allow ample connection time; juggling multiple tickets increases the risk of missing your flight, leaving you ineligible for a refund or free changes.
• Verify your travel dates carefully. If you make an error, your primary airline won’t be responsible for fixing it.
• Any checked luggage must be collected and rechecked (with additional fees, if applicable) when switching tickets.

When a fantastic flight deal is accessible only from certain locations

Some flight deals are exclusive to particular city pairs, such as my mistake fare journey to New Zealand in 2016. In such cases, I prefer using Google Flights to explore my options.

Changing my departure airport from Los Angeles to Austin increased my round-trip cost from $250 to $1,284. Since round-trip fares from Austin to Los Angeles typically cost much less than $1,034, I opted to book a positioning flight and grab the mistake fare deal as it was.

The best flight deals disappear almost instantly, and you often find yourself vying with countless other travel enthusiasts for a limited number of seats. Now that you're aware of positioning flights, you can take it easy the next time you receive a deal alert for an amazing fare: Secure your booking from the suggested airport to catch the deal, and then figure out your travel arrangements later.

If you seek maximum flexibility in your schedule

When exploring a new or distant location, it often makes sense to enhance your experiences while you’re there. Booking positioning flights enables you to leverage existing travel, such as a cruise, and add a few extra hours or days of adventure without the stress of airline change fees. A positioning flight gives you the freedom to choose how and where to spend your additional time.

During my trip to Santorini, arranging my own positioning flight home from Europe allowed me to visit both Athens and London after the wedding. I was relieved not to be tied to an itinerary I had mindlessly booked months in advance.

Be cautious of scheduling mistakes and missed connections

The main drawback of positioning flights is the added inconvenience. When you fly on a multi-stop itinerary booked under a single reservation, your airline is typically responsible for rebooking you at no charge if you miss subsequent flights for reasons like weather delays. However, when you have two separate itineraries, the airlines bear no responsibility to assist if you misconnect.

For instance, if your positioning flight is delayed enough to cause you to miss your next flight, the airline may impose a substantial fee to get you on the next available flight — or you might have to forfeit your ticket entirely.

Most travel experts recommend scheduling your positioning flight to reach your connecting airport at least several hours ahead of time — sometimes even a day or two in advance. This also allows you the opportunity to explore your departure city. At the very least, ensure you have enough buffer time to accommodate potential mechanical issues or weather-related disruptions.

When I traveled to New Zealand for $250, my flight was set to leave from Los Angeles after dinner. Nevertheless, I opted to book a relatively early positioning flight from Austin to Los Angeles. This gave me ample time to rent a Mustang convertible, explore the city, relax, and enjoy a nice dinner before boarding a 13-hour red-eye to Auckland.

If you tend to be a nervous traveler, it may be wise to purchase an independent travel insurance plan for your journey. Should you miss your self-booked connecting flights, your insurance might cover any additional expenses.

As a final precaution, verify your travel times and dates to ensure you’ve accounted for all time zones, date changes, daylight saving adjustments, and other scheduling hurdles. I like to enter each flight into a digital calendar tool to visually map out the buffer time I've set aside for myself. Travel apps like TripIt can also assist you in visualizing your travel plans in real-time.

How can I locate the best positioning flight?

Planning a positioning flight mirrors the process of arranging any other flight from home to your destination. Start by identifying the most suitable airport for your arrival, then compare prices to determine whether it's more economical to pay out of pocket or use points.

TPG has published numerous guides to aid your decision-making process:

• Utilize Google Flights to uncover the best cash deals.
• Refer to our guide on searching award availability for major airlines.
• Then employ TPG's calculator tool to figure out whether to spend cash or points for your flight.

There’s no strict guideline for deciding when to use cash versus points; it varies based on personal circumstances and current financial status. As a general principle, I prefer to pay cash when flight prices are low and rely on points or miles when cash fares are elevated.

If you're new to the world of points and miles, award flights aren't solely for high spenders with numerous credit cards. For most positioning flights, you won't require a large number of points or miles — and if you have small balances across various airlines, you can always book one-way flights on different carriers for added flexibility.

Which airlines are most suitable for positioning flights?

This largely depends on your location (or your preferred departure points). While I’m not a huge supporter of American Airlines, I have to admit their coverage, particularly in smaller towns, is impressive.

I reside in Austin, a midsize market. Fortunately, three major cities with larger airports are within a three-hour drive: Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio.

United Airlines is often a great choice for booking positioning flights because they have a hub in Houston, I hold United elite status, and I carry a premium United credit card. Additionally, I'm a big supporter of the Chase Ultimate Rewards program, which ensures I always have points ready to transfer to United whenever necessary.

However, Southwest is also one of my top airline choices for several reasons. When it comes to positioning flights, the airline provides:

• A wide range of routes across the U.S., as well as to Mexico and the Caribbean.
• No fees for changes or cancellations — making it very easy to adjust your itinerary on your own.
• Two complimentary checked bags, which is especially useful for international travel.
• Dynamic award pricing linked to the cash price of its tickets, often resulting in lower points expenditure on Southwest compared to other airlines.

In late 2018, I managed to secure $575 round-trip tickets for my first trip to Africa. However, the fares under $600 to Cape Town, South Africa, were exclusively available from major hubs.

Rather than driving 300 miles each way between Dallas and Austin, I opted for a $49 one-way Southwest flight from Austin to Los Angeles instead.

However, Southwest doesn't cover every market. Additionally, its alternative airports in Dallas and Houston can complicate my connections to my main itinerary.

If your goal is to minimize costs, budget airlines can be a great choice. Also known as low-cost carriers, these airlines include Spirit, Frontier, Ryanair, Scoot, and others. If you're new to flying with budget airlines, here are some tips to consider:

• Be prepared to pay extra for essentials like seat selection and baggage.
• Your protection from the airline for delays or other issues is very limited.
• Some challenges can be alleviated by using one of the best credit cards for low-cost carriers when booking your travel.

I advise against booking a positioning flight with a low-cost carrier unless you have significant flexibility and can arrive at your destination a day or two ahead of your next flight.

In summary

Positioning flights can expand your travel opportunities, especially if you reside in a location that isn't frequently included in direct flight promotions. Just remember to verify your itinerary, particularly regarding your connection times.