Ever stumbled upon a jaw-droppingly cheap flight deal—only to realize it departs from a city hundreds of miles away from you? Yeah, same here. Welcome to the wonderful, slightly sneaky world of positioning flights—the ultimate travel hack that frequent flyers and airline nerds have been using for years to save serious cash.

While most people search for flights from their home airport, savvy travelers know that starting elsewhere can unlock fares that are sometimes half the price. How? By using a separate, often much cheaper flight—called a positioning flight—to get to a “gateway airport” with better deals.

In this guide, we’ll break down how positioning flights work, why they save you money, which airports offer the biggest savings, and how to book them like a pro. Whether you’re planning a dream trip or just want to travel more for less, this trick might change the way you fly forever.

Let’s dive into the strategy that turns budget travel into a first-class experience.

What Are Positioning Flights?

A positioning flight is a separate, usually short-haul flight you book to get yourself to a different airport—often in another city or country—where a much cheaper or better long-haul flight departs from. Instead of booking a trip from your home airport to your destination in one go, you break it up into two parts: the positioning flight, and the main (often international) flight.

Let’s say you live in Amsterdam and want to fly to New York. The direct flight from AMS might cost €700. But that same flight from Dublin could cost just €400. So, you book a cheap separate ticket from Amsterdam to Dublin (your positioning flight), and then catch the long-haul flight to New York from there. Even after paying for both flights, you’re saving money—and sometimes flying a better airline or even getting better timings.

Positioning flights are all about flexibility. They let you take advantage of airline pricing quirks, regional fare differences, and competitive hubs that offer lower prices. It’s a strategy many casual travelers don’t think of, but once you understand how it works, you’ll start seeing opportunities everywhere.

It’s not just for budget backpackers either—plenty of business travelers and luxury deal hunters use this method to score premium cabin tickets for way less than retail.

Why Positioning Flights Can Save You Hundreds

Airfare pricing isn’t always logical—it’s based on complex algorithms, market demand, competition between hubs, and even local purchasing power. This is exactly why positioning flights work so well: you’re taking advantage of price gaps that most travelers never even notice.

Let’s say an airline is trying to compete aggressively on routes from Copenhagen. They might offer a deal like €350 round-trip to Los Angeles. That same airline might charge €650 for the same flight out of Brussels, purely because they don’t need to discount there. But if you’re willing to book a cheap separate flight to Copenhagen first, you can save hundreds of euros—just by changing your starting point.

Airlines also run regional promotions, loyalty fare deals, or use low-cost carriers to funnel traffic through specific gateways. As a result, cities like Dublin, Oslo, Milan, and even Istanbul often have far better long-haul pricing than their neighbors. And if you live somewhere like Amsterdam, Frankfurt, or Paris—major cities where fares are usually more expensive—you might actually get a better deal by leaving from somewhere “less convenient.”

By booking a separate flight to one of these cheaper gateways, you unlock access to lower fares that were never shown to you when searching from your home airport. It feels like you’re gaming the system—and in a way, you are.

Of course, not every route justifies a positioning flight. But on long-haul trips—especially to North America or Asia—the savings can be dramatic.

How to Find and Book Positioning Flights

The key to successfully using positioning flights is research. You’re essentially building your own two-leg journey, so you’ll want to compare routes, prices, timing, and risk. Luckily, there are tools that make this process easier than ever.

Start with Google Flights. It’s one of the best tools for spotting pricing differences between departure cities. Just enter your destination and experiment with different origins—Dublin, Oslo, Milan, Paris, Frankfurt, etc. You’ll quickly spot patterns and cheaper cities. Use the “explore” map to scan Europe (or your region) for cheap long-haul deals.

Once you’ve found a gateway city with a great deal, it’s time to find a way to get there. This is your positioning flight. Use Skyscanner, Kiwi, or even Ryanair and EasyJet directly to find cheap one-way tickets. Just make sure you allow enough time between flights—ideally 4+ hours, or even an overnight layover—to protect yourself from delays.

Here’s a simple step-by-step:

1. Search long-haul flights from alternative departure cities using Google Flights or Skyscanner.
2. Find the best price + airport combo (e.g., Dublin to NYC for €400).
3. Search for a separate flight from your home city to that airport (e.g., Amsterdam to Dublin for €50).
4. Book both flights separately, and make sure you’re flying carry-on only, if possible.
5. Add margin—either with a generous layover or a night in the positioning city—so you don’t miss the main flight if there’s a delay.

You can also use sites like Secret Flying, Fly4Free, or The Flight Deal to spot discounted gateway fares before reverse-engineering your positioning leg.

It takes a bit more effort than booking one round-trip ticket—but the savings, flexibility, and even the chance to explore an extra city make it well worth it.

The Best Gateway Airports for Positioning Flights

Not all airports are created equal—some are goldmines for cheap long-haul flights. These are the places where airlines compete hardest, where low-cost carriers dominate short-haul routes, or where taxes and fees are significantly lower. That’s what makes them perfect for positioning flights.

Here are some of the most consistently reliable gateway airports in Europe and beyond:

1. Dublin (DUB), Ireland

A fan favorite. Ireland has lower departure taxes, and carriers like Aer Lingus and even U.S. airlines often offer deeply discounted fares from here—especially to North America.

2. Oslo (OSL) and Stockholm (ARN), Scandinavia

Norwegian and SAS frequently push out excellent long-haul deals. Oslo in particular is a common “positioning secret” because of its surprisingly low transatlantic fares.

3. Milan (MXP), Italy

Thanks to budget carriers and competition, Milan regularly shows up with cheap flights to Asia and the U.S. Emirates, Qatar Airways, and others often discount here too.

4. Brussels (BRU), Belgium

A central hub that sees aggressive pricing to North America and Africa. It’s often cheaper than Paris or Amsterdam, even though they’re geographically close.

5. Istanbul (IST/SAW), Turkey

Turkish Airlines makes this a powerful hub for Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. It’s a bit further, but sometimes worth the detour.

6. London Gatwick (LGW) and Heathrow (LHR)

Not always the cheapest, but due to the sheer volume of flights, flash sales happen regularly—especially for U.S. destinations.

7. Frankfurt (FRA) and Munich (MUC), Germany

Great for positioning into Lufthansa’s network. Watch for deals to Asia and South America.

These airports often benefit from regional subsidies, airline competition, or favorable tax structures—all of which lead to cheaper international flights. If you’re flexible with your departure city, keeping these hubs on your radar can pay off big.

One tip: create Google Flights “price alerts” from these hubs to your target destination. You’ll get notified when fares drop and can then plan your positioning flight accordingly.

What to Watch Out For (Risks & Pro Tips)

Positioning flights can unlock major savings, but they come with a few extra moving parts. Since you’re booking separate tickets, you’re also accepting more responsibility. Here’s what to be aware of—and how to stay ahead of the risks.

1. Missed Connections Aren’t Covered

Your positioning flight and your long-haul flight are usually on separate tickets. That means if your first flight is delayed and you miss the second one, the airline won’t rebook you for free. To avoid this, always leave a generous buffer between flights. Four hours is the bare minimum; overnight stays are even better.

2. Checked Baggage Can Get Complicated

If you’re checking bags, you’ll need to collect them at the gateway airport and re-check them for your long-haul flight. That adds time and stress. The best way around this? Travel carry-on only. If you must check luggage, make sure your layover is long enough to handle it.

3. Visa or Entry Requirements

If your positioning airport is in a different country, make sure you’re allowed to enter it. You’ll likely have to pass through passport control and customs between flights. Schengen rules, for example, still apply—so double-check entry requirements if you’re a non-EU traveler.

4. Two Bookings = Two Cancellation Policies

If your plans change, you may be stuck with two sets of rebooking fees or change restrictions. That’s why many experienced travelers use flexible fare options—or book the positioning flight last, once the main flight is locked in.

5. Don’t Forget Travel Insurance

Since you’re assuming more risk, travel insurance is worth considering—especially one that covers missed connections on separate tickets.

Pro Tip:

Want peace of mind? Book your positioning flight a day early and turn your gateway city into a bonus mini-trip. Stay overnight, enjoy a good meal, and head to the airport relaxed the next day. It’s the safest way to do it—and honestly, it makes the whole experience better.

Real Example: How I Flew to Asia and Saved €400

A few months ago, I was planning a trip to Bangkok from Amsterdam. I was ready to book the usual round-trip fare—until I noticed something weird. The same airline was offering the exact same flight from Milan for over €400 less.

At first, I assumed it was a glitch. But after a bit of digging, I realized Milan was one of those golden “gateway” cities offering better deals on long-haul routes to Southeast Asia. So, I got creative.

Instead of flying directly from Amsterdam to Bangkok, I booked a cheap one-way flight from Amsterdam to Milan with EasyJet—€39, no bags. I scheduled it the night before my long-haul flight, grabbed a pizza in the city, and stayed at a cheap airport hotel. The next morning, I hopped on my €380 Qatar Airways flight to Bangkok, with a short layover in Doha.

All-in cost? Just under €470.

Compare that to the €850 I was originally looking at for a direct ticket from Amsterdam—and I got better timing, a better airline, and a mini night in Milan to boot.

That’s the magic of positioning flights. It felt like I cracked some kind of travel cheat code. Once you experience a win like that, it’s hard to go back to “normal” booking.

Travel Smarter, Not Harder

Positioning flights aren’t some insider-only trick anymore—they’re a smart, flexible strategy that anyone can use to travel better for less. Whether you’re trying to score a business class seat for economy prices, stretch your vacation budget further, or just beat the airlines at their own game, this tactic opens up a world of new possibilities.

Sure, it takes a bit of extra planning. But the payoff? Often hundreds in savings, better flight routes, and the chance to explore a new city on the way. And once you start thinking this way, you’ll notice just how often airlines overcharge for convenience—and how easy it is to outsmart them.

Next time you’re booking a long-haul trip, don’t just search from your home airport out of habit. Play around. Explore the map. Use tools like Google Flights to see what other gateways have to offer. With the right combination of timing and creativity, positioning flights could become your new favorite travel move.

Don’t stop here and check out more of our epic Travel Hacks!