Re: Flighhts: "direct" vs "non-stop"

[Mary Barnes <[e-mail]>]

For me a direct flight is always a non-stop flight, so yes I do use the
terms interchangeably.

On Mon, Aug 6, 2012 at 11:12 AM, Barry Leiba <[e-mail]>wrote:

> I've discussed this with many people, including many who fly a lot, and I
> find it's often misunderstood.  I've seen it again in the current travel
> threads on this list.  So:
>
> A "direct flight" is not the same as a "non-stop flight".  If you're
> talking about a flight that goes from airport ABC to airport QRS, making no
> stops along the way, it's a non-stop flight from ABC to QRS.
>
> A "direct flight" from ABC to QRS, is a flight that has one flight
> number... but that flight might make stops, and could even involve a change
> of planes.  It's possible for flight ZX 1042 to be "direct from Podunk to
> Shanghai", and to have it be a puddle-jumper from Podunk to Chicago, have
> you change to a 757 there, go on to SFO to pick up more passengers, and
> then continue to Shanghai.  As long as it's ZX 1042 all the way, that
> flight with two stops is "direct".
>
> All non-stop flights are direct flights.
> Not all direct flights are non-stop.
>
> And, yes, even travel agents and airline booking personnel sometimes use
> these terms interchangably.  If you're offered a direct flight, make sure
> to confirm whether it's "non-stop".
>
> Barry
>