What do flight times mean?

There are many definitions of 'flight time' in the aviation world, but the most common agreed upon definition is that flight time commences the moment that an aircraft moves under its own power for the purpose of flight and ends when the aircraft comes to rest after landing.



In the aviation industry of 2026, "flight times" refer specifically to "Gate-to-Gate" duration rather than actual time spent in the air. The Departure Time listed on your ticket is the moment the aircraft is scheduled to "push back" from the gate, not the time it lifts off the runway. Similarly, the Arrival Time is when the aircraft is scheduled to reach its destination gate and set the parking brake, not when the wheels touch the ground. This distinction is vital for 2026 travelers because "taxi time"—the period spent moving on the ground at busy hubs like JFK or Heathrow—can add 20 to 40 minutes to the total journey. Airlines build this "buffer" into their schedules to maintain on-time statistics. When a pilot says, "Our flight time today is 4 hours," they are usually referring to the "air time," but your total scheduled "block time" will be longer to account for ground maneuvers and potential traffic delays.

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All departure and landing times are shown in local time. For example, if you book a flight from Hong Kong to New York that takes off at 19:00, Wednesday and lands at 11:00 Thursday, then you'll depart at 19:00 Hong Kong time on Wednesday and arrive at 11:00 New York time on Thursday.

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For many airports, the most busy time of operation is during the workday (between 8 am and 5 pm). Crowds often begin tapering off around 6 pm with some of the least busy times being in the late evening. If it's at all possible to leave in the evening, we recommend taking a flight at around 9:30 pm or later.

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The accuracy of the arrival time varies; it's generally better at a major airport (often within a minute) than out in the boonies (can be ~15 minutes off). You can check the altitude in the tracklog to get an idea of how reasonable the arrival time is.

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August 25, 2023 | Travel Pedia. The 24-hour rule is a regulation from the US Department of Transportation that says airlines must offer either free 24-hour price hold (so you can lock in the price and purchase within 24 hours) or free cancellation for 24 hours.

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Flight time is total time an aircraft charter is in flight, from the point of takeoff to landing. This also includes the time the aircraft spends taxiing to and from the runway.

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According to the Department of Transportation (DOT), there are tarmac delay rules that US airlines must follow: Carriers are not allowed to hold a domestic flight on the tarmac for more than three hours and an international flight for more than four hours, barring a couple of exceptions (like if the pilot deems it's ...

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While it's important to note that the best day of the week to fly varies based on the route, typically, the best days of the week to fly are Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The general rule is that mid-week flights will be cheaper and quieter.

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According to Google, it's cheaper to fly in the middle of the week, rather than on the weekend. Flights that take off between Monday and Wednesday can be between 12% and 20% cheaper than weekend flights. Sundays are an expensive day to depart, Google says.

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The Spirit boarding zones Zone 1: Gold elite members. Zone 2: Silver elite members, those who have purchased shortcut boarding or carry-on bags and co-branded credit card holders. Zone 3: Passengers sitting at the rear of the plane. Zone 4: Passengers sitting at the front of the plane.

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Each line on an FIDS indicates a different flight number accompanied by:
  1. the airline name/logo and/or its IATA or ICAO airline designator (can also include names/logos of interlining/codesharing airlines or partner airlines, e.g. HX252/BR2898.)
  2. the city of origin or destination, and any intermediate points.


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Currently, the bragging rights for the longest flight in the world belong to Singapore Airlines' New York City to Singapore route. Its longest flight path, which connects Singapore's Changi Airport with New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, 9,585 miles away, takes 18 hours and 40 minutes.

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Yes! You can reserve a flight without paying for it in advance. Book now pay later plan allows you to pay for your flight booking in easy monthly installments. Interest rates may vary.

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If you purchased a round-trip flight and need to change the first leg to a different day, your best bet will likely be to pay the change fee and book a new flight. If you only need to change the return portion of a round trip, however, it may be cheaper to book a new one-way flight than to pay the cancellation fee.

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If airlines cancel a flight for any reason, passengers are legally entitled to a full refund, including for ticket price, taxes, baggage fees, extra charges and ancillary fees. Travelers must receive that refund within seven business days if they paid by credit card, and within 20 days if by cash or check.

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