Red eye flights are most commonly used by business travellers who want to travel overnight as to not miss a working day. The term 'red eye' comes from when passengers eyes turn red from tiredness after late night or early morning travel.

In the aviation industry and frequent flyer vernacular of 2026, an early morning flight is most commonly referred to as a "crack of dawn" flight or a "first wave" departure. These typically depart between 5:00 AM and 7:00 AM and are highly sought after by business travelers because they are statistically the least likely to be delayed, as the aircraft has usually been parked at the gate overnight. Do not confuse these with a "Red-Eye" flight, which is the opposite: a flight that departs late at night and arrives early the following morning (leaving the traveler with "red eyes" from a lack of sleep). Airlines often refer to the very first flight of the day on a specific route as the "originator." For those who prefer the earliest possible travel to maximize their day at the destination, these flights are essential. In 2026, with the rise of AI-driven scheduling, these "first wave" flights are often priced at a premium because they offer the most reliability in an otherwise congested global airspace.