Though the term 'direct' is used interchangeably with 'non-stop', the two are different. In a direct flight, you do not change planes and you have only one flight number. Unlike the non-stop flight, the plane makes a stop en route to the final destination for refueling and picking up and dropping off passengers.

In aviation terminology, a direct flight is one that keeps the same flight number and aircraft from the origin to the destination, even if it makes one or more stops along the way (known as "technical stops"). During these stops, passengers typically remain on the plane while others disembark or new passengers board. An indirect flight (or connecting flight) requires passengers to physically change planes at an intermediate airport, often involving a layover and potentially a change of airlines. There is also a third category called a non-stop flight, which travels from point A to point B with zero intermediate landings. While many people use "direct" and "non-stop" interchangeably, they are technically different; a non-stop is always direct, but a direct flight is not always non-stop. Understanding these differences helps travelers evaluate total travel time versus cost, as direct or non-stop flights are usually more convenient but often more expensive than indirect connections.