written by Sally Black

Learning airline lingo is about as challenging as learning a foreign language for your family's vacation abroad. VacationKids wants to help parents understand of some of the most confusing airfare terminology:

Nonstop
The plane takes off in one city and lands at your destination. It makes no other stops between point A and point B.

Direct
Travelers often confuse direct flights with nonstop flights but there is a big difference. A direct flight means your plane will stop somewhere enroute to your final destination. These stops can last anywhere from 1/2 hour to two hours. Depending on your specific flight you may be able to deplane, stretch your legs in the airport and then re-board the same aircraft. In other cases you may simply wait in your seats while other passengers come on board.

Connection
This means you stop enroute and actually have to change planes to a connecting flight. You may or may not be flying the same airline on the second leg of your trip. Connecting flights usually occur at “hub” or major airports. Murphy's Law: your connecting flight will be boarding at some gate at the opposite end of a busy airport. When scheduling connecting flights, it is suggested you leave 1 1/2 to 2 hours to make connections. This is especially true when traveling with children. Missing your connecting flight can lead to all sorts of hassles. Often if there is an earlier flight to your destination, the airlines will let you standby if there are seats available.

Code-share
Recently many of the major airlines have “joined forces” or created alliances to improve service and increase profits. Code-sharing means any two or more airlines (usually airlines who belong to an alliance) can sell tickets for the same flight. At the gate you may notice the same flight is listed with two different airline names on the board. Your ticket from New York to Paris may say Delta. The guy sitting next to you on the plane may be holding an Air France ticket. The weird thing is that prices may differ for the exact same flight and class of service. Also some people fly certain carriers according to their safety records or frequent flyer programs. With code-shares, usually one partner owns the plane and the other “operates” the flight. This becomes an important issue if you run into any problems. One airline can pass responsibility back and forth. Be aware and ask questions.

E-tickets
Also called electronic tickets, are now common place thanks to the Internet. Almost all major carriers offer e-tickets within the United States. You can also get e-tickets on some international routes although custom and immigration rules make this a bit tricky. When buying e-tickets online, your confirmation page is your “ticket”. To check-in for your flight at the airport, you simply need your confirmation number and a photo ID. That's it! Simple! No tickets to lose. In the early days, there were problems when flights were cancelled or missed. Gate agents needed paper tickets to make any changes. This made travelers leery but these hassles have since been eliminated. As a bonus, e-ticket passengers can usually avoid long check-in lines at the airport and instead can opt for self service kiosk check-in. It's far more convenient.

Interlining
This means you have a connecting flight with two different airlines. You leave home on one airline, connect somewhere enroute and take a completely different airline for the remainder of your trip. Although they work together, each airline operates separately under their own rules and regulations. Sometimes you can check your baggage straight through, but often you will have to retrieve your luggage at the connection airport and recheck it onto your next carrier.

Operator
Usually the operator is the airline that runs the flight and issues your ticket. This may become blurred with code-shares and interlining agreement. It's best to know who is the operator of your flight in case your run into any problems. The operator is ultimately responsible.

Layover
A layover is a very LONG connection. The airlines like to say two hours or more qualifies as layover. If you miss a connecting flight, you may experience a layover until the next available flight.

Hubs
Every major airline has its own hub or headquarter airport. Thanks to short hops and connecting flights, using a central hub makes scheduling more efficient and boosts profits for the airlines. A list of major carriers and there hubs are:

Full Fare
This fare is called known as unrestricted fare. It give you a great deal of freedom but it is also the most costly. Things like last minute fares (less than 7 days ahead) or flights that don't including a Saturday night stayover are a couple of reasons why leisure travelers might run into these expensive fares.

Restricted Fares
Also known as discounted or consolidator fares. It means you give up certain freedoms for a lower price ticket. The restrictions vary with each ticket...some may require that you book in advance, have a Saturday night stay or restrict the length of your stay. Make sure you read all the fine print and know what you are buying. If you can live with the required restrictions, you've just found yourself a bargain.

Restrictions
Most discount airfares come with certain rules or restrictions. Low cost or independent airlines usually offer lower prices without many of these restrictions. It is best to shop and compare. Read the fine print and understand what it is you are buying. The most common restrictions are:
Non-refundable-This means if you want to change or cancel your flight, you will NOT get your money back. This is usually standard on many discount tickets. Often the tickets are “exchangeable” which means for a fee, you can change your ticket. The problem is often times the fees to exchange a ticket are almost the same as the price of the ticket itself so in theory, you've lost the price of the ticket. READ THE FINE PRINT AND UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE BUYING.
Advance-Purchase Requirement- for the best savings on Domestic US flights, you must purchase your tickets 14-21 days in advance. Most International flights require 30 day advance purchase.
Midweek departures- Usually the lowest price tickets depart on Monday or Tuesday
Saturday Night Stay-This is pretty much a standard restriction on most discounted tickets.

Excursion
The cheapest, published fare offered by a Domestic, US airline. Also known as Super-saver or Max saver fares

Apex
The cheapest, published fare for an International flight. You might also see it listed as a Super Apex fare.

Class
Class is the different level of service offered on particular flights. Obviously class determines price. Coach class is the cheapest. You sacrifice amenities for a lower price. First class offers luxury and a high price tag. It is seldom worth the price on short hops but worth every penny on long hauls or international flights. Your flight might also offer business class which falls somewhere in between. Often frequent flyer club members can get upgraded to business class when available.

Round-trip
Just like it says. Your ticket allows you to fly from your departure city to your arrival city and then visa-versa. Your flight may or may not be non stop or direct. Most discounts require a round-trip purchase as part of their restrictions.

One-Way
This is the most expensive ticket to purchase. Your best bet is to try some of the low-cost or independent airlines. As silly as it sounds, it might be more economical to purchase a round-trip ticket and simply throw out your return ticket.

Multi-leg

Multi-leg tickets mean you will be flying to multiple cities. You may even experience connecting flights, stopovers and layovers as part of your itinerary. If you are making complicated travel plans like these, we recommend that you use a Travel Agent.