Reply #11: Beware the term "Direct Flight" [View All]

[pink-o]

I work for the airlines in SFO, and passengers always use the word "direct" when they mean "non-stop". Those are two different concepts in the travel industry: A direct flight is a trip that has the same flight number from origin to destination--but makes stops in the middle, so it's just like doing connections!!! Example: You by a ticket on Delta flight number XXX from Phoenix to New York. Your ticket says Delta XXX Departs Phoenix Arrives JFK. What it doesn't say is that the flight stops in Atlanta and has a 1 hour layover. And most passengers crossing a few time zones don't put it together.

Personally, I think it's deceptive and annoying, but I've heard travel industry workers get all passive-aggressive and tell a pissed off passenger that their flight is "direct", when they KNOW the passenger wants a non-stop.

Anyway, pass that titbit on to all your traveling friends! Always ask for a non-stop flight first.

Oh, and BTW, I don't work for Delta. They're just my hypothetical; all airlines do this!