Book direct flights with Alternative Airlines
When flight booking feels overwhelming, direct flights are your shortcut to sanity. One plane, one journey, zero fuss. Here's how to find them and why they might just save your trip.
Book Direct Flights
Skip the layovers. Cut the stress. Get there faster.
Where from?
Where to?
Dates
Passengers & Class
What is a direct flight?
A direct flight keeps the same flight number throughout your journey. Simple, right? Not quite. It might still make stops along the way. You stay on the same plane, but others might hop off while new passengers climb aboard.
A non-stop flight is what most of us actually want. Zero stops. Point A to point B. Done.
The terms get mixed up all the time, even by airlines. When searching for flights, look for "non-stop" if you want the fastest journey with no stops whatsoever.
How to book a direct flight with Alternative Airlines
Search for flights
Enter your departure and destination cities in our search tool. Add your travel dates and hit 'Search flights'.
How to book a direct flight with Alternative Airlines
Filter your search
Find our 'Stops' filter and select 'Direct (Non-stop)'. Our system will show the most direct routes first, cutting through the noise of multi-stop options.
How to book a direct flight with Alternative Airlines
Pick your flights
Look for flights with one flight number and minimal stops. If you see multiple flight numbers or long layovers, keep scrolling. Once you've found the flights you need, select them and press 'Next step' to proceed.
That's it. No hidden tricks or complex booking processes!
Why book direct flights?
Save time ⌛
No sprinting through airports or waiting around for connecting flights. More time at your destination, less time in departure lounges.
Less hassle ☺️
One boarding pass. One gate. One plane. Your luggage travels the same route you do.
Lower risk of missed connections ✨
Delays happen. Weather strikes. But with direct flights, a 30-minute delay doesn't turn into a missed connection and an overnight airport stay.
Better for families and older travellers 👨🏾👩🏻👧🏽👦🏽
Trying to wrangle toddlers through three different terminals? No thanks. Direct flights keep the chaos to a minimum.
Airlines that offer direct flights
We work with over 600 airlines. Some excel at direct routes, others... not so much. Here's who to look for:
Budget airlines 🤑
Perfect for short hops and city breaks:
- easyJet - Connects hundreds of European cities directly. London to Berlin? Barcelona to Amsterdam? They've got you covered.
- Ryanair - Love them or hate them, they fly direct to more European destinations than almost anyone else.
- JetBlue - Comfortable direct flights across the US, Caribbean and Latin America.
- Vueling - Spain-based with over 100 direct European routes. Great for Mediterranean getaways.
- AirAsia - The go-to for direct flights across Southeast Asia and beyond.
Full-service airlines ✈️
For longer journeys and extra comfort:
- American Airlines - Extensive direct network across North America, Europe, Asia and South America.
- United Airlines - Unique long-haul routes like San Francisco to Singapore.
- Delta Air Lines - Direct flights from Atlanta to Johannesburg, New York to Paris, LA to Sydney.
- British Airways - London Heathrow to everywhere, basically.
- Qatar Airways - Doha connects you directly to every continent.
- Emirates - Dubai's gateway to over 150 direct destinations worldwide.
- Singapore Airlines - Operates some of the world's longest non-stop routes.
Tips for finding cheap direct flights
Direct flights cost more, right? Not always. Here's how to find the deals:
Book ahead and be flexible 📆
Airlines release their cheapest seats months in advance. Aim for 6-8 weeks before departure for the best prices.
Mid-week flights often cost less than weekends. School holidays and major events bump prices up. Use our Best Fare Finder tool to compare prices across different days.
Consider alternative airports 🛫
Flying to London? Check Gatwick and Stansted, not just Heathrow. Smaller airports often mean cheaper tickets!
Split the cost 💸
Can't afford to pay upfront? We offer over 40 ways to pay, including Buy Now Pay Later options with Afterpay, Klarna and Affirm. Secure your flight now, spread the cost later.
Travel insurance and flight protection
Even direct flights can go wrong. Delays, cancellations, missed connections during stopovers - it happens.
Travel insurance helps you claim back costs when flights don't go to plan. When booking with us, you can add Cancellation Protection and Baggage Insurance at checkout.
Flying with peace of mind costs less than you think.
Popular direct flight routes by region
North America 🌎
- New York (JFK) to Los Angeles (LAX) - Major transcontinental route with American Airlines, Delta and JetBlue.
- Chicago (ORD) to Miami (MIA) - Business and leisure favourite with American Airlines and United.
- Toronto (YYZ) to Vancouver (YVR) - Connecting Canada's biggest cities via Air Canada and WestJet.
Europe 🌍
- London (LHR) to Paris (CDG) - One of Europe's busiest routes with British Airways, Air France and easyJet.
- Berlin (TXL) to Rome (FCO) - Direct flights with easyJet and Ryanair.
- Amsterdam (AMS) to Barcelona (BCN) - KLM, Vueling and easyJet connect these thriving cities
Asia 🌏
- Tokyo (NRT) to Seoul (ICN) - Major route with Japan Airlines, Korean Air and Asiana Airlines.
- Bangkok (BKK) to Singapore (SIN) - Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines and budget option Scoot.
- Delhi (DEL) to Dubai (DXB) - Emirates, Air India and flydubai serve this popular route.
Middle East 🌍
- Dubai (DXB) to Riyadh (RUH) - Regional connection via Emirates and Saudia.
- Doha (DOH) to Cairo (CAI) - Qatar Airways links Qatar and Egypt.
- Abu Dhabi (AUH) to Jeddah (JED) - Etihad Airways and Saudia serve business and pilgrimage travel.
Where can you fly direct from your airport?
Your local airport might surprise you. That weekend in Reykjavik or business trip to Dubai could be one flight away. Discover what's possible in our table below:
| Departure Region | Airport | Unique Routes |
|---|---|---|
| USA | Burbank (BUR) | Direct to New York JFK with JetBlue, avoiding LAX crowds |
| Austin (AUS) | Non-stop to Amsterdam with KLM, plus direct routes to London and Frankfurt | |
| Nashville (BNA) | Direct flights to London, Paris and Frankfurt | |
| Portland (PDX) | Non-stop to Reykjavik (Icelandair), Amsterdam (KLM) | |
| Canada | Calgary (YYC) | Direct to Tokyo, Seoul, and multiple European capitals |
| Vancouver (YVR) | Delhi, Taipei, Seoul — more Asian destinations than expected | |
| Montreal (YUL) | Direct to North Africa, seasonal European routes | |
| Australia | Perth (PER) | Direct to London (world's longest route), Rome, Paris |
| Adelaide (ADL) | Emirates direct to Dubai, seasonal routes to Asia | |
| Gold Coast (OOL) | Jetstar’s Asian network: Tokyo, Seoul, Osaka | |
| Asia | Kuala Lumpur (KUL) | AirAsia reaches 130+ destinations |
| Bangkok (BKK) | 80+ direct international destinations | |
| Singapore (SIN) | Direct flights to more cities than almost any airport worldwide |
Direct flights with low-cost carriers
US budget exclusives
- Southwest - Unique routes like Austin to Hawaii, Baltimore to Aruba
- JetBlue - Non-stop from Boston to London, Mint service at budget prices
- Alaska Airlines - Seattle to Reykjavik, Portland to London
Australian budget gems
- Jetstar - Gold Coast to Osaka, Melbourne to Honolulu
- Scoot - Perth to Berlin, Sydney to Athens via Singapore
Asian low-cost networks
- AirAsia - Kuala Lumpur to Tashkent, Bangkok to Ranong
- Cebu Pacific - Manila to Sydney, extensive Middle East network
- IndiGo - Delhi to Istanbul, Mumbai to Doha
New and upcoming direct flights
New for 2025 ✨
- San Francisco to Bangalore - Air India started flying this route in January 2025.
- Toronto to Brussels - Air Canada launched this route in March 2025.
- Sydney to Dallas - Qantas began operating this route in February 2025.
- Auckland to Chicago - Air New Zealand started this route in April 2025.
- Vancouver to Mumbai - Air Canada started this route in June 2025.
Coming soon 👀
- Melbourne to Rome - Qantas announced this route for October 2025.
- Dubai to Toronto - WestJet aims to operate this route in winter 2025.
Insider tips for direct flights
Best kept secrets worldwide 🤫
- Nashville - Only US city with direct flights to all three major European hubs.
- Calgary - Cheaper Asian routes than Vancouver with shorter connections.
- Gold Coast - Jetstar's Asian network rivals Sydney's options.
- Perth - European flights arrive perfectly timed for onward connections.
Timing tricks by region 🗓️
- US-Europe: Book January for summer travel (cheapest prices).
- Australia-Asia: Shoulder seasons (April-May, September-October) offer best deals.
- Canada-Europe: Book November for next summer's routes.
Ready to book your direct flight?
Skip the stress. Save the time. Get where you want to go without the airport gymnastics.
Search for direct flights now and make your journey as smooth as your landing.
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FAQs
How can I find direct flights?
Using our search tool, enter your cities, pick your dates and hit the 'Search flights' button. Then, apply the 'Direct (Non-stop)' filter. We'll show you all available direct flights to your destination.
Why are direct flights more expensive?
Sometimes they are, sometimes they aren't. Popular routes with high demand often cost more. But less popular direct routes can actually be cheaper than connecting flights. Airlines price based on demand, not distance.
What's the difference between direct and non-stop flights?
- Non-stop flights go straight from A to B with zero stops.
- Direct flights keep the same flight number but might stop to pick up passengers.
- Both avoid the frustration of changing planes.
Are there direct flights to my destination?
Major cities usually have plenty of direct options. Smaller destinations might not. Use our search tool to check what's available for your specific route.
Can I change my direct flight booking?
Most direct flights can be changed, depending on the airline's policy. Check the terms when booking, and consider flexible options or travel insurance for extra peace of mind.