A fifth-freedom flight is a flight where neither the origin nor the destination are in the operating carrier’s country of registration. These flights are usually operated as a second stop, either for refuelling, or to pick up and drop off passengers. Technically, a fifth freedom flight must involve either start or end at the airline’s home country, or else it’s technically called a seventh freedom flight (read more about the freedoms of the air here). For all intensive purposes, we’ll be referring to all flights involving two stops outside the airline’s home country as fifth freedom flights in this post.
Earlier in the week I wrote about the fifth freedom flights that you could fly short-haul, intra-Europe. These are not only fun because of the vastly better hard product in some cases, but generally you also can sample a third country culture on these short-haul flights, including the cabin design, IFE system, and sometimes food and beverages.
All of these benefits are accentuated when flying longhaul, since airlines offers a more substantial product on these flights. I figured I’d dedicate a separate post to all of the long-haul fifth freedom flights you can fly out of Europe. I’ll have separate posts on the fifth freedom flights you can fly short-haul and long-haul within East Asia. In terms of my personal experience
Why should you fly a long-haul fifth freedom flight out of Europe?
There are a few reasons flying a long-haul fifth freedom flight out of Europe is great:
- Generally a long-haul fifth freedom flight within Europe will be operated by an airline from a country quite far away (as the “tag” flight would likely also have been long-haul), which is really fun when getting to sample a different culture
- Many fifth freedom flights are operated by airlines that are very good at showcasing their local culture
- A vast majority of fifth freedom flights between Europe and the Americas will be operated by Asian airlines, which are known to have superior products, especially in premium cabins
- Pricing can be quite attractive (though this is probably less true than it used to be, given that many airlines keep up their long-haul fifth freedom flights because of demand – airlines are less incentivised to operate fifth freedom flights than before, due to increasingly lucrative operations for point-to-point travel)
- Award space can be more abundant than to airlines’ home countries, and some routes may potentially be operated by alliance airlines that represent the alliance on the route
In EVA Air premium economy from Bangkok to London, you get these awesome Taiwanese snacks and local beer
Which long-haul fifth freedom flights can you fly out of Europe?
Here’s a list of long-haul fifth freedom flights you can fly in or out of Europe, in no particular order:
- Qantas’ A380 flight flies from London (LHR) to Singapore (SIN) – daily
- Emirates flies an A380 between Milan (MXP) and New York (JFK) – daily
- Emirates flies a 777 between Athens (ATH) and Newark (EWR) – daily
- Emirates flies a 777 between Barcelona (BCN) and Mexico City (MEX) – daily
- Singapore Airlines flies a 777 between Frankfurt (FRA) and New York (JFK) – daily
- EVA Air operates a 777 between Bangkok (BKK) and London (LHR) – daily
- EVA Air operates a 777 between Bangkok (BKK) and Amsterdam (AMS) – Tue, Thu, Sat
- EVA Air operates a 787 between Bangkok (BKK) and Vienna (VIE) – Tue, Wed, Fri, Sun
- Air China operates a 787 between Madrid (MAD) and Sao Paulo (GRU) – Mon, Thu, Sun
- Air China operates a 787 between Madrid (MAD) and Havana (HAV) – Wed, Sat
- Air Canada operates a 787 between London (LHR) and Delhi/Mumbai (DEL/BOM) – starts 26 Oct
- Aer Lingus operates an A330 between Manchester (MAN) and New York (JFK) – daily
- Aer Lingus operates an A330 between Manchester (MAN) and Orlando (MCO) – daily
- Aer Lingus operates an A330 between Manchester (MAN) and Bridgetown (BGI) – in winter only
- Royal Brunei operates a 787 between Dubai (DXB) and London (LHR) – daily
- Beond Airlines operates an A319 from Zurich (ZRH) to Dubai (DWC) – Mon, Fri
Some carriers from French territories operate flights between France and elsewhere, these aren’t technically fifth freedom, though would be considered fifth freedom for most people. These flights are as follows:
- Air Tahiti Nui operates a 787 between Paris (CDG) and Los Angeles (LAX) – daily
- Aircalin operates an A330neo between Bangkok (BKK) and Paris (CDG) – Wed, Sat
- Air Caraïbes operates an A330 between Cancun (CUN) and Paris (ORY) – Mon, Wed, Sat
You can fly Emirates’ business class between Milan and New York
As you can see, out of the 20 longhaul destinations served by fifth-freedom flights out of Europe, 9 are to Asia (45%), 8 are to North America (40%), two are to Central America (10%) and one is to South America (5%, or Air China’s route to Sao Paulo). There are no fifth-freedom routes connecting Europe and Africa at the moment. Also, a vast majority of flights are operated by Asian or Middle Eastern carriers, with the only exceptions being Aer Lingus’ mini-Manchester base, and the French territory airlines operating longhaul flights out of France.
The best long-haul fifth freedom flights to incorporate into your next trip
The above is an exhaustive list of fifth freedom flights, and while I can give general observations on pricing and award space, I can’t be as specific as I was with intra-European fifth freedom flights, as pricing and award space can both vary wildly outside my understanding. Here’s how you can incorporate one of these routes on your next flight to Asia or the Americas:
- Qantas used to have great deals originating out of Thailand and Cambodia to London via Singapore, though unfortunately since Jetstar Asia went bust, the only valid origin point is Koh Samui on Bangkok Airways (which is still more considerably expensive than Jetstar Asia used to be) – there’s rarely ever any award space in any class on this route
- Emirates usually has a decent amount of award space on all of their ex-Europe fifth freedom flights
- Singapore Airlines’ Frankfurt to JFK route usually has a good amount of award space
- EVA Air is decent with award space, though generally flights can be priced quite well, especially out of Bangkok (they codeshare with Thai Airways on flights to Bangkok, though this doesn’t tend to drive prices down)
- Air China can sometimes offer fairly cheap point-to-point tickets between Madrid and Sao Paulo/Havana, though award space isn’t generous
- Royal Brunei usually undercuts Emirates and BA on flights between London and Dubai
- I can’t see any great deals for Aer Lingus, Air Tahiti Nui, or Beond, generally – Air Tahiti Nui award space is hard but not impossible to come by with AAdvantage miles
- Air Caraïbes fares are decent but not competitive
- Aircalin has decent one-way fares from Bangkok to Paris in premium economy, though only roundtrip fares are attractive in business class
All of these airlines are known to have quite a good product (especially Qantas, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, EVA Air, and Royal Brunei to a lesser extent), and many of these airlines may let you showcase something of their local culture as well, which is quite exciting.
Qantas’ Australian wines and filter coffee are available between Singapore and London
Conclusion
Fifth freedom flights are flights that operate between points outside of a carrier’s home country, and this can add excitement to your long-haul trip, especially if you’re flying in a premium cabin. There are 20 destinations served by long-haul fifth freedom flights out of Europe, and these are operated by a mix of Southeast Asian carriers, airlines from French territories operating flights out of Paris, and Aer Lingus’ mini-hub out of Manchester Airport.
Whether you’re trying to snag a cheaper fare to a certain region or want to sample a specific airline in a premium cabin, these are exciting routes to fly.
Intents and purposes