---
title: "What is Fifth freedom route? | Benefit Systems"
description: "A fifth freedom route is a flight between two foreign countries operated by an airline from a third country as an extension of its own network."
source: "aus dem gebauten HTML abgeleitet"
---
# What is Fifth freedom route?

A fifth freedom route is a flight between two foreign countries operated by an airline from a third country as an extension of its own network.

Also called: Fifth freedom flight.

## How it works #

These services exist as continuations of a long-haul rotation and are sold locally. They interest travellers because a short sector suddenly gets a long-haul aircraft with a better cabin, often at a price set by local competition. The traffic rights rest on bilateral agreements between states and can disappear with a schedule change.

## Not to be confused with #

A fifth freedom route is not the same as a codeshare: here the airline genuinely operates the flight, simply between two countries that are not its home.

## In German #

The German term is Fünfte-Freiheit-Strecke. [German version of this term](/de/glossar/fuenfte-freiheit-strecke)

## Related terms #

- [Cabin class](/en/glossary/cabin-class): Cabin class is the physical section of an aircraft, economy, premium economy, business or first, each with its own seating and service.
- [Airline alliance](/en/glossary/airline-alliance): An airline alliance is a grouping of carriers that credit each other’s miles, recognise each other’s status and allow award bookings across the group.
- [Sweet spot](/en/glossary/sweet-spot): A sweet spot is a redemption where an award chart asks for far fewer miles than the cash price of the route would suggest.

## Articles that use this term #

- [What does “business class” actually mean?](/en/knowledge/what-business-class-means)
- [How does a round-the-world ticket work?](/en/knowledge/round-the-world-tickets)
- [What is a sweet spot redemption?](/en/knowledge/sweet-spots)