Airlines cannot fly everywhere. Operating and maintaining flights is costly, and achieving profitability on every route can be challenging. However, airlines aim to offer passengers the possibility of flying to as many destinations as possible. One way to achieve this efficiently without owning aircraft or securing airport slots is through a codeshare agreement with another airline.
What is a Codeshare Flight?
A codeshare agreement is a partnership between airlines that allows them to sell seats on each other’s flights. This gives the impression that airlines operate flights to more destinations than they actually do. Revenue from such tickets is shared between the airlines based on their agreement.
For example, suppose you plan to visit Istanbul, Turkey. The only airline flying directly from Zagreb to Istanbul is Turkish Airlines. However, if you visit Croatia Airlines’ website, you might notice they also list flights to Istanbul, even though Croatia Airlines does not operate aircraft on that route.
Advantages of Codeshare Flights
For passengers, the primary advantage of codesharing is seamless travel, particularly when connecting between airlines outside of the same airline alliance.
Imagine booking a trip to Cancun, Mexico. You could reserve a single ticket with Turkish Airlines, departing from Zagreb and arriving in Cancun. Behind the scenes, the journey might involve a layover in Istanbul and another in Panama City, where Copa Airlines would operate the final leg to Cancun. Without a codeshare agreement, you would need to coordinate and purchase three separate flights: one to Istanbul, one to Panama City, and one to Cancun.
Is it Worth It?
Codeshare flights simplify travel, but it’s essential to weigh costs. In some cases, separate tickets might be cheaper than a single codeshare flight. However, the convenience of a single booking often outweighs potential savings. Flight delays, schedule changes, or cancellations can disrupt separate bookings, leaving you stranded, as the final airline is not obligated to rebook you if your initial flight is delayed.
Practical Example
If you book a Ryanair flight through a third-party site like SkyScanner, traveling from Zagreb to Barcelona, you might actually end up with two separate tickets. The first ticket would cover the flight from Zagreb to Milan, and the second from Milan to Barcelona. If your flight to Milan is delayed, your onward ticket to Barcelona would be forfeited, as the two flights are not connected.
In contrast, codeshare flights ensure that airlines work together to rebook passengers and provide assistance in case of delays, offering greater peace of mind.
