What is a domestic flight?
A domestic flight is one that departs and arrives within the same country, without crossing an international border. In the United States that includes flights to Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico, none of which require a passport.
Domestic flight explained
The distinction sounds obvious but it changes almost everything about how a flight is operated and sold. Domestic passengers clear no immigration, need no passport in most cases, and check in far closer to departure. International passengers face customs, border control and a longer minimum connection time, which is why an itinerary that mixes the two needs more slack than either would alone.
The cabin naming is where most confusion arises. On a domestic United States flight, the front cabin is usually called First even though it is a wide recliner rather than a flat bed. On an international flight the equivalent seat is called Business and is often fully flat. A traveler who books domestic First expecting an international business class product is regularly disappointed, and the fare difference between them reflects that gap.
Some domestic sectors are the exception. Transcontinental routes between New York and Los Angeles or San Francisco carry genuine flat bed cabins on several airlines, as do flights to Hawaii from the west coast. Those routes are long enough that the airlines fit a premium product worth the name, so it is always worth checking the aircraft rather than assuming domestic means recliner.
For anyone building a longer itinerary the practical point is about ticketing rather than comfort. Keeping a domestic connection on the same ticket as the international flight means the airline is responsible if the first leg runs late. Booking them separately saves money on paper and shifts the entire risk of a missed connection onto you.
More on domestic flight
In the United States, generally no. A government issued photo identification that meets federal requirements is enough for flights within the country, including to Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
Domestic First on most United States routes is a wide recliner with better service. International Business is usually a fully flat bed with direct aisle access. The names suggest the opposite ranking to the one that actually applies.
On some. Transcontinental routes between New York and Los Angeles or San Francisco carry genuine flat beds on several airlines, as do west coast flights to Hawaii. Check the aircraft rather than the route name.
Far less early than for an international one, since there is no immigration or customs to clear. The bigger difference shows up in connections: a domestic to international transfer needs more time than either leg alone would suggest.
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