Wet Lease vs. Dry Lease: The Airline Secrets That Can Get You More Award Seats and Surprise Upgrades

Imagine this: You’re booking a long-awaited family vacation using points and miles, and you stumble upon a flight with wide-open business class availability—something that usually seems impossible. Or maybe you board your usual airline, only to find out the seats, service, and even the food feel... different.

What’s going on? Airlines lease planes all the time—sometimes with their own crew, sometimes with another airline’s crew—and this can be a game-changer for savvy travelers like you.

Understanding wet leases and dry leases isn’t just airline industry jargon—it can help you find unexpected availability, better planes, and sometimes even cheaper premium-class fares using points. Whether you're planning your next girls’ trip, a romantic getaway, or a stress-free family vacation, knowing how airlines swap and lease planes can make a huge difference.

Let’s dive into how airline leasing works and, more importantly, how it can help you score better flights and more award seats with your miles!

Dry Lease: The leasing company (lessor) provides only the aircraft, without crew, maintenance, or insurance. The airline (lessee) operates the aircraft under its own Air Operator Certificate (AOC) and is responsible for crew, maintenance, and operational costs. Dry leases are typically long-term arrangements, often used for fleet expansion or replacement.

Example:

• Cathay Pacific's Dry Lease from Qatar Airways (2023) – Cathay Pacific leased Airbus A350-900s from Qatar Airways without crew or maintenance, integrating them into its own operations to boost long-haul capacity.

• Lufthansa's Dry Lease from Air Europa (2024) – Lufthansa dry-leased Boeing 787-9s from Air Europa for long-haul expansion.

Wet Lease: The leasing company provides the aircraft with crew, maintenance, and insurance (ACMI: Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance). The airline leasing the aircraft does not need to provide its own crew or technical support. Wet leases are usually short-term and help airlines manage seasonal demand, maintenance-related aircraft shortages, or regulatory restrictions.

Example:

• Qatar Airways Wet Lease from Oman Air (2022) – Qatar Airways wet-leased Boeing 787s from Oman Air during the FIFA World Cup to handle the surge in passengers.

• British Airways Wet Lease from Finnair (2023) – BA leased Finnair Airbus A320s and A321s (with crew) for short-haul European routes due to aircraft availability issues.

• Turkish Airlines Wet Lease from IndiGo (2023) – Turkish Airlines wet-leased Airbus A321neos from IndiGo for extra capacity on key routes.

Why Do Airlines Use These Leases?

• Dry Leases help airlines expand their fleet cost-effectively without committing to outright purchases.

• Wet Leases allow airlines to meet demand surges or cover grounded aircraft without hiring additional crew or handling maintenance.

Why Does This Matter for Points & Miles Travelers?

Understanding wet leases and dry leases can be a game-changer for points and miles travelers because it affects everything from earning and redeeming miles to onboard experience and elite benefits. Here’s why it’s useful to know:

1. New Routes = More Award Availability

When airlines lease planes, they often increase capacity on certain routes or launch new destinations, meaning more award seats become available.

Example:

• Qatar Airways wet-leased aircraft from Oman Air during the 2022 FIFA World Cup to handle the travel boom to Doha. Travelers using points to fly with Qatar benefited from more availability on premium cabins.

• Turkish Airlines wet-leased IndiGo A321neos in 2023 to expand into India, allowing more options for Star Alliance redemptions.

🚀 Takeaway: When an airline adds leased planes, check for increased award space—especially for business class seats!

2. Potential for a Different (or Better) Experience

A wet lease means you might be flying with a different airline’s plane, seats, and service—which could be better or worse than expected.

Example:

• Cathay Pacific’s dry-leased A350s from Qatar Airways means some passengers got Qatar’s superior business class seats instead of Cathay’s.

• British Airways wet-leased Finnair A321s in 2023—travelers expecting BA’s Club Europe business class got Finnair’s more modern cabin and better service instead!

🔥 Tip: If your flight is operated by a leased aircraft, research the seating layout and amenities—you might get an upgrade in comfort!

3. Elite Status Perks Might Vary

Since a wet lease means the operating airline’s crew and policies apply, your usual elite perks (lounge access, free seat selection, meals) might not work as expected.

Example:

If you’re flying a Qatar Airways plane operated by Oman Air, the usual Qatar elite perks might not fully apply (different upgrade policies, meal choices).

Some codeshare flights on leased aircraft may not earn full miles if they fall outside the airline’s normal earning structure.

⚡ Tip: Double-check upgrade eligibility and mileage earning rules if your flight is operated by a leased aircraft.

4. Potentially Cheaper Business Class Fares

When an airline leases extra planes, they sometimes drop prices to fill seats. This means:

✅ Better deals on cash tickets (good for points transfers!)

✅ Increased inventory for business class award tickets

Example:

• Turkish Airlines wet-leasing from IndiGo meant cheaper business class fares between Turkey and India in 2023.

• Lufthansa dry-leasing 787s from Air Europa resulted in competitive pricing on routes to South America.

💡 Pro Tip: Watch for unexpected fare drops on routes with leased aircraft—this is a golden opportunity to use credit card points for travel!

Final Takeaway: Keep an Eye on Leased Aircraft!

📌 Airlines leasing planes means new routes, more availability, and different in-flight experiences—all of which impact how you use points and miles.

✅ More award seats on expanded routes

✅ Potentially better seats or service

✅ Unexpected elite status quirks

✅ Possibly lower business class fares

🔍 How to Track This?

• Use tools like Aerolopa or seatmaps.com to see what aircraft is operating your flight.

• Follow View From The Wing or airline press releases to spot leased aircraft announcements.

• Check award availability when new routes get launched—especially after a wet lease!

Would you like me to track upcoming wet lease routes that might be useful for your points and miles strategy? 🚀