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Time travel brings us this week’s Marketplace Money Buzzword: block time.

Block time is the time airlines say it’ll take to get from one place to another. Some travelers might be a wee bit surprised to learn the earth is growing — or at least that’s what carriers must want you to think, because some routes are taking longer — sometimes 30 minutes longer — than 10 years ago.

What’s the real deal? Many airlines are accounting for expected flight delays by changing their block times. Then they can tell regulators a flight that’s 20 minutes late was actually on time.

But hey, at least their food is awesome…