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Two One-Way Flights or One Round-Trip: Which Is Better?

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Booking a flight involves navigating a maze of decisions. Is it better to fly with a budget airline or full-service one? How about basic economy versus regular economy ? And would you prefer pretzels or a cookie? 

Choosing between a single round-trip or two one-way tickets is the most basic decision and — you might be surprised to learn — one of the more nuanced. 

The cost between the two is usually the same for domestic flights but can vary significantly for international routes (assuming you're booking with cash rather than points and miles ).

Given that airfare was 26% more expensive in January 2023 than January 2022, according to the latest consumer price index data, budget travelers need to save every penny they can. 

In general, it can be more convenient to book a round-trip flight for a trip with specific start and end dates, but other considerations, such as cancellation policies and pricing, could make booking one-ways more appealing in some cases. And everything works differently for flights booked with miles. 

Let’s break it down.

Domestic flights

For flights within the United States on the same airline, round-trip tickets almost always cost the same as two one-ways.

There’s one caveat here: Booking two one-way tickets between separate destination or arrival airports can, in some cases, save money (or cost more). 

“Fares don’t have to be booked as returns,” says Laura Lindsay, travel trends expert at SkyScanner, a travel booking platform. “Look at flying out with one airline and back with another, or out of one airport and back into another to save money.”

Many online travel tools will automatically compare prices for these mismatched airline or airport itineraries and automatically include them in search results.

But it might be worth checking manually, especially for plans that involve different local airports or for airlines that don’t appear in search results , such as Southwest.

All that said, for domestic flights, the difference is almost always a wash. 

International flights

For international tickets, the logic changes completely. Round-trip tickets are usually cheaper than one-ways, sometimes significantly so.

NerdWallet compared fares across multiple international routes and found that, typically, buying two one-way tickets costs 20% more than a single roundtrip. 

To determine these differences, we compared routes between four U.S. airports and two airports in each destination region.

The effect is more pronounced when flying to some regions, such as Africa and Asia. That said, for flights between the U.S. and every region we looked at, it costs more to book two one-ways than a single round-trip. 

In some circumstances, such as open-ended trips where you don’t know when you’ll be returning, one-way flights might still make the most sense. But for most international travel, round-trip fares are the clear winner. 

Cards for booking flights with cash

If you plan to pay the cash fare for your ticket, consider booking with a card that will earn you points on travel purchases. Here are some options:

on Chase's website

on American Express' website

• 5 points per dollar spent on travel (including flights) booked through Chase's travel portal.

• 2 points per dollar on other travel (including flights).

Annual fee: $95 .

• 10 points per dollar on hotel stays and car rentals purchased through Chase's travel portal.

• 5 points per dollar on air travel purchased through Chase's travel portal.

• 3 points per dollar spent on travel and dining not booked with Chase.

Annual fee: $550 .

• 2 miles per $1 on purchases made directly with Delta.

Annual fee: $0 intro for the first year, then $150 .

Terms apply.

• 4 miles per $1 spent on United purchases.

Annual fee: $250 .

Are round-trip or one-way flights cheaper if booking with points?

What about the cost difference between one-way and round-trip fares when using points or miles ?

Generally, airlines break these fares into one-way sections, meaning there is no meaningful difference between the two, in terms of cost. Yet a few caveats apply: 

Taxes on award flights can be higher when booking two one-ways. Delta Air Lines, for example, tends to charge more fees for flights originating in Europe.

Some airlines, such as ANA, do not allow one-way award flights, period. 

Flights booked with credit card points using a travel portal (i.e. not transferred to an airline partner) follow the same rules as cash fares. 

on Citibank's application

• 5 points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel, on up to $500,000 spent per year.

• 5 points per $1 on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.

• 1 point per $1 on other eligible purchases.

• 4 points per $1 at restaurant plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.

• 4 points per $1 at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases per year).

• 3 points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel.

• 10 miles per $1 on eligible car rentals and hotels booked through AA.

• 4 miles per $1 on eligible American Airlines purchases, up to $150,000 spent per calendar year (5 miles per $1 spent thereafter for the remainder of the calendar year).

• 1 mile per $1 on everything else.

• 1 Loyalty Point per 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.

Other considerations

It’s also worth considering the impact of changes and cancellations on the two options.

Most airlines have eliminated change fees , making it easier to change and cancel both kinds of tickets. But canceling one leg of a round-trip ticket can sometimes be more complicated than canceling a one-way ticket.

In some cases, you might need to call customer service, instead of canceling online, to make sure the change doesn’t cancel your other flight segments as well.

And finally, there’s the question of simplicity.

Is the simplicity of having a single itinerary, managed by one round-trip confirmation code, worth these other trade-offs? This simplicity, paired with the fact that round-trip tickets are almost never more expensive than two one-ways, means that these fares make sense for most travelers.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

75,000 Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1.5%-5% Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Up to $300 Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

Pros and cons of two one-way tickets vs one round-trip (and a warning)

One of the most important things that I’ve learned as a frequent flyer is the value of two one-way tickets vs a round-trip. There are a ton of advantages for purchasing one-way tickets, such as:

• Being able to build a complex itinerary to match your exact schedule 
• Being able to take advantage of special deals or discounts for individual flights that might not otherwise be available with a round-trip purchase
• Being able to build and maintain status on multiple airlines
• Being able to try airlines and airports that you might not have had the chance to in the past

That said, there are a lot that can go wrong when you string together in itinerary built on one-way tickets.  I’ll explain all of that (with specific examples) below…

Pros and cons of two one-way tickets vs round-trip

For the most part, it’s usually advantageous to purchase one-way tickets. You’ll have far fewer restrictions than you would purchasing a round-trip ticket, and it’s a lot easier to build the exact itinerary that you want (for the price you’re willing to pay).

The easiest way to explain all of these differences is to give you a big fat list of all the pros and cons:

• More flexibility! Instead of being at the mercy of one airline and their limited flight schedules, you’ll have far more options flying multiple airlines.
• Contrary to what you’ve heard from your grandparents, buying one-way tickets isn’t always more expensive than buying a single round-trip ticket. The existence of ultra low cost carriers is keeping prices down (in general) for all airlines.
• Airlines often have special deals or discounts for specific routes (one direction only). It’s a lot easier to take advantage of these good deals by purchasing one-way tickets.
• It can help you maintain status on multiple airlines. For example, if you have frequent flyer status on both United Airlines and American Airlines (and you want to keep said status), flying one airline on the outbound portion of the trip and the other airline on the inbound portion is a good way to help you maintain / reach your goals.
• Even if you don’t care about status, it’s just more fun flying different airlines. I know people who fly one airline for a majority of their life, and quite frankly, that sounds really boring. Trying new-to-you airlines and connecting in airports you’ve never been to before keeps travel fun!

• Despite what I just said about one-way tickets not always being more expensive than a single round-trip ticket, don’t be surprised if you discover that it’s sometimes more expensive. It all depends on your specific itinerary and the particular demand for the dates you want to fly.
• Your connecting flight will NOT be protected if you miss your flight because of a delay or cancellation. For example, let’s say you’re flying San Diego to Chicago on two one-way tickets (San Diego to Denver on Frontier, and Denver to Chicago on United). If Frontier doesn’t get you to Denver in time to make United connection to Chicago, you’re out of luck.
• Sometimes, it’s just more convenient to have everything on one itinerary. Having to juggle schedules and flight information for a handful of one-way tickets vs a single round-trip ticket it isn’t recommended if you’re even the slightest bit disorganized.
• It’ll take longer to book a trip built on multiple one way tickets than it will by booking a single round-trip ticket.
• If you’re flying internationally, one-way tickets might draw suspicion from airline personnel and immigration officers. Basically, they will often require proof that you’re not attempting to illegally immigrate to another country. An onward ticket (in the form of an email confirmation or boarding pass) is enough to satisfy them.
• Some airlines frown upon buying two one-way tickets instead of a single round-trip. Even though they make it easy to do on their own websites and apps, they can flag you for “gaming the system” if you consistently buy one-way tickets to build round trip itineraries. It’s stupid, but it is what it is.

Warning! 3 examples of how purchasing one-way tickets instead of a single round-trip went horribly wrong:

I fly on one-way tickets most of the time, and generally, it’s a lot more convenient than flying on a round-trip ticket. I will admit that I wasn’t fully aware of the risks when I first started doing it, but overall, it has proven to be a very convenient way to travel.

That said, here are 3 examples where it completely fell apart on me (or at least gave me a good scare):

Example 1: The delayed arrival

Back in 2016, there was a special Thanksgiving weekend Delta Air Lines 747 flight from Atlanta to Seattle that I really wanted to try. To get the rest of the way home to San Diego, I bought a separate ticket on Alaska Airlines. It was just cheaper that way.

Long story short, the 747 flight was canceled . Delta held up their end of the bargain by getting me to Seattle as promised (in Delta One on the A330-300 ), but I arrived too late to make my originally-planned connecting flight to San Diego on Alaska Airlines.

Because these were two separate nonrefundable one-way tickets, I had to scramble to get on the phone with Alaska Airlines and cancel that ticket to prevent losing the full value of it. But I still had to purchase another last-minute one-way ticket to San Diego instead. Ouch.

Example 2: The concerned airline agent

Because I really wanted to do a LOT Polish Airlines 787–8 economy review (weird, I know), I purchased a one-way ticket from Los Angeles to Warsaw. For the return, I purchased another one-way ticket on a different airline just to have some variety in my airline reviews .

I checked in online prior to leaving for LAX. Upon arrival, I went straight for the security checkpoint since I already had a boarding pass.  The TSA scanner at the security checkpoint rejected my boarding pass for no rhyme or reason , and I was told to go back to the LOT ticketing counter.

I explained the situation to the friendly LOT employee at the check-in desk, and she got to work trying to figure out what the problem was. The concerned look on her face wasn’t comforting. At all.

It turned out that I needed to show proof that I wasn’t planning on staying permanently in Poland (because my one-way ticket looked suspicious).  Showing her my itinerary for my departure out of Poland the following day on another airline was sufficient.

Even though everything worked out in the end, it added about an extra hour of confusion and frustration that day.

Example 3: My own stupidity

Prior to flying Starlux Airlines A321neo business class for the first time, I needed to get to Taipei. To do so, I booked to one-way tickets:

• San Diego to Tokyo Narita on Japan Airlines
• Tokyo Narita to Taipei on Scoot

Prior to leaving San Diego, I noticed that Scoot uses the same terminal as Japan Airlines at NRT. I figured that I’d just get my Scoot boarding pass from the gate agent when I arrived.

It turned out that the gate agent couldn’t do that. I had exit security, legally enter Japan, and stand in line at the Scoot Airlines ticket counter to get a boarding pass. I had to do all of this within 35 minutes of the flight departure to Taipei. Talk about stressful!

Somehow I didn’t miss that flight, but it was a strong reminder of how naïve I was to think that two separate one-way tickets would be easier.

4 reasons why I usually always purchase two one-way tickets instead of one round-trip

Despite some very expensive (and stressful) experiences with purchasing one-way tickets instead of round-trip over the years, I still prefer the flexibility of building my own itinerary with separate tickets. this is because:

• The airlines can be stupid sometimes. For example, I recently flew to Mexico City and back on AeroMexico. For some reason or another, their website wouldn’t let me pick the exact flights that I wanted when trying to book a round-trip itinerary. I had to book 2 separate one-way tickets instead in order to get the exact flights that I wanted.
• I’ve found that it’s sometimes a cheaper way of flying business class. For example, on a recent trip to Florida and back, I took advantage of a good deal I found for American Airlines 777-200 business class from Dallas to Miami. For the return to San Diego, I booked a super-cheap (and more reasonable) one-way ticket on Allegiant Air. Although I didn’t get to fly business class round-trip, doing it one-way was enough to satisfy the itch.
• Booking one-way tickets instead of round-trip is a great way to avoid airports that I don’t like. For example, if I’m flying to Florida to visit family on Delta, it almost certainly means a connection in Atlanta. That’s fine – as long as it’s not a chaotic holiday weekend. If it is, on the return, I might choose to fly Frontier or United through Denver instead (since DEN is usually a lot less gnarly than ATL on busy holiday weekends).
• As an airline reviewer, I need / want to fly as many different airlines as possible. Airlines make it very easy to book one-way tickets vs round-trip tickets, so as long as they allow me to do it, I will continue to do so.

Other stuff you might like:

How long of a layover do I need in Atlanta?

Is a 1 hour layover enough time in Toronto? Not always. Here’s why:

How I usually end up with empty seats next to me on flights

Comments (26).

Quite an interesting read! I usually book round-trip, but I have flown on 2 one-way tickets occasionally. Usually, it’s outbound on one airline and inbound on another, which maybe isn’t as exciting as 2 different airlines in one day, but it’s a nice way to compare airlines on a similar route.

Scott (SANspotter)

Thanks! You bring up a good point that I didn’t mention in the article. Comparing two airlines on the same route (on the same trip) is another really good reason to fly on one way tickets.

Remy Godwin

New reader to your blog, nice work and keep it up.

My family and I recently did 2 one ways from Utila to San Pedro Sula, then onward to El Salvador. The UII-SAP is serviced by CM Airlines, a very small regional carrier that connects the bay islands. Upon arrival we had to wait for our bags because they were to large to fit under seats on this Embraer 110. (Bigger Osprey bags, I’ve read your backpack post and am now contemplating getting one of those)

There’s no feeling quite like hearing your family’s name over the PA system in a foreign airport while running through security checkpoints.

Thanks Remy – welcome to the blog! Anyway, yes, it gets tricky flying on one-way tickets sometimes. I’ve heard my name on the PA (as I’m running to catch a flight) more times than I care to admit and it’s always a scary experience!

Hi! I just stumbled across your site! I typically do round trip because it seems easier haha but recently have an opportunity come up to visit my sister in California . I’m in Kentucky so I’ve been tracking flights on momondo for round trips but I was curious if in this case just doing a 1 way to California and a 1 way back to Kentucky would be better? Thanks for any tips!!

Hey Kaitlin! If you can find a really good deal on a round trip (with a convenient schedule), then it’s probably not worth searching for two 1 way segments. I only do it if I can get a better deal, or if I don’t like the limitations of the round trip schedule. Have a good time in California!

This is great information, thank you! I’m out here trying to plan a family vacation to Europe and found that booking a multi-city ticket for arrival and departure (only one flight there and one back to the US from a different city) was about $1K more than booking two separate arrival/departure tickets FROM THE SAME AIRLINE. I was looking for any reason not to purchase two one-way tickets… but, it doesn’t seem to be that big of a deal as long as we plan well and have all of our docs available. About to research landing in one country, departing from another… surely there is a reasonable way to do this! Great blog post! Looking forward to more!

Thanks Dena – glad you found it useful! Purchasing one way tickets instead of a single round trip has it’s advantages for sure (it’s how I book most of my trips these days).

The only thing you really need to be careful about is giving yourself enough time to make connections. If your inbound flight is late, which causes you to miss your connecting flight, you’re basically out of luck. Even if it’s the same airline, they won’t compensate you for the missed flight.

Hope you have a great trip!

Great article and it provides me a great option for my trip to New Zealand next year. Question – I’m looking at award flight bookings for outbound LAX-AKL. And then inbound ZQN-AKL-LAX. With my current research, looks the miles/fees are the same round trip vs. 2-one ways. If all else equal, would you just recommend the 2-one ways since its advantage is more flexibility?

Thanks Jonathan! Honestly I don’t see any advantage of booking two one-way tickets in this instance. Maybe if you think there’s a chance that you’ll want to change your return somehow (once you’re in New Zealand), then yes – having that added flexibility will be nice.

But if the details of the trip are set in stone and it’s the same cost either way, a single round-trip itinerary will be easier to manage. Have a great trip!

New to the blog, good insight here. I’m interested to see your thoughts on my below itinerary/plan.

My wife and I are planning to travel to Italy this fall. We have enough points to book one-way JFK->Milan on American. We plan to navigate from Milan to Rome on our trip, and return to the NYC area from Rome (FCO). For that return flight, I have enough points to book a ticket on United, and will need to purchase my wife’s ticket. Interestingly, United is pricing the one-way FOC->EWR at around $1,100, but if I book a roundtrip FCO->EWR (booking the direct flight to get home and then cheapest “return flight” currently via Brussels), I can get it for about $650. My plan would be to ONLY get on the FCO->EWR leg, and just no-show (or cancel) the EWR->FCO return leg.

This feels like a comfortable no-risk plan. But wondering if you see any issues or have experienced any issues in the past with something like this?

Hi Rob! Good question. Doing it once isn’t going to cause any problems. However, if you start making a habit of it, you run the risk of being banned from flying United ever again. Airlines have been known to ban people for doing this, so you need to tread carefully.

I’m going to Oaxaca for 4 months but want my return date flexible. Is it better to book one way or round trip?

Definitely book a one-way ticket! You’ll most likely have to pay change fees on a round-trip ticket if you decide to move the return date.

Hi, just found your blog. It’s very helpful. I’m looking at options for a trip that includes 3 weeks in Thailand to visit an old friend, with a stop on the return in Taiwan to visit another friend for a few days. Want to do SFO/BKK/TPE/SFO. The cash price on United was $15K per person. Yikes! EVA offers the same itinerary for $6,656 pp. Because EVA is a United partner, I will earn credit for miles with United MP even if I book through EVA (although maybe less, but I’m not concerned about that). Does it sound reasonable to purchase the ticket through EVA? Should I research other alternatives to get a better price? (I only have 155K miles in MP and my husband has 58K, not enough to score a free seat. Using Mileage Upgrade Awards, we would be waitlisted for Business Class, not an option.)

Hi Linda – wow! $15,000 per person is insane. I hope that’s business class, because anything less seems like absolute robbery to me. The EVA option is probably your best bet if you want to earn United MileagePlus credits. That’s what I would do.

If you don’t care so much about that, I highly recommend checking out Zipair from SFO to NRT (and then flying a low-cost carrier such as Scoot down to BKK). For example, I just booked a lie-flat business class seat for myself on Zipair from LAX to NRT for $1350 (one way). There are no video screens in those seats (and onboard service is limited), but it’s still a heck of a deal IMHO.

Just something to think about…

I’m not wearing your shoes but a question she asked isn’t a thing. Visiting they think without a return date is to nosey to me. I would have plead the fifth. You weren’t under oath.

They are legally required to ask for proof that you’re not going to stay in the country that you’re flying to. All airlines will ask if they don’t see either a connecting flight or a return flight as part of your itinerary.

Do you do this with checked luggage? Do you have to go to baggage claim and get your luggage and go through security again or are they able to check it through? Thank you for the insight!

Hi Michala! Yes, you can do it with checked luggage. The only caveat is that you’ll have to retrieve your luggage (and then go through security) between flights. It would definitely be nice if the airlines could check your luggage through to your final destination on two separate tickets, but that isn’t possible.

Julie Buckley

I would like to fly to one destination in Germany, and return to my same home airport from a different airport in the same country (Germany). What could be a problem.? I need to use Delta – can I use their frequent flyer miles for that? Thanks

Hi Julie – sure, that’s not a problem at all. As a matter of fact, I do that sort of thing all the time without any issues. And yes, you can use frequent flyer miles. You’ll just need to book each segment separately, that’s all.

For SEA and SFO to Italy (two people flying from two starting destinations), we are considering non-stop flights on Virgin Atlantic to LON and then booking a regional flight to Rome (and then from Brindisi Italy back to LON on the return). With a 4+ hour connection, would you recommend this route; two separate tickets each way? It would save 1000-1500 on the ticket. Also, is Economy Delight on VA similar to Comfort+ on Delta? That is the cabin choice for the US to LON flights. Thank you!

Hi Jana – absolutely, if it saves you that much money, then booking two separate tickets is the way to go. I’d do that without batting an eye.

In regards to Economy Delight: it’s essentially a standard economy class seat with a bit more legroom. Premium economy offers a much larger (wider) seat with more legroom and recline than Economy Delight. I’d definitely go with that if you can swing it.

I have a question..or two. My husband and I want to use our United miles (separate accounts) to book an award flight (hopefully biz) RDU to FRA. But we probably each would need to do the Money + Miles option. He also has Lufthansa miles in Miles & More. Would it be possible and a good idea to each book one way tickets on United, then he could use the Lufthansa miles to purchase his ticket one way back home from maybe MUC to RDU? Or I could purchase a RT for myself, and he could do the two one ways, one on United and one on Lufthansa? Thanks for your help!

Hi Gina – everything you suggested is a valid possibility. It sounds like you only have enough in your UA account to go one way? This would require purchasing a one way ticket for one leg of the trip – which could potentially end up cost more than purchasing a round trip instead.

If so, I’d probably recommend purchasing a round trip for yourself (and earn miles for future use) and have your husband redeem points for his entire round trip.

You’ll just have to do the math and figure out what makes the most financial sense.

But that’s the thing that makes booking one way tickets so nice – it gives you so much more flexibility!

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• Flight Seattle - New Delhi (SEA - DEL) $707+

Japan Flights

• Flight New York - Tokyo (JFK - NRT) $599+
• Flight New York - Tokyo (JFK - HND) $616+
• Flight Los Angeles - Tokyo (LAX - NRT) $637+
• Flight San Francisco - Tokyo (SFO - NRT) $638+
• Flight Seattle - Tokyo (SEA - NRT) $738+
• Flight Houston - Tokyo (HOU - NRT) $742+
• Flight Los Angeles - Tokyo (LAX - HND) $748+

Phoenix Flights

• Flight Ontario - Phoenix (ONT - PHX) $38+
• Flight Salt Lake City - Phoenix (SLC - PHX) $38+
• Flight Los Angeles - Phoenix (LAX - PHX) $52+
• Flight Dallas - Phoenix (DFW - PHX) $54+
• Flight Portland - Phoenix (PDX - PHX) $70+
• Flight Denver - Phoenix (DEN - PHX) $78+
• Flight Houston - Phoenix (HOU - PHX) $78+

Honolulu Flights

• Flight Los Angeles - Honolulu (LAX - HNL) $216+
• Flight San Diego - Honolulu (SAN - HNL) $253+
• Flight Ontario - Honolulu (ONT - HNL) $258+
• Flight San Francisco - Honolulu (SFO - HNL) $267+
• Flight San Jose - Honolulu (SJC - HNL) $267+
• Flight Oakland - Honolulu (OAK - HNL) $277+
• Flight Las Vegas - Honolulu (LAS - HNL) $351+

Los Angeles Flights

• Flight Oakland - Los Angeles (OAK - LAX) $39+
• Flight Salt Lake City - Los Angeles (SLC - LAX) $39+
• Flight San Francisco - Los Angeles (SFO - LAX) $42+
• Flight San Jose - Los Angeles (SJC - LAX) $76+
• Flight Dallas - Los Angeles (DFW - LAX) $78+
• Flight Houston - Los Angeles (HOU - LAX) $79+
• Flight Houston - Los Angeles (IAH - LAX) $79+
• Flight Minneapolis - Los Angeles (MSP - LAX) $86+
• Flight Portland - Los Angeles (PDX - LAX) $89+

Chicago Flights

• Flight Atlanta - Chicago (ATL - ORD) $50+
• Flight Denver - Chicago (DEN - ORD) $52+
• Flight New York - Chicago (LGA - ORD) $53+
• Flight Dallas - Chicago (DFW - ORD) $55+
• Flight Philadelphia - Chicago (PHL - ORD) $56+
• Flight Boston - Chicago (BOS - ORD) $61+
• Flight Orlando - Chicago (MCO - ORD) $61+

Denver Flights

• Flight Dallas - Denver (DFW - DEN) $38+
• Flight Ontario - Denver (ONT - DEN) $55+
• Flight Minneapolis - Denver (MSP - DEN) $58+
• Flight Chicago - Denver (ORD - DEN) $65+
• Flight Los Angeles - Denver (LAX - DEN) $75+
• Flight Austin - Denver (AUS - DEN) $78+
• Flight Philadelphia - Denver (PHL - DEN) $81+

Washington, D.C. Flights

• Flight Atlanta - Baltimore (ATL - BWI) $38+
• Flight Boston - Baltimore (BOS - BWI) $40+
• Flight Fort Lauderdale - Baltimore (FLL - BWI) $40+
• Flight Chicago - Baltimore (ORD - BWI) $70+
• Flight Houston - Baltimore (IAH - BWI) $73+
• Flight Dallas - Baltimore (DFW - BWI) $86+
• Flight Los Angeles - Baltimore (LAX - BWI) $101+
• Flight Boston - Washington, D.C. (BOS - DCA) $133+
• Flight Boston - Washington, D.C. (BOS - IAD) $139+
• Flight Denver - Baltimore (DEN - BWI) $143+
• Flight Dallas - Washington, D.C. (DFW - DCA) $154+
• Flight Seattle - Baltimore (SEA - BWI) $157+
• Flight Minneapolis - Washington, D.C. (MSP - DCA) $158+
• Flight New York - Washington, D.C. (LGA - DCA) $183+
• Flight Chicago - Washington, D.C. (ORD - DCA) $184+
• Flight San Francisco - Baltimore (SFO - BWI) $188+
• Flight Los Angeles - Washington, D.C. (LAX - IAD) $197+
• Flight Atlanta - Washington, D.C. (ATL - DCA) $202+
• Flight Los Angeles - Washington, D.C. (LAX - DCA) $212+
• Flight Dallas - Washington, D.C. (DFW - IAD) $219+
• Flight San Francisco - Washington, D.C. (SFO - DCA) $222+
• Flight Seattle - Washington, D.C. (SEA - DCA) $244+
• Flight Seattle - Washington, D.C. (SEA - IAD) $270+
• Flight San Francisco - Washington, D.C. (SFO - IAD) $290+

Atlanta Flights

• Flight Fort Lauderdale - Atlanta (FLL - ATL) $24+
• Flight Baltimore - Atlanta (BWI - ATL) $35+
• Flight Houston - Atlanta (HOU - ATL) $38+
• Flight Houston - Atlanta (IAH - ATL) $38+
• Flight Orlando - Atlanta (MCO - ATL) $38+
• Flight Miami - Atlanta (MIA - ATL) $39+
• Flight Philadelphia - Atlanta (PHL - ATL) $39+

United States Flights

• Flight New York - Chicago (LGA - ORD) $38+
• Flight Newark - Miami (EWR - MIA) $40+
• Flight New York - Fort Lauderdale (LGA - FLL) $51+
• Flight New York - Miami (LGA - MIA) $51+
• Flight New York - Orlando (LGA - MCO) $65+

Hawaii Flights

• Flight Los Angeles - Hawaii (LAX - USHI) $215+
• Flight San Diego - Hawaii (SAN - USHI) $253+
• Flight San Francisco - Hawaii (SFO - USHI) $257+
• Flight Ontario - Hawaii (ONT - USHI) $258+
• Flight San Jose - Hawaii (SJC - USHI) $267+
• Flight Seattle - Hawaii (SEA - USHI) $297+
• Flight Portland - Hawaii (PDX - USHI) $380+

Tampa Flights

• Flight Atlanta - Tampa (ATL - TPA) $40+
• Flight Baltimore - Tampa (BWI - TPA) $46+
• Flight Raleigh - Tampa (RDU - TPA) $51+
• Flight Atlantic City - Tampa (ACY - TPA) $56+
• Flight Philadelphia - Tampa (PHL - TPA) $56+
• Flight Dallas - Tampa (DFW - TPA) $57+
• Flight Cincinnati - Tampa (CVG - TPA) $59+

Houston Flights

• Flight Atlanta - Houston (ATL - IAH) $39+
• Flight Philadelphia - Houston (PHL - IAH) $46+
• Flight Miami - Houston (MIA - IAH) $49+
• Flight Fort Lauderdale - Houston (FLL - IAH) $57+
• Flight Orlando - Houston (MCO - IAH) $59+
• Flight Chicago - Houston (ORD - IAH) $61+
• Flight Detroit - Houston (DTW - IAH) $61+

Las Vegas Flights

• Flight Los Angeles - Las Vegas (LAX - LAS) $24+
• Flight Burbank - Las Vegas (BUR - LAS) $27+
• Flight Santa Ana - Las Vegas (SNA - LAS) $38+
• Flight Oakland - Las Vegas (OAK - LAS) $39+
• Flight Dallas - Las Vegas (DFW - LAS) $50+
• Flight Seattle - Las Vegas (SEA - LAS) $51+
• Flight Minneapolis - Las Vegas (MSP - LAS) $58+
• Flight Denver - Las Vegas (DEN - LAS) $62+
• Flight Detroit - Las Vegas (DTW - LAS) $67+
• Flight Houston - Las Vegas (HOU - LAS) $76+
• Flight Houston - Las Vegas (IAH - LAS) $76+
• Flight San Francisco - Las Vegas (SFO - LAS) $80+
• Flight Baltimore - Las Vegas (BWI - LAS) $86+
• Flight Atlanta - Las Vegas (ATL - LAS) $89+

Miami Flights

• Flight Atlanta - Miami (ATL - MIA) $37+
• Flight Chicago - Miami (ORD - MIA) $39+
• Flight Philadelphia - Miami (PHL - MIA) $39+
• Flight Baltimore - Miami (BWI - MIA) $40+
• Flight Dallas - Miami (DFW - MIA) $40+
• Flight Charlotte - Miami (CLT - MIA) $48+
• Flight Houston - Miami (HOU - MIA) $61+
• Flight Houston - Miami (IAH - MIA) $61+
• Flight Raleigh - Miami (RDU - MIA) $75+
• Flight Boston - Miami (BOS - MIA) $84+
• Flight Detroit - Miami (DTW - MIA) $89+
• Flight Minneapolis - Miami (MSP - MIA) $99+
• Flight Cleveland - Miami (CLE - MIA) $107+
• Flight New York - Miami (JFK - MIA) $117+
• Flight Cincinnati - Miami (CVG - MIA) $129+
• Flight Denver - Miami (DEN - MIA) $140+
• Flight Los Angeles - Miami (LAX - MIA) $144+
• Flight Washington, D.C. - Miami (DCA - MIA) $149+
• Flight Hartford - Miami (BDL - MIA) $181+
• Flight Seattle - Miami (SEA - MIA) $188+

San Francisco Flights

• Flight Ontario - San Francisco (ONT - SFO) $38+
• Flight Los Angeles - San Francisco (LAX - SFO) $42+
• Flight San Diego - San Francisco (SAN - SFO) $82+
• Flight Santa Ana - San Francisco (SNA - SFO) $87+
• Flight Dallas - San Francisco (DFW - SFO) $118+
• Flight Denver - San Francisco (DEN - SFO) $123+
• Flight Seattle - San Francisco (SEA - SFO) $144+
• Flight Minneapolis - San Francisco (MSP - SFO) $155+
• Flight Miami - San Francisco (MIA - SFO) $158+
• Flight Chicago - San Francisco (ORD - SFO) $175+
• Flight Philadelphia - San Francisco (PHL - SFO) $181+
• Flight Atlanta - San Francisco (ATL - SFO) $196+
• Flight Baltimore - San Francisco (BWI - SFO) $196+
• Flight Boston - San Francisco (BOS - SFO) $197+

Seattle Flights

• Flight Ontario - Seattle (ONT - SEA) $67+
• Flight Phoenix - Seattle (PHX - SEA) $81+
• Flight Los Angeles - Seattle (LAX - SEA) $82+
• Flight San Diego - Seattle (SAN - SEA) $85+
• Flight San Jose - Seattle (SJC - SEA) $95+
• Flight Denver - Seattle (DEN - SEA) $101+
• Flight Santa Ana - Seattle (SNA - SEA) $111+

Paris Flights

• Flight Washington, D.C. - Paris (IAD - CDG) $295+
• Flight Boston - Paris (BOS - CDG) $296+
• Flight New Windsor - Paris (SWF - CDG) $302+
• Flight Baltimore - Paris (BWI - CDG) $303+
• Flight Newark - Paris (EWR - ORY) $351+
• Flight New York - Paris (JFK - ORY) $352+
• Flight New York - Paris (JFK - CDG) $365+

Europe Flights

• Flight New York - Lisbon (JFK - LIS) $334+
• Flight Newark - Barcelona (EWR - BCN) $360+
• Flight Newark - Madrid (EWR - MAD) $362+
• Flight New York - Rome (JFK - FCO) $363+

Florida Flights

• Flight Newark - Florida (EWR - USFL) $39+
• Flight Baltimore - Florida (BWI - USFL) $40+
• Flight Philadelphia - Florida (PHL - USFL) $43+
• Flight New York - Florida (LGA - USFL) $51+
• Flight Boston - Florida (BOS - USFL) $59+
• Flight Dallas - Florida (DFW - USFL) $59+
• Flight Chicago - Florida (ORD - USFL) $63+

Dallas Flights

• Flight Houston - Dallas (HOU - DFW) $46+
• Flight Atlanta - Dallas (ATL - DFW) $58+
• Flight Minneapolis - Dallas (MSP - DFW) $58+
• Flight Fort Lauderdale - Dallas (FLL - DFW) $59+
• Flight Chicago - Dallas (ORD - DFW) $60+
• Flight Orlando - Dallas (MCO - DFW) $65+
• Flight Los Angeles - Dallas (LAX - DFW) $66+

San Diego Flights

• Flight San Jose - San Diego (SJC - SAN) $40+
• Flight Phoenix - San Diego (PHX - SAN) $48+
• Flight Sacramento - San Diego (SMF - SAN) $48+
• Flight Oakland - San Diego (OAK - SAN) $57+
• Flight Dallas - San Diego (DFW - SAN) $62+
• Flight Seattle - San Diego (SEA - SAN) $64+
• Flight Houston - San Diego (HOU - SAN) $65+

Frequently asked questions

What do i need to know before booking a flight.

There are various factors to consider when booking a flight including cost, fare classes, baggage policies, the complications of flying long haul, and complying with airport regulations. To make your booking journey smoother KAYAK has developed a comprehensive flight guide including insights on finding affordable flights, packing efficiently, and utilizing the best travel tools.

What is the cheapest day of the week to book a flight?

The best day to book your flight depends on a number of factors, but there are general trends that you can follow to increase your chances of cheaper plane tickets. Based on an analysis of KAYAK data for all flights departing from inside United States over the last 12 months, the cheapest day to fly for domestic flights is Wednesday. For international flights, Tuesday had the cheapest tickets on average.

Which month of the year are flight prices lowest?

It’s well established that flights in the low season are generally cheaper than ticket prices during the high season. That means that knowing which month to find the lowest priced plane tickets will depend heavily on seasonality and your destination. While avoiding peak travel times can help you keep costs down, our data shows that the month with the lowest priced plane tickets for domestic flights based on all searches made on KAYAK in the last 12 months was January, while the most expensive was May. If you’re booking an international flight, then January is the cheapest month to fly and June the most expensive.

When is the best time to buy plane tickets - Last minute or in advance?

Last minute flight deals are definitely up for grabs but when exactly to purchase your plane tickets will depend on where you’re traveling to and from. Based on all data for flight searches made on KAYAK over the last 12 months, prices for domestic flights remained below the average price up to 1 weeks before departure. For international flights, deals could still be had up to 1 weeks prior to the departure date, with prices remaining below average. If you’re flexible, KAYAK brings you both advance and last minute one-way and round-trip flight deals.

Can flying international flights with a layover save money on airfare?

For many long-haul international flights, flying non-stop is not possible and you will have to fly with a layover. Some routes will offer both and you could consider flying with a layover for a number of reasons. Firstly, breaking up what would otherwise be a long-haul flight, taking a rest and then completing the journey might make the flight more manageable. Secondly, prices can also be lower than non-stop flights, so while it might take longer for you to reach your destination, you could save money. We’ve looked at prices over the last 12 months for the 100 most popular international destinations for KAYAK users and on average, prices for non-stop flights were cheaper than flights with a layover.

How does KAYAK find such low flight prices?

KAYAK processes over 2 billion flight queries annually and displays results from hundreds of airlines and third party sites, allowing it to find a variety of flight prices and options. It also displays results from 2M+ properties along with rental cars, vacation packages, activities and millions of verified reviews so users can see as many available travel options as possible.

How do I find the best flight deals on KAYAK?

A simple flight search at https://www.kayak.com/flights scans for prices on hundreds of travel sites in seconds. We gather flight deals from across the web and put them in one place. Then on the search results page you can use various filters to compare options for the same flight and easily choose the best flight deal from all of the deals coming straight from the travel sites to your screen, with no extra fee from KAYAK.

How can Hacker Fares save me money?

Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets on different airlines when it can save you money over a traditional round-trip ticket.

Does KAYAK query more flight providers than competitors?

Yes, KAYAK has access to more data and information than online travel agencies and consistently outperforms the competition in accuracy, globally.

How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy?

KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a given destination and date is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care?

Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you flights up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. That way, you can see if leaving a day or two earlier will find you a better deal. You can also select the flexible "weekend" or "month" search options to widen your search range and find the cheapest price that works for you.

Search cheap flights with KAYAK. Search for the cheapest airline tickets for all the top airlines around the world, airports around the world and the top international flight routes . KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites to help you find cheap airfare and book a flight that suits you best. Since KAYAK searches many plane tickets sites at once, you can find cheap tickets from cheap airlines and for trains and buses quickly.

KAYAK also helps you find the right hotels for your needs.

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One-Way vs. Round-Trip Flights: Which Should You Book?

A question that often comes up during Points Consulting calls is whether it’s better to book one-way or round-trip flights. Of course, it differs with each individual situation, but there are some general principles to go by.

In many cases, booking one-way flights offers greater flexibility and customization. This isn’t always the case, though, and you’ll want to think about the cost, routing rules, cancellation fees, and the use of vouchers when making a decision to book a one-way or round-trip booking.

In This Post

Generally speaking, book one-ways, book round-trip flights with vouchers, book round-trip flights to lower costs, book round-trips to save on cancellation fees, book round-trips for extra stopovers.

For my personal bookings, and in most cases during consulting calls, I almost always book one-way flights. Sure, it adds another booking reference to keep track of, but I find that it works best for me.

One of the reasons why I book one-way flights is that my travels don’t tend to be simple and linear. For example, for an upcoming trip to Australia this fall, I have the following flights booked:

• Toronto to Brisbane via Vancouver ( Aeroplan )
• Gold Coast to Sydney (Virgin Australia)
• Sydney to Canberra (Virgin Australia)
• Canberra to Hobart via Melbourne ( Avios )
• Hobart to Melbourne (Avios)
• Albury to Sydney (Qantas)
• Sydney to Victoria (Aeroplan)

In total, I have a mix of one-way bookings with two different loyalty programs and the rest with cash booked directly with the airlines. 

I was able to score deals using eUpgrades on both of my long-haul flights, and since I’ll be coming from The Travel Summit in Toronto and returning to my home on Vancouver Island, it made more sense for me to book two one-way flights.

Within Australia, I plan to visit with friends and family in a few different places, so booking a variety of one-way flights will allow me to maximize my time in each destination during a shorter trip. 

If I need to change or cancel any of my points bookings, having them booked as two one-ways will allow me to avoid repricing the entire round-trip, which could result in a massive increase in Aeroplan points under dynamic pricing . This way, I can keep one of the bargains that I found, without having to worry about losing it to repricing.

Even if your travel tends to be less dynamic than a trip like the above, I still would argue that one-ways are the way to go for most bookings.

Sometimes, plans change, and missing any flights on a round-trip itinerary invalidates the rest of the itinerary. Having a trip booked on two separate one-way itineraries allows for maximum flexibility, in that you won’t lose out on the rest of your flight if your plans change and you miss a connection.

If you’re savvy, you might compare the cost of each one-way flight with points and cash prior to booking. You may encounter an excellent price for one direction, only to find that the other way is much more expensive.

In this case, you could book the cheaper price with cash, and then use points to cover the cost of the other direction, which helps to squeeze more value out of your points. Of course, this doesn’t usually work for international bookings, where one-way cash tickets are often nearly as much as a round-trip, which we’ll discuss below.

There are some compelling reasons to book round-trips in place of one-ways, though, so one-way flights won’t always be the most ideal way to go about booking a trip.

One of the main reasons for booking round-trip flights is any time you have a voucher to redeem. This could be in the form of a companion voucher from a credit card , such as the Air Canada Buddy Pass , the WestJet annual companion voucher, or the Air Canada Annual Worldwide Companion Pass . 

You can squeeze more value out of a companion voucher by booking a round-trip fare instead of a one-way. This is simply because you usually stand to save more on two or more flights instead of just one.

The savings can be enough to justify the annual fee on a premium credit card, so it’s best to consider using them for high value cash bookings, such as for last minute travel or travel during peak periods.

Other types of vouchers, such as Priority Rewards earned by travellers with Aeroplan Elite Status , also are more valuable when redeemed for round-trip flights instead of one-ways. 

For example, a Priority Reward redeemed by a Super Elite is good for 50% off of a round-trip business class booking with any Aeroplan partner anywhere in the world.

A round-trip flight from Toronto to Bangkok via Abu Dhabi on Etihad Airways regularly costs 87,500 points each direction, but a Priority Reward knocks down the cost to 87,500 points for a round-trip.

Sure, you could use a Priority Reward for a one-way flight to Asia and still save a handsome amount of points, but since you have to spend money to earn Priority Rewards, you’re best suited to using them on a round-trip booking for the best value.

Another factor to consider when choosing between round-trip and one-way bookings is the cost. 

For domestic and transborder flights, airlines tend to price out fares as the sum of two one-ways.

For example, a one-way flight from Toronto to Vancouver might cost $200 in one direction and $150 in the other. It makes no difference if you book as a round-trip or two one-ways – you’ll wind up paying $350 either way.

The same isn’t usually true for international flights. This is due to the way fares are constructed, and it’s almost always a much better deal to book a round-trip cash fare for international flights versus one-ways.

For example, a one-way flight from Vancouver to Paris costs $875 with Air France, and from Paris to Vancouver, a one-way flight costs $1,956.

Those same flights booked as a round-trip price out at only $983, which results in a massive $1,848 in savings.

One advantage of booking flights with points is that you usually aren’t subject to the same differences in one-way versus round-trip pricing. With fixed-cost programs, the pricing generally doesn’t change at all between round-trips and one-ways – you’ll pay the same whether you book one round-trip or two one-ways.

For programs that use dynamic pricing that is tied to the actual cost of flights, you’ll want to ensure that you look at the cost per direction to make sure it’s not cheaper to book a round-trip than two one-ways. 

Another cost factor to consider is that the taxes and fees are calculated by the originating airport on a booking. 

For example, if you book a round-trip flight to Toronto out of Edmonton, you’ll be charged 5% GST, as that is the current tax rate in Alberta. If you were to book two one-ways, you’d be charged 5% GST for the ticket from Edmonton, and then 13% HST on the flight from Toronto.

While the difference is negligible for award bookings, the costs can add up if you are paying cash for flights. On business class fares, the difference in booking a round-trip instead of two one-ways could result in hundreds of dollars in savings.

As airlines return to normal-ish operations, the regular change or cancellation fees are also being reimplemented. During the pandemic, passengers enjoyed flexibility with low-to-no cost changes or cancellations, which was a great gesture during a difficult period.

If you’re unsure of whether or not you’ll actually go on a trip, you’ll want to make sure that you can recover your costs. For award bookings, you’d only be on the hook for one cancellation fee if you make a round-trip booking, versus having two cancellation fees for two one-ways.

Let’s use Aeroplan as an example, as the program has recently returned to its regular change and cancellation fees . Cancelling a single round-trip booking online would cost $150, while cancelling two one-way bookings online would be double at $300.

Of course, one method to avoid this is to book a flexible fare to begin with, but you’ll incur a greater cost in points by doing so. 

You’ll want to check the cancellation policies for the points program you’re booking with, as some, such as Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan and American Airlines AAdvantage, continue to offer free cancellation on rewards bookings.

Lastly, you’ll want to consider the routing and stopover rules before deciding on a one-way or a round-trip booking. This largely applies to award bookings, but it can also affect cash fares if the fare rules allow for extra stops on a round-trip booking.

Some programs, such as Aeroplan and Alaska Mileage Plan, allow stopovers on one-way bookings. Indeed, this is a great perk with both programs, and one that can be quite beneficial to travellers.

Other programs, such as Cathay Pacific Asia Miles , ANA Mileage Club, or Saver awards on Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, only allow stopovers on round-trip bookings.

So, if you want to stretch the value of your points with redemptions in these programs, you’ll want to book a round-trip over a two one-way bookings.

In the majority of cases, booking one-ways allows for greater flexibility with complex routings and also allows you to optimize the use of points and cash. In most cases, it’s best to book two one-ways over a round-trip.

There are exceptions to this, though, and in some cases, it’s much better to make a round-trip booking than two one-way bookings. These situations can include using vouchers, booking international flights with cash, considering the various costs, and taking advantage of routing and stopover rules.

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How To Decide If 2 One-Ways Are Better Than A Round-Trip Flight

Senior Reporter, HuffPost Life

When you book air travel, the airline offers many ways to filter your search results ― price limits, preferred times of day, nonstop flights versus flights with layovers, and of course, round-trip versus one-way.

As the names suggest, a round-trip journey includes both a flight from your starting point to your destination and a flight back to your origin, whereas a one-way only covers one of those segments. While the former is generally the simplest way to book a trip, some people prefer to buy two separate one-way tickets when they travel.

But are there good reasons to choose one over the other? We asked a few travel experts to share their advice on whether it’s better to book two one-ways or a round-trip reservation for your next air travel excursion.

International travel tends to incentivize round-trip bookings.

“When you’re booking international flights, it almost always pays off to book as a round-trip, since airlines typically price one-ways at much more than half the cost of the round-trip fare,” said Zach Griff, senior reporter at The Points Guy .

Indeed, a cursory search on Google Flights while writing this piece found a round-trip flight option from New York to Paris for $522. But if you were to purchase the same two flights separately ― New York to Paris, then Paris back to New York ― the combined cost would be $1,670, more than three times the cost of the round-trip booking. The price discrepancy can get even more egregious when premium cabin fares are involved.

“In general, round-trip tickets tend to be cheaper than two one-way tickets, particularly if you intend on flying with a single carrier or alliance,” said Willis Orlando, senior product operations specialist at Scott’s Cheap Flights .

So if you’re all about airline loyalty, you’ll likely find better pricing options booking a round-trip journey for your international travels.

But domestic flights have better one-way pricing.

While airline pricing tends to incentivize round-trip bookings for international flights, there isn’t as much of a disparity with domestic air travel.

“When traveling within the U.S., airlines typically price one-way flights at exactly half the cost of a round-trip,” reporter Chris Dong wrote for The Points Guy in September. “There certainly are exceptions, especially for those that fly out of smaller, regional airports.”

Thus, if you’re flying domestically out of a major hub, you have better odds of finding good deals on separate one-way tickets.

Booking separate legs allows you to combine airlines.

Once you’ve determined you won’t lose money booking separate legs for your air travel, consider why you want to do it this way.

“Booking a round-trip itinerary as two one-way segments can make sense in some cases,” Griff said. “For one, it gives you the flexibility to choose between more than one airline in your searches. Sometimes, you can save money by combining flights on different airlines.”

Perhaps you have rewards points with two different airlines that service your destination and want to cash them in during one trip. Booking separately allows you to do that. You might even find a good deal for the outbound part of your journey with one airline and for the return flight with a different carrier.

“That said, you’ll need to pay attention to different fare rules when combining two airlines on one trip,” Griff noted. “For instance, if your outbound flight is delayed or canceled, you’d only be entitled to a refund for that portion of the itinerary, if you booked as one-ways.”

One-ways also offer more flexibility with return dates.

Another factor you may want to consider when booking round-trip or one-way is how sure you are of your dates.

Good one-way rates “can be useful if you’re not quite sure when you’ll be returning from your trip, which is particularly relevant in the age of remote work and extended AirBnB stays,” Orlando said.

So if you aren’t exactly sure when you’ll be ending your stay, you can make the process easier by simply booking a one-way ticket there. Then you don’t have to book your return until you’re ready, and you won’t have to spend time changing it to a later date over and over again.

Orlando said he’s even had some luck booking one-ways internationally with certain carriers, like TAP Air Portugal.

“I frequently travel to Europe for weeks, if not months, at a time, and try to make sure I end my trip in a city served by TAP, because I know I’ll be able to find myself a cheap one-way ticket home,” he noted.

Booking separate legs might help with a complicated itinerary.

Sometimes your travels might take you to multiple places and via different transit methods. For example, you might fly from Miami to New York and then take the train down to Washington, D.C. In this case, you’d want to fly back home from a different city than the one you flew into.

“In many cases, it will be possible to book an open-jaw ticket, coupling the two itineraries into a single ‘round-trip’ ticket, but occasionally that’s not possible,” Orlando said. “In that case, it can be worthwhile to look into one-way prices to see if they offer a competitive price, or favorable routing.”

When you have a more complex itinerary, it might feel simpler to break it up into one-way flights. Just make sure to compare the prices, and be prepared to manage the different airline bookings in your inbox.

As with most aspects of travel, there’s no one magic way to do things when you’re deciding whether to book two one-ways or a round-trip journey. But with research and experience, you can get better at figuring out what works best for your budget, itinerary and overall comfort level.

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Why Are One-Way Flights More Expensive Than Round-Trips?

"Reader Questions" are answered twice a week by TPG Senior Points & Miles Contributor Ethan Steinberg .

There are many factors that play a role in determining airfare pricing, including historical demand, available fare classes (or "buckets") and daily/seasonal/holiday variations in travel. TPG reader Mona wants to know why it seems that one-way tickets are often more expensive than round-trip tickets ...

[pullquote source="TPG READER MONA"]Why is it that one-way tickets are always so much more expensive than round-trip tickets? [/pullquote]

First of all, while there are plenty of egregious pricing examples, it's not always true that one-way tickets are more expensive. Some carriers price tickets on a per-leg basis, where the round-trip price is simply the sum of the two one-way fares (JetBlue and Southwest immediately come to mind). You'll also see this happen on routes with multiple daily frequencies from a single airline, as the increased capacity makes it easier to offer a consistent pricing experience.

Take American Airlines flights from Chicago-O'Hare (ORD) to Washington-Reagan (DCA), a route I've flown close to 100 times over the last five years. On any given day, American Airlines operates about 10 non-stop flights between these two cities. It's often possible to find round-trip pricing as low as $300, such as this trip from May 7-11.

If we were to look instead just at one-way tickets departing on May 7, we'd see that they cost $150, or exactly half as much as the round-trip.

Still, there are plenty of cases where the opposite is true and one-way tickets are incredibly expensive. Take this round-trip business class ticket on Lufthansa from Chicago to Frankfurt (FRA).

$5,269 is a lot to pay for any plane ticket, but if you wanted to book just the one-way ticket it would cost you 50% more, despite the fact that you're taking half the flight.

It's no coincidence that I picked a premium cabin example to demonstrate this pricing discrepancy. One of the main reasons that one-way tickets can be so expensive is because they're often purchased by business travelers who have rigid date/time requirements and are less sensitive to price. If they need to get somewhere for a meeting, they're going to book whatever flight does that, and their company will foot the bill. Of course there are plenty of reasons non-business travelers might book a one-way ticket as well, such as an unexpected accident/illness/emergency in the family, but in this case, time is also the primary concern, and you're likely to see customers who are less sensitive to price.

Obviously the exact pricing will vary depending on the date/route/airline you choose to fly with, but in my experience you generally see this outrageous one-way pricing much more on long, international routes than on domestic routes. It's also more common in premium cabins, though it does appear for economy flights as well. In the Lufthansa example above, a round-trip economy ticket on the same dates would have cost $1,700 vs. $3,000 for a one-way economy flight.

So what should you do about this? Well, if you're booking cash fares, you (or your company) might be able to save some serious money by booking round-trips instead of one-ways. Even if you don't know the exact date on which you'll be returning, you might be better off booking a round-trip and paying a change fee once your return plans are finalized instead of booking two very expensive one-ways.

This pricing discrepancy is something you should also pay careful attention to if you're redeeming points and miles for free flights. Before you spend your miles, you should look at TPG's monthly valuations and calculate how much value you're getting from your redemption. While there's a debate in the award travel community about how exactly to calculate this number, let's focus (for today) on the simple approach: looking at the exact flight you're booking and dividing its price by the number of points or miles you're redeeming.

(Cash Price of Ticket – Award Taxes, Fees and Surcharges) ÷ Number of Points/Miles = Value per Point/Mile

Every single award ticket I've ever booked has been a one-way award, as it gives me more flexibility to look for award space on different airlines and in different cabins. But that means that the prices I'm using to calculate my redemption values are incredibly inflated. Let's take an extreme example to make this point: Cathay Pacific first class . While there are a number of different ways to book this award, your best value is typically going to come from redeeming 70,000 Alaska Mileage Plan miles .

On most days, you'll find one-way first class tickets between New York-JFK and Hong Kong (HKG) selling for $18,000, giving you an approximate redemption value of 25 cents per Alaska mile, or more than 13 times TPG's valuations.

However, a round-trip flight on this route is typically in the neighborhood of $30,000, so redeeming 140,000 Alaska miles for a first class award to and from Hong Kong would drop your redemption value to 21 cents.

So which should you use for your one-way redemption? The inflated one-way price? Half of the round-trip price? Neither?

Ultimately that's a decision you'll have to make for yourself, but the lesson here is that you shouldn't put too much weight on the cash price of the ticket, especially with one-way flights. Instead you should focus more on the quality of the experience you're getting. When I took a one-way, $16,000 first class flight on ANA , I wasn't bragging to my friends about the price of the ticket. I was telling them all about the top-rate food and service, the endless Krug champagne and the incredible privacy of the seats .

Bottom Line

Airfare pricing is a complex beast. While there are some strategies you can employ and tools you can utilize to find cheap tickets, there generally isn't a way to get around disparities between one-way and round-trip pricing, and even this won't exist on every airline and on every route. You should also keep this in the back of your mind when you're looking at an award ticket and trying to decide whether to pay with cash or points, as the variation between one-way and round-trip pricing can really impact the way you do your math.

Thanks for the question, Mona, and if you're a TPG reader who'd like us to answer a question of your own, tweet us at @thepointsguy , message us on Facebook or email us at [email protected] .

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Looking for the best time to buy airline tickets to get a cheap flight to everywhere? We’ve got you covered anytime, anywhere. Here’s how to find the best deal for flight booking no matter where you want to go in the world.

Which day of the week is the best day to buy cheap airline tickets?

For both U.S. domestic and international travel, Sundays can be cheaper for airline ticket purchases. Fridays tend to be the most expensive day to book a flight. Booking on the right day of the week could save you up to 6% on your airfare, according to historical data*.

When is the best time to buy airline tickets?

Based on 2020 And 2021 global flight data for Economy tickets, prices usually start to increase 56 days before departure for domestic flights. When traveling internationally, prices usually start to increase 21 days before departure*. Keep in mind that this isn’t a hard-and-fast rule; keeping an eye on prices is a good idea when trying to find the best airfare deals. Compare fares across different airlines, and set up a price alert for your preferred route.

Which are the cheapest days to fly?

Analysis of domestic and international airfare prices shows that flying out on Fridays can be cheaper. Many travelers start their trips on Sundays, so your chances of a lower price are better when departing early in the week instead. Starting your trip on a Friday could be almost 11% cheaper than air travel on Sundays, so book flights online wisely*!

Which is the cheapest month to fly?

The cheapest month to fly can vary depending on where you’re going, so finding the best rates largely comes down to avoiding peak travel times for your destination. If you’re looking for cheap international flights , the most expensive month tends to be February, while the cheapest is November with cheap flights in November offering potential savings of up to 34.6% relative to February. Cheap domestic flights work a bit differently, with March being the most expensive and August being the least expensive with cheap flights in August offering savings of up to 35%*.

How can I find the cheapest flights on Expedia?

Compare cheap airline ticket prices at a glance from a large inventory of carriers on Expedia. You can get cheap flights by staying flexible with travel dates, carriers, and nonstop/layover flights to get the best price. Insider tip: Become a member (it’s free!) to earn rewards back on every booking. We make your travel stress-free and source incredible airfare deals so you can sit back, relax, and start your vacation or business trip.

How can I save money on flights?

Mixing and matching airline tickets and fare types could help save money on airfare to your destination. Easily compare prices for carriers, arrival and departure dates, airplane cabin class, and more when you book with Expedia. Booking your plane ticket on a Sunday, and departing on Friday, could possibly save you money* based on historical data. You can also filter for flights based on your budget, such as looking for cheap flights under $200 specifically.

How can I get cheap last-minute flight deals?

The historical data analysis of flight pricing patterns shows that you can still find amazing airfare deals 3 weeks prior to departure* when traveling domestically. International last-minute flights offer great deals 2 weeks prior to departure if you’re flying premium, but economy travelers may want to strive for no less than 4 weeks out*. Try to stay flexible with travel dates, airports, and nonstop/layover flights to find the cheapest flights on Expedia. Whether you’re planning a quick business trip or a spontaneous holiday with friends, you’ll have your choice of last-minute flights, roundtrip, or multicity flights on Expedia. You’ll find everything you need for your travels all in one place — and all at the right price.

How do I book with Expedia?

Booking your flight with Expedia is easy, as all you have to do is implement your travel dates, departure destination, like flights from Atlanta or flights from Hartsfield-Jackson , and arrival destination into the search. Then, all the available flights for those dates and destinations will appear. You can use search filters to narrow down the results as well based on a variety of factors like the airline, number of stops, departure time, and policies like seat choice and refundable bookings. Additionally, travelers may alter their search for round-trip flights, one-way flights, and multicity flights.

What should I look out for when booking flights?

Several factors go into any flight booking, and you’ll need to keep an eye out for them all to ensure that you get the travel time, luggage policy, airline, and class you want. Consider which airport is closest to your ultimate destination (travelers to Los Angeles may prefer flights to LAX over flights to PSP , and make sure that the flight will accommodate all the luggage you plan on bringing. Additionally, consider the different flight classes including economy flights for functionality and premium flights if you want to enjoy a more relaxing experience.

Where’s the cheapest place to travel?

The cheapest place to travel can be in the same country, like Chicago. Flights to Chicago are fairly affordable no matter where you’re coming from in the continental United States. Flights to Las Vegas tend to be pretty affordable as well. While the Vegas airport isn’t a hub for any major airline, it does have plenty of competition to keep prices relatively low.

Where can I fly for cheap?

Staying within a strict budget still allows you to find plenty of cheap flights, even to destinations like Puerto Rico. In fact, flights to Puerto Rico don’t even require U.S. citizens to have a passport. Flights to Alberta and other destinations in Canada can be fairly affordable as well.

Is it cheaper to buy flights last minute?

Flight tickets can be cheaper at the last minute depending on how late you’re actually booking, where you’re going, and the kind of flight you opt for. For domestic flights with Economy tickets, prices usually start to increase 3 weeks before departure, and 4 weeks for international flights, according to historical data*.

Are fully refundable flights available?

Yes, several fully refundable flights are available and will be labeled as such right on your search results page in green text. You may also filter for fully refundable flights specifically to eliminate all flights from your results that don’t qualify. Just make sure to check the specific policy for each flight before booking.

Why should I book my flight with Expedia?

Booking with Expedia makes finding a flight easy, but that’s just the beginning of everything you can take advantage of. We also offer hotels, car rentals, and even activities that you can purchase with package deals available for travelers planning more than one aspect of their trip at a time. Plus, Expedia offers stunning cheap flight deals that can help you save with ease. As a One Key member, you will earn OneKeyCashTM for every eligible booking that you can use to save on future bookings. Plus, OneKeyCash can be earned on top of airline miles.

*Data specialists from both ARC and Expedia Group analyzed ARC’s global flight data to distil actionable information to help people save money on travel. While it’s impossible to guarantee when to find the lowest prices, after examining the variables, we were able to observe trends. Best day of the week to book and best day of the week to depart is based on average round-trip ticket prices for January through August for 2021, sourced from ARC’s global airline sales database. Best month to depart recommendation is based on average round-trip ticket prices for January through December for 2020, sourced from ARC's global airline sales database. Best time to book recommendation is based on average round-trip ticket prices for January through August for 2021 & average round-trip ticket prices for January through December for 2020, sourced from ARC's global airline sales database. OneKeyCash is not redeemable for cash and can only be used on Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo.

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Simple Flying

Is it cheaper to buy one way flights or return tickets.

The short answer still remains: it depends.

Unlike standard retail store therapy, booking a flight is rarely easy - especially for first-timers or infrequent flyers, with airline pricing being significantly more complicated. And while there are die-hard passengers on either side of the aisle, one-way ticket fanatics, and the always-prepared round-trippers, there never seems to be a consensus on which ticket type is optimal.

Even by searching through multiple third-party comparison websites, the answer to such a question is never genuinely answered and tends to get more confusing. Then, when considering how airfare pricing algorithms have plenty of constantly changing variables, formulas, frequent flyer redemptions, and much more, the water seems rather muddy. But fret not, as not all hope is lost, and there are still things to learn that could help passengers save money where needed.

When are one-way tickets cheaper?

Although it's not always the case, one-way tickets are more often than not favorable when using frequent flyer or credit card point redemptions. Since point redemptions or bookings are strategically quoted within a fixed range of prices, passengers often grab the opportunity to book two one-way tickets instead of a single round-trip since the number of points required would not necessarily change.

While this advantage does not make any of the two one-way tickets any cheaper, passengers tend to save on additional fees that would incur. One-way tickets provide much more flexibility - such as not being at the mercy of single scheduled flight days and timings and factoring in the possible accommodation, transport, and insurance costs typically incurred if return-ticket trippers wish to adjust their schedule.

One-way tickets are also considered the cheaper alternative for passengers who prefer to travel with multiple airlines along the same trip, albeit mainly for domestic flights. To further entice this type of passenger, airlines like the low-cost carriers tend to offer special deals or discounts specifically for one-way tickets on various selected routes , making the ticket type significantly cheaper than buying a return-trip ticket for the same period and same route.

The primary hassles in these cases would be for passengers to keep track of two or more separate reservations and airline schedules and hope that there are little to no flight delays during the entire journey, as missing the second leg onwards does spell disaster for the remainder as there is a risk of being offloaded by the other airlines for the later flights if passengers fail to show up on time.

Want answers to more critical questions in aviation? Check out the rest of our guides here !

What about round-trip tickets?

Considering how purchasing one-way tickets seems like the better deal, are there instances when return-trip tickets get the upper - or, in this case, cheaper hand? Like cheaper one-way flight tickets on many routes, airlines also offer cheaper round-trip flight tickets depending on the route and carrier. This is primarily done to encourage passengers to fly the outbound and inbound sectors with the same airline.

Sometimes, passengers will notice that the one-way ticket is almost the same price as the round-trip tickets. Most times, these selected routes are international flights instead of domestic ones. They are slightly restrictive concerning the dates and timings allowed, but overall, they are less stringent than one-way tickets, especially regarding limited cabin class choices.

Round-trip tickets are also typically cheaper when bought through airline and travel consolidators since these businesses purchase tickets in bulk from the airlines and get to resell them to passengers or third-party travel agencies at a heavily discounted rate. In fact, the discounts are sometimes considered heavier than the discounts offered by the airlines themselves, saving passengers quite a sum of money.

Another option where round-trip tickets are considered the less expensive alternative is when passengers book an open-jaw flight - whereby the airlines allow passengers to book a flight to one destination and a flight back from another destination in a different direction but on the same ticket/reservation. So, instead of pricing these two flights as two one-way trips, the airline mainly prices them quite similarly to a round-trip.

What is the final verdict?

After all that back and forth, the conclusion on the cheaper ticket type still rests as it depends on the passengers' travel situation. If the passenger is booking a trip without using any mileage redemption and considering a non-domestic flight, round-trip tickets are often the cheaper alternative. But suppose the passenger plans to fly domestically using mileage redemptions or has significantly flexible timings and itineraries. In that case, one-way tickets may be the way to go.

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• Plan Your Trip

What Is One Way And Round Trip

Published: December 1, 2023

Modified: December 28, 2023

by Janine Weaver

Introduction

In the world of air travel, one of the most common decisions that travelers face is whether to book a one-way ticket or opt for a round trip. This seemingly simple choice can have a significant impact on the overall travel experience, from the cost of the ticket to the flexibility of the itinerary. Understanding the difference between one-way and round trip flights is crucial in making an informed decision that suits your travel needs.

Whether you’re planning a vacation, a business trip, or a combination of both, it’s essential to consider the various factors that come into play when choosing between one-way and round trip flights. By weighing the advantages and disadvantages of each option, you can make a decision that aligns with your budget, travel plans, and overall convenience.

In this article, we will explore the definition of one-way and round trip flights and discuss the differences between them. Additionally, we will highlight the advantages of each and offer insights into the factors to consider when making a decision. By the end of this article, you will have a clear understanding of the pros and cons of one-way and round trip flights, helping you make an informed choice for your next journey.

Definition of One Way and Round Trip

Before delving into the differences between one-way and round trip flights, let’s establish a clear definition for each term.

A one-way flight, as the name suggests, refers to a ticket that allows you to travel from one destination to another without the need for a return journey. It is commonly used when your travel plans involve visiting multiple destinations or when you have no definite date for your return trip. With a one-way ticket, you have the flexibility to decide your return journey at a later time.

On the other hand, a round trip flight involves booking a ticket for a journey from one destination to another and return to the original point of departure. It is typically used when your travel plans involve a fixed return date or when you want to have a set itinerary for your trip. Round trip tickets provide the convenience of having your return journey already planned and booked.

Both one-way and round trip flights can be booked for domestic or international travel, depending on your destination. They are offered by airlines and travel agencies worldwide, giving travelers the flexibility to choose the option that best suits their needs.

Now that we have a clear understanding of what constitutes a one-way and round trip flight, let’s explore the differences between the two options in the next section.

Differences between One Way and Round Trip

While both one-way and round trip flights serve the purpose of transporting you from one destination to another, there are several key differences between the two options. These include factors such as cost, flexibility, and convenience.

1. Cost: One of the most significant differences between one-way and round trip flights is the cost. Generally, one-way tickets tend to be more expensive than half of a round trip ticket. This is because airlines often offer discounted fares for round trip bookings in an effort to encourage travelers to choose their airline for the entire journey. However, it’s essential to note that prices can vary depending on the airline, destination, and time of booking, so it’s always wise to compare prices before making a decision.

2. Flexibility: When it comes to flexibility, one-way tickets offer more freedom than round trip tickets. With a one-way ticket, you have the freedom to choose when and where you want to return, allowing you to extend your stay or change your plans without any additional complications. On the other hand, round trip tickets have a fixed return date, providing less flexibility but ensuring that you have a confirmed seat on your desired return flight.

3. Convenience: Round trip flights provide a higher level of convenience in terms of planning and booking. With a round trip ticket, you can have your entire itinerary organized, including both the outbound and return flights. This can be particularly beneficial if you have specific travel dates or if you prefer to have your travel plans finalized in advance. Conversely, booking separate one-way flights requires more time and effort for planning and coordination.

4. Change and Cancellation Policies: Another difference between one-way and round trip flights lies in their change and cancellation policies. One-way tickets are typically more flexible when it comes to making changes or canceling your reservation. Airlines usually allow changes or cancellations for a fee, which can vary depending on the airline and fare class. On the other hand, round trip tickets often have stricter change and cancellation policies, with additional fees or penalties for modifications to the itinerary.

These are some of the key differences between one-way and round trip flights. It’s important to consider these factors and evaluate your travel needs and preferences when making a decision between the two options. Now, let’s explore the advantages of each in the next section.

Advantages of One Way Tickets

Booking a one-way ticket for your upcoming journey offers several advantages that may be beneficial depending on your travel plans and preferences.

1. Flexibility: One of the primary advantages of a one-way ticket is the flexibility it provides. With a one-way ticket, you have the freedom to decide when and where you want to return, allowing you to extend your stay or make changes to your itinerary without the constraints of a fixed return date.

2. Open-ended Travel Plans: If you have an adventurous spirit and love the idea of spontaneous travel, a one-way ticket allows you to embrace that sense of freedom. You can explore different destinations and decide on your next destination on the go, without being tied to a pre-determined return date or location.

3. Multi-City Trips: If your travel plans involve visiting multiple destinations and you will not be returning to your original departure point, booking separate one-way tickets for each leg of your journey can be more convenient. This way, you can optimize your itinerary and have more control over your travel arrangements.

4. Cost Savings: In some cases, booking one-way tickets can be more cost-effective, especially if you are purchasing tickets well in advance or if you are taking advantage of special deals or promotions. By comparing the prices of one-way tickets versus round trip tickets, you may find that the former offers better value for the specific trip you are planning.

5. Relocation or Permanent Moves: If you are planning to relocate or make a permanent move to a new destination, a one-way ticket is the obvious choice. It allows you to book your flight to your new home without the need for a return journey, as you will be settling down in the new location.

While there are advantages to booking one-way tickets, there are also certain factors to consider before making a decision. Factors such as cost, flight availability, and change/cancellation policies should be evaluated to ensure it aligns with your travel needs. In the next section, let’s explore the advantages of round trip tickets.

Advantages of Round Trip Tickets

When planning your travel, round trip tickets offer several advantages that may make them the preferred choice for many travelers.

1. Cost Savings: One of the most significant advantages of booking round trip tickets is the potential cost savings. Airlines often offer discounted fares for round trip bookings, making them more economical compared to purchasing two separate one-way tickets. This can be a significant factor, especially if you have a fixed travel itinerary and already know your return date.

2. Convenience: Round trip tickets provide a higher level of convenience in terms of planning and booking. With a round trip ticket, you can have the peace of mind of having your entire itinerary organized, including both the outbound and return flights. This can be particularly beneficial if you have specific travel dates or want to ensure that you have a confirmed seat on your desired return flight.

3. Security and Stability: Booking a round trip ticket offers a level of security and stability, especially if you have time-sensitive commitments or prefer having your travel plans finalized in advance. With a round trip ticket, you can rest assured that you have a return flight booked, avoiding the stress of finding a last-minute one-way ticket back home.

4. Beneficial for Business Travel: Round trip tickets are often the preferred choice for business travelers who have fixed appointments or meetings and need to plan their travel in advance. The convenience of a round trip ticket ensures that their entire trip, including the return journey, is organized and confirmed.

5. Easier Travel Documentation: Some countries require proof of onward travel when entering, which can be easily provided with a round trip ticket. Having a confirmed return date and flight can make the immigration process smoother and avoid any unnecessary complications.

While round trip tickets offer numerous advantages, it’s essential to consider factors such as flexibility, cost, and the possibility of unforeseen changes to your travel plans. Assessing your specific travel needs and comparing the benefits of round trip tickets against other options will help you make an informed decision.

Factors to Consider when Choosing between One Way and Round Trip

When deciding between booking a one-way or round trip ticket, it’s crucial to take into account several factors that can impact your travel experience. Consider the following aspects before making your decision:

1. Travel Plans: Assess the nature of your travel plans. Do you have a fixed return date or do you prefer the flexibility to decide your return journey later? If you have a specific itinerary and fixed dates, a round trip ticket may be the better option. However, if you have an open-ended trip or plan to visit multiple destinations without returning to the original departure point, a one-way ticket would offer more flexibility.

2. Budget: Consider your budget and compare the costs of one-way tickets versus round trip tickets. In some cases, round trip tickets can be more cost-effective, especially if airlines offer discounted fares or promotions for two-way bookings. However, if you find that booking separate one-way tickets fits within your budget or provides better value for your specific travel plans, it may be the preferable option.

3. Flexibility: Think about how important flexibility is to you. If you want the freedom to extend your trip, change your plans, or have no definite return date, a one-way ticket is likely the better choice. However, if you have fixed commitments or prefer having your entire travel itinerary planned in advance, a round trip ticket provides the convenience of a set return date.

4. Change and Cancellation Policies: Consider the change and cancellation policies of the airline you plan to book with. One-way tickets often offer more flexibility for changes or cancellations, which can be beneficial if your travel plans are subject to change. Meanwhile, round trip tickets may have stricter policies and additional fees for making modifications to your booking.

5. Destination Requirements: Research any specific requirements of your destination. Some countries may require proof of onward travel, which can be easily provided with a round trip ticket. Additionally, visa applications may require you to provide information about your arrival and departure dates, which can be easier to provide when you have a confirmed return flight.

By considering these factors, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your travel goals, preferences, and budget. Remember that there is no one-size-fits-all answer, and the choice between one-way and round trip tickets depends on your individual circumstances.

Choosing between a one-way ticket and a round trip ticket is an important decision that can significantly impact your travel experience. By understanding the differences, advantages, and factors to consider, you can make an informed choice that suits your travel needs and preferences.

One-way tickets offer flexibility and freedom, allowing you to decide your return journey at a later time. They are ideal for travelers with open-ended itineraries, those visiting multiple destinations, or individuals who prefer the freedom to extend their stay. However, one-way tickets may be more expensive and require extra planning and coordination.

On the other hand, round trip tickets provide convenience and cost savings, making them an excellent choice for travelers with fixed travel dates or those seeking a structured itinerary. Round trip tickets offer peace of mind, ensuring that your return journey is already organized and booked. However, they lack the flexibility of one-way tickets and may have stricter change and cancellation policies.

When making your decision, consider factors such as your travel plans, budget, flexibility needs, and any destination requirements. By evaluating these elements, you can choose the option that best meets your individual circumstances.

Remember that there is no one-size-fits-all answer, and the choice between one-way and round trip tickets depends on your specific travel preferences. Whether you choose the flexibility of a one-way ticket or the convenience of a round trip ticket, prioritize what aligns with your travel goals and enjoy the journey ahead.

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Can you buy a round trip ticket and only use one way?

Have you ever considered buying a round-trip ticket even though you only needed a one-way flight? It might seem counterintuitive, but in some cases, it can actually be cheaper to do so. In this blog post, we’ll explore the topic of whether or not you can buy a round-trip ticket and only use one way. We’ll also discuss some of the pros and cons of this strategy. Read on to learn more!

Can you buy a round-trip ticket and only use one way?

Yes, you can technically buy a round-trip ticket and only use one way. The airlines have rules in place that allow for this and it is even spelled out in their conditions of carriage. Of course, whether or not it is a good idea to do this is another story. If you are only planning on using one way of the ticket, you might as well just buy a one-way ticket as it will likely be cheaper. But there are a few exceptions.

The only time when it might make sense to buy a round-trip ticket and only use one way is if you plan on using the return portion at a later date and the fare is significantly lower than the one-way fare. In this case, you would be wise to purchase the roundtrip ticket and just not use the return portion. Whether or not this is worth it depends on the fare difference and how much time you have before your planned trip.

If the fare difference is significant and you have plenty of time before your planned trip , then buying the roundtrip ticket makes sense. If, however, the fare difference is minimal or you don’t have much time before your planned trip, then buying a one-way ticket would probably be the better option.

Also, read | How to book a round trip flight and a one-way flight together?

Can you book a round-trip flight and only use one way?

A lot of people think that you can only book a round-trip flight and use one way, but that’s not true! You can actually save a lot of money by just buying a one-way flight ticket. The reason why this is cheaper is that you’re not paying for the whole trip, you’re only paying for the part that you’re actually going to be using. So if you’re only going to be flying one way, then it’s definitely cheaper to just buy a one-way ticket. Just make sure that you compare prices before you book anything so that you can get the best deal possible.

Also, read | What to pack on a Winter sport vacation

How to buy a return flight ticket

When it comes to buying a return flight ticket, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. First, you need to decide whether you want to purchase a round-trip ticket or a one-way ticket. If you only plan on flying one way, then a one-way ticket will be sufficient. However, if you think there’s a chance you may need to fly back at some point, then a round-trip ticket will give you the flexibility you need.

Next, you’ll need to compare prices between different airlines. This can be tricky, as some airlines may include hidden fees in their ticket prices. It’s important to read the fine print carefully so that you know exactly what you’re paying for. Once you’ve found the best deal, you can go ahead and purchase your ticket.

Finally, make sure to keep your confirmation number handy in case you need to make any changes to your flight later on. With these tips in mind, buying a return flight ticket should be a breeze!

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Why Do Individual Flights Sometimes Cost More On Their Own Than As Part Of A Round Trip?

• Not all airlines inflate one-way ticket prices; some like JetBlue and Southwest offer transparent pricing by summing up two one-way fares for the round-trip cost.
• Pricing discrepancy between one-way and round-trip fares is particularly evident in premium cabins, driven by the purchasing habits of business travelers who prioritize specific travel dates and times.
• Passengers can explore round-trip options, even if they don't use the return trip, as it may potentially save them from exorbitant one-way fares. Evaluating the value of redemptions against cash fares is also crucial for those using points and miles.

Airfare pricing involves a complex interplay of various factors that can confound travelers seeking consistency and transparency. The common notion that one-way tickets tend to be pricier than round-trip tickets isn't universally true, but there are valid reasons behind this perception. A closer look at the dynamics of airline pricing and passenger behaviors sheds light on this phenomenon.

Not always pricier

To begin with, not all airlines necessarily adhere to the practice of inflating one-way ticket prices. Some carriers, such as JetBlue and Southwest, often offer fairly transparent pricing by simply summing up two one-way fares to create the round-trip cost. Moreover, routes with frequent daily flights from a single airline can exhibit similar pricing symmetry due to increased capacity and a more consistent pricing structure.

Nevertheless, there are instances where the reverse occurs, where one-way tickets appear disproportionately costly compared to round-trip fares.

Driven by business travel

This discrepancy in pricing is particularly evident in premium cabins , attributed to the purchasing habits of business travelers. These passengers often prioritize specific travel dates and times, accommodating their rigid schedules without much sensitivity to cost. Such travelers, compelled by work-related commitments, are more likely to book one-way tickets, often covered by their companies. Although non-business travelers might also seek one-way options for emergencies, their urgency mitigates their price sensitivity.

In practice, actual pricing variations vary based on numerous factors including airline, route, and travel date, but the pronounced price difference between round trip and one-way fares is more observable on long international routes as opposed to on domestic flights. Premium cabins tend to accentuate this pricing differential, although it also occurs in economy class.

Alternate booking methods

To navigate this pricing structure, one strategy for travelers to consider is to explore round-trip options, even if they do not necessarily to utilize the return trip. While this will not always be cheaper than a one-way fare, it is worth looking into. This can lead to cost savings by potentially avoiding exorbitant one-way fares.

This pricing asymmetry presents another strategic challenge for passengers using points and miles for their flights. Evaluating the value of redemptions against cash fares is always crucial. Dividing the flight's cost by the miles or points required provides a simple metric, although there are diverse perspectives in the travel community about calculating this value accurately.

In any event, the rationale behind one-way tickets being consistently pricier than round-trip fares is deeply rooted in the dynamics of airline business and passenger behavior. Business travelers, who frequently require one-way bookings, form a market segment willing to pay for convenience.

Airlines, catering to this demand, capitalize on this by adjusting pricing structures. On the flip side, travelers seeking the flexibility of one-way travel bear the brunt of elevated fares due to the potential revenue loss airlines might incur if return flights aren't utilized. This complex interplay of factors shapes the airfare landscape, prompting travelers to carefully consider their options to optimize both cost and convenience.

What other strategies can passengers who only need a one-way fare utilize to save money? Let us know in the comments below.

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Is there a penalty for using only part of a round-trip ticket?

Jessica Labrencis

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Dear Editor , Round-trip fares are sometimes less expensive than one-way fares. If I book a round-trip and only use one part of the ticket, will there be a penalty? D.S.

Dear Reader ,

While it may seem like an easy way to save a few bucks on airfare, flying only one part of a round-trip itinerary can get you into trouble with your airline.

The practice you’re referring to is known as “throwaway ticketing.” Most of the major airlines, including Alaska, American, Continental, Delta, Northwest, and US Airways, prohibit throwaway ticketing (or “the purchase and use of round-trip tickets for the purpose of one-way travel only,” according to Continental’s website) in their conditions of carriage. United is the only major carrier that does not explicitly prohibit throwaway ticketing.

Just because throwaway ticketing is prohibited doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t do it. With thousands of passengers each day, you may wonder if your airline will notice that you’re not on your return flight. And it may not notice. However, if you are caught, you may be penalized. Possible penalties include deleting frequent flyer miles from your account and charging you for the difference between the fare paid and the fare for the itinerary you actually traveled. It’s ultimately up to you to weigh the risks against the benefits.

A better way to save money on a one-way flight is to book with an airline that sells inexpensive one-way tickets. Low-fare carriers, including AirTran, ATA, Independence Air, JetBlue, Southwest, and Spirit, sell primarily one-way tickets, which means to fly a round-trip, customers must book two one-way flights. Of course, these carriers don’t serve quite as many cities as the major legacy airlines, so this strategy will not work for every itinerary, but the carriers do serve most of the major U.S. cities as well as several airports in the Caribbean and Mexico.

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