Flying into one city and returning from another can cost less than a conventional round-trip flight, but savings depend on the route, travel dates, airlines, and additional transport costs. This arrangement, often called an open-jaw itinerary, lets you visit multiple destinations without returning to your arrival airport before flying home.
For example, you could fly into Rome, travel through Italy by train and depart from Milan. Instead of paying for a return journey to Rome, you finish your trip in Milan and fly home from there.
The key is to compare the full cost of each itinerary, not just the advertised airfare. A cheaper flight can become more expensive after you add baggage, airport transfers, intercity transport and accommodation.
How Do Open-Jaw Flights Work?
An open-jaw itinerary starts and ends in different cities, with the traveller arranging the journey between those locations separately or as part of a wider trip.
There are two common arrangements:
- Destination open jaw: You fly into one city and return from another in the same region. For example, arrive in Paris and depart from Amsterdam.
- Origin open jaw: Your outbound flight departs from one airport, while your return flight arrives at another. This can be useful if you live between two airports or can easily reach a cheaper departure airport.
A multi-city booking is another option. It can include several flight segments in one itinerary, but its pricing and conditions may differ from an open-jaw ticket.
Before comparing fares, decide which cities you want to visit and which airport makes the most sense for the end of your trip. This gives you a realistic basis for comparing prices.
When Is Flying Into One City and Returning From Another Cheaper?
An open-jaw itinerary can offer better value when the flight prices and travel arrangements work in your favour.
When the destination cities have different airfares
Airlines price routes based on demand, competition, available seats, and travel dates. As a result, flying home from a different city may cost less than returning from your arrival airport.
For instance, a flight from London to Rome and a return flight from Milan to London might be cheaper than a return ticket between London and Rome. The opposite can also happen: the standard return fare may be considerably lower.
Compare flight options across different airlines and airports, then check the final prices for your chosen dates. Flight comparison sites can help you identify routes worth comparing.
When you would otherwise backtrack
Travelling back to your arrival city can add train fares, fuel, accommodation and time to your trip. An open-jaw itinerary may eliminate those expenses.
Suppose you plan to visit three cities in one direction. If your final destination has a convenient airport, departing from there could cost less overall than travelling back to the first city.
This option works particularly well for trips across regions with reliable rail or road connections. However, compare the intercity journey cost with the extra you might pay for a flight from your final destination.
When you can use different airlines
You may find a cheaper combination by using one airline for the outbound flight and another for the return. This can expand your options, especially when different carriers serve the two cities.
You can also compare a multi-city booking with separate one-way tickets. The cheaper arrangement depends on the routes, airlines and booking conditions.
Check the conditions of each booking before paying. Separate tickets can mean different baggage fees, payment charges and less protection if a disruption affects another part of your journey.
When your travel dates are flexible
The cost difference between two airports can change significantly from one day to another. A flight from one city might be expensive on your preferred date but cheaper a day later, while the alternative airport may have more favourable fares.
If your schedule allows it, compare nearby departure and return dates. Even a small change can affect the fare, so check how flexible travel dates change the total cost.
When Is a Standard Round-Trip Flight the Better Choice?
A conventional return ticket can be cheaper and more practical when your arrival airport offers competitive fares in both directions.
It may be the better option when:
- The return fare from your arrival city is significantly lower.
- Travelling between the two destination cities requires an expensive transfer.
- Your itinerary involves a short stay and leaves little time for additional travel.
- The alternative airport has limited flights or inconvenient departure times.
- You would need another night at a hotel to make an early flight.
A low advertised fare does not always mean the lowest trip cost. Check what the ticket includes and compare the additional expenses before choosing low-fare flights.
The same principle applies to airport transfers. A distant airport may offer cheaper flights but require a costly train, bus or taxi journey. Include these expenses before deciding which itinerary offers better value.
How to Compare the Total Cost of Both Options
Use the same travel dates, passenger details and baggage requirements when comparing a standard return ticket with an open-jaw itinerary. Otherwise, the price difference may reflect different booking conditions rather than a genuine saving.
1. Compare the complete flight prices
Check these options:
- A return flight between your home airport and the first destination.
- A flight into the first city and home from the second.
- A multi-city itinerary with both flight segments in one booking.
- Separate one-way tickets, if they are available at competitive prices.
Record the final price for every passenger, including taxes and mandatory fees. If you compare separate tickets, make sure the prices include the same baggage and seating requirements.
2. Add transport between the destination cities
Calculate how much it costs to travel from the arrival city to the departure city. Depending on the route, this may involve trains, buses, rental cars or domestic flights.
Include the cost of reaching each airport from the city centre. Some airports are far from the destinations they serve, and transfers can add substantially to the trip.
For a realistic comparison, include any additional accommodation required because of the transfer schedule. An early departure might mean paying for a hotel near the airport or arriving a day early.
3. Include baggage and booking fees
Different airlines and fare types may have different baggage allowances, seat-selection charges and payment fees. An apparently cheaper ticket can become more expensive when you add the services you need.
Check the baggage allowance for each flight, especially when different airlines operate your outbound and return journeys.
Compare the services included in each fare, too. Extra airline charges for seats, baggage and other options can make an initially cheaper ticket more expensive. Also check ticket booking fees as well, since they can affect the final amount.
4. Check connection and ticket conditions
If your itinerary includes separate tickets, check how much time you need between flights and what happens if the first flight is delayed.
A self-transfer may require you to collect your baggage, pass through immigration (where applicable), check in again, and clear security. You may also need to meet the airline’s check-in deadline.
If your trip includes a connection, review the requirements for connecting flights before choosing the cheaper option. Leave enough time for transfers and check whether you would need to pay for a new ticket if a delay causes you to miss a separately booked flight.
5. Compare the final totals
Use this calculation for each option:
Total trip cost = flights + baggage and booking fees + intercity transport + airport transfers + additional accommodation and other necessary expenses.
Then compare the totals and consider the time required for each itinerary.
| Cost category | Standard round trip | Open-jaw itinerary |
| Outbound flight | Include | Include |
| Return flight | Include | Include |
| Transport between cities | Include if needed | Include if needed |
| Airport transfers | Include both directions | Include both directions |
| Baggage and booking fees | Include | Include |
| Extra accommodation | Include if needed | Include if needed |
Choose the option with the lower realistic total, provided its schedule and booking conditions meet your needs.
Example: A Trip to Rome and Milan
Imagine you want to visit Rome and Milan before returning home. You can either fly into Rome and return from Rome, or fly into Rome and depart from Milan.
The following figures are illustrative, not live fares.
| Expense | Return from Rome | Return from Milan |
| International flights | €220 | €250 |
| Transport between Rome and Milan | €0 | €45 |
| Airport transfers | €30 | €30 |
| Additional accommodation | €0 | €0 |
| Total | €250 | €325 |
In this example, returning from Milan costs €75 more, even though it avoids travelling back to Rome. The result could change if flights from Milan were cheaper or the return journey to Rome were more expensive.
The comparison should reflect your actual itinerary. If you would visit Milan anyway, include only the transport expenses that differ between the two options rather than counting costs that both plans require.
How to Find the Best-Value Open-Jaw Flight
Follow a consistent process when searching:
- Choose the cities you want to visit and the order in which you will travel.
- Search for a standard return flight using your preferred dates.
- Search for flights arriving in your first city and departing from your final city.
- Compare multi-city bookings with separate one-way tickets.
- Add transport, baggage, airport transfers and any additional accommodation.
- Check flight times, airport locations, baggage rules and ticket conditions.
- Compare the final totals before choosing an itinerary.
If the open-jaw option is cheaper, check the fare conditions before booking. A lower price may come with restrictions on changes or cancellations, and separate tickets can leave you responsible for arranging an alternative if a disruption affects one part of your journey.
For trips with several stops, compare the cost of a multi-city flight itinerary against a combination of flights and ground transport. The cheapest arrangement depends on the route, not simply on the number of flight segments.
Ready to compare your options? Search for flights into your first destination and return flights from your final city. Compare the full cost of each itinerary before booking.
FAQs
Is an open-jaw flight the same as a multi-city flight?
Not exactly. An open-jaw itinerary generally involves flying into one city and returning from another, with the journey between them arranged separately. A multi-city booking can include several flight segments within one itinerary. Booking systems may group these options differently, so check the itinerary details before paying.
Can I book the outbound and return flights with different airlines?
Yes. You can often book different airlines for each direction, either through a multi-city search or as separate one-way tickets. Check baggage allowances, change conditions and responsibility for disruptions on each booking. Separate tickets don’t necessarily offer the same protection as flights sold together on one ticket.
Do I need to return from the same country where I arrived?
No. You can arrive in one country and depart from another, provided your travel documents, entry permissions and itinerary allow it. Check the entry and transit requirements for every country on your route before booking, including any requirements that apply to your nationality.
Can an open-jaw itinerary help avoid extra travel days?
Yes. If your route naturally ends in a different city, flying home from there can eliminate a return journey to your arrival airport. This can free up time for sightseeing or reduce the need for an additional hotel night. The benefit depends on flight schedules and how long it takes to reach the departure airport.
Should I book all flights together or separately?
Compare both approaches. A single booking may simplify itinerary management and offer more protection when flight segments are on one ticket. Separate tickets may provide more choice or lower fares, but check the conditions carefully and allow enough time for transfers, baggage collection and check-in.
