What Are Open-Jaw Flights?

Open-jaw flights offer travelers more flexibility and can significantly reduce travel costs. Unlike standard round-trip flights, which involve departing and returning from the same location, open-jaw flights allow you to return from a different city. For instance, you could fly from Atlanta to San Francisco, travel by road to Los Angeles, and then fly back to Atlanta from Los Angeles.

Open-Jaw vs. Multi-City Flights

It’s essential to differentiate between open-jaw flights and multi-city flights. While both options involve multiple destinations, multi-city flights require booking one-way tickets for each leg of the journey. For example, you might fly from New York to London, then from London to Paris, and finally from Paris back to New York. In contrast, open-jaw flights combine a round-trip ticket with one or more flights to serve multiple destinations.

Benefits of Booking an Open-Jaw Flight

Open-jaw flights offer several advantages. Firstly, they can be cost-effective, especially if your travel involves regions well-served by train, such as Europe. For example, if you’re traveling from the U.S. to Europe and plan to visit Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, and Berlin, an open-jaw flight can save you money. Instead of paying for a round-trip flight to and from Paris, you could return from Berlin, thus avoiding backtracking and additional travel costs.

How to Book Open-Jaw Flights

Booking an open-jaw flight requires a bit of planning. Determine your travel itinerary, including your origin and final destination. Use search engines like Expedia or Google Flights and select the ‘multi-city’ option. Enter the details for each segment of your trip. This approach allows you to see a variety of options and choose the most cost-effective and time-efficient routes. Moreover, booking directly with airlines can sometimes yield savings, especially if you have mileage points to redeem.

Ultimately, open-jaw flights provide a great way to maximize your travel experience by allowing you to see more destinations while minimizing costs and travel time.