Open-jaw flights: What they are and how to book them

If you can’t decide between two destinations for your next vacation, did you know there is a way to possibly visit both while saving time and money? To maximize your travel plans, especially when planning an international trip, it may be beneficial to book an open-jaw flight. This travel tip can help you visit several cities or countries at a potentially lower cost, especially when traveling during the peak summer season.

Here is everything you need to know about booking open-jaw flights to maximize your travel.

Related: What are stopovers and open jaws on award tickets?

What are open-jaw flights?

There are a few different types of open-jaw flights. The most common is a destination open-jaw flight, which refers to an airline ticket where the outbound flight lands at one airport while the return flight departs from another. This is different from a round-trip flight because a traveler will not arrive and then leave from the same airport.

Instead, it involves flying to one destination and returning from another. When a city has two (or more) airports, such as Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND) and Narita International Airport (NRT), flying into one airport and out of another could technically be called an open jaw. However, it is more common to think of open-jaw flights as involving separate countries or cities.

Open jaws can be useful for travelers who want to visit multiple cities or countries without returning to their original departure point. For example, if you wish to visit Europe this summer, you might want to fly into the United Kingdom to start your vacation there but also plan to visit other European countries.

You could book a flight home from France or Italy instead. As well as avoiding the need to go back to the U.K. just to fly home, this has the added benefit of avoiding the pricey U.K. Air Passenger Duty.

Another type of open-jaw flight is an origin open jaw, where you fly to and from one destination, but your final destination is different from your origin, such as flying from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and into Boston Logan International Airport (BOS).

You could also book a double open jaw, where your first airport is different from your last airport — for example, flying from New York to Germany’s Munich Airport (MUC) and then flying back from Greece’s Athens International Airport (ATH) to Boston.

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Related: How to minimize or avoid Air Passenger Duty fees

Whether you book directly with the airline that operates the flight, a codeshare partner or a flight comparison tool like Google Flights, it will usually give you the option of booking a one-way or round-trip flight, with a multicity trip as a third option — this is what you should choose to book an open jaw.

One of the many things we love about Google Flights is that it allows you to add multiple airport options to each stage of your journey and extra flights beyond just traveling to a region and returning home, opening up all sorts of routing, deals and exploration opportunities.

Related: What you need to know about using Google Flights for award flight searches

What are the benefits of booking an open-jaw flight?

Open-jaw flights allow you to visit multiple destinations on one trip without the need to backtrack. If you are short on time, you can maximize your travel by flying into the first place you wish to visit and out of the last. It might also encourage you to leave your comfort zone to visit other destinations you might not have considered. If you’re planning a trip to Singapore, why not stop in Bali too?

It also opens up more chances of finding the ideal award seat for points and miles redemptions. If you cannot find award availability out of the city you are flying into, try airports in neighboring countries or states. You might find something perfect (and cheaper); plus, it may be worth extra travel time to that destination if it means your journey home will be in a lie-flat seat at a great redemption price.

Related: A review of ITA Airways business class on the A330neo from Rome

Does booking an open-jaw flight ticket save me time and money?

Booking an open-jaw flight where you fly into one city and out of another eliminates the need to return to your original departure point to fly home. This is great for travelers with limited time who want to efficiently explore multiple destinations without unnecessary transit time or backtracking. It can also save you money if you find a cheaper flight route.

For example, you may choose to fly from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport (FCO) on a summer getaway to Italy. If you’re looking to explore the beautiful country and find yourself in the northern region, instead of opting to depart from Rome, you can book your return flight out of Milan. Though it’s not always a guarantee that you will save money, it’s worth researching and pricing out different route options.