A multi-city ticket allows you to plan several flights with different cities and dates. It is ideal, for example, for travelling to several countries, returning from a different city, or staying for a few days whilst in transit.

When looking at special offers, you’ll also come across the terms ‘open-jaw’ and ‘stopover’. What do they mean, and how do you book such a trip?

What do you want to plan?	Which term to search for
Multiple legs, multiple stops	Multicity
Return from or to a different city	Open-jaw
Stay in a transit city	Stopover

You can search for both open-jaw and stopover flights using the Multi-city option (terms such as ‘alternative return’ and similar are sometimes used). A single journey can combine both.

What is a multi-city ticket?

A multi-city journey consists of several flight segments, which you enter together into the search.

For each leg, you select the departure airport, destination airport and date.

For example:

• London → Bangkok
• Bangkok → Singapore
• Singapore → London

You can stay in both Bangkok and Singapore for a few days. You can search for the entire route in one go and compare prices.

A multi-city itinerary can consist of as few as two legs, for example a flight to Tokyo and a return from Osaka.

The term itself does not guarantee that all flights will be issued on a single connecting ticket. This is usually the case, but many search engines can find multi-city itineraries involving two different airlines and two unrelated bookings.

You’ll need to check this for each specific offer.

What does ‘open-jaw’ mean?

An open-jaw ticket is one where the arrival city differs from the departure city on the return journey, or where the starting and ending cities of the entire journey are different.

It is essentially just a more specific variant of a ‘multi-city’ ticket.

Arriving in one city and returning from another

For example:

• Frankfurt → Tokyo
• Osaka → Frankfurt

You’ll fly into Tokyo, travel around Japan and return home from Osaka. You don’t need to go back to Tokyo just for your return flight.

Travel between Tokyo and Osaka is not included in this ticket. You’ll need to arrange this separately, for example by train, coach or another flight.

In special offers, such a route may be listed as Frankfurt – Tokyo / Osaka – Frankfurt. In this notation, the slash indicates a gap in the flight route, which you will need to arrange yourself.

Returning to a different departure airport

An open-jaw ticket can also refer to this combination:

• London → Bangkok
• Bangkok → Paris

The journey begins in London and ends in Paris. Before booking, therefore, factor in transport from the final airport back home.

A different arrival or return point may open up a cheaper combination of flights. However, always weigh up the savings against the cost and time involved in the additional journey.

What is a stopover?

A stopover is a longer stay in a transit city whilst travelling to your next destination. Instead of a short wait at the airport, you can plan a stay in the city.

For example, on a flight from London to Bangkok via Dubai:

• you’ll arrive in Dubai
• you’ll stay there for 3 days
• then you continue on to Bangkok

On international flights, a stopover is usually defined as a stop lasting longer than 24 hours. The exact rules are set out in the airline’s fare rules.

The airline’s tourist stopover programme may also include shorter stays.

Stopover vs. a standard connection

A standard transfer is known as a ‘ layover. ’ During this, you wait for your connecting flight, usually for several hours.

Simply leaving the airport during a transfer does not make it a stopover. Even during a longer standard transfer, you can visit the city provided you meet the entry requirements and manage to return in time for your next flight.

Is a stopover free of charge?

Some airlines allow you to add a stopover at no extra cost to your airfare. With others, the total price may increase.

A stopover at no extra charge does not automatically mean a free hotel. You’ll need to arrange accommodation, transport from the airport and entry formalities in accordance with the terms of the specific programme.

For example, Icelandair offers a stopover in Iceland at no extra charge on transatlantic flights.

Etihad Airways has a programme offering a free hotel stay, subject to certain conditions.

How to book a multi-city flight

Select ‘Multi-city’ in a flight search engine or on the airline’s website. Depending on the website’s language, this option may also be labelled as ‘multiple cities’ or ‘multiple destinations’.

You’ll often also see phrases such as “different return” and similar terms.

The process is simple:

1. Select the ‘Multi-city’ option.
2. Enter the individual flight segments in the correct order.
3. Select a departure date for each leg.
4. Search for offers and select flights for the entire journey.
5. Check the final price, baggage allowance and booking conditions.

To compare offers, you can use my favourite,Skyscanner, or even Google Flights.

Try searching for the same route directly with the airline as well, but not all airlines allow you to search for this option at all.

How to book a return journey from a different city

For a journey to Tokyo and a return from Osaka, simply enter two legs:

1. London → Tokyo
2. Osaka → London

If you’re travelling by train between Tokyo and Osaka, do not include this journey in your flight search.

How to enter a stopover

Would you like to fly to Bangkok and spend a few days in Dubai on the way? Enter, for example:

1. London → Dubai, departure 10 May
2. Dubai → Bangkok, departing 14 May
3. Bangkok → London, departure 24 May

Calculate the length of your stay in Dubai based on the actual arrival time of your first flight. If you’re on a night flight, you may not arrive until the following day.

If the airline offers its own stopover programme, try using its booking form as well.

Hotel offers or other benefits may require you to book in this way.

How to take advantage of the special offer

For a specific promotion, use the booking link provided and stick to the city combination on offer. Then check the available dates.

Changing the departure airport, return city or the length of the stopover may affect the price. A cheap fare may not be available for every route.

When is a multi-city ticket worth it?

It makes the most sense when you’re planning several stopovers or travelling across the country.

It can help you:

• save on the return journey to your original airport
• visit an additional destination during a single trip
• take advantage of a special offer combining a different arrival or return destination

However, a ‘multicity’ flight isn’t automatically cheaper. For the same journey, compare:

• a Multicity offer
• separate one-way tickets
• a return ticket and any additional travel

Take into account luggage, transport between cities and any additional hotel stays.

With an open-jaw ticket, you may also save a whole day that you would otherwise have spent travelling back to the airport.

Why an open-jaw ticket can be cheaper

An open-jaw ticket can also reduce the ticket price itself.

Airlines set different prices for individual routes and markets. The final price is also influenced by the availability of cheap seats and the rules for combining fares.

The following factors can help to reduce the price:

• Combining different fares. Flights between Prague and Chile may have different prices to those between Munich and Chile. Some fares allow you to combine half of one return fare with half of another. This can result in a cheaper open-jaw ticket.
• Availability of cheaper flights. For your chosen dates, a cheaper return flight to a different city may be available. By changing your destination airport, you’ll gain further connection options.
• Taxes and surcharges. The final price is also affected by airport taxes and airline surcharges. The amount and method of application may vary depending on the entire route.

This is why a Prague – Santiago de Chile – Munich combination may work out cheaper than a Prague – Santiago de Chile – Prague route. The exact reason for a specific offer can only be determined from the price breakdown and the terms and conditions of the fares applied.

Examples from special offers

Examples of good value combinations from special offers include:

Airline	City combinations
United Airlines	Prague → Santiago de Chile → Munich
Aer Lingus	Brussels → Cancún → Berlin

United also offers similar deals for other South American cities, such as Lima or Bogotá.

In both examples, the return flight is to a different departure airport. This means you can arrive in and depart from the same city in the destination country. The discounted price depends on the specific fare and travel dates.

Before booking, factor in transport to the departure airport and from the final airport back home. Any hotel stays or long journeys may reduce the savings.

Which destinations are suitable for open-jaw and multi-city flights

They are most beneficial for one-way journeys. Returning to the original airport would mean an additional ticket, flight or a day spent travelling.

The Hawaiian Islands

An open-jaw ticket is very practical when visiting several Hawaiian islands. For example, you could fly into Oahu, continue on to Maui and finish your trip on Kauai.

By departing from the last island, you’ll save on a return flight to the first island.

As well as saving on the cost of inter-island flights, you’ll also save time on travelling to the airport, checking in and waiting.

You can book flights between the islands you’re visiting separately, or try to include them in a multi-city booking. Compare the prices of both options.

The saving on the entire inter-island flight applies only if you return without a stopover on the island you started from. If your flight home from Kona goes via Honolulu, the inter-island flight remains part of the itinerary.

I have visited the Hawaiian Islands and am writing practical articles here:

• how to get from Honolulu Airport
• how much it costs to hire a car on Maui
• 26 places to see on the Big Island
• how to plan hiking treks on Kauai
• and many more

Japan

You’ll typically fly into Tokyo and depart from Osaka.

This is a very practical combination for a trip through Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto and Osaka.

At the end of your trip, you don’t have to return to Tokyo just for your flight. You’ll save on the return journey and, if necessary, another Shinkansen ticket.

You can find details in the guide to transport in Japanor in the guides to Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima.

Vietnam

Fly into Hanoi and out of Ho Chi Minh City, or vice versa.

Vietnam is ideal for travelling gradually from north to south. Between the two cities, you can visit places such as Hue, Da Nang and Hoi An.

An open-jaw ticket saves you from having to return separately to the other end of the country. This would otherwise require another flight or a long journey by train or bus.

Thailand and South-East Asia

Arrive in Bangkok, return from Phuket or Krabi.

A practical option for combining Bangkok, northern Thailand and the beaches in the south. At the end of your holiday, you won’t need to make a separate return journey to Bangkok.

When visiting multiple countries, also try a multi-city combination, which includes, for example, a flight from Bangkok to Singapore as part of the entire journey.

Compare the price with an open-jaw ticket and a separate regional flight. In South-East Asia, low-cost flights can be cheap.

I love Thailand, and here are a few articles to inspire your trip:

• which part of Thailand is best for swimming in the sea
• where to go in Thailand depending on the season

USA and Canada

Arriving in one city and departing from the other end of your planned trip.

Typical examples:

• San Francisco and Los Angeles on a trip around California
• New York and Los Angeles when combining the east and west coasts
• Vancouver and Calgary on a trip through the Canadian Rockies

When travelling by car, you’ll skip the final return journey to your original airport. When visiting both coasts of the USA, an open-jaw booking can eliminate the need for an additional flight across the continent.

Try to quote a price for the flight between New York and Los Angeles as part of a multi-city booking with international flights.

In the US and Canada in particular, open-jaw options are often very cost-effective, as car hire companies there charge low or even no fees (for example, in California or Florida) for returning the car to a different location.

Compare car hire prices in the USA

Mexico

Arrive in Mexico City, return to Cancún.

Ideal for combining the capital, inland sights and a stay in Yucatán. From Cancún, you don’t need to return separately to Mexico City before heading home.

If you want to fly between the capital and the Yucatán, also compare multi-city flight tickets that include this domestic leg. An alternative is an open-jaw ticket and a separate domestic flight.

This is exactly the combination we used on our trip in 2026. Here are a few of my articles from the trip:

• A hot-air balloon ride over the pyramids and a trip to Grutas Tolantongo: the 2 best experiences in CDMX
• Cenotes in Mexico: our top 6 picks
• Which area of the Riviera Maya should you choose?

Australia

Fly into Sydney, return via Cairns or Melbourne.

The distances between the different areas are considerable. When travelling along the east coast, flying out from the last city you’ve visited will save you a return trip to Sydney.

For a combination of Sydney, Uluru and Cairns, try including domestic flights in your multi-city booking. Overland travel between these destinations would take considerably longer.

Australia is also one of my favourite countries, although so far I’ve only travelled through the southern part.

• My journey along the Great Ocean Road: 24 places to stop
• How to travel between cities in Australia

New Zealand

Fly into Auckland, return via Christchurch or Queenstown.

For a trip across the North and South Islands, you don’t need to plan a return to Auckland. You’ll avoid a separate return flight or a long drive involving another crossing between the islands.

If you’re only visiting the South Island, compare the combination of Christchurch and Queenstown. You can drive the route in one direction.

South America

For example, arrival in Buenos Aires and return from Santiago de Chile.

When combining Argentina and Chile, you can organise your trip as a one-way journey and even visit Patagonia. You won’t then need to return separately to the first country just to catch your flight home.

For longer journeys with several connecting flights, try pricing the entire itinerary as a multi-city booking.

Including domestic flights in the overall ticket may work out cheaper than buying them separately. It depends on the specific fare, route and dates.

Europe

An open-jaw ticket is also suitable for European journeys by train, coach or car. You fly in at the start of your planned route and fly home from the end of it.

Practical examples:

City of arrival / City of departure	Suitable route
Venice / Rome	A trip via Venice, Florence and Rome
Palermo / Catania	Journey across Sicily
Porto / Faro	A journey through Porto, Lisbon and the Algarve
Oslo / Bergen	A journey through the Norwegian mountains and a visit to the fjords

You’ll save yourself the final return journey to your starting point.

For example, on a trip from Oslo to Bergen, you won’t have to make a long return journey by train or buy another flight just to depart from Oslo.

With European low-cost airlines, you can put together such a journey using two separate one-way tickets. The main advantage is saving on travel costs; buying them together may not necessarily result in a lower price.

A single ticket or separate flights

The results of a multi-city search may include a single connecting ticket or several separate tickets.

For connecting flights on a single ticket, the airline will sort out a missed connection caused by a delay to the previous flight. If you have separate tickets, the other airline may not arrange a new flight for you free of charge.

Before paying, therefore, check whether the offer includes any reference to a separate ticket, a self-transfer or ‘self-transfer’. If this is unclear, verify the connection with the travel agent.

A single booking with a travel agent does not in itself guarantee a single connecting ticket. What matters is how the flights are actually booked and what conditions apply to them.

What to check before buying

• Airports: check the exact arrival and departure airports. One city may have several airports.
• Luggage: check the permitted number and weight for each leg of the journey. If there is a stopover, check whether you will need to collect your checked-in luggage.
• Dates: keep an eye on the arrival date, night flights and any date changes when crossing time zones.
• Entry requirements: To visit a transit city, you must comply with the entry rules applicable to your passport.
• Changes: find out how much it costs to change your dates or route. Plan your stopover before buying your ticket.

💬 Having trouble finding a specific route? Please list the cities and your planned dates in the comments.