You want to see the world. You want to see Europe. You do not want to waste your precious vacation time. Time is money. I remember when I first heard the term “open jaw.” I thought it sounded like a dental problem.
However, I soon learned it is the greatest travel secret for people like us. We love tours. We love efficiency. First of all, you need to understand that a traditional round-trip ticket can be a trap. You fly into London. You spend a week moving south to Paris. Finally, you have to go back to London just to fly home. This is a waste. Therefore, you should learn How to Book Open Jaw Flights to Europe.
You can arrive in one city and depart from another. It is that simple. Plus, it saves you from “backtracking.” Backtracking is when you repeat a journey you already made. It eats up your time. It eats up your energy.
Additionally, it can eat up your budget. I once spent $120 on a bullet train in Japan just to get back to my original airport. I felt silly. Later, I realized I could have just flown home from my last stop. On top of that, some airlines like British Airways or Delta make this easy if you know where to click. This is a Complete Guide for you.
What Is This Magic Ticket Exactly?
An open jaw ticket is a return flight where your destination and origin are not the same in both directions. Think of it as a triangle instead of a straight line back and forth. Gradually, you will see how the flight path looks like a gaping mouth on a map. Therefore, the name “open jaw” was born. There are three main types you should know about.
First of all, there is the destination open jaw. You fly from New York to London. You travel across the land. Finally, you fly home from Paris to New York. This is the most popular choice for a European tour. Second, we have the origin open jaw. You fly from London to New York. However, you return from New York to Manchester. Third, there is the double open jaw. This is for the true adventurers. You fly from London to Tokyo. Later, you fly from Osaka to Paris. It sounds complex. Similarly, it is very rewarding.
Why You Should Care About Open Jaws
You probably ask, are open jaw flights more expensive? Many people assume they are. On the contrary, they are often very comparable in price to a standard round-trip. You might even save money. First of all, you save the cost of that extra train or bus ticket back to your first city. A train from Venice to Rome can take half a day. You do not want to spend your last day on a train. Therefore, you buy an open jaw.
You also save time. Time is the one thing we can not buy more of. If your trip is seven days long, do not spend one of those days returning to where you started. Additionally, you get to see more. You can land in Rome and end in Naples. You can start in Budapest and finish in Prague. Gradually, your itinerary becomes a smooth line through the best sights. Also, some frequent flyer programs love these routes. Alaska Airlines allows a stopover on a one-way ticket for no extra miles. Air Canada Aeroplan lets you add a stopover for just 5,000 points. The value is massive.
Let Us Use Google Flights
You need the right tools for this job. My favorite is open jaw google flights. It is fast. It is free. First of all, open your browser. You will see the search box. It usually says “Round trip” by default. Click that menu. However, do not pick “One way.” Pick multi city – google flights. This is the key that unlocks the door.
You will now see extra lines for your flights. First of all, enter your home city. Later, enter your first European stop. Let us say you pick Paris. Additionally, add another flight line. This is where you put your departure city. Let us say you end in Rome. Enter Rome and then your home city. Finally, hit search. Google will show you the total price for both flights. Similarly, you can check different dates to find the lowest fare. Some flights to Europe can be found in the $200s or $300s if you are flexible. Therefore, play with the dates.
Booking With the Big Airlines
You might prefer to go directly to the source. Many people want to know how to book open jaw flights on ba. The British Airways website has a “Multi-city” link right on the home page. You click that. Gradually, you build your trip just like on Google. Plus, you can use your Avios points. Similarly, delta open jaw flights are easy to find. You just select the “Multi-city” option in the search tool.
I once looked at open jaw flights british airways for a trip to the Baltics. I flew into Vilnius. Later, I took a bus to Riga and Tallinn. Finally, I flew home from Helsinki. It was seamless. On top of that, I avoided the high fees of flying in and out of the same busy airport twice. Therefore, I had more money for local food. Also, I did not have to deal with the same terminal twice. Fresh scenery is always better.
Real Experience: An Italian Dream
Let us look at an open jaw flight example in Italy. You want to see the history of Rome. You also want the beauty of the Amalfi Coast. First of all, book your flight into Rome. Spend three days there. Later, take the fast train to Naples. It only takes about an hour. Additionally, explore Pompeii and Sorrento. Finally, fly home directly from Naples airport.
If you did a round-trip, you would have to haul your luggage back to Rome. However, an open jaw lets you relax. You finish your wine in Positano. You drive to Naples. You fly home. Therefore, you are more rested. Similarly, you can do this in Portugal. Start in Lisbon. Later, take the train to Porto. Fly home from Porto. It takes five days to do this well. Plus, you can stop in smaller towns like Aveiro along the way.
The Statistical Side of Travel
You should know the numbers. Some reward programs allow you to fly up to 50,000 miles on one complex ticket. That is a huge distance. One example itinerary covered 32,881 miles. It included 8 flights across 10 countries. It took 71 hours of flying time. First of all, that sounds exhausting. However, for 265,000 miles in business class, it is a steal.
Do not forget about fuel surcharges. Some airlines charge over $1,500 in fees for “free” award tickets. Therefore, you must watch the fine print. Also, remember the “24-hour rule.” A stopover is when you stay in a city for more than 24 hours. An open jaw is just the gap between where you land and where you take off next. Gradually, you will learn to combine these for the ultimate trip.
Practical Tips for the Mature Traveler
You are smart. You plan ahead. First of all, check your baggage rules. If you use two different airlines for your open jaw, their rules might differ. Additionally, think about your visas. If you land in one country and leave from another, make sure you are allowed to cross the border by land. Similarly, consider your rental car. Picking up a car in one city and dropping it in another often costs more. However, it might still be cheaper than flying back.
First of all, use city codes. If you want to save money, search for all airports in a city. Use “LON” for all London airports instead of just “LHR” for Heathrow. Later, compare the prices. Finally, look at the transport between your “jaw” cities. Is there a good train? Is there a cheap local flight? Therefore, you can budget correctly. Scott Keyes once found a $130 round-trip fare because he was flexible. Similarly, you can find a bargain if you look closely.
Central Europe Adventures
I highly recommend the “Imperial Cities” route. First of all, fly into Budapest. The architecture is stunning. Later, take the train to Bratislava and Vienna. These cities are very close. Additionally, end your trip in Prague. Finally, fly home from Prague. The trains are frequent and cheap. You do not even need to book them far in advance.
On top of that, the history in these places is deep. You can see the old towns. You can see the castles. Similarly, you can do a Polish tour. Fly into Krakow. Later, visit the salt mines. Finally, take a three-hour train to Warsaw and fly home from there. Therefore, you see two major sides of Poland in one week. Lien from Get Lost Abroad says Krakow is magical. I agree.
Avoiding the Traps
Do not book two separate one-way tickets if you can avoid it. First of all, international one-way flights are often very expensive. However, using the “Multi-city” tool keeps the price like a round-trip. Also, watch out for different airports in the same city. Flying into London Heathrow and out of London Gatwick is technically an open jaw. Similarly, it can save you money if one airport is cheaper. Therefore, check all your options.
Finally, remember that travel should be fun. Do not make your itinerary so complex that you are always stressed. First of all, leave time for coffee. Later, leave time for a long dinner. Additionally, use the open jaw to make your life easier, not harder. Less time on trains means more time for memories. Therefore, start your planning today.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I book open jaw?
You should use the multi-city search option on airline websites or travel search engines. Instead of picking “Round Trip,” you select “Multi-city” and enter your different arrival and departure cities as separate segments.
Is it possible to book an open flight ticket?
Yes, it is possible. You do this by booking an open jaw or multi-city itinerary where your return flight departs from a different city than the one where you first landed.
Are open jaw flights allowed?
Yes, they are a standard type of airline ticket. Most major airlines and booking sites offer them as a way to provide flexibility for travelers who are visiting multiple destinations.
How can I buy open flight tickets?
You can buy them online through tools like Google Flights, Momondo, or directly on airline websites like British Airways. Just look for the multi-city button to start the process.
Concluding Words
Booking open jaw flights to Europe is the smartest way to travel. It allows you to land in one city and leave from another, which saves time and avoids the boredom of backtracking. Though it sounds complex, using the multi-city tool on sites like Google Flights makes it very simple and often costs the same as a regular round-trip. You get to see more sights and enjoy a smoother journey through the beautiful countries of Europe.
