Open-Jaw Award Tickets: Fly Home From a Different City for Less

What is an Open-Jaw Award Ticket? A Simple Guide

At its core, an open-jaw award ticket is an itinerary where your return flight departs from a different city than where you arrived, or you return to a different city than where you started. The "open" segment refers to the part of the journey you cover on your own, whether by train, budget flight, or rental car. This gap turns a standard round-trip into a dynamic, multi-destination adventure without the cost of booking two separate one-way tickets.

Think of a typical round-trip flight as a complete circle: you fly from Point A to Point B and back to Point A. An open-jaw itinerary is like a broken circle. You fly from A to B, make your own way to Point C, and then fly from C back to A. That journey from B to C is the "open-jaw" you get to fill in.

The 3 Types of Open-Jaw Flights You Can Book

Understanding the different types of open-jaw flights helps you craft the perfect itinerary for your trip. Most travelers will use a destination open-jaw, but knowing all three can unlock even more creative routing options.

• Destination Open-Jaw: This is the most common type. You fly from your home airport (A) to one city (B), then travel overland to another city (C) and fly back home (A) from there.
  • Example: Fly from New York (JFK) to London (LHR), then take a train to Paris and fly home from Paris (CDG) back to New York (JFK).
• Origin Open-Jaw: This is less common but useful for repositioning at the end of a trip. You fly from one city (A) to another (B), then fly back from that same city (B) but to a different destination (C).
  • Example: Fly from New York (JFK) to London (LHR), and on the return, fly from London (LHR) to your new home in Chicago (ORD).
• Double Open-Jaw: The ultimate in flexibility, this itinerary involves four different airports. You fly from City A to City B, then return from an entirely different City C to another City D.
  • Example: Fly from New York (JFK) to London (LHR), travel through Europe, and then fly from Paris (CDG) back to Chicago (ORD).

Open-Jaw vs. Stopover vs. Multi-City: Clearing Up the Confusion in Award Travel

In the world of award travel, these terms are often confused, but they represent distinct booking strategies. An open-jaw award ticket features a surface segment you arrange yourself. In contrast, a stopover award is a planned layover in a connecting city that lasts more than 24 hours on an international itinerary, allowing you to explore two destinations on one ticket.

Finally, a multi-city award is an itinerary where every flight is booked as part of the same ticket, with the airline flying you between each destination (e.g., NYC -> London -> Paris -> NYC). An open-jaw is a type of multi-city booking, but one where you intentionally leave a gap in the flight itinerary.

Why You Should Book Open-Jaw Award Tickets: The Major Benefits

The biggest advantage of booking open-jaw flights with points is the potential to save a significant number of miles. Many frequent flyer programs price an open-jaw itinerary similarly to a standard round-trip, which is almost always cheaper than booking two expensive one-way award tickets. This simple trick lets you see more for less.

Beyond savings, open-jaws provide incredible flexibility. You can explore an entire region without wasting a full day and extra money backtracking to your original arrival airport. This frees you up to travel in a straight line, maximizing your vacation time. This efficiency also saves you money on repositioning flights or long, expensive train journeys. Furthermore, by widening your search to include multiple departure airports in a region, you dramatically increase your chances of finding elusive business or first-class award seats.

How to Find and Book Open-Jaw Flights with Your Miles: A Step-by-Step Guide

Booking an open-jaw award ticket is simpler than it sounds. Most airline websites have a tool designed for this, though it's not always clearly labeled.

1. Use the "Multi-City" or "Advanced Search" Function: On the airline's booking page, look for a link that says "Multi-City," "Multiple Destinations," or "Advanced Search" instead of the default "Round Trip" option.
2. Input Your Segments Individually: The tool will present you with fields for "Flight 1" and "Flight 2." Enter your first flight (e.g., LAX to FCO for Rome) and your second flight (e.g., VCE for Venice to LAX).
3. Compare Award Pricing: Once you see the search results, check the total mileage cost. Compare this to the cost of booking the two flights as separate one-way awards to confirm you're getting a better deal.
4. Call the Airline for Complex Routings: If the website gives you an error, or if you are trying to book a complex trip involving multiple partner airlines, don't give up. A knowledgeable phone agent can often piece together award availability that the online tool can't see.

Best Airline Programs for Booking Open-Jaw Award Tickets

Not all frequent flyer programs treat open-jaws the same. Some offer explicit benefits, while others are great simply because of their flexible pricing structure.

• Programs with Favorable One-Way Pricing: Airlines like American Airlines AAdvantage and Delta SkyMiles have simplified award charts or dynamic pricing that makes booking two one-way flights affordable. This allows you to effectively create your own open-jaw itinerary without needing a special rule.
• Programs with Built-In Perks: United MileagePlus offers the "Excursionist Perk" on round-trip international awards, which gives you a free one-way flight within your destination region—a powerful tool that can be combined with an open-jaw.
• Programs with Explicit Open-Jaw & Stopover Rules: Programs like Air Canada Aeroplan and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer have specific, published rules allowing you to add stopovers or open-jaws to certain award tickets for a small mileage premium, offering fantastic value.

Inspiring Open-Jaw Award Ticket Itinerary Examples

To see the power of open-jaw flights in action, consider these popular travel routes that are perfectly suited for this strategy.

• The Classic European Tour: Fly into Dublin and explore the Emerald Isle. Take a cheap regional flight to mainland Europe, travel by train through several countries, and then fly home from Athens. This saves you a full day of travel backtracking across the continent.
• The Southeast Asia Backpacking Trip: Fly into Bangkok to kick off your adventure. Travel by bus, train, and boat through Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Conclude your trip by flying home from Ho Chi Minh City, creating a seamless, one-way path through the region.
• The South American Adventure: Fly into Lima, Peru, to acclimate and hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Continue your journey overland into Bolivia and Chile, and then fly home from Santiago.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Booking Open-Jaw Flights

While powerful, open-jaw award tickets come with a few potential pitfalls. First, always remember to budget for the surface segment. The cost of trains, rental cars, or budget flights for that "open" part of your trip is your responsibility.

Second, don't assume an open-jaw is automatically cheaper. Always compare the price to booking two one-way awards, as sometimes dynamic pricing can make separate tickets a better deal. Finally, be sure to understand the specific routing rules of your frequent flyer program and check for high taxes or carrier-imposed surcharges on your chosen airports, as these can negate your mileage savings.

Final Verdict: Is an Open-Jaw Award Ticket Right for Your Next Trip?

An open-jaw award ticket is the perfect tool for the traveler who wants to see more than one city without wasting time or money. If you're planning a regional tour, a backpacking trip, or any journey where you end up far from where you started, this strategy is for you. By mastering the art of the open-jaw, you can maximize the value of your airline miles, unlock greater flexibility, and design more efficient and adventurous itineraries.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• What is the difference between an open-jaw and a stopover in award travel? An open-jaw involves a surface segment that you travel on your own (e.g., flying into London and out of Paris). A stopover is a single ticket where the airline flies you to a connecting city, you stay for more than 24 hours, and then you continue on to your final destination.

• Can I book open-jaw flights for domestic travel? Yes, absolutely. For example, you could fly from Chicago to San Francisco, take a road trip down the Pacific Coast Highway, and then fly back home from Los Angeles.

• Do budget airlines offer open-jaw award tickets? Generally, budget airlines operate on a simple point-to-point model. Their "award" tickets are usually just cash fares paid for with points. Since their one-way flights are already inexpensive, you would simply book two separate one-way tickets to create your own open-jaw itinerary.

• How do I calculate the miles needed for an open-jaw itinerary? This depends on the program. For airlines that price awards as one-ways (like American), you simply add the cost of the two one-way flights. For programs with region-based round-trip charts, the cost is often the same as a standard round-trip to the destination region, but you must check the specific program's rules.