The tip of booking 2 one-way flights instead of a roundtrip is among the ones I use most often, both to save money and to have more flexibility. Obviously, this doesn’t apply to all flights!!! But it does apply very often as you’ll see, whether I pay with points of the more lucrative type or with cash/points of the more simple type. Even though I never leave for more than a month (and even when I leave for less than a week, like last week in the U.S.)!
Learning how to save on plane tickets is 1 of the 6 most important travel tips, because prices vary so much. And it happens to be our #1 specialty!
As mentioned in our teaser on how to save money on plane tickets, just take the time to try the 31 tips one by one. Some will work for some flights. The tip about separate one-way plane tickets is one of the 31 tips, so let’s take a closer look at it.
Here’s what you need to know about the tip of booking 2 one-way flights instead of 1 roundtrip flight.
Do flight pros use the 2 one-way flights tip?
The tip is very useful for flight pros. We almost always buy 2 one-way flights instead of a roundtrip if the price is the same or cheaper, which is really very common. If the one-ways are more expensive, obviously we buy a roundtrip.
Of course, most long-distance flights paid in cash/in points of the more simple type are cheaper when buying a roundtrip. But not short-distance flights.
And for long-distance flights, flight pros very often use points of the more lucrative type precisely to avoid paying for flights in cash (in economy class and/or in luxurious business class, as I’m doing more and more myself since I travel less and there have been so many huge welcome bonuses in recent years).
I’ll start by sharing concrete personal data:
- Since the beginning of 2023, I’ve booked 63 plane tickets
- For the 96 flights* that I paid for myself (in cash or in points)
- Exactly 63 out of 63 tickets were one-way flights
- Yes, 100%!
- I haven’t booked a single roundtrip since 2022
*I have 52% more flights than plane tickets, as all those who want to save should have! Because having connections is obviously the key to getting much cheaper flights… that’s the most basic tip, of course!!! It has nothing to do with the choice between 1 roundtrip flight and 2 one-way flights, but it’s much more important if you want to pay less!
In short, even though in recent years I’ve traveled much less than in the previous years, it’s still a lot of travel compared to an average traveler, and it’s not like my split between one-ways and roundtrips was particularly close.
And yet, even relatively experienced travelers don’t know the tip! Many travelers think that booking roundtrips is the best option (or even the only option). There are so many simple tips like this one that you may not know about and that we want to help you discover so you stop paying way too much!
What is the 2 one-way flights tip?
It’s very simple.
But since so many people really think that roundtrips are the only thing that exists, it’s worth defining the terms one-way and roundtrip to start with the basics:
- One-way flights
- 1 plane ticket between 2 airports
- Regardless of whether there are connections
- Roundtrip flights
- 2 plane tickets on the same reservation
- Regardless of whether there are connections
There are also open-jaw tickets, but let’s keep that for a separate post. We obviously always recommend visiting multiple destinations rather than just one, but even to do that, open-jaw flights are rarely the cheapest option, contrary to another common myth!
So concretely, you have 2 main options when booking flights.
You can:
- Buy 1 roundtrip flight
- Toronto-Bangkok and Bangkok-Toronto flights
- On the same reservation
- Buy 2 one-way flights
- Toronto-Bangkok flights on one reservation
- Bangkok-Toronto flights on another reservation
Nothing very complicated there.
But so many people are so used to always booking roundtrips that they unfortunately don’t even compare.
For flights paid in cash/in points of the more simple type, it’s probably yet another example of a situation where humans have a hard time adapting to new facts. Yes, several years ago, buying roundtrips was systematically guaranteed to be cheaper… but that’s just not the case anymore. Things have changed. For quite some time now, by the way.
For flights paid in points of the more lucrative type, it’s probably that many still don’t understand that it’s a completely separate booking system and the price in points is NOT tied to the cash price. You can read our brand new infographic, which is another attempt to properly explain the major difference between the 2 types of rewards that exist, because it’s one of the 6 most important basic things to understand this wonderful world.
How to use the 2 one-way flights tip?
For each flight, if you want to save, you must take the time to simply compare everything.
To use the 2 one-way flights tip, there are 2 easy steps:
- Compare the price to see if it’s the same or cheaper
- Compare the pros and cons of the tip
Compare the price to see if it’s the same or cheaper
Step #1 is obviously extremely simple.
You take 30 seconds to compare the price of:
- 2 one-way flights
- 1 roundtrip flight
If you read our tips, this isn’t new, but I repeat it because sooooo many people still don’t know, unfortunately: traveling for less is literally just taking the time to compare all aspects of prices. That’s it. The more you compare, the more you save. You need to know exactly what to compare though, and we want to help you with that.
Plane ticket pricing is complex. Sometimes a roundtrip is simply the sum of 2 one-way flights, sometimes not. It takes 30 seconds to go to an aggregator like Skyscanner to try this specific tip…
Sometimes it’s cheaper, sometimes not. Take the time to try it. Like literally all plane ticket tips, it varies.
That’s why the 1st step is to know if the 2 one-way flights are cheaper or the same price as a roundtrip.
Compare the pros and cons of the tip
If the price is cheaper, the same, or just slightly more expensive, it might be worth using the tip. Step #2 is to decide if it’s good for your specific flight.
All travelers are different and have different priorities and different ways of traveling. It’s up to you to compare the pros and cons (yes, there are cons, too; I list all that here) and decide according to your situation and personal preferences.
As you can see, I almost always book one-way flights. But that’s me.
I never waste a penny paying more for a modifiable plane ticket fare class, for example, and yet plenty of people love spending extra money instead of just deciding to go somewhere and not changing their mind (free credit card insurance is there to cover good reasons to cancel). Every traveler is different, and that’s perfectly fine!
What are the benefits of the 2 one-way flights tip?
At Flytrippers, we want to help you save because it’s our passion and priority, but often the tips that make your travels more affordable also make them more enjoyable.
As mentioned in the introduction, there are 2 potential benefits with the 2 one-way flights tip:
- Save on flight prices
- Have more flexibility on flights
We’ll look at each, but it’s worth mentioning that the savings are far from being huge with this tip (especially compared to several others of the 31 tips to save on plane tickets that you should always try).
The 2nd benefit is therefore more important here. But still, even if it’s just $50 less… better to save $50 than $0 obviously!
How to save on flight prices with the 2 one-way flights tip?
Plane ticket prices vary enormously (based on 6 main variables, if you’re interested in getting better).
But there are still general rules that are good to know to determine if the price is the same or cheaper when buying one-way flights instead of a roundtrip.
Here’s how pricing works depending on how you pay for the flight:
- Flights paid in cash/in points of the more simple type
- Short-distance flights in North America: 2 one-way flights are almost always cheaper or the same price
- Long-distance flights: 2 one-way flights are very often more expensive
- Short-distance flights elsewhere: 2 one-way flights are often cheaper or the same price
- Flights paid in points of the more lucrative type
- Flights at fixed prices: 2 one-way flights are almost always the same price
- Flights with dynamic pricing: varies enormously, not surprisingly
Flights paid in points of the more lucrative type
Airline points are the ones worth the most. It’s even the best deal in the entire world of travel, literally.
For example, it allows you to get a luxurious business class flight in a lie-flat pod seat worth $4000 with just one welcome bonus! It’s the one from the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card that ends in less than a month!
But it’s a more complex system, obviously!
The key is to use points for flights at prices that are fixed, guaranteed, and limited… and therefore have limited seats (that’s what allows you to get unlimited value).
So you won’t save points by buying one-way flights, because programs simply charge half the price for a one-way. But you should still use the tip because the other benefit, that of flexibility, is even more important when paying in points of the more lucrative type.
Flights paid in cash/in points of the more simple type
The basics of the other type of rewards that exists is that the price is simply tied to the cash price, so it’s the same as paying in cash. At least in terms of pricing mechanisms, it’s the same (it’s still better than actually paying in cash since you get flights for free… it’s just a lesser value than with the other type of rewards).
For example, it will never allow you to get outsized value like $4000, but it still gives bonuses like $1025 free for any travel expense. It’s the one from the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card, which is for a limited time and has no public end date, but that I recommend getting now if you want it!
But it’s a much less restrictive system! The price is the same as the cash price (or very similar).
So if you want to pay in cash or in points of the more simple type, booking 2 one-way flights can very often be cheaper or the same price for short-distance flights.
There are no absolute rules in the world of plane tickets. Sometimes, even transatlantic one-way flights are just half the price of a roundtrip. Just take 30 seconds to compare!
One-way flights are often cheaper for a simple reason:
- By buying 1 roundtrip flight, you are less flexible
If you remember just one thing about how to save on flights (and even travel in general), it’s to be flexible. Such a simple concept. It’s literally the most important thing.
Not being flexible is what’s expensive. And what makes so many people unfortunately believe the very false myth that travel necessarily costs a lot. You need to be flexible on literally everything.
And how is buying a roundtrip not flexible?
Well, you’re limiting yourself to having the outbound and return on the same airline! So obviously, sometimes you pay more for nothing.
Here’s a concrete example of a roundtrip flight search:
- Montreal-Fort Lauderdale roundtrip flights from December 2-9
- Air Canada: $350
- Air Transat: $350
Sadly, 99% of travelers will search for a roundtrip, so the cheapest will be $350. They’ll think it’s the best price for that specific travel date and for that specific booking date.
Wrong!
Here’s what the same search will often give if you search for one-way flights:
- Montreal-Fort Lauderdale flight on December 2
- Air Canada: $150
- Air Transat: $200
- Fort Lauderdale-Montreal flight on December 9
- Air Canada: $200
- Air Transat: $150
Yes, the total is $350 for each airline when you limit yourself to having the same airline for the outbound and return. Because searching for a roundtrip means you don’t have flexibility and you require the same airline on the outbound as on the return (which we don’t care about, at least you shouldn’t care if you want to save).
But if you just take the cheapest airline on both dates, you pay $300 instead of $350.
Even if it’s just $50, it’s not particularly smart to pay $50 more for nothing, is it? I always prefer to save, regardless of the amount. And $50 is enough for a full day of travel in 40 awesome countries!
How to have more flexibility on flights with the 2 one-ways tip?
Finally, here are the many benefits other than the sometimes lower price. Most apply to all flights (paid in cash or any type of rewards), but there are some major ones that are specifically for flights paid with rewards of the more lucrative type.
Here are the flexibility benefits of buying 2 one-ways:
- All flights
- Allows you to book one of the flights earlier if there’s a good deal
- Allows you to book one of the flights earlier if you’re not yet sure about the other
- Allows you to have more flight schedule options
- Allows you to book a multi-destination itinerary for less
- Allows you to change or cancel half of the itinerary at a lower cost
- Allows you to miss a flight without ruining your entire itinerary
- Allows you to use the throwaway ticketing tip
- Allows you to try 2 different airlines
- Flights specifically paid with rewards of the more lucrative type
- Allows you to book one of the flights earlier if there’s an available seat
- Allows you to pay with different points currencies
- Allows you to pay half in cash if it’s not a good value
- Allows you to save when changing flights with dynamic pricing
Allows you to book one of the flights earlier if there’s a good deal
Sometimes there’s a really better deal for either your outbound or return flight. You can book it right away and wait for a better price for the other one. Saving this way happens to me very often.
This is especially useful when one of your 2 dates is a bit less flexible than the other, because flexibility is the key to saving, of course!
Allows you to book one of the flights earlier if you’re not yet sure about the other
If you know you need to leave (or return) on a specific date but aren’t sure about the other yet, this allows you to ensure you get the current best price on at least half.
It happens to me very often that I know the exact date of my outbound or return because I have commitments, but I haven’t decided on the other one yet. Waiting can result in a much higher price for both flights, so it’s better to get at least 1 of them at a cheaper price!
Allows you to have more flight schedule options
As mentioned, you’re no longer obligated to have the same airline for the return as for the outbound. So this obviously gives you more flight schedule options.
Maybe Air Canada is best for the outbound, but you prefer Air Transat’s times for the return!
Allows you to book a multi-destination itinerary for less
If you want to visit both Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta in Mexico, buying a roundtrip is a terrible idea because you have to backtrack.
You can buy a one-way to Guadalajara and a return from Puerto Vallarta. You can buy your Guadalajara-Puerto Vallarta flight separately. This will almost always be cheaper than a multi-destination ticket!
Allows you to change or cancel half of the itinerary at a lower cost
Some tickets are completely non-refundable and non-modifiable (read our guide on plane ticket fare classes if you don’t know this).
If you need more flexibility on just one of the 2 halves, definitely don’t pay more on the total ticket.
Allows you to miss a flight without ruining your entire itinerary
As soon as you miss any flight on an itinerary, the rest of your ticket is canceled. This is so little known and deserves its own article.
To be clear, we’re not talking about a missed connection due to a flight delay: the airline will obviously rebook you on the next flight for free if it’s booked on the same ticket, and this is a very common type of missed flight. If this hasn’t happened to you, you should really travel more often because it means you don’t travel enough, haha! Or it means you pay way too much for your tickets by never having connections, which also means you could travel more thanks to all the savings, by the way!
But if you miss a flight for any other reason, the rest of your ticket will be canceled. Some airlines will sometimes be nice about it, but it’s far from guaranteed.
If you booked a roundtrip, you could lose a lot more money. If you booked separate one-ways, your return is not ruined.
Allows you to use the throwaway ticketing tip
The throwaway ticketing tip allows you to save a lot on very specific flights, but it only works for one-ways because of what I just explained about the itinerary being canceled as soon as you miss a flight.
This is the only tip that isn’t exactly allowed by airlines, but don’t believe the fearful people who are always afraid of everything and who dramatize everything: you can do it without problems if you don’t do it often (especially if you don’t enter your membership number).
Allows you to try 2 different airlines
Very niche, but I love testing all airlines for you (and everything actually). As you could see in my unique fall trip with 17 different airlines.
Booking one-ways allows you to do that.
Allows you to book one of the flights earlier if there’s an available seat
I’ll be very clear: if you want to travel in business class for less than economy class, you’ll have to book one-ways.
That’s just how it is. You get flights worth $4000 for just the taxes, it’s the best deal imaginable… so you have to be more flexible.
All this is explained in detail in our guide on how to fly in business class.
Allows you to pay with different points currencies
It’s fascinating how much having points in different currencies seems to stress many people out. Spoiler alert: the only way to have a lot of rewards is to accumulate different ones. You’ll have to understand that if you want it to go fast!!!
Don’t have enough Aeroplan points for a roundtrip in business class? Fix that quickly by following the simple steps in our guide on how to fly in business class, but in the meantime, it’s easy: you can book a one-way with Aeroplan and the other one-way with Avios points (by transferring your RBC Avion points and/or your Amex points)!
Allows you to pay half in cash if it’s not a good value
If you want to maximize the free travel you get, simply do the math for the value you’re getting and just use your rewards of the more lucrative type when the value is good. So simple.
Well, sometimes one half is a good deal in points and the other isn’t. So you can maximize by booking each flight separately.
Allows you to save when changing flights with dynamic pricing
If you want to maximize your Air Canada Aeroplan points, the simplest thing is not to use them on Air Canada (but that’s THE basic thing that travelers have the most difficulty understanding).
If you use your points on Air Canada, there are unfortunately no guaranteed fixed prices, unlike on partner airlines.
This means that if you book a roundtrip and need to change just the return, the price of the entire itinerary will be recalculated, and it could cost you a lot in points. If you book 2 one-ways, it won’t affect the other half.
What are the disadvantages of the 2 one-ways tip?
Here are the disadvantages now:
- You’ll have to pay cancellation or modification fees twice
- If you need to cancel for a bad reason
- That is, for a reason not covered by free credit card insurance
- You’ll have to pay Aeroplan’s $39 partner booking fee twice
- But it’s still worth it if you want to fly in business class
- You can’t maximize or use certain benefits
- Companion tickets offered by credit cards
- Priority rewards offered to elite members
- Promotional codes with discounts
- Stopovers offered by certain programs
You’ll have to pay cancellation or modification fees twice
As I said above, I decide to go somewhere… and I go there (crazy concept, I know). Since I always pay with a good credit card that has free cancellation insurance and trip interruption insurance, I’m covered for all the good reasons (if I get sick, if a loved one gets sick, etc.)!
If you want the option to be able to modify or cancel for reasons not covered by insurance, obviously, by booking 2 one-ways, you’ll have to pay 2 cancellation/modification fees instead of just 1 per ticket with certain airlines.
Check the policy of the airline in question, and if it could involve you having to pay twice instead of once, it may not be for you if you’re the indecisive type.
You’ll have to pay Aeroplan’s $39 partner booking fee twice
It’s worth mentioning this issue specific to Aeroplan points since they are by far the best to use for Canadians.
There’s a $39 fee per booking that involves partner airlines. Not per ticket. So booking a roundtrip saves you $39.
That said, I repeat what I said here and in our guide on how to fly in business class, but if you want to travel in business class, you have to jump on available seats as soon as you see them. You can’t wait to find the return.
That extra $39 fee is part of the cost of getting flights worth $4000 for $133, like my flight to Asia in February. If you know how to count, it’s obvious that it’s a good idea to pay $39 to save almost $4000!
You can’t maximize or use certain benefits
These disadvantages are more niche, but I’ll list them for you anyway.
Companion tickets offered by credit cards: If you have the brand new and phenomenal BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard, unlocking the welcome bonus will also give you a companion ticket. A kind of 2-for-1 on a ticket. Obviously, it’s better to book a roundtrip to maximize the value of the companion ticket. Don’t miss a guide on all the cards that have such benefits coming soon.
Priority rewards offered to elite members: If you have Aeroplan elite status, priority rewards give you a 50% discount on a reward flight, so obviously it’s better to book a roundtrip to maximize the value of the benefit. Don’t miss a guide on elite statuses coming soon.
Promotional codes with discounts: If you get a promo code that can only be used once and gives you a percentage discount on a flight, obviously, it’s better to book a roundtrip to maximize the value of the benefit.
Stopovers offered by certain programs: Stopovers are one of the best benefits of airline reward programs. With Aeroplan, you can get it even on a one-way, so it’s not an issue. But with others among the programs easily accessible to Canadians, like Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, you can only take advantage of stopovers on a roundtrip. So obviously it’s better to book a roundtrip if you want to use the benefit.
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Summary
The tip of buying 2 one-way flights instead of a roundtrip flight sometimes allows you to save a little, but very often allows you to get more flexibility. This is almost always the case for flights paid with points of the more valuable type, but it’s often the case for flights paid with cash/points of the more simple type. Compare the price and the pros and cons in your flight booking routine!
What would you like to know about the 2 separate one-way flights tip? Tell us in the comments below.
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Featured image: Newfoundland, Canada (photo credit: Erik Mclean)
