Round Trip vs One Way Tickets: Which is Better?
The ins and outs of planning an international trip can be daunting, and when it comes time to buy tickets for your flight, you may wonder if it makes more sense to buy a series of one-way tickets, or to purchase the round-trip option. Truthfully, there are pros and cons to each, depending on your travel style, flexibility, and budget. So let’s take a deeper dive into why you may choose one over the other.
Let’s create a hypothetical example. You’re flying to Florence, Italy from New York City, and the round-trip ticket you’re looking at has you making your connection through London. You don’t have a set plan while in Italy, but you do know that you want to explore more of the country, and it might be more convenient to fly back to London via, let’s say, Rome. You have two options - you can book that round-trip ticket to Florence with that connection through London (all on one ticket), or you can buy a round-trip ticket to London only, then purchase two separate one-way tickets to and from Italy. This would allow you to fly back to London via Rome or another city. Which is better?
The answer is, it depends.
With round-trip tickets, it is the airline’s responsibility to get you to Florence. If your flight from NYC is delayed and you miss your connecting flight from London to Florence, the airline MUST figure out a way to get you to Florence. This may mean you don’t fly out until the next day, but at least you’re not left trying to find your own method of getting to Italy or spending more money to buy new tickets. This method makes your schedule more rigid - even if you decide to explore Rome, you’ll need to get back to Florence to catch the return flight to London.
In the one-way trip scenario, YOU are responsible for getting yourself to and from London. So, if your flight is delayed and you miss the flight you booked to Italy, you’re not only out of the money you paid to purchase the original ticket, you now must also buy a new ticket. And this can get expensive, because you’re buying the ticket so close to the departure date. There’s also the risk that all of the flights to Florence will be full, and you’ll have to postpone your arrival. If you’ve already booked hotels, tours, etc, this can mean losing even more money.
One other thing to consider is that some countries require proof of onward travel before granting entry. Without a return ticket, you might face issues at immigration, so it's essential to check the visa requirements of your destination before opting for a one-way ticket.
So my advice is to really REALLY think through one-way tickets and how beneficial they are to your particular situation before you buy them.
Despite the risks, they’re the more flexible option, and if you have a few days in each location and want to create a more spontaneous itinerary, they may make more sense than buying round-trip tickets. While I much prefer the guarantees and security of a round-trip ticket, there are plenty of people who book one-way tickets, and are totally comfortable with the consequences - particularly financial consequences - if something goes wrong. As long as you’re aware of the risks and ready to shell out if things go haywire, one-way tickets can be a wonderful way to explore the world.
For the best of both worlds, you may want to look into open jaw tickets. They’re awesome, and I’ve done some really great trip using this system! To learn more about how open jaw tickets can enhance your travel, check out this journal entry.
Bottom line - consider the nature of your trip, your destination's visa requirements, how much time you have, and your personal preferences before making a decision. By weighing the pros and cons of each option, you can choose the ticket that best aligns with your travel goals and ensures a smooth journey.
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hi there, I’m angi the founder of roam & gather. My mission is to curate joy-centered, small group journeys that are relaxed, intimate, and rooted in culture, community and slowness.
Roam & Gather is a small travel company offering soul-nourishing, curated travel experiences that help connect people with global communities, like-minded travelers and themselves.
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