An open-jaw flight involves flying into one city and returning from another (or arriving and departing from different airports), with the traveler covering the gap independently. A multi-city flight includes three or more flight segments booked together, allowing stops in multiple cities as part of one itinerary.
📊 Key Differences: Open-Jaw vs. Multi-City Flights
Understanding the core distinctions can help you pick the right booking strategy.
Feature | Open-Jaw Flight | Multi-City Flight |
Definition | Arrive at one city, depart from another (or vice-versa) on the same ticket, with ground travel between. | An itinerary with three or more flight segments, visiting multiple destinations. |
Structure | Typically 2 flight segments (e.g., A→B, C→A) with an un-flown segment. | 3+ flight segments (e.g., A→B, B→C, C→A or A→B, B→C, C→D). |
Ground Travel | Integral and planned by the traveler between the "open jaw" cities. | Optional, but all air segments are included in the booking. |
Flexibility | Good for exploring a specific region without backtracking. | Maximum flexibility for visiting multiple distinct destinations via air. |
Common Use Cases | European road trips, cruises, train travel between cities. | Grand tours, extended stopovers, visiting family/friends in different cities. |
Booking Complexity | Relatively straightforward; often found via the "Multi-City" search option. | Can be more complex due to numerous segments and connections. |
Pricing | Often priced similarly to a round-trip, potentially cheaper than two one-ways. | Generally more cost-effective than booking several one-way flights separately. |
Example Airline Route | British Airways: London (LHR) → Rome (FCO), Venice (VCE) → London (LHR) | Lufthansa: New York (JFK) → Frankfurt (FRA), Frankfurt (FRA) → Berlin (BER), Berlin (BER) → New York (JFK) |
💡 Which Option is Right for You?
Choosing between an open-jaw and a multi-city flight depends entirely on your travel goals and itinerary structure.
- Choose an Open-Jaw Flight if:
- You plan to travel extensively by ground (car, train, bus, cruise) between two cities in a region and want to avoid flying back to your initial arrival point.
- Your primary goal is to explore a specific geographical area efficiently.
- You have a clear start and end point for your air travel, with a non-flying segment in between.
- Choose a Multi-City Flight if:
- You intend to visit three or more distinct cities primarily by air travel.
- You want to include an extended stopover in an intermediate city.
- Your itinerary involves complex routing that doesn't fit a simple round-trip or a single open-jaw.
- You prefer the convenience of having all your flight segments on a single ticket.
✅ Tips for Booking on Trip.com
Booking either open-jaw or multi-city flights is easy on Trip.com.
- Select "Multi-City" Search: On the Trip.com flight search page, instead of "Round-trip" or "One-way," choose the "Multi-City" option. This is the correct tool for both open-jaw and multi-city itineraries.
- Enter Your Segments: Input each flight segment, specifying departure and arrival cities and dates. For an open-jaw, you'll typically enter two segments (e.g., London-Rome, Venice-London). For a multi-city, you'll add as many segments as needed (e.g., New York-Paris, Paris-Rome, Rome-New York).
- Be Flexible: Adjusting your travel dates by a day or two can sometimes yield significant savings. Use Trip.com's flexible date options if available.
- Consider Airlines: Major full-service airlines often offer better pricing and connections for complex multi-city itineraries. However, for shorter segments, budget airlines might be an option if booked separately (though booking all on Trip.com is recommended for convenience).
- Check Details: Always review layover times, baggage allowances, and visa requirements for all your destinations before confirming your booking.
Data was updated on February 10, 2026; please refer to real-time search for specific details.