In short
A round trip is usually cheaper on full-service airlines. Two one-way tickets can win on low-cost airlines and when you fly home from another airport. Compare both and check the change rules.
A return ticket is a package. Airlines often price it below two single tickets, but on short routes with budget airlines singles are common.
When a round trip wins
- Full-service airlines on long-haul routes
- When you need a fixed return date
- When you want one booking for all changes
When two one-ways can win
- Low-cost airlines, which price each direction on its own
- Open jaw trips: fly into one city and home from another
- Mixing airlines to use the cheapest in each direction
Risk: Two separate tickets mean two sets of rules. If you change one, the other does not move with it.
How to check
Search your route as a round trip and as two single flights on the same dates. Our route pages show the cheapest return price per week as a starting point.
Questions
Can I skip the first leg of a round trip? Airlines may cancel the rest of the ticket, so check the terms.
Is a one-way ever expensive? On some long-haul routes a one-way costs nearly as much as a return.
Find your cheap flightCheapest destinations from your airport and the cheapest week per route.
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