Traveling to multiple destinations in one trip doesn’t have to mean booking separate flights. Stopover and open-jaw tickets are unique ticket types that allow you to see more places for a lower cost. Understanding how to use these tickets can add more adventure to your trips while saving money.

In this guide, we’ll explore what stopover and open-jaw tickets are, why they’re great for multi-destination travel, and how to book them to maximize your travel experience.

Introduction to Stopover and Open-Jaw Tickets

When booking flights, many travelers focus on round-trip or one-way tickets. However, stopover and open-jaw tickets offer unique alternatives, adding flexibility to your travel plans and allowing you to see more places.

Stopover tickets allow you to spend extra time in a layover city at no or minimal cost, turning a layover into an opportunity to explore. Open-jaw tickets, on the other hand, let you fly into one city and return from another, ideal for trips with multiple stops. Both ticket types can help you explore multiple destinations without the cost of separate tickets.

Understanding Stopover Tickets

A stopover is a longer break in your journey, usually lasting more than 24 hours on international flights. Stopovers are planned stops, allowing you to leave the airport and explore a city along your route. For instance, on a flight from New York to Paris with a stopover in Iceland, you could spend a few days in Iceland before continuing to Paris.

How Stopovers Differ from Layovers

A layover is typically short, lasting just a few hours as you wait for your connecting flight. A stopover, however, is much longer, giving you time to leave the airport and explore the city. Airlines allow passengers to include stopovers without extra charges on certain routes, especially on long-haul flights.

Examples of Airlines Offering Stopovers

Several airlines offer free or low-cost stopover programs. Here’s a look at some popular ones:

Icelandair: Known for its generous stopover policy, Icelandair allows passengers to add a stopover in Iceland for up to seven days on transatlantic flights at no additional cost.
Singapore Airlines: Singapore Airlines has an affordable stopover program that lets travelers spend time in Singapore for a small fee, including discounted hotel stays and local activities.
TAP Air Portugal: TAP offers a Portugal Stopover program, allowing passengers to spend up to five nights in Lisbon or Porto at no extra ticket cost. TAP also partners with local hotels to provide discounted stays for stopover travelers.
Qatar Airways: Qatar Airways offers stopover packages in Doha with discounted hotel rates, giving travelers a chance to explore the city for up to four days without additional airfare costs.

These stopover programs allow you to add another destination to your itinerary without the added expense of a separate ticket, making it easy to see more on one trip.

Exploring Open-Jaw Tickets

An open-jaw ticket is a round-trip ticket with a twist. Instead of departing and returning to the same cities, open-jaw tickets allow you to fly into one city and return from another. For instance, you might fly from New York to London, but instead of flying back from London, you return from Paris.

Types of Open-Jaw Tickets

Destination Open-Jaw: You fly into one city and depart from another within the same region. For example, fly into Tokyo and return from Osaka.
Origin Open-Jaw: This allows you to depart from one city and return to a different city in the same region. An example would be departing from Los Angeles but returning to San Francisco.
Double Open-Jaw: This is a combination of both types, where both the origin and destination differ. For instance, fly from Los Angeles to Rome and return from Milan to San Francisco.

Open-jaw tickets are useful for travelers who want to cover multiple destinations without backtracking, offering flexibility and often saving time and money.

How to Book Stopover and Open-Jaw Tickets

Booking these tickets requires some familiarity with multi-city search functions on popular booking platforms. Here’s a step-by-step guide on booking stopover and open-jaw tickets.

Using Multi-City Search Engines

Most flight search engines, like Google Flights and Expedia, allow you to book multi-city trips. Simply select the multi-city option and enter your desired routes. If you’re planning a stopover, add the layover city as one of your destinations.

Tips for Booking Stopover Tickets

Look for Stopover-Friendly Airlines: Some airlines are known for offering stopovers on international flights. Check airline policies to see if they offer free or low-cost stopovers.
Plan in Advance: Stopover programs sometimes require advance booking. Check with your airline for specific rules, such as minimum and maximum stay requirements.
Use Miles or Points for Stopover Tickets: If you’re a loyalty program member, see if your miles or points can cover the stopover ticket. Many programs offer award tickets with free stopovers, maximizing your travel experience without extra cost.

Tips for Booking Open-Jaw Tickets

Use Multi-City Search: Google Flights and other platforms have an option for open-jaw itineraries. Instead of entering a round-trip ticket, use the multi-city option and enter different cities for arrival and departure.
Check Award Programs: Some frequent flyer programs allow open-jaw bookings on award tickets, offering flexibility without extra mileage requirements.
Combine Open-Jaw with Stopover: For an extended trip, consider combining an open-jaw ticket with a stopover. This is ideal for multi-country trips, like flying into London with a stopover in Iceland and returning from Paris.

Benefits of Stopover and Open-Jaw Tickets

Both ticket types offer flexibility and savings, letting you explore more destinations at a lower cost than booking separate tickets.

Cost Savings on Multi-City Trips

Booking a single open-jaw or stopover ticket is often cheaper than booking multiple one-way flights. Airlines sometimes even offer promotional fares that include stopovers or open-jaw options, giving you added flexibility without extra costs.

Efficient Itineraries

Stopover and open-jaw tickets allow for efficient travel, particularly if you’re exploring multiple destinations in the same region. You can plan your route to minimize backtracking, saving time and making the most of your travel experience.

Flexibility for Extended Trips

With a stopover or open-jaw ticket, you can explore cities that might otherwise be too costly or complicated to add as separate trips. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for long-haul flights, where adding a city between your main destinations adds value to the journey.

Maximizing Value with Stopovers and Open-Jaw

Taking full advantage of stopover and open-jaw tickets requires some planning. Here are tips to maximize their value:

Explore Free or Discounted Accommodation: Some airlines offer discounted hotel packages for stopover passengers. Qatar Airways, for example, partners with hotels in Doha to offer low rates for travelers on layovers.
Leverage Travel Credit Cards: Certain travel credit cards provide credits that can cover the cost of accommodation or dining in stopover cities, adding value to your ticket.
Plan Activities During Stopovers: Research the stopover city in advance. Many stopover-friendly airlines offer discounted tours, transportation, and other perks to encourage tourism in their hub cities.

Mistakes to Avoid When Booking These Tickets

When booking stopover and open-jaw tickets, it’s essential to plan carefully to avoid common pitfalls:

Ignoring Visa Requirements: Some countries require visas for stays over a certain duration. Be sure to check visa requirements for your stopover city, as unplanned costs could impact your budget.
Choosing Inconvenient Airports: If your open-jaw return is from a different airport, check its accessibility and costs. Some airports are located far from city centers, which can add both travel time and expenses.
Not Checking Baggage Policies: Airlines often have different baggage policies for partner flights, so make sure your ticket includes adequate baggage for all legs of the trip.

Real-Life Itineraries Using Stopovers and Open-Jaw Tickets

Here are some examples of how you can use stopover and open-jaw tickets to create memorable and cost-effective travel itineraries:

Example 1: U.S. to Europe with a Stopover in Iceland

Route: New York – Reykjavik – London
Airline: Icelandair
Benefits: Icelandair offers a stopover program, allowing you to explore Iceland for up to seven days at no extra ticket cost. Spend a few days in Reykjavik before continuing to your final destination in London.

Example 2: Japan Open-Jaw Itinerary

Route: Los Angeles to Tokyo (Haneda) and return from Osaka (Kansai) to San Francisco
Airline: ANA (All Nippon Airways)
Benefits: With an open-jaw ticket, you can explore both Tokyo and Osaka without needing a return flight from the same city. Travel between the two cities by high-speed train, and enjoy Japan’s diverse attractions.

Example 3: Multi-City Trip with Stopover in Singapore

Route: Sydney – Singapore – Paris
Airline: Singapore Airlines
Benefits: Singapore Airlines offers a stopover program with hotel discounts and activity packages. Spend a couple of days exploring Singapore’s landmarks and cultural sites before flying to Paris.

Conclusion

Stopover and open-jaw tickets offer budget-friendly options for multi-destination travel. By planning smartly and using stopovers or open-jaws to their full potential, you can experience more destinations and maximize each journey’s value. With the flexibility to explore extra cities, these ticket types are excellent tools for travelers looking to make the most of their travel experiences.

Whether you’re booking through an airline’s stopover program or crafting an open-jaw route, these tickets provide cost savings, added flexibility, and a chance to discover new places. Try incorporating stopover or open-jaw options in your next travel plan for a richer, more affordable experience.