The short answer
A return ticket is often the same price as a one-way, or cheaper, so always compare both. Choose a one-way ticket when your plans are open or you are returning from a different city, and check entry rules because some countries expect proof of onward travel.
How the prices compare
Airlines price journeys in several ways, and a return fare can be lower than two one-way fares, or the same, or occasionally higher. There is no fixed rule, so price both.
| Ticket | Often a good fit when |
|---|---|
| Return | You know your dates and the return fare is the same or cheaper |
| One-way | Your plans are open, you are moving, or you are returning from a different city |
| Open-jaw (in one city, out of another) | You are travelling through a country or region and ending in a different place |
| Multi-city | You are visiting several destinations |
When a one-way ticket makes sense
- You are relocating or staying for an open-ended period.
- You will come back by a different route, for example overland or from another city.
- The return you need is on a different date from the usual options, and two separate one-way fares work out better.
Check entry rules
Some countries, or airlines acting on their behalf, may ask for proof that you will leave. A one-way ticket can make that harder to show. Check the official GOV.UK foreign travel advice for your destination and ask your airline or consultant about its policy before you book a one-way trip. For the United States, UK travellers normally need an approved ESTA or a visa.
Flexibility and changes
If your return date might change, compare the cost of changing it later. A slightly dearer flexible fare can be cheaper in the end. See also our guide to finding cheaper flights.
Booking two separate one-way tickets
You can sometimes save money by booking the outbound and the return as two one-way tickets, possibly with different airlines. The risk is that the tickets are independent: if the first flight is delayed, the second airline has no obligation to help, and baggage may need collecting and re-checking. Weigh the saving against the extra risk, especially for long trips.
Multi-city and open-jaw tickets
A multi-city ticket links several flights in one booking, for example London to Johannesburg, a flight to Cape Town, then home. An open-jaw ticket flies you into one city and home from another. Both are often simpler and safer than several one-way tickets because they are one booking with one set of rules. Choose Multi-city in our flight search or call a consultant to price it.
Proof of onward travel
If you buy a one-way ticket, an airline may ask whether you can show onward or return travel before it lets you board, because some countries require it. Check the rules for your destination and ask the airline or your consultant before you buy.
Questions to ask before you decide
- What is the price of a one-way against a return?
- Can the return date be changed, and at what cost?
- Does the destination require proof of onward travel?
- Would an open-jaw or multi-city ticket suit my plans better?
Which ticket suits which trip
| Trip | Often a good ticket |
|---|---|
| Two weeks in one city | Return |
| Moving abroad or staying open-ended | One-way |
| Fly into Nairobi, home from Mombasa | Open-jaw |
| London, then Johannesburg, then Cape Town, then home | Multi-city |
| Return date might move | Return with a flexible fare |
Fare rules to check
Whatever ticket you choose, check four rules: whether you can change the date and what it costs; whether the ticket is refundable; what baggage is included; and whether the name can be corrected. These rules often matter more than the price difference between a one-way and a return.
Ask for both prices
When you request a quote, choose the Return, One way or Multi-city option on the flight search, or call 0800 007 4114 and ask the consultant to price more than one structure.
Fares, baggage rules and entry requirements change. Always confirm current details with the airline and the official sources linked above before you travel.