Travelers with no fixed end date can book a one-way ticket, a round-trip ticket, or an open-jaw ticket that returns from a different city. Each choice changes the price, the freedom to change plans, and the questions an airline may ask at check-in. The sections below compare one-way and round-trip tickets on price, flexibility, entry rules, and risk. A verdict by traveler type follows.
Price on Long International Routes
Airlines often price one-way fares on long international routes close to the price of a return ticket. Buying two one-ways can then cost more than the round trip. Results change by route and by date, so the examples below come from fare checks made in June and August 2026.
- New York to London: According to Kayak, a return ticket cost $518 and two one-way tickets cost $637. The cheaper return took more than 20 hours each way with two stops, while the one-way pair was faster.
- New York to Rome: In an Ovago fare check on August 5, 2026, two one-way tickets cost $1,250 in total. The total was $550 more than the return fare.
- Los Angeles to Tokyo: Kayak found two one-ways at $879 and a return ticket at $896, so the one-way pair cost $17 less.
Return fares usually cost less on long routes with full-service airlines. The Tokyo result shows that a search of both options can still find a cheaper pair of one-ways.
Price on Domestic and Low-Cost Routes
- Round-trip: On US domestic routes, a return ticket usually costs about the same as two one-ways. Kayak found $363 for San Francisco to New York, against $364 for two one-ways.
- One-way: Low-cost airlines such as Ryanair, easyJet, and AirAsia sell each direction as its own fare. A 2026 roundup by Nomadic Matt lists one-way fares of $55 for Bangkok to Singapore and $75 for Bali to Kuala Lumpur.
On these routes the totals are close, so the one-way ticket gives more freedom at no extra cost. Miles follow a similar pattern. NerdWallet reports that two one-way award tickets most often cost the same as one round trip, although taxes may differ.
Bags and seats can cost extra on low-cost airlines, so the fare shown may not be the full price. Travelers who fly carry-on only can avoid checked bag fees.
Flexibility to Change Plans
- One-way: Each ticket stands alone, so a change to one flight does not touch the others. The next leg can be bought once plans are set, often at a similar fare when prices are watched over time.
- Round-trip: The return date is set at booking. A trip with no clear end can outgrow a date chosen months earlier. Changing it may cost a fee or a fare difference.
A US Department of Transportation rule gives some protection on flights to, from, or within the United States. Tickets bought directly from an airline at least seven days before departure can be canceled within 24 hours for a full refund. The airline may offer a free 24-hour hold instead. The rule covers only the first day after purchase, so a date that changes months later is not protected.
Entry Rules and Onward-Ticket Checks
Many countries want proof that a visitor will leave. Kayak notes that travelers on a one-way ticket may need to show a return or onward ticket at check-in and again at immigration. Airlines can be held responsible when a passenger is refused entry, so check-in staff often ask before boarding.
- Thailand: Visa-free visitors must show proof of onward travel and funds of 20,000 baht per person, about $603, according to Royal Thai Embassy guidance reported by Travel Noire. Since September 15, 2026, the visa-free stay is 30 days for 60 countries and territories, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. The old limit was 60 days.
- Indonesia: The visa on arrival lasts 30 days and can be extended once. Entry requirements include a return or onward ticket out of Indonesia.
- United States: The State Department says Visa Waiver Program visitors who live in Canada, Mexico, or nearby islands are generally exempt from showing onward travel. Other visitors may be asked to show it.
A one-way ticket on its own shows no plan to leave. A round-trip ticket helps only when the return date falls inside the allowed stay. A flight dated six months later would not meet a 30-day limit.
How to Show Onward Travel With a One-Way Ticket
Travelers on one-way tickets have a few ways to show a plan to leave.
- A short, low-cost flight out: A flight to the next country on the route works as proof. The traveler may take that trip anyway. Nomadic Matt lists Jakarta to Kuala Lumpur at $45 one way.
- A refundable fare: A ticket that can be canceled for a refund costs more up front, but it keeps the plan flexible. The refund terms are worth reading before paying.
- A bus, train, or ferry ticket: Immigration may accept travel out by land or sea. Airline staff can be stricter and may want a flight ticket, so the airline’s own policy is the one to check.
- A visa: If you enter on a tourist visa or a visa exemption, the stay is short. A long-stay visa such as the Destination Thailand Visa allows more time. Airline staff can still ask about plans to leave, so confirm the airline’s rules before flying.
Entry rules were checked on October 1, 2026 and can change, so confirm them with the airline and the official immigration site before flying. Some websites still list the old Thai 60-day limit.
Skipping the Return Leg of a Round Trip
A round-trip fare is sometimes cheaper than a one-way fare. Some travelers buy the round trip and skip the return flight to save money.
- What airlines say: Airlines treat the practice as a breach of the contract of carriage, according to Wikipedia’s overview of airline booking tactics. The matter is generally civil rather than criminal.
- What can happen: Missing the outbound flight can cancel the whole booking, including the return. Some airlines may take action against travelers they suspect of doing it repeatedly.
A one-way ticket or an open-jaw ticket avoids the risk.
A Middle Option: Open-Jaw Tickets
An open-jaw ticket flies into one city and returns from another. Wikipedia gives an example of a traveler who flies from London to Bangkok and moves around Thailand by public transport. The traveler then flies home to London from Phuket.
- Price: Airlines price open-jaw tickets like round trips, so they are often cheaper than two one-ways. In one example from Autopilot, an open-jaw ticket cost $1,144, while the same flights as two one-ways cost $2,080.
- Where to find them: Most flight search sites list open-jaw tickets under “multi-city.”
- Limits: A common rule is that the distance between the arrival city and the departure city must be shorter than the distance actually flown. The ticket also carries one fixed departure date, so it proves onward travel only if that date falls inside the allowed stay.
How to Compare Prices for Your Dates
- Search both ways. Search the route as a return ticket and as two one-way tickets for the same dates, then compare the totals on FlyBibe.
- Add bags and seats. Add the cost of bags and seats to each total, since Kayak notes that luggage allowances can differ between two tickets.
- Try multi-city. Run a multi-city search to price an open-jaw ticket.
- Check the entry rules. Look up the onward-ticket rule for the first country before paying.
- Pick the booking time. Our guide to the best time to book international flights explains the usual two to eight month window for fares.
Which Option Fits Which Traveler
- Leaving with no return date for six months or more: A one-way ticket fits, paired with a low-cost flight or a refundable ticket out of the first country inside the allowed stay.
- Moving through several countries in one region: One-way tickets on low-cost airlines keep each hop cheap. Routes such as Jakarta to Kuala Lumpur at $45 and Bali to Kuala Lumpur at $75 show the scale.
- Flying long-haul on a full-service airline with a rough end date: A return fare may cost $119 to $550 less on routes like New York to London or Rome. It is worth comparing against an open-jaw ticket.
- Paying with miles: One-way awards most often cost the same as half of a round trip, so a one-way ticket is usually a safe pick. Taxes may differ.
Booking Your First One-Way Flight
A trip with no end date can start with a one-way ticket, as long as there is a plan for the first exit from the country. Round-trip fares can save more than $100 on long routes. One-way fares keep plans open. Once the first stop and the dates are clear, search one-way flights on FlyBibe and price the next leg as plans take shape.