Is multi-city more expensive than round trip?

Usually 10-30% more than a simple round trip to one place, but much cheaper than booking each leg separately. A New York to Paris round trip might cost $600. New York to Paris to Rome to New York as multi-city might cost $800. But if you booked NYC-Paris, Paris-Rome, and Rome-NYC as three separate tickets, you'd pay $1,200+. Always compare both ways.

What if I miss a connection on a multi-city ticket?

If it's all on one ticket and the delay wasn't your fault, the airline must rebook you at no charge. This is the main advantage of multi-city over separate bookings. If you book separate tickets and miss the second flight due to the first one's delay, you've lost that ticket. One ticket = one responsibility for the airline.

Can I change one leg of a multi-city booking?

Yes, but the rules and fees depend on your ticket type. Flexible fares let you change individual legs. Basic economy usually doesn't allow changes at all, and if it does, you pay a fee plus fare difference. The entire ticket is one unit, so sometimes changing one leg changes the price of the whole thing. Call the airline to get a quote before deciding.

Do I collect my bags between each city?

If it's one ticket, your bags are usually checked through to your final destination — you don't collect them at the middle city. Exception: if you change airlines and they're not partner carriers, or if your layover is very long (24+ hours), you might need to collect and recheck. Check with the airline at initial check-in.

Can I use miles or points for multi-city tickets?

Yes, and sometimes it's the best value. Award tickets often price by zone, so adding a free stopover or open-jaw routing doesn't cost more miles. United allows one free stopover on international award tickets. Check your airline's award routing rules — multi-city can be the same price as round trip.

What's the difference between multi-city and open-jaw?

Open-jaw is a specific type of multi-city. It means you fly into one city and out of another, with no flight between them. Example: fly into Rome, out of Paris — you figure out Rome to Paris on your own (train, rental car, etc). Multi-city includes that flight. Open-jaw often costs the same as a round trip. Multi-city costs more but includes all flights.

How to Search for Multi-City and Open-Jaw Flights

Multi-city search lets you book flights between multiple destinations in one ticket, often saving money compared to separate bookings. Use the multi-city option on flight search engines, enter each leg separately, and book through one airline alliance when possible to simplify changes and reduce costs.

Understand what you're booking. Multi-city means flying between 3+ cities (like New York to Paris, Paris to Rome, Rome to New York). Open-jaw means arriving in one city and departing from another (like flying into London, out of Paris). Both are booked as one ticket, which usually costs less than separate bookings and protects you if one flight delays.
Choose your search tool. Google Flights has the cleanest multi-city interface. ITA Matrix shows the most options but can't book directly. Kayak and Skyscanner both work well. Avoid airline websites for initial search — they show fewer routing options. Search in incognito mode to prevent price tracking.
Select multi-city search mode. On Google Flights, click the dropdown that says 'Round trip' and select 'Multi-city'. You'll see multiple flight leg boxes appear. On most sites, this option is near the top of the search form. If you only see round trip and one-way, look for an 'advanced search' or 'more options' link.
Enter each leg separately. Add one row for each flight segment. New York to Paris on June 1. Paris to Rome on June 8. Rome to New York on June 15. Be precise with dates — the search engine won't auto-adjust like it does for round trips. Add or remove legs using the + and - buttons. You can book up to 6 legs on most platforms.
Compare with separate bookings. Before booking, search each leg as a one-way flight. Add up the total. Multi-city is usually cheaper, but not always. If separate tickets are significantly cheaper, understand the risk: if the first flight delays and you miss the second, you're not protected. With one ticket, the airline must reroute you.
Stay within one alliance when possible. If your route uses Star Alliance airlines (United, Lufthansa, ANA), Oneworld (American, British Airways, Qantas), or SkyTeam (Delta, Air France, KLM), changes and customer service are simpler. Mixed-carrier tickets work but can be harder to modify. Check the booking details before purchase.
Book through one airline or OTA. Even if multiple airlines operate your flights, book through one source. If you book New York to Paris on United.com and Paris to Rome on AirFrance.com separately, they're separate tickets with separate protections. Book the full route through United, Google Flights, or an OTA like Expedia to keep it as one ticket.
Check baggage policies carefully. Multi-city tickets sometimes include baggage, sometimes don't. It depends on the fare class and airlines involved. Before booking, look for 'baggage information' or 'fare rules' in the search results. If it's unclear, call the airline after booking but before you fly to confirm.
Save your itinerary immediately. You'll receive multiple confirmation emails — one per airline if you're flying different carriers. Take a screenshot of the full itinerary page showing all flights. Save the main booking reference number (also called PNR or confirmation code). You'll need this if you need to make changes or if something goes wrong.

Is multi-city more expensive than round trip?: Usually 10-30% more than a simple round trip to one place, but much cheaper than booking each leg separately. A New York to Paris round trip might cost $600. New York to Paris to Rome to New York as multi-city might cost $800. But if you booked NYC-Paris, Paris-Rome, and Rome-NYC as three separate tickets, you'd pay $1,200+. Always compare both ways.
What if I miss a connection on a multi-city ticket?: If it's all on one ticket and the delay wasn't your fault, the airline must rebook you at no charge. This is the main advantage of multi-city over separate bookings. If you book separate tickets and miss the second flight due to the first one's delay, you've lost that ticket. One ticket = one responsibility for the airline.
Can I change one leg of a multi-city booking?: Yes, but the rules and fees depend on your ticket type. Flexible fares let you change individual legs. Basic economy usually doesn't allow changes at all, and if it does, you pay a fee plus fare difference. The entire ticket is one unit, so sometimes changing one leg changes the price of the whole thing. Call the airline to get a quote before deciding.
Do I collect my bags between each city?: If it's one ticket, your bags are usually checked through to your final destination — you don't collect them at the middle city. Exception: if you change airlines and they're not partner carriers, or if your layover is very long (24+ hours), you might need to collect and recheck. Check with the airline at initial check-in.
Can I use miles or points for multi-city tickets?: Yes, and sometimes it's the best value. Award tickets often price by zone, so adding a free stopover or open-jaw routing doesn't cost more miles. United allows one free stopover on international award tickets. Check your airline's award routing rules — multi-city can be the same price as round trip.
What's the difference between multi-city and open-jaw?: Open-jaw is a specific type of multi-city. It means you fly into one city and out of another, with no flight between them. Example: fly into Rome, out of Paris — you figure out Rome to Paris on your own (train, rental car, etc). Multi-city includes that flight. Open-jaw often costs the same as a round trip. Multi-city costs more but includes all flights.