Points redemption
What is an open jaw ticket?
Definition snippet
An open jaw ticket is a flight itinerary where the departure and arrival cities are not mirror images of each other, leaving a gap in the route that the traveler covers independently. The term comes from how the flight path looks when drawn on a map. Many airline loyalty programs price open jaw awards the same as a standard round trip, making them a powerful tool for visiting more destinations without spending extra miles.
TL;DR / Key takeaways
- What it is: An open jaw ticket lets you fly into one city and depart from a different city, with no required flight connecting the two points. You arrange that middle segment yourself.
- Three types: Destination open jaw (return from a different city), origin open jaw (depart for home from a different city) and double open jaw (both legs involve mismatched cities).
- Award advantage: Many loyalty programs price open jaw awards at the same mileage rate as a straight round-trip, so you can visit more cities at no extra miles cost. Rules vary by program.
- One-way alternative: Two separate one-way tickets can replicate an open jaw, but a single open jaw ticket often means fewer change fees and lower carrier-imposed surcharges.
The three types of open jaw tickets
Open jaw tickets are not one-size-fits-all. There are three distinct structures, each suited to a different travel pattern.
| Type | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Destination open jaw | Fly into one city, return home from a different city | New York to London, return from Paris to New York |
| Origin open jaw | Fly out from one city, return to a different home city | New York to Tokyo, return from Tokyo to Boston |
| Double open jaw | Both legs involve different departure and arrival cities | New York to London, return from Paris to Boston |
The destination open jaw is the most common. You fly outbound to one city and return home from a nearby city, covering the gap between the two by train, bus or a separate budget flight. The double open jaw goes one step further: neither your departure nor your arrival city on the return leg matches the original outbound pair. Both gaps require independent travel arrangements.
The name comes from how the routes look on a map. A standard round trip forms a closed loop, while an open jaw leaves one side of the route open, like the shape of an open jaw.
Why open jaw tickets matter for points and miles redemptions
For points and miles travelers, open jaw bookings offer two distinct advantages: flexibility and award availability.
On the flexibility side, an open jaw lets you cover a region in a logical direction without backtracking. Planning a trip through Western Europe from north to south? Fly into Stockholm and return from Barcelona rather than retracing your steps.
The award availability angle is equally valuable. Premium cabin seats on popular routes sell out fast. Being willing to fly into one gateway and return from another can open up award space that a strict round-trip search would never surface.
There is a tradeoff worth understanding when comparing a single open jaw ticket to two separate one-way awards. Booking two one-ways gives you the most flexibility, but it can come with downsides: some carriers impose higher carrier-imposed surcharges when an itinerary originates in certain regions, and you may face separate change or cancellation processes if your plans shift. A single open jaw ticket typically consolidates those logistics.
Each loyalty program sets its own open jaw rules. Some restrict the unflown surface segment to within a single region; others require it to be shorter in distance than the flown segments. Always check the specific program’s routing rules before transferring points or booking.
RELATED: How to maximize stopovers and open jaws for award travel
How to book an open jaw ticket
Booking an open jaw on a revenue ticket is straightforward. Most airline websites and flight search tools let you select a multi-city option from their booking interface. Here is the general process:
- Go to the airline’s website or a flight search tool such as Google Flights.
- Select ‘Multi-city’ or ‘Multiple destinations’ from the trip-type options.
- Enter your outbound origin and destination as the first leg.
- Enter your return leg with the new departure city and your home airport.
- Search and compare fares across the resulting options.
For award tickets, the process varies by program. Many loyalty programs allow you to search open jaw itineraries directly through their online booking tool by selecting the multi-city or open jaw option. Some programs require a phone call to complete more complex routings. If the website only shows point-to-point searches, calling the airline’s award desk is often worth the effort for high-value premium cabin redemptions.
RELATED: How to search for award availability
Programs known for generous open jaw rules include Air Canada, Alaska Airlines and several Asia-based carriers. Each program’s routing rules differ, so confirming the specifics before you transfer points is essential.
Frequently asked questions about open jaw tickets
Is an open jaw ticket the same as a multi-city ticket?
Not exactly. All open jaw tickets are a type of multi-city itinerary, but not all multi-city tickets are open jaws. An open jaw specifically has a surface segment — a gap that the traveler covers independently, with no flight booked on that stretch of the route. A standard multi-city ticket may have flights connecting every city on the itinerary, with no unflown gap.
Do open jaw tickets cost more miles than a regular round-trip?
In many loyalty programs, open jaw awards are priced the same as a standard round-trip. However, this varies by program, and some may apply additional charges or routing restrictions depending on the distance of the surface segment. Checking the specific program's award pricing rules before transferring points is the best way to confirm the cost.
What is a double open jaw ticket?
A double open jaw is an itinerary where both the outbound and return legs involve different departure and arrival cities. For example, flying from New York to London and returning from Paris to Boston creates two separate surface segments that the traveler must cover independently. These itineraries require more planning but can be an efficient way to cover a broad region in one trip.
Can I book an open jaw award ticket online, or do I need to call?
Many loyalty programs support open jaw award bookings directly through their online multi-city or 'more cities' search tools. Others require a call to the award desk, particularly for more complex routings. Checking the program's website is the fastest way to determine which approach applies, and calling is often worth it for premium cabin itineraries where award availability is limited.
What is the surface segment on an open jaw itinerary?
The surface segment is the unflown gap between the city you land in and the city you depart from on an open jaw ticket. It is sometimes labeled ARNK in airline reservation systems, which stands for 'Arrival Unknown.' The traveler is entirely responsible for covering this gap by any means they choose, whether by train, bus, a separate budget flight or another mode of transport.
