Planning a private jet trip with several destinations? You're probably weighing your options beyond a simple round trip. Understanding the difference between an open jaw vs multi city flight is your key to traveling smarter. These types of multicity trips let you explore more freely than a standard charter flight, often without the extra cost. A well-planned open jaw itinerary, for example, can save you time and money by eliminating the need to backtrack. This guide breaks down these powerful booking strategies, complete with an open-jaw flight example, to help you design your perfect journey.
## Understanding Your Itinerary OptionsWhen you move beyond a simple round trip, a whole new world of travel possibilities opens up. Understanding the language of complex itineraries can help you articulate exactly what you want from your journey. Whether you're planning a multi-stop business tour across Europe or a leisurely vacation hopping between islands, knowing the difference between an open-jaw flight and a stopover allows you to design a trip that is efficient, cost-effective, and perfectly tailored to your needs. Let's look at the key terms you'll encounter when building a more intricate travel plan.
What is an Open-Jaw Flight?
Think of an open-jaw flight as a round trip with a twist. It’s an itinerary where you fly into one city but depart from another on your way home. For example, you might fly from New York to London, spend some time exploring the UK, take a train to Paris, and then fly back to New York from there. The portion of your trip between London and Paris, which you cover on your own, is known as the "surface segment." This type of itinerary is incredibly useful for travelers who want to explore a region more broadly without wasting time and money backtracking to their original arrival city. It gives you the freedom to cover ground at your own pace, creating a more linear and logical journey.
Destination Open-Jaw
A destination open-jaw is the most common type of open-jaw itinerary. This is where your trip begins and ends at the same home airport, but your arrival and departure points at your destination are different. Imagine flying from your home base in Miami to Rome. You could then spend two weeks traveling through Italy by car or train, making your way north, and finally fly home to Miami from Venice. This structure is perfect for road trips or regional tours, as it eliminates the need to circle back, allowing you to see more and travel with greater efficiency.
Origin Open-Jaw
An origin open-jaw is the reverse scenario. On this itinerary, you fly to a single destination city but return to a different city than where you started. For instance, you might fly from your primary residence in Chicago to London for a week of meetings. Afterward, you could fly from London back to a secondary home or office in New York. This option provides significant flexibility for business travelers or individuals who split their time between multiple locations, streamlining travel plans by connecting different points of origin and destination seamlessly.
Double Open-Jaw
A double open-jaw offers the highest degree of flexibility, involving four different cities. On this itinerary, you fly from your starting point (City A) to your destination (City B), and then later, you fly from a new location (City C) back to a different final destination (City D). An example would be flying from Los Angeles to Tokyo for the first leg of your trip. After some time in Asia, you might then fly from Shanghai back to New York. This is an ideal solution for extensive world tours or complex business trips that span multiple continents, and it’s an area where the custom planning of private travel truly shines.
Open-Jaw vs. Multi-City Flights
While these terms are often used together, they aren't quite the same. An open-jaw flight is technically a type of multi-city trip, but there’s a key distinction. A true multi-city itinerary typically includes flights between all your stops. For example: New York to London, then a flight from London to Paris, and finally a flight from Paris back to New York. With an open-jaw itinerary, you are responsible for covering the distance between your arrival and departure cities. When you charter a private jet, this distinction becomes less rigid. You have the complete freedom to design your ideal journey, whether that means booking flights between every stop or building in time for ground travel to explore a region more deeply.
Layovers vs. Stopovers
When flying commercially, a layover is usually a short connection of less than 24 hours. A stopover, on the other hand, is a longer break in your journey—typically more than 24 hours—that allows you to leave the airport and explore the connecting city. In the world of private aviation, this concept is far more fluid and powerful. You aren't limited by an airline's schedule or rules. You can intentionally build a stopover of any length into your itinerary. For example, on a flight from the U.S. to the Middle East, you could plan a two-day stop in a European city for business or pleasure. This transforms a simple connection point into another exciting destination on your trip, adding immense value and enjoyment to your travel experience.
How an Open-Jaw Itinerary Can Save You Money
“Open-jaw” charter flights are an excellent option to save on costs. You have the option to visit more destinations before heading home. However, not all multi-city flights are open jaw. This refers to a specific itinerary style where you fly to a destination, travel on your own from there to another destination, and then fly home from this second destination. It’s called an “open jaw” because of the open mouth shape the two flight paths make on the map, with a gap showing where you’ve traveled on your own.
The key word in the phrase is “open.” If, for example, you fly from Boston to London, you might make your way from London to Paris on your own (through the Tube), and then fly home from Paris. It’s open because there’s no connecting flight from London to Paris.
An open-jaw multi-city flight itinerary makes a lot of sense if you want to travel to more than one destination in an area with a lot of public transportation (ex. Europe) since it can save money on connecting flights and also eliminate the need to return to your starting point.
The Price Advantage Over One-Way Tickets
Many travelers assume that a complex itinerary like an open-jaw flight must come with a premium price tag, but that’s often not the case. In fact, an open-jaw itinerary can be a surprisingly economical choice. While pricing always depends on the specific route and timing, booking an open-jaw ticket frequently costs about the same as a standard roundtrip. More importantly, it can be significantly cheaper than purchasing two separate one-way tickets to cover the same destinations. This is because airlines tend to price one-way international flights at a premium, so structuring your trip as a single, albeit open-ended, journey can offer substantial savings and greater flexibility.
Why "Closing the Gap" Can Cost More
The real magic of an open-jaw itinerary lies in the "open" part—the segment you travel on your own. It’s tempting to book another flight to connect your arrival and departure cities, but this turns your trip into a full multi-city itinerary and can drive up the cost. For example, flying into Rome, taking a high-speed train through the Italian countryside to Florence, and then flying home from Florence is a classic open-jaw trip. Adding a flight from Rome to Florence often makes the entire ticket much more expensive. Embracing ground travel like trains, ferries, or a scenic drive not only saves money but also enriches your travel experience, allowing you to see the country instead of just flying over it.
Finding Value with Airline Stopover Programs
For those who enjoy mixing commercial and private travel, airline stopover programs offer another fantastic way to add value to an itinerary. Some commercial airlines let you add a stopover in their hub city for several days at little to no extra cost. For instance, you could fly to Paris with a three-day stop in Lisbon through TAP Air Portugal. This is a great strategy for international travel, but the ultimate flexibility comes with private aviation. When you fly charter, you aren’t limited by an airline’s hub cities or rigid schedules. You can design your own "stopovers" in any city, for any length of time, creating a truly bespoke journey that revolves entirely around your personal travel goals.
Open-Jaw vs. Multi-City: When Does a Charter Flight Make Sense?
Multi-city charter flights streamline the booking process and arrangements for jet setters who would rather focus their energy on the trip itself. You’re saving time by booking everything at once rather than booking multiple one-way tickets between locations. This can often be a more economical way to fly and tends to save on costs versus a series of one-way tickets.
Charter services also have greater flexibility than commercial airlines, with the ability to fly in and out of many more destinations, including private and executive airports or smaller airfields. This opens up your options when selecting your additional destinations, from the starting point to the end point of your trip.
Finally, with all of your flights handled by the same charter service provider, all of the information stays in one place and it’s easier to make accommodations, should your plans (or mother nature) change along the way. Flying charter provides exceptional flexibility to adjust plans and create the trip you want — not just the one that was commercially available.
Ideal Scenarios for Open-Jaw Travel
An open-jaw itinerary is perfect for trips where you want to cover a lot of ground without backtracking. Think of a European tour where you fly into one city, like Rome, and spend a week traveling by scenic rail or car up the coast to France. Instead of wasting a day returning to Rome for your flight home, you can simply depart from a closer airport in Nice. This approach gives you the freedom to fully immerse yourself in a region, making the journey between your arrival and departure points a key part of the adventure itself. As travel experts point out, this type of itinerary makes sense when you want to explore an area with good ground transportation because it saves money on connecting flights and removes the need to return to your starting point.
When a Multi-City Itinerary is a Better Fit
Sometimes, the journey between destinations isn't meant to be a scenic tour; it's simply a necessary hop to your next stop. This is where a traditional multi-city itinerary shines. It's the ideal solution for business trips with meetings in several cities or for vacations that span locations not easily connected by ground travel, like island hopping in the Caribbean. Booking a multi-city charter streamlines the entire process. Instead of juggling multiple one-way tickets and schedules, you have a single, cohesive plan. This not only saves you valuable time but can also be more economical than booking each leg separately. You can focus your energy on the purpose of your trip, whether it's closing a deal or enjoying the beach, knowing all the travel logistics are handled seamlessly.
The Private Charter Alternative for Ultimate Control
While commercial airlines offer open-jaw and multi-city options, private charter flights provide a level of control and personalization that is simply unmatched. With a private charter, you aren't limited to major international hubs. You gain access to thousands of smaller, private, and executive airports that can place you closer to your final destination, drastically reducing ground travel time. This flexibility opens up a world of possibilities for your itinerary. Furthermore, the entire schedule is built around you. You decide when you depart, and if your plans change, your itinerary can often be adjusted with a simple phone call. You have the power to design the perfect trip from start to finish, choosing from a diverse fleet of aircraft to suit each leg of your journey and creating an experience tailored precisely to your needs.
Strategies for Booking Your Trip
Using Multi-City Search Tools
When you're planning a trip with several stops, your first instinct might be to look for round-trip flights. However, a better approach is to use multi-city search functions. Instead of selecting "Round trip," you can choose "Multi-city" to add as many flight segments as you need. This feature allows you to build a custom itinerary, flying into one city and out of another, which is perfect for exploring a region without backtracking. While these tools are useful for commercial travel, the true advantage of a private charter is having a dedicated team manage these complex logistics for you. A service provider can craft the entire journey around your specific needs, ensuring every detail is handled seamlessly.
A Smart Approach to Finding the Best Dates
Flexibility is your best friend when planning a multi-destination trip. Being open with your travel dates and destinations can lead to significant savings and a more enjoyable experience. For instance, flying into Geneva and departing from Zurich could be more economical than a simple round-trip flight to and from Geneva. This strategy eliminates the time and expense of traveling back to your arrival city. It gives you the freedom to travel between two points at your own pace, whether by train, car, or another mode of transport, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the region you're visiting. This approach transforms your trip from a series of flights into a cohesive and fluid journey.
Combining Flights for Complex Journeys
One of the biggest misconceptions about complex travel is that it has to be expensive. An open-jaw ticket, where you fly into one city and out of another, can often cost about the same as a standard round-trip ticket. This is frequently a much more affordable option than booking two separate one-way international flights to create the same itinerary. By combining flights into a single multi-city booking, you can design an intricate trip that fits your vision without the logistical nightmare of coordinating multiple tickets. This method is especially useful for international travel, where you might want to explore several countries or regions in one go without being tied to a single point of entry and exit.
Important Considerations Before You Book
Before you finalize your plans, think about the overall travel experience. Multi-city charter flights are designed to streamline the booking process for travelers who want to focus on the trip itself, not the arrangements. Booking a series of flights with a single, trusted provider is often more economical than purchasing several one-way tickets. With a private charter service, you gain unparalleled flexibility, a single point of contact for your entire journey, and the ability to adjust your plans as needed. This ensures that your travel is not only efficient but also tailored precisely to your preferences, giving you the peace of mind to simply enjoy your adventure.
Design Your Perfect Trip with Hangar 7
If you’re interested in multi-city trip planning, don’t hesitate to contact Hangar 7 Aviation. Our expert agents can help you plan the perfect trip on your preferred aircraft, in and out of your desired destinations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the real difference between an open-jaw and a multi-city trip? Think of it this way: a multi-city itinerary includes a flight for every stop on your trip. For example, you fly from New York to London, then take another flight from London to Paris before flying home. An open-jaw trip has a gap. You might fly into London, travel to Paris on your own by train, and then fly home from Paris. That surface travel between London and Paris is the "open" part, giving you the freedom to explore a region without being tied to airports for every connection.
Does booking an open-jaw flight actually save money? It’s less about getting a discount and more about smart spending. An open-jaw itinerary is often priced similarly to a standard round-trip, which is a fantastic value compared to booking two separate and expensive one-way international tickets. The true savings come from efficiency—you avoid spending time and money on a return trip to your original arrival city just to catch your flight home.
Why wouldn't I just book a flight for every leg of my journey? You certainly can, and that’s what a multi-city itinerary is for. An open-jaw plan is best when the journey between two cities is part of the adventure. It’s perfect for scenic road trips, train travel through the countryside, or island hopping by ferry. It allows you to immerse yourself in a region and travel at your own pace, rather than simply flying over it to get to your next stop.
How does planning a multi-stop trip with a private charter differ from flying commercially? The biggest difference is control. With a commercial airline, you’re bound by their routes, hubs, and schedules. With a private charter, the entire itinerary is built around you. You can fly into smaller, more convenient airports, create stopovers in any city you wish, and set your own departure times. A charter service handles all the complex logistics, creating a single, seamless travel plan tailored precisely to your needs.
What happens if I need to change my departure city or date during an open-jaw trip? This is where the flexibility of private travel truly stands out. Changing a complex commercial ticket can be difficult and costly. When you fly charter, you have a dedicated team managing your trip. If your plans change and you decide to depart from a different city or on another day, you have a single point of contact to help adjust your itinerary. This provides a level of freedom and responsiveness that allows for true spontaneity.
Key Takeaways
- Choose the Right Itinerary for Your Trip: Use an open-jaw flight—arriving in one city and departing from another—for in-depth regional tours that avoid backtracking. A multi-city plan is better when you need to fly between several distant locations.
- Embrace the 'Open' Segment to Save Time and Money: An open-jaw itinerary eliminates the need to return to your arrival city, saving a travel day and often costing less than two separate one-way tickets. Covering the distance on your own becomes a valuable part of the journey.
- Use a Private Charter for Ultimate Control: For maximum flexibility, a private charter lets you design a completely custom multi-stop trip. This gives you access to more convenient airports and a schedule built entirely around your needs, not an airline's.
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