Originally Posted by
FlyGirl001
Trips are on United.
I don't know exactly when I will be flying back. Just in this example, not on 1/14. Right now if I book two one ways the price is >$11,000. Two round tickets <$7,000. There is the chance that the round trip might increase more than $4,000 and I would lose money.
So your real issue is that you don't know your return date, and won't until after the outbound is flown.
From the prices you mention, and the fact that one ways are so expensive, I'm guessing this is international? If so, besides price, you may have problems flying the outbound with only a one way ticket, depending on the destination, as some countries require proof of return or continuing travel as a condition of entry.
The other question I'd ask is, can you buy a roundtrip that's changeable for a fee? If so, the best bet - in terms of cost, and imigration issues, and staying within airline CoC rules - might be to buy the roundtrip with a far out or best guess return date, then paying the fee to change the return once you know the date you need.