What is 'Open Jaw?'
Feb 9, 2005 | 6:36 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Surrey, UK
Posts: 342
What is 'Open Jaw?'
Later this year, I need to take a trip with multiple stops. Can anyone tell me if this itinerary is possible with an airline? Will they charge much more than from flying in and out of the same town?
I want to fly from LHR to Chicago, then to Minneapolis and on to Seattle and back to LHR from there. I've never done such a meandering path and could use some expertise.
TIA
I want to fly from LHR to Chicago, then to Minneapolis and on to Seattle and back to LHR from there. I've never done such a meandering path and could use some expertise.
TIA
Feb 9, 2005 | 6:52 am
#2
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Motown
Programs: DL, WN, AA, IHG Diamond, Hertz 5*
Posts: 3,452
An open jaw is when you fly back to your original departure city from someplace other than the airport you flew to first. For example, if I fly outbound DTW-LAX, and come home SFO-DTW. Somehow I have to get myself from LA to San Fran, on my own dime.
I think with multiple stops as you mentioned, you would be looking for a circle trip. That is, if you want all your flights to be on a single ticket. You can always book one ticket to say Chicago, and then do separate flights from there to MSP and SEA.
I think with multiple stops as you mentioned, you would be looking for a circle trip. That is, if you want all your flights to be on a single ticket. You can always book one ticket to say Chicago, and then do separate flights from there to MSP and SEA.
Feb 9, 2005 | 6:53 am
#3
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Pennsylvania
Programs: HHonors Silver
Posts: 4,029
(Looks like DavidDTW posted while I was polishing mine up. I think we're in agreement...)
That's a "multi-city" itinerary if it's booked on one ticket; it would be an "open jaw" if you flew LHR-ORD and SEA-LHR went between Chicago and Seattle some other way.
I'm suspecting that it will price out cheaper to book it all together since most one-way flights within the US are expensive (except the low-cost carriers; don't know whether they will help on this itin), plus you get more hassle from the TSA on a one-way ticket.
That's a "multi-city" itinerary if it's booked on one ticket; it would be an "open jaw" if you flew LHR-ORD and SEA-LHR went between Chicago and Seattle some other way.
I'm suspecting that it will price out cheaper to book it all together since most one-way flights within the US are expensive (except the low-cost carriers; don't know whether they will help on this itin), plus you get more hassle from the TSA on a one-way ticket.
Feb 9, 2005 | 7:27 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: London, UK and Southern France
Posts: 18,875
Originally Posted by pdhenry
I'm suspecting that it will price out cheaper to book it all together since most one-way flights within the US are expensive (except the low-cost carriers; don't know whether they will help on this itin).
ORD-MSP oneway starts at GBP88+tax on NW MSP-SEA at GBP38+tax on Sun country.
Try both: 1) as a circle ticket and 2) as an open-jaw+ buying the internal segments separately
and see what prices best.
But, to be frank, this is precisely the kind of situation where a good travel agent can help you and save you lots of time and money.
Feb 9, 2005 | 7:39 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Surrey, UK
Posts: 342
Thanks, everyone, for your quick replies. I haven't dealt with any UK travel agents but that just might be the right way to try this. My partner's firm uses someone local, so I'll give that a go before getting ambitious on my own.
All tickets to the States seem to cost more from here to 'there' then 'there' to here. It gets annoying at times!
All tickets to the States seem to cost more from here to 'there' then 'there' to here. It gets annoying at times!