A standard round trip airline ticket takes you from point A to point B and back. An open ticket, on the other hand, allows you to fly to one city and return from another. You can fly from point A to point B, then drive to point C, and then fly back to point A from point C.
This method gives you more freedom than a normal round-trip ticket, and open-ended tickets are generally cheaper than purchasing two separate one-way tickets.
Believe it or not, this happens more often than you think. Business travel itineraries often include visits to more than one city over the course of a few days. This could be due to internal site visits or a series of meetings with investors. It can be difficult to figure out how to get around on complicated multi-city trips like these, but open planes are a useful tool for business travelers. In this article, we'll talk more about how to identify and book flights with open jaw, as well as how to make the most of its time-saving potential.
Knowing the numerous types of open jaw flights
A normal round trip ticket will show the same airports for both the outbound and return flights. There are three basic types of open jaw flights: destination, origin and double open jaw flights. An open jaw bill is one in which the origin and destination are different.
What does it mean to have an open-mouthed flight to a destination?
The passenger flies from one city to another and then heads to a different city to catch his return flight.
For example, a business traveler flies from London to Florence and then returns to London from Rome.
What does it mean to have an open jaw flight of origin?
The passenger flies from one city to another and then returns to a city that is not his or her hometown.
For example, a business traveler flies from Manchester to Rome and then returns to London from Rome.
What does it mean to have a flight with a double jaw open?
An open-jaw double ticket is when the origin city and destination city are different for both legs of a round-trip itinerary.
Example: A business traveler flies from Manchester to Rome and then returns from Florence to London.
What is the difference between multi-city tickets and open tickets?
When you book a multi-city flight, you book more than one flight on the same reservation.
Imagine your company is launching a new product and you have to give speeches in Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York. You can book a flight that goes to more than one city and includes the following legs:
- From New York to Chicago
- From Chicago to Los Angeles
- From Los Angeles to New York
This is usually cheaper than booking each leg of the trip as a separate one-way flight.
Open Jaw tickets do not include intermediate flights in a multi-city package. For this scenario, you would need to take two flights.
- From New York to Chicago
- From Los Angeles to New York
You can take a bus or train between Chicago and Los Angeles or purchase a separate one-way ticket that is not included in the open fare.
A layover or extended layover is another type of trip between multiple cities. You postpone your connecting flight for a few days so you can go to other places. Some airlines, like Icelandair, allow travelers to add a free layover that can last up to a week. But each airline has its own unique rules about layovers, so it's best to call them directly.
Basic problems in executive travel management
When planning trips for CEOs and top business owners, these are the main issues you'll need to solve.
Privacy: High-level meetings require a certain amount of privacy and secrecy, especially when discussing private business information and non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). Travel plans should include a place where CEOs can work undisturbed.
Productivity: Itineraries should be created with productivity in mind so that executives can continue working at each stage of the journey. Think about things like Wi-Fi access when you travel, business class lounges, and apps that help you get things done.
Flexibility: The needs of traveling executives change all the time because their schedules are always changing and sometimes they have to make last-minute changes. Travel arrangements should be flexible so you can quickly take advantage of new business opportunities.
Security: If you are planning a trip for VIPs, you need to ensure that their security needs are met. Consider hiring a private vehicle service and do a full risk assessment before each trip.
Cost: Executive travel typically has greater discretionary spending than regular business travel, but it is still crucial to ensure spending is in line with the organization's goals and priorities.
Make the most of open flights for business travel
The examples above show that open jaw flights can be configured in many different ways. But what are the advantages of traveling in and out of different cities for business reasons?
An open jaw itinerary has some benefits, such as:
More flexibility: With open flights, you can organize many site visits or meetings in surrounding locations without having to book separate flights for each. And you won't have to return to your original airport, so you'll have more freedom to explore.
Profitability: Business travelers save money on transportation by not having to return to the original airport between meetings. Additionally, a single open reservation is usually less expensive than purchasing multiple one-way tickets. This advantage is because Open Jaws and return tickets use the same fare codes, allowing you to get reductions on economy class. You can save money by looking for flights to and from nearby cities instead of the airports themselves.
Time-saving trips: Business travelers can keep moving by combining ground transportation with flights. This reduces waiting time at airports and round trips. Open itineraries work for demanding business schedules when every minute counts.
How to find and book the best flights with your mouth open
You can book Open Jaw tickets as you would any other flight, either directly on the airline's website or through an online travel agency. Use an SMB travel management tool like Booking.com for Business to see the most possibilities. It allows you to compare flights from hundreds of airlines at once.
Below are some recommendations to find the best results for your business once you have chosen your booking platform.
1. Choose the option for flights to more than one city.
Using the multi-city option in your search tool is the easiest way to find flights with your mouth open. This appears in the drop-down box next to “Outbound Flight” and “Round Trip Flight.” You can then enter multiple cities for your origin (Leaving from) and destination (Going to) in both directions.
For example, if you want to go from Buenos Aires to Santiago and then return to Lima, you would enter from Buenos Aires to Santiago for the first trip and from Lima to Buenos Aires for the second flight.
2. Search nearby cities too
If you can, check the box that says “Include nearby airports” to expand your search even further. Consider looking into long-haul flights to New York City. LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) are the most common ways to get to New York City. Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in New Jersey is also a popular third option.
When you search for “nearby airports” you will also see flights to Albany International Airport (ALB), which is just 2.5 hours away by train. These flights may be cheaper for business travelers.
You should also think about the cost of getting to and from each airport and how reliable it is for business travelers with a busy schedule.
3. Make plans for your vacation in between
You have to move between airports on open itineraries. The trips we have talked about previously would be between Santiago and Lima or Albany and New York City.
After booking your flight with Open Jaw, you need to plan the best and cheapest route to get from one place to another. In Europe, this is often done by train; However, in the United States it can be done by renting a corporate car. In certain locations, it is quickest and easiest to book a short one-way flight separately.
Avoid the logistical problems of traveling to more than one city
When you have to go to more than one city for work, organizing the trip becomes even more complicated. You will have to pay close attention to travel times because there are more connections between cities than on a normal round-trip flight. Open itineraries are more than just getting from point A to point B. They include multiple stages of travel that may require renting cars and taking flights, trains and buses.
Different cities and regions offer a variety of transportation options, and a delay in one part of the trip can affect subsequent connections. This can result in rescheduling meetings, missing conferences, and other negative impacts on your business.
If you're running a multi-city itinerary or an open itinerary, you'll need the tools to keep track of your calendar and your travel teams' schedules at all times. This means finding solutions that send you real-time updates about your travel plans. This way, you can quickly change your plans if your flight is canceled or delayed and avoid more problems in the future.
How to make your jaw-dropping trip a success
Below are some recommendations to help you prepare and deal with the problems mentioned above.
First, find the connections: Make sure there are good local transportation options between your departure and arrival airports before booking open tickets.
Use comparison tools to help you compare prices: One of the best things about open jaw flights is that they are flexible. To make the most of this, you should compare many airlines, itineraries, and connecting locations. You can locate the cheapest prices and times, including flights that can be cancelled, by comparing prices.
Use real-time information from travelers: Use travel solutions that let you see where travelers are going and give you real-time mobile alerts if there are any delays. This allows you to act quickly when times change.
Add extra time: When making an open itinerary, be sure to include extra time for things like late meetings, long lines at airport security, and intercity traffic.
It's ideal to centralize your plan to make it easier for business travelers who have to go through multiple airports, modes of transportation, and time zones in a single trip.
But each airline has its own regulations and standards for stopovers, and in some situations, a succession of one-way flights will cost less than an open itinerary. It is always a good idea to look at all the possibilities before making a purchase.
Photo by Vika Glitter:
Recent Comments