Multi-city Flight Planning Done Right
When to book a proper multi-city ticket, when to buy separate flights, and how to avoid ruining your itinerary with tight connections.
A multi-city trip - London, Rome, Athens, London - can be booked as one ticket or several. The right structure depends on which airlines fly the routes, how much flexibility you need, and whether you want the safety net of a single booking.
One ticket vs several
A single multi-city ticket on one airline or alliance protects you across the whole journey. If the London-Rome flight is late and you miss your Rome-Athens connection, the airline rebooks you at no cost.
Separate tickets are often cheaper but you carry the risk. A missed connection means buying a new flight and possibly a hotel.
Open jaw and stopover tricks
An open jaw ticket lets you fly into one city and out of another - New York to Rome, then Milan to New York. Booked properly, it's often the same price as a round trip.
Some airlines offer a free stopover in their hub. Icelandair lets you stop in Reykjavik for up to 7 days at no extra fare. TAP Portugal offers the same in Lisbon.
Minimum connection times
Every airport has published MCTs - minimum connection times - that airlines use when building itineraries. Heathrow T5 to T5 is 60 minutes. T5 to T3 is 90. JFK is 60 for domestic, 90 for international.
The system will never sell you a connection below MCT, but MCT is not a promise. In practice, add 45 minutes to any international connection for immigration and re-check.
Frequently asked questions
Can I mix airlines on one ticket?
Yes, if they have an interline agreement. Alliances (Star, oneworld, SkyTeam) always do.
Is booking each flight separately always cheaper?
Usually within 10 percent. Not worth the risk unless the saving is significant and connections are generous.
In summary
If you take one thing from this guide, it's this: the more prepared you are before you travel, the fewer decisions you have to make when you're tired and jet-lagged. Bookmark this page and check the update date before your next trip.
Keep reading
Connecting Flights Explained
Same terminal, different terminal, different airport. What actually happens between your first and second flight.
Read guide →
Missed Connection Guide
Your first flight is late. You already know you'll miss the second. What to do while still in the air.
Read guide →
How to Handle Long Layovers
Six hours in Doha, ten in Singapore, four in Frankfurt. What to do with the time, and what to skip.
Read guide →Newsletter
The weekly travel briefing
One short email each Sunday. Practical guides, rule changes, and answers to the questions travellers are asking this week. No spam, unsubscribe any time.