Open-Jaw Itinerary
A round-trip itinerary where the traveler departs from or returns to a different city than the standard origin or destination, creating a gap in the routing.
An open-jaw itinerary is a variation on a round trip in which the traveler either departs from and returns to different cities, or flies to one destination and returns from another. A single open jaw has one gap — for example, flying London to New York, then returning from Boston to London. A double open jaw has two gaps — London to New York, then Boston to London would be a double open jaw if the traveler overlands between New York and Boston.
Why it matters
Open-jaw itineraries are a practical and economical structure for business travellers who need to visit multiple nearby destinations without backtracking. Rather than flying to City A, returning home, then flying to City B, an open-jaw enables the traveler to fly into City A, travel overland to City B, and fly home from there — saving both time and in many cases fare cost. Travel programmes should ensure that the booking tool and travel policy accommodate open-jaw structures without treating them as two separate one-way tickets, which is typically more expensive.
How it works in practice
Open-jaw itineraries are built using the 'multi-city' or 'open-jaw' function in most booking tools. Fares for open-jaw routings are typically calculated using the combination of half-round-trip fares, producing a price that is comparable to a standard round trip. Not all airlines and booking tools handle open-jaw pricing consistently, so complex open-jaw structures may require manual pricing by a travel agent or TMC to guarantee the most competitive fare is applied.
The takeaway
For any trip that involves visiting multiple destinations or ending at a different city than the departure point, explore open-jaw pricing before defaulting to separate bookings. The single-booking structure maintains duty of care visibility, often reduces fare cost, and simplifies the expense record. Guarantee that the booking tool's open-jaw function is configured and tested correctly — many programs discover their OBT handles this poorly only when a traveler needs it.