Glossary
Open Jaw
Definition: An open jaw ticket is a return flight where the departure and arrival cities differ on the outbound and return legs, creating a gap ("jaw") in the routing that the passenger fills independently.
Last updated
Term at a glance
Open Jaw — quick reference
| Term | Open Jaw |
|---|---|
| One-liner | An open jaw ticket is a return flight where the departure and arrival cities differ on the outbound and return legs, creating a gap ("jaw") in the routing that the passenger fills… |
| Where it matters | Premium-cabin booking decisions, fare-rules interpretation, airline-product comparison. |
| Related concepts | Stopover · Positioning Flight · Fare Basis Code · Interline · Multi-City |
| Last verified | 2026-05-07 |
Background
An open jaw itinerary might look like: fly London to New York, then return from Miami to London. The gap between New York and Miami is the "open jaw" that the passenger covers by train, car, or a separate flight. This allows travellers to explore multiple destinations without backtracking.
How it works in modern business class
Open jaw tickets are often priced similarly to standard return tickets, making them excellent value for travellers who want to visit multiple cities. Airlines price open jaws using complex fare construction rules, and experienced agents can often find open jaw routings that are cheaper than comparable roundtrip tickets.
Why it matters when you book
For business class travellers, open jaw itineraries are particularly popular for multi-city trips. For example, fly business class into Paris, travel overland to Rome, and fly business class home from Rome. BookMyBusinessClass agents specialise in building creative open jaw routings that maximise your travel while minimising cost.
In booking practice
How Open Jaw comes up when you book
Where this term appears in the booking flow
- In fare quotes and itineraries. When a consolidator agent quotes a premium-cabin fare on open jaw-relevant routes or aircraft, this term may appear in the carrier's rules text, fare-class designator, or aircraft / cabin description. Knowing what it means helps you compare quotes apples-to-apples.
- In airline-product reviews and seat maps. Premium-cabin reviews (Skytrax, AirlineRatings.com, individual long-form reviews) reference open jaw when relevant. Seat-map sites (SeatGuru, AeroLOPA) use the term when classifying hardware or service tiers.
- In loyalty-program redemption rules. Frequent-flyer programs use this and related terms in their award-chart rules, partner-redemption tables, and elite-tier benefits documentation. Misreading the term can mean booking the wrong fare class or missing a sweet-spot redemption.
- In carrier alliance and codeshare documentation. Star Alliance, oneworld, and SkyTeam each reference this concept where it affects partner-flight booking, lounge access policies, or status-recognition rules across alliance members.
At a Glance
Related concepts
| Term | Quick definition | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Oneworld Alliance | Oneworld is one of the three major global airline alliances, comprising 13 member airlines including British… | Read |
| Open Skies Agreement | Open Skies is a bilateral or multilateral aviation policy framework that liberalizes international air… | Read |
| Noise-Cancelling Headphones | Noise-cancelling headphones are premium audio devices provided to business and first class passengers that… | Read |
| Operating Carrier | The operating carrier is the airline that actually operates the aircraft on a codeshare flight, providing the… | Read |
| NDC (New Distribution Capability) | NDC (New Distribution Capability) is an IATA-driven technology standard that allows airlines to distribute… | Read |
| Overbooking | Overbooking is the airline practice of selling more tickets for a flight than there are seats available,… | Read |
Related Terms
You might also want to know
- Oneworld Alliance
Oneworld is one of the three major global airline alliances, comprising 13 member airlines including British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, American Airlines, and Japan Airlines.
- Open Skies Agreement
Open Skies is a bilateral or multilateral aviation policy framework that liberalizes international air service between countries — eliminating restrictions on which carriers can fly between which cities, what frequencies they can operate, and what prices they can charge. The result: more competition, more route options, and lower premium-cabin pricing.
- Noise-Cancelling Headphones
Noise-cancelling headphones are premium audio devices provided to business and first class passengers that use active technology to reduce ambient engine and cabin noise, enhancing the in-flight entertainment and rest experience.
- Operating Carrier
The operating carrier is the airline that actually operates the aircraft on a codeshare flight, providing the plane, crew, and onboard service, regardless of which airline’s flight number appears on your ticket.
- NDC (New Distribution Capability)
NDC (New Distribution Capability) is an IATA-driven technology standard that allows airlines to distribute personalised offers, ancillary products, and dynamic pricing directly to travel agents and booking channels.
- Overbooking
Overbooking is the airline practice of selling more tickets for a flight than there are seats available, based on statistical predictions that some passengers will not show up.
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is an open jaw ticket more expensive than a roundtrip?
Not necessarily. Open jaw tickets are often priced comparably to roundtrip tickets on the same route. In some cases, creative open jaw routings can actually be cheaper than a standard roundtrip. Consolidator agents specialise in finding these pricing advantages.
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