Return ticket or two one-way tickets: which should you book?

For a trip there and back, you can book a return ticket, or you can book two separate one-way flights. For international travel the return fare is often the better choice. For flights inside India it is not always, and it is worth comparing before you pay.

How they differ

A return ticket is one booking for both directions, and one set of fare rules. Two one-way tickets are two bookings: each has its own price, its own rules and its own baggage allowance. On many routes in India you can mix airlines, taking the cheaper one in each direction.

Compare the total, not the headline

• Add up the two one-way prices and compare them with the return price for the same flights.
• Check baggage on both directions: it may differ between the airlines.
• Check the refund rules of each: a fare that is refundable one way may not be the other way.

Flexibility

With two one-way tickets, changing or cancelling the outbound does not touch the return, and the other way round. With a single return ticket, a change usually affects both parts and the fare rules say how. If the return date is not sure, two one-ways may be easier.

International trips and visas

Some countries ask for proof of onward or return travel when you arrive, and airlines may check it before boarding. A one-way ticket into such a country can cause trouble at check-in. Read the entry rules of the country, and ask the airline if you are not sure.

How this works on Tripzoy

For a return trip within India we show the outbound and the return flights as two lists, and you choose one from each; the total for the pair is shown before you continue. For a trip abroad, we show return fares as the airline sells them. The airline confirms the price again before you pay.