When you buy airline tickets, do you pay for two seperate tickets:one to depart and one to return home?

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high_on_life

you can if you choose to or if you do not know if you will be returning (in that case you would need to purchase a refundable ticket or less-restricted as for dates). If you have exact dates then you would need a roundtrip ticket. Plus its cheaper too.

mudeltagreta

comming from an american airlines employee in the flesh - buying a simply one way ticket is much more expensive than buying a round trip ticket. when buying a round trip ticket, you are paying for your trip as a whole. one way is more expensive, to put it bluntly, because we know that we aren't going to be getting as much business from you.

jack

u can buy separate or round trip

Kendi

Whatever theairline offers...I use Southwest and I can purchase one way or round trip... If you purchase round trip it's usually less expensive-, but if you want to stay indefinitely, buy a one way ticket.

stratdaddy

Yes - this is a "round trip" ticket. If you only plan to go to your destination, this is "one way"

curiositycat

Only if they are round trip tickets. You can also purchase one way.

old lady

Tickets are usually sold on a round trip basis, based on the assumption that you will be coming home again after your trip. You can buy one-way tickets, but they are usually more expensive than the round trip tickets.

onyi

go to this website http://joystar.joystar.com/?AgentID=10008199&ContentURL=flights.aspxchoose round trip

Bob

There are a few things you need to understand first...
Each seat for each segment you travel is sold in a specific class.
Each class has different stipulations and requirements on purchasing (14 day advanced booking, 7 day advance ect)
Each class has a limited number of seats to be sold.
Each class has different benefits (advance purchase, last min changes, refundable, meals, ect)
Generally the economy fares go quicker, which is why it is impossible to book any kind of points ticket or economy fare unless you do it three years in advance ;)

So when you purchase a flight from New York to Las Angeles to Dallas 4 days before you plan to go, and are returning 3 weeks later...
Sold as:
New York to Las Angeles class M $250
Las Angeles to Dallas class J $400
Dallas Las to Las Angeles class K $100
Las Angeles to New York class K $100

J class- Business (show up whenever, make as many changes as you want)
M class - moderate price (pretty flexible)
K class- economy (show up for all your flights or itâ€™ll cost you big $$)

When someone booked this flight there were a limited number of economy seats available due to the last minute booking, so they booked in the first available class, M; and so on. On the return flight there were advanced purchase seats available so it was cheaper.
The best way to book seats is to do so far far far in advance from the airline. If you cannot do this the best way is to go through a travel agent and hope for a last minute deal. Travel agents buy groups of seats, letâ€™s say G class. If they have 10 seats left three days before the flight they will unload them at close to cost and cut their losses.
Another good thing to know is that when you purchase a ticket or E-ticket and you miss a flight or donâ€™tâ€™ use a segment (dependant on class there may be a fee) you can use that segment towards another trip to where ever (usually you have 1 year). So say you paid $400 for the LA to Dallas segment and you end up driving back with some friends and then catch the LA to NYC. 2 months later you plan on going to Miami direct from NYC and it costs $500 return with a 14 day advance booking. You have a $400 flight coupon available that you can use for that trip! And as for the reason your flight is booked as a departure and return, it is actually booked as per segment. Remember though...if you buy a cheap ticket do not think you will get the same flexibility as a full fare ticket holder. If you are unsure of your travel plans pay the extra cash and get more options, it may end up costing you less than paying penalties on cheap fares.
Next time youâ€™re at the ticket counter (and there isnâ€™t 200 people behind you) ask to see the fare basis layout, it is a really simple spreadsheet showing all the classes and what you are entitled to for each class, and any extra fees that may be included. Knowing pays.
*Note:All fares and classes shown here are made up.

Bob

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