Round trip vs one-way flights: Which one should you book for your upcoming trip? It depends on the route and airline. With budget airlines, the total comes out to about the same price as a return ticket, since the return is usually just two one-way fares put into a single booking. It can be different with full-service airlines, as they often price their return tickets as a package. That’s why you should always assess both options before you book.
In this article
Key takeaways
Budget airlines price each leg separately. Budget airlines usually calculate each leg the same way, whether you book a return or two one-ways.
Returns can win on full-service routes. On full-service routes, booking a return often works in your favour.
Compare the total, not the ticket price. Before you buy any flights, add luggage and review the overall cost, since that's what you'll actually pay, not just the initial ticket price.
Round Trip vs One-Way Flights in Europe: Prices Compared
We searched three European routes to give you a rundown of how prices compare across a selection of itineraries.
Keep in mind when reviewing the table that airfares change all the time. A price you see one hour can be gone the next. Nothing is guaranteed. The day and time you book, as well as the day you fly, all affect the cost, as we covered in our Tuesday vs Sunday booking data guide .
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| Route | Return total | Two one-ways total | Cheaper option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madrid–Ibiza | €69 | €75 | Return, by €6 |
| Prague–Barcelona | €272 | €205 | Two one-ways, by €67 |
| Warsaw–Rome | €102 | €133 | Return, by €31 |
Prices checked in October 2026 and subject to change.
Why One-Way Flights Can Cost More Than a Return
So why are one-way flights more expensive sometimes? A lot of it has to do with the type of airline. Low-cost carriers like Ryanair price each flight on its own. Full-service carriers such as KLM tend to price the whole return trip as one package, which can push up the cost of single one-way tickets.
Demand plays a part too. You know how it is: fares are always moving up and down depending on the route and the time of booking. A flight from Budapest to Barcelona might cost more on a Wednesday than on a Saturday, for example. Learning how airline prices move before they jump can help you in situations like this.
When a Return Ticket Is the Better Choice
A return ticket is the smarter pick over two one-ways when:
- The route is operated by a full-service airline.
- Your travel dates are fixed.
- You’d rather manage one booking instead of two.
If your dates are set and you want to explore your options, it’s worth knowing how to search for flexible flight dates before committing.
When Booking Two One-Way Flights Makes Sense
Two one-way flights make sense if you’re not too strict about dates or departure times. People usually don’t choose this option for price alone, but it can be cheaper in certain situations, as you can see with the Prague to Barcelona route above.
There are some other reasons you may want to go with two one-ways. Maybe you only want to change one leg because you’ve decided to stay somewhere longer, or you’d like to keep your dates open. You might also want to fly home from a different city than the one you landed in, which is common on European city-hopping trips.
Mixing airlines doesn’t mean juggling two bookings, though. With Virtual Interlining, Kiwi.com combines airlines that don’t normally work together into one booking, so your outbound and return don’t have to be with the same carrier.
Inspiration
Tuesday vs Sunday Flight Booking: What the Data Actually Shows
Tuesday vs Sunday flight booking: see what the data really shows, when to book, and how timing impacts airfare savings more than you think.
Read the guideWhen you’re searching, be sure to review the carry-on rules for each airline you’re flying with as well. Budget airlines usually charge for bags on each leg, so include them for every flight and add everything up together. Don’t just assume the first price you’re quoted is what you’ll pay.
How to Compare Return and One-Way Fares on Kiwi.com
- Enter your route and see what it costs for a return ticket.
- Search the same route again, this time with each date as a separate one-way, and compare the price.
- Choose your baggage options for both flights, as these are among the most important fees to check before you book .
- If you want extra protection like the Kiwi.com Guarantee, add it, then compare the two totals.
On Kiwi.com, you can handpick your airlines and combine multiple flights into one itinerary. But be aware that some of these routes include self-transfers, where you may need to collect and recheck your bags. If your booking is eligible and you add the Kiwi.com Guarantee at checkout, it can help if a delay or cancellation breaks a self-transfer connection: you may get Kiwi.com Credit for a replacement flight or help applying for a refund from the airline. Compare cheap flights on Kiwi.com .
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Find the Cheaper Way to Fly
For flights around Europe, neither round-trip nor one-way tickets are guaranteed to be cheaper. The trick is to compare both to find the best deal. One-way tickets work well when your plans are flexible. Return flights are less hassle, since all your details are in one place.
Don’t forget about bags, either. The first price you see will go up once you add luggage, which you’ll almost always need to do with budget carriers. Some full-service fares include bags, but many basic fares on short European routes don’t, so check before you compare.
Search flights on Kiwi.com and take a look at the FAQ below for a few more tips for booking round-trip and one-way flights.
Round Trip vs One-Way Flights FAQ
Is it cheaper to book two one-way flights on budget airlines?
Budget carriers price each leg separately, so two one-way flights usually cost about the same as a return. The one thing you have to factor in is luggage, as bags push the total price of a ticket up, and you’ll often need to add them separately when flying with a low-cost airline.
What happens if I skip the first flight of a return ticket?
In most cases, the airline will cancel the rest of your flights. Since each carrier handles this differently, check their terms and conditions to fully understand the rules. If you’re not sure about your outbound flight, it’s safer to book two one-ways instead.
Do I need a return ticket to enter another country?
It depends on where you’re going. Some countries, like those in Southeast Asia, often ask for proof of onward travel. Airlines usually check this at check-in before you fly, and immigration may ask for it too. Remember to review the entry requirements for your destinations, as the rules vary from place to place.
Is an open-jaw ticket cheaper than two one-ways?
Every itinerary is different. Work out the final cost of an open-jaw itinerary and compare it against two single one-way tickets. An open-jaw ticket is one where part of the return trip is different, either the city you fly out of or the city you land in. Say you fly from Helsinki to Palermo, travel overland to Milan, then fly from Milan back to Helsinki. That’s an open-jaw ticket, and Kiwi.com’s Multi-city search makes these trips easy to build. You can find out more information in our open ticket guide .
Can I change just one leg of a return ticket?
You can usually change just one leg of a return-ticket booking, but the rules depend on the airline and your fare conditions. If you book two separate one-way tickets, you can generally change one flight without affecting the other. This gives you more flexibility if your plans change.
