European Airfare

We are considering a Mediterrean cruise with different ports of embarkation and debarkation. One way airfare is more than 3 times the cost of a round trip ticket. Is there anything that I should be aware of concerning buying two round trip tickets - one starting from the States to embarkation and return; the other starting from debarkation to the States and return - and only using the first half of the ticket. Doing it this way saves me $1400.00 for two tickets.

[Scotts]

In case you didn't know this is done all the time in the business world. Let's say Mr Jones from L.A has a meeting in NY on friday. Now to buy a ticket that leaves LA on Thurs and returns on Fri the cost is say 2500.00. Now the same ticket with a return date 1 week late cost only 250 dollars. You see they want you to stay there. So I buy one ticket at 250 dollars that leaves LA to NY on thurs with a return the following thurs and buy a second ticket that leaves NY to LA on Fri that has a return the following fri.
Now I paid 500 dollars for two tickets instead of 2500 for one. I just saved the company 2 GRAND! That's why the airlines overbook flights and or sell discount tickets at the time of departure. Some city's are more popular then others. so the price will change but you get the idea. If you buy a round trip ticket that seat is yours to use or not.
Hope this helps
Scott

[Scotts]

I forgot to say......
Also it's a lot hard to sell a one-way ticket then a round trip that's why the big money for the one way.

[Kuki]

There is nothing wrong with buying the two tickets if it saves you money. When you call the airline, you might just tell them you are looking for a price on an "Open Jaw ticket". That's the terminology they use, and that MAY save you the hassle of booking the double returns.

Regards,
Kuki

[norm]

Blackrobe,

Kuki is right. The airlines treat an "open jaw" itinerary in the same way as a round trip, provided that it meets the rules of a legal "open jaw" itinerary. The rules actually are pretty simple.

>> 1. The "open jaw" can occur at only one end. Thus, you must return to the city of original departure.

>> 2. The "open jaw" must be the shortest leg of the triangle.

>> 3. You must meet all applicable requirements (advance purchase, Saturday night stay, stopovers, etc.) for the applicable fares.

The "open jaw" fare is the average of the round trip fares to the city to which you go and the city from which you return.

If you want to make additional stops en route, buy two tickets -- an "open jaw" ticket to and from the point closest to your destination and an additional round trip or circle trip ticket encompassing the stops. (The discount fares are also applicable to a legal "circle trip," which can include as many stops as you wish, but cannot contain an open jaw.)

Norm.