Multi-City Flights: Plan Your Multi-Stop Trip
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TL;DR: Explains multi-city/multi-stop bookings vs. separate one-way tickets, the single-vs-separate-ticket rebooking tradeoff, and how many legs/stopovers airlines allow.
Multi-city flights: several cities, one booking
Multi-city flights let you book a trip through two or more cities as one itinerary, for example London to Paris, Paris to Rome and Rome home, instead of buying each flight on its own.
A multi-city fare is sometimes cheaper than separate one-way tickets and sometimes not, so price it both ways. The bigger choice is one ticket or separate tickets. That decides who rebooks you and who handles your bags if a late flight makes you miss the next one.
What a multi-stop trip is
A multi-stop trip, also called a multi-city flight, puts several destinations on a single itinerary. Instead of booking separate one-way flights, you book the legs together and connect the cities in one plan.
It suits:
- Business travelers visiting several offices or conferences in one journey
- Leisure travelers who want to see different cities, landmarks and cultures on one trip
- People visiting family and friends who live in different cities
- Backpackers who want to see a long list of places in a single trip
If you fly into one city and home from another, with no flight between them, that is an open-jaw trip. It is explained further down this page.
When one itinerary beats separate tickets
Sometimes it does and sometimes it does not, and booking sites disagree. KAYAK says a multi-city booking almost always saves money. FlightsFinder says searching several one-way flights is cheaper in some cases, and Engine says one-ways between nearby cities can save more.
Test your own route:
- Price the whole route as one multi-city itinerary.
- Price each leg as a one-way flight on the same dates and in the same cabin.
- Add up the one-way prices and compare the two totals.
If the one-ways win by a small amount, weigh what you give up: on separate tickets the airline does not rebook you when a late flight makes you miss the next one. Our one-way flights guide compares multi-city bookings with separate one-ways in more detail.
One ticket or separate tickets
Engine warns that one missed connection can throw off the whole journey. What happens next depends on how you booked.
| If a flight runs late | One ticket | Separate tickets (self-transfer) |
|---|---|---|
| You miss your connection | The airline rebooks you. EU and UK missed-connection rights can apply. | The airline does not rebook you. You arrange the next flight and claim your own losses. |
| Your checked bags | Ask at check-in whether they are checked through to your next stop. | You collect them and check them in again at each airport. |
| Price | Sometimes cheaper | Sometimes cheaper |
If you book separate tickets, leave time between flights: what to do during a short layover covers how much time you need, and how connecting flights work explains connections and self-transfer. For every ticket type and how rebooking works on each, see traveling with multiple airlines. For the EU and UK rules, read our guide to air passenger rights and compensation.
How to add your stops
- Enter your destinations. List every leg in travel order with its date: where you fly from, where you fly to and on which day. If you fly home from your last stop, that return is a leg too.
- Compare and choose. Price the route as one itinerary and as separate one-ways, then weigh the price against who rebooks you if you miss a connection.
- Book and travel. Book on Laters.com with a $0 booking fee and choose at checkout how to pay, including paying later.
How many legs you can add
It depends on the search tool and the airline. KAYAK lets you add up to seven legs to a multi-city search. By KAYAK's figures, American Airlines allows up to four legs, Lufthansa and United up to six, and Emirates has no limit. If your route has more legs than the limit, part of it has to go on a separate booking, with the risks described above.
Bags on a multi-stop trip
In each city where you stay, you collect your bags anyway. What matters is the airports you only pass through.
- On separate tickets, you collect your bags and check them in again at each airport, so allow time for that between flights.
- On one ticket, ask at check-in whether your bags are checked through to your next stop.
Engine warns that flying on different airlines with several layovers puts your baggage at risk of being lost. Traveling with cabin bags only avoids that risk: see what to pack for each flight. If a checked bag arrives late, read about delayed baggage compensation.
Stopovers and open-jaw routes
Stopovers
A stopover turns a connection into a few days in that city. KAYAK's Stopover Duration filter lets you choose how long each layover lasts, so a long connection becomes a planned stop. KAYAK's advice is to extend stopovers on a multi-city route rather than add a separate booking.
Tip: look for airlines that offer free or extended stopovers. They add a city to your trip without a separate booking.
Open-jaw routes
An open-jaw trip flies you into one city and home from a different one, for example into London and home from Rome. You travel between the two cities another way, such as by train. A multi-city trip books flights between your cities; an open-jaw trip leaves that stretch to you.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which airlines make it easy to explore different cities on one itinerary?
By KAYAK's figures, Emirates allows unlimited legs on a multi-city booking, Lufthansa and United allow up to six, and American Airlines up to four. Airlines that offer free or extended stopovers also let you add a city without a separate booking.
How many stops can I add to a multi-city flight?
It depends on the search tool and the airline. KAYAK allows up to seven legs in a multi-city search, and airline limits by KAYAK's figures range from four legs on American Airlines to no limit on Emirates.
Are multi-city flights cheaper than separate one-way tickets?
Sometimes. KAYAK says multi-city almost always saves money, but FlightsFinder says several one-ways are cheaper in some cases and Engine says one-ways between nearby cities can save more. Price the whole route as one itinerary and each leg as a one-way, then compare the totals.
What happens if I miss a connection on a multi-city trip?
On one ticket the airline rebooks you, and EU and UK missed-connection rights can apply. On separate tickets the airline does not rebook you and you claim your own losses, so one missed connection can throw off the rest of the trip. See traveling with multiple airlines for each ticket type.
Do I have to re-check my bags at each stop?
On separate tickets, yes: you collect your bags and check them in again at each airport. On one ticket, ask at check-in whether your bags are checked through to your next stop.
What is the difference between multi-city and open-jaw flights?
A multi-city trip has a flight between each of your cities. An open-jaw trip flies you into one city and home from another, and you cover the stretch between them another way, such as by train.
Can I pay later for the flights on a multi-stop trip?
On Laters.com you can pay later with buy now, pay later providers such as Klarna, Afterpay and Affirm, or pay with crypto. Laters covers 650+ airlines with a $0 booking fee; see ways to pay for every option.
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