Multi-city flights – like multi-destination or open-jaw itineraries – let you visit several places on just one ticket. That means more time exploring and less time retracing your steps. Sometimes, they even cost less than round-trips. In this guide, I’ll break down what multi-city flights are, how they work and how to book them on KAYAK.
1. What is a multi-city flight?
Multi-city flights involve itineraries that include more than one destination. For example, you can book a multi-city flight from Los Angeles to St. Louis, then from St. Louis to New Orleans, and then from New Orleans back to Los Angeles.
This way, you can visit more than one destination in a single trip, without having to book separate tickets for each of the legs. They’re perfect for travelers who want flexibility or are seeking a multi-city adventure.
Advantages to multi-city flights:
- Potentially save money on airfare by combining multiple destinations into one ticket.
- Definitely save on baggage fees by checking your luggage only once.
- Gain time by avoiding unnecessary layovers or connections.
- You can explore more destinations by adding extra legs to your trip.
- Customize your trip according to your preferences and interests.
- Mix and match different airlines and airports to find great deals.
Types of multi-city flights.
When booking multi-city flights, you’ll come across a few different options that give you flexibility in how you plan your route and explore multiple destinations. Here are the main types to know:
Multi-destination trips.
A multi-destination trip lets you book flights to several cities in one journey. It’s ideal for travelers who want to explore multiple places without backtracking. For example, you could fly from New York to Paris, then continue on to Rome before heading home.
Stopovers.
A stopover is a planned layover in a city on the way to your final destination, often lasting more than 24 hours on international routes. For instance, you might fly from Chicago to Bangkok with a three-day stopover in Tokyo.
Open-jaw flights.
An open-jaw flight means you fly into one city but return home from another. This gives you the flexibility to travel overland in between. For example, you could fly into Barcelona and fly back from Seville after exploring Spain on a road trip.
2. How to book multi-city flights on KAYAK?
Booking a multi-city flight is very easy with KAYAK’s Flight Search tool that lets you select “Multi-city” instead of “Round-trip” or “One-way” – and here you can add your extra legs to your itinerary. Let’s give you a step-by-step on how to book a multi-city flight:
You can fine-tune the results by adding and subtracting legs as you start planning your itinerary. Sort the results based on time of day taking off, or landing (earliest or latest) to make things easy to sift through.
Next, it’s highly advisable to carefully review the booking details, as there are more legs to double-check on.
3. What are the best destinations for a multi-city trip?
Multi-city trips are fit for most destinations (not all) – so toggling with various options makes total sense. One ticket, multiple destinations.
It’s easy and just the way I love to see the world. Here are some example itineraries for trips you can take with multiple stops.
San Francisco → Doha → New Delhi → San Francisco.
- San Francisco to Doha (Oct 25): Begin your journey with a direct flight to Doha. Enjoy a quick city tour or check out Pearl Island during this stopover.
- Doha to New Delhi (Oct 28): Next stop, New Delhi. Tour the Red Fort, India Gate and sample street food in Old Delhi.
- New Delhi to San Francisco (Nov 5): Finish off your multi-city adventure back in San Francisco. Take a picture in front of the Golden Gate Bridge and grab lunch in Fisherman’s Wharf.
New York → Tokyo →Hong Kong → New York.
- New York to Tokyo (Mar 10): Fly direct from New York to Tokyo in time to catch the cherry blossoms and visit Shibuya. Wander through historic temples and Tsukiji Outer Market.
- Tokyo to Hong Kong (Mar 15): Continue your trip by heading from Tokyo to Hong Kong. Climb Victoria Peak, sample snacks at the city’s street markets and take a harbor cruise before heading back to New York.
- Hong Kong to New York (Mar 20): Stroll through Central Park in the mild early spring weather before catching an exhibition at the Met. Check out the quirky shops and restaurants in the West Village to finish off your trip.
New York → Los Angeles →San Francisco → New York.
- New York to Los Angeles (Jun 10): Start your itinerary with a wander through Venice Beach, the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Griffith Observatory.
- Los Angeles to San Francisco (Jun 14): Eat dim sum for breakfast in Chinatown and check out the colorful shops, buildings and countercultural history of Haight-Ashbury.
- San Francisco to New York (Jun 18): There’s nothing like summer in New York. Walk the High Line and unwind at one of the city’s many rooftop bars while taking in the city’s iconic skyline.
I’ve added stopovers in Africa, like Nairobi en route to Johannesburg, in order to get some time in Kenya. Many airlines actually encourage this with special offers and “free stopovers” in places like Iceland and Portugal.
4. Tips for booking multi-city flights with KAYAK.
For me, a travel writer, it’s always about saving time. If I’m avoiding unnecessary layovers or connections, it means I have more time to explore my destination. So let’s talk about travel hacks for booking those multi-city flights.
I prefer to spend my limited hours venturing around and meeting new people, not wasting time on the hassle of booking and managing multiple tickets. Here’s how I use KAYAK to help book multi-city tickets more easily.
Pick a logical route.
Save time and money by mapping out a route that minimizes backtracking. Opt for strategic one-way flights that maximize your itinerary with interesting destinations like the one’s suggested above.
This is a great way to use KAYAK’s Multi-City search tool to visualize different city combinations and compare total travel times.
Extend layovers.
Turn long connections into mini adventures. KAYAK allows you to filter layover durations so you can find flights with longer stops for sightseeing or rest. Just look for the “Stops” filter on the left sidebar of the search page.
Compare cabin classes.
Balance comfort and cost by exploring different cabin options. Use KAYAK’s cabin class filter to see prices for Economy, Premium Economy, and even score cheap business class tickets on the same itinerary.
Avoid overpacking itineraries.
Focus on fewer cities to fully enjoy each destination. KAYAK’s Flexible dates, nearby airports and Price Alerts help you optimize timing and avoid cramming too many stops into one trip.
Multi-city flights FAQ
It depends on the route and airlines. Multi-city bookings can save money by combining segments, but sometimes separate one-way tickets are cheaper if airlines are promoting specific destinations. Use KAYAK’s price comparison feature to check both options.
Book well in advance: typically 2-6 months for international flights and 1-3 months for domestic. Use KAYAK’s Price Alerts and Flexible Dates tools to track fares and find the best deals.
Baggage allowances are set per airline and per segment, so rules may vary if you fly with different carriers. Always check each flight’s baggage policy on KAYAK before booking to avoid extra fees.
KAYAK’s Multi-City search allows up to six stops in a single booking, so you can plan complex itineraries without creating multiple tickets.
Yes, KAYAK can combine flights from different airlines in one multi-city itinerary. This helps you compare more route options and prices.
Some of our top flight routes:
