With KAYAK’s multi-city search, you can plan and compare flights across multiple destinations in one go, whether you’re hopping between European capitals or building a trip across the US.
By adding each leg of your journey to a single search, KAYAK pulls together options from hundreds of travel sites, helping you find the right flights at the right price without the hassle.
In this post
What is a multi-city flight?
How to book multi-city flights on KAYAK?
Multi-city trip inspiration
Tips for booking multi-city flights with KAYAK.
Advantages of multi-city flights
Multi-city flights FAQ
What is a multi-city flight?
Multi-city flights involve itineraries with flights to multiple destinations. On KAYAK, you can add all the places you want to visit to a single search and book them together.
For example, from Los Angeles to St. Louis, then from St. Louis to New Orleans, and then from New Orleans back to Los Angeles.
It’s an easy way to book flights to multiple destinations without having to check different routes or book separate tickets.
How to book multi-city flights on KAYAK?
Select “Multi-city” instead of “Round-trip” or “One-way” when searching for flights on KAYAK. Then add up to seven different legs to your itinerary. Here’s a step-by-step:
You can fine-tune the results by adding or subtracting legs as you plan your itinerary. Next, carefully review the booking details, as there are more legs to double-check on.
What’s the difference between a multi-city flight and an open jaw?
A multi-city trip or ticket covers a full multi-destination trip.
Multi-city example: Los Angeles to St. Louis, then from St. Louis to New Orleans, and then from New Orleans back to Los Angeles.
An open-jaw flight is slightly different. Open-jaw flights are for trips where you want to fly to a destination, do your own thing, and then fly home from a different destination.
Open-jaw example: Los Angeles to St. Louis, you then drive to New Orleans, fly home to LA from New Orleans.
You can use KAYAK’s multi-city search for either option. All you need to do is input the right airports.
Inspiration for your next multi-city trip.
Multi-city trips can work great for most destinations. One ticket, multiple destinations. It’s easy and just the way I love to see the world. Here are some example itineraries for trips with multiple stops.
San Francisco → London → Paris → Lisbon → San Francisco
- San Francisco to London (Oct 25): Begin your journey with a direct flight to London. Enjoy a city tour or check out London’s many great galleries and restaurants during this stopover.
- London to Paris (Oct 28): Next stop, Paris. Explore the city’s many amazing neighborhoods and tick off the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre off that bucket list.
- Paris to Lisbon (Nov 2): Relax and catch some winter sun and fresh seafood in Portugal’s charming capital.
- Paris to San Francisco (Nov 7): Finish off your multi-city adventure with another direct flight back to San Francisco.
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.
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.
This is a great way to slip a memorable mini-trip or two into a larger itinerary. Stopovers have allowed me to explore cities like Amsterdam, Stockholm and Madrid all while breaking up longer-haul flights.
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 your itinerary.
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.
Advantages to multi-city flights
- Potentially save on airfare by combining multiple destinations into a single ticket.
- Definitely save on baggage fees by checking your luggage only once.
- Gain time by avoiding unnecessary layovers or connections.
- 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.
FAQs
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.
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.
