A common question we get in the Daily Drop Lounge is whether it’s better to book one-way flights or a classic round-trip ticket — and why most of our deal alerts focus on round-trips.
Truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Depending on your travel plans, one option could save you money, stretch your points further, or help avoid logistical nightmares. So let’s break it down — when each option makes sense, where one can cost you more than the other, and how to book smarter every time.
When Round-Trips Are the Better Deal
Airlines have long incentivized round-trip flights by offering lower prices than booking two separate one-way tickets. While this has been most common for international flights, we’ve started to see this practice return to domestic routes.
For example, a flight from Paris to New York may cost $1,039 one-way, but booking the exact same route as a round-trip drops the price to $498 total.
That’s a massive price difference — and unfortunately, it’s not just on long-haul routes, as this is becoming more common on domestic routes.
Here’s a domestic example our team found for a flight from Nashville to New York in summer 2025:
One-way: $384
Round-trip: $235
By booking a round-trip ticket, the total cost is $149 less than the price of a single one-way ticket. This example was for a flight sold by American Airlines, but we found cases with United and Delta as well. These kinds of savings make round-trips a pretty obvious choice when your dates are locked in.
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Downsides of Round-Trip Bookings
Round-trips may be cheaper, but they’re not always more convenient.
That’s because airline rules apply to the entire booking. If you need to change or cancel just one leg, it could impact the whole itinerary — and you might be stuck dealing with rebooking hassles or extra fees.
Round-trips can also affect your points redemptions. Some loyalty programs, including Delta SkyMiles, discount round-trip redemptions compared to one-way bookings.
For example, a flight from Atlanta to London can cost 38,000 SkyMiles one-way but just 40,000 miles round-trip, making the return flight nearly free.
If you have set plans and locked-in dates, round-trip flights can really help you save. But if you’re someone who likes flexibility, or your travel plans are more open-ended, one-way bookings often make more sense.
Why One-Way Flights Offer More Flexibility
Booking one-way flights gives you a little more control over itinerary changes, airline choices and award redemptions. You’re essentially able to customize them, whether by mixing and matching airlines, adjusting departure and return locations or scoring the best individual flight deals.
One-way tickets are super valuable when using points and miles. Tons of loyalty programs price flights per segment, meaning a one-way redemption could cost half the price of a round-trip.
This is especially useful when booking premium cabins, where availability fluctuates and locking in a single leg at a time increases your odds of getting the best deal.
For example, a budget flight from New York to London on Norse Atlantic might cost just $125. But on the return, if no cheap options are available, it might make sense to redeem Alaska miles for a business-class flight from Frankfurt to New York for 70,000 miles.
This mix-and-match strategy can go a long way in maximizing your miles and points.
One-way flights are also a great idea when visiting multiple cities. Instead of flying round-trip to and from the same location, you can fly to one city and depart from another without having to backtrack.
Drawbacks of Booking One-Way Flights
While one-way flights give you more flexibility, they aren’t always the best option. Some airlines (especially outside the U.S.) still charge higher fares for individual segments, meaning a round-trip booking may save you money.
Plus, booking multiple one-way flights — especially across different carriers — can create issues if something goes wrong. If your first flight is delayed, the next airline likely won’t rebook you or cover your connection.
And while most airlines price award flights one-way, some programs (like American AAdvantage, Delta SkyMiles and Air France/KLM Flying Blue) offer better deals for round-trips. So it’s always worth comparing redemption costs before booking.
Best Strategy for Booking Flights
Choosing between one-way and round-trip flights depends on several factors: budget, flexibility, travel plans, and more.
If you have fixed dates, you should always check round-trip tickets first, since they often have better pricing, especially for cash fares. On the other hand, when using points and miles, booking one-way flights can give you more redemption opportunities.
Round-trip bookings typically work best for set itineraries, while one-ways are ideal for multi-city trips, positioning flights and getting the most value from loyalty programs.
Ultimately, there’s no universal rule. The best approach is to compare both options before booking, since the difference could mean hundreds in savings or just smarter use of your miles and points.
Maximize Your Flight Bookings With the Right Credit Card
No matter how you book, using a credit card that earns bonus points on airfare helps you earn faster and redeem smarter. Here are a few of our top picks:
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card — Earn 2x points on all travel purchases
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card — Earn 5x miles on flights through the Capital One portal
American Express® Gold Card — Earn 3x points on flights booked directly with the airline or via AmexTravel.com
Chase Sapphire Reserve® — Earn 3x points on airfare
The Platinum Card® from American Express — Earn 5x points on flights booked directly with the airline or through Amex Travel (up to $500,000 per calendar year, then 1x)
