How to search for an openjaw ticket?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 32
How to search for an openjaw ticket?
I did search the board and didn't find an answer.
I am planning a trip to London/Ireland and would really like an openjaw into London and out of Ireland. My problem is that when I search the travel search engines, I can't figure out how to request, search etc. an openjaw flight? I feel really silly but I would appreciate any tips, help? Thank you!
I am planning a trip to London/Ireland and would really like an openjaw into London and out of Ireland. My problem is that when I search the travel search engines, I can't figure out how to request, search etc. an openjaw flight? I feel really silly but I would appreciate any tips, help? Thank you!
#3
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,750
try itasoftware got to the "mult-segment" tab. you can't do month long searches unfortunately with open jaw, you have to put in set dates (within one day). enter your dept and arrive on the first segment, your dept and return on the second segment, and then delete the third segment. If you find what you want, you can purchase flights elsewhere (Orbitz, Airline, Travelocity, etc). Good luck!
#4
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,750
Website is http://itasoftware.com/
#7
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,262
#8
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,142
No, No, don't do it with One way tickets, you'll possibly pay more. Do multi-city/locations...all search engines have that and all airline websites have it as well. That's what I did for my recent trip and I also do travel arrangements as part of my job and I do open jaws all the time for my boss.
#11
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,194
<<For complicated things like this I use my travel agent...>>
I am not trying to poke fun, jtr... but if your travel agents is handling "complicated things" like this, maybe s/he is turning to websites like this or eurotrip.com to find ideas on the best deals. And true enough, if it doesn't appeal to you to keep abreast of various internet sources of info... and you have a knowledgeable travel agent, then it might be best for you.
But the collective wisdom of those on this forum - - especially for something as simple as an open jaw ticket to/from London/Ireland (and I apologize if that sounds condescending) - - is superior to a large fraction of travel agents. Even if highly experienced travel agents are aavailable to LisaLou, she seems to want to learn how to do this with publicly available tools - - and all the better informed she can be if she chooses to ask a travel agent.
This is not a personal attack... but it is an "attack" against a viewpoint that runs contrary to the outlook of this forum.
"We" are a valuable source of travel info, comparable to (or superior to) travel "professionals". Suggesting that "they" are where LisaLou should turn (first) is a contrarian view - - and good "net-izenship" compels me to speak out against it.
I am not trying to poke fun, jtr... but if your travel agents is handling "complicated things" like this, maybe s/he is turning to websites like this or eurotrip.com to find ideas on the best deals. And true enough, if it doesn't appeal to you to keep abreast of various internet sources of info... and you have a knowledgeable travel agent, then it might be best for you.
But the collective wisdom of those on this forum - - especially for something as simple as an open jaw ticket to/from London/Ireland (and I apologize if that sounds condescending) - - is superior to a large fraction of travel agents. Even if highly experienced travel agents are aavailable to LisaLou, she seems to want to learn how to do this with publicly available tools - - and all the better informed she can be if she chooses to ask a travel agent.
This is not a personal attack... but it is an "attack" against a viewpoint that runs contrary to the outlook of this forum.
"We" are a valuable source of travel info, comparable to (or superior to) travel "professionals". Suggesting that "they" are where LisaLou should turn (first) is a contrarian view - - and good "net-izenship" compels me to speak out against it.
#12
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,709
Rex, I generally agree with your premise. Most people are here because they are trying to empower themselves to organize their own trip. However, I do think travel agents have access to consolidators and such that the public does not and in that case can beat a price.
I recently saw a thread on this board where people were debating different organized tour companies. To me that was the opposite of the Fodor's mentality but this is their forum too.
I recently saw a thread on this board where people were debating different organized tour companies. To me that was the opposite of the Fodor's mentality but this is their forum too.
#13
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,194
I am hoping that I can "attack" a viewpoint, without attacking the person who expressed it. And you're right, this forum belongs to all who register (and manage not to run afoul of rules that seem rather arbitrary and capricious these days), and those viewpoints can and should be expressed.
I hope that my viewpoint was "pro-empowering", and I gladly acknowledge that learning as much as possible about using internet travel tools - - and THEN consulting with your choice of (the right) travel professional - - would be all the more empowering.
I hope that my viewpoint was "pro-empowering", and I gladly acknowledge that learning as much as possible about using internet travel tools - - and THEN consulting with your choice of (the right) travel professional - - would be all the more empowering.
#14
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,142
in all honesty, a travel agent would probably not be all that thrilled to handle such a simple task..though it would take them a minute or two, as it would take anyone else, but the airlines pay such a miniscule commission on airline tickets, if any, that it is usually not worth it for a travel agent to do.
#16
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 3
Hey all..there seems to be some confusion as to what an open jaw is exactly. The definition of an open jaw is simply that you would be returning to a different originating city other than your original departure city (i.e Departing JFK to London but returning to Boston rather than JFK). If I understand the initial question, everyone's answer regarding multi-city itineraries is indeed correct. That would be the only way to do this type of trip with the airlines. Would you possibly pay more? Yes, more than likely they will price out as two one-way trips. However, doing it as a multi-city gives the airlines an option to price in a discount, if they have one is available. How do I do know this??? I work as a Reservations agent for US Airways. Hope this helps. Good Luck LisaLou632! 
#17
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,067
I've never flown US Air, so I am probably not the most knowledgeable resource, but so far, I've never had a mult-city itinerary price out as two one-way trips. At least not on American, Delta, Northwest, British, Qantas, Air New Zealand, Aer Lingus or Eva Air. May have forgotten one or two. So far, the price has generally been no more than a round trip would have been to the more expensive of the two destinations. Luckier yet, it's usually been a split in the difference between what the r/t costs would have been to either city.
There's every possibility though that I have been very lucky very often.
#19
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,194
Both are "legal" open jaws.
Depart A to B, return C to A
or
Depart A to B, return B to C.
The "open" segment is supposed to be shorter than either of the other segments.
Thus,
LAX to Chicago
Chicago to Miami
is not a legal open jaw...
Likewise
Chicago to LAX
Miami back to Chicago...
... is not either...
Even though both conform to the A/B/C examples given.
Depart A to B, return C to A
or
Depart A to B, return B to C.
The "open" segment is supposed to be shorter than either of the other segments.
Thus,
LAX to Chicago
Chicago to Miami
is not a legal open jaw...
Likewise
Chicago to LAX
Miami back to Chicago...
... is not either...
Even though both conform to the A/B/C examples given.
