Buzz
One-way flights are becoming more affordable for international travelers, as reported by New York Times.
In the past, airlines would inflate prices for one-way tickets, assuming they were mostly bought by business travelers who weren't concerned with cost. However, the one-way price premium has decreased from 44 percent in 2014 to just 11 percent in 2018, according to data from the Times sourced from the Airlines Reporting Corporation. In the same period, the proportion of one-way tickets purchased compared to round-trip tickets rose by 29 percent.
This shift is beneficial for travelers, particularly families, offering more flexibility when planning trips. For instance, you could fly into one European country, take a short train ride to a neighboring country, spend some time there, and then return home at a much lower cost. If you're using services like Google Flights, adding nearby airports to your search criteria could help you find better rates. According to the Times, 'If you’re flexible, it pays to find the cheapest entry and exit points to Europe and then fill in the gaps overland or with flights on low-cost carriers.'
This approach is especially useful when visiting popular destinations like Greece or Italy.
The rise in affordable one-way tickets can be attributed to the growing number of low-cost carriers, such as Norwegian Air and Ryanair, which are offering competitive pricing, according to the Times. However, this also means that the flights might not offer the same comfort or amenities as those from pricier airlines. As noted by the Times, '[s]eats on Ryanair planes, for instance, don’t recline, and the boarding process can be chaotic.'
It’s important to keep in mind that, as Quartz points out, certain countries may have rules that require you to have a return or onward ticket when traveling internationally. 'Even if it’s just a train ticket, it’s generally a good idea to show up with some documentation of where you’re going next, unless your visa situation allows you to stay in the country indefinitely,' writes Quartz.
If you're planning a trip for the end of summer or fall, searching for deals on one-way tickets could be a smart option, allowing you to visit multiple countries or cities during your travels.
