What are OW, RT, Open Jaw, and Circle Trip airline tickets?
In our blog, and on many travel forums, you often encounter abbreviations like OW, RT, Open Jaw, etc. Let's figure out what they mean. OW - (one way ticket) - a ticket for a single journey. For example, Moscow-Paris RT - (round trip ticket) - a ticket for both ways, i.e., there and back. For example, Moscow-Paris-Moscow. OPEN JAW- translates as an open jaw. A typical Open Jaw example is a flight to Paris, then from London to Moscow. A mandatory condition for such a fare is the presence of a segment in the itinerary that you cover by alternative transport.For example, from Paris to London, you can travel by Eurostar train or bus, or perhaps by a rented car. This type of fare also includes tickets with an airport change. For example, an airline ticket to Paris (Charles de Gaulle Airport), then from Paris (Orly Airport) to Moscow. Another example: A flight Moscow-Paris-Saint Petersburg, meaning you do not return to Moscow, the route ends in Saint Petersburg. And the segment Saint Petersburg-Moscow is considered a segment covered by alternative transport.
Open Jaw fares have one important limitation - the ground segment must be shorter than the shortest flight on the itinerary.
Circle Trip - a circular route. Its distinctive feature is that the flight begins and ends at the same point. For example, Moscow-Paris-London-Moscow. The main difference between a Circle Trip and a Round Trip is that a circular route must include at least 3 flights, while an RT only has two (there and back). And unlike an Open Jaw, there is no ground segment here. Circle Trip fares allow up to 2 stopovers on the route.
Why is an RT ticket cheaper than 2 OW?
This question bothers many travelers. To put it in simpler terms: "Why is a Moscow-Paris-Moscow airline ticket cheaper than 2 separate tickets, Moscow-Paris and Paris-Moscow"? It's all about airline pricing. Their goal is to fill the aircraft both on the outbound and return journeys. If you bought a Moscow-Paris airline ticket from Aeroflot, it means you can buy the return ticket, Paris-Moscow, also from Aeroflot, or from Transaero or Air France, or you might even decide to fly with a layover. It is much more profitable for airlines if you fly with them on the return journey as well. For this purpose, OW and RT fares have been introduced, and their prices differ. It is not uncommon for a round-trip ticket to cost almost the same as a one-way ticket.
