How to save on one-way flights
When the major airlines are in direct competition with the smarter/leaner/sensible-er discount airlines, they adopt discount airline pricing tactics. When there’s less competition, they gouge and maneuver to force you to buy nonrefundable, non-changeable, inflexible, traveler-unfriendly itineraries. (This, of course, is a practice called “predatory pricing,” where the major airline matches the smaller airline to try to push it out of business, then returns to the same old anti-consumer pricing tactics. Long live the discount airlines.)
Throwaway ticketing
When faced with a $2,404.10 one-way flight compared to a $751.20 roundtrip ticket on the same airline for the same departure date to the same gateway, you may feel the urge to call up a certain airline and tell them where they can put their one-way fare. After all, you’re paying over three times the price for half the goods. So why not buy the roundtrip ticket for the same departure date and skip the second flight?
Unfortunately, the airlines are on to travelers who participate in what they call “throwaway ticketing” (although we prefer the more appropriate term, “turning the tables”), booking a roundtrip flight and only using one of your tickets in order to save money over a more expensive one-way flight. Most airlines have a restrictive clause in their terms and conditions that bans throwaway ticketing. For example, Delta’s Web site says the airline prohibits “Throw-away ticketing — use of discounted roundtrip excursion fares for one-way travel.” As punishment, the airline threatens to confiscate unused flight coupons, refuse boarding or even charge the passenger for the more expensive one-way flight.
Although throwaway ticketing is taboo according to airline executives, many travelers risk getting caught and do it anyway. Your airline might never notice. Travel agents tend to stay away from the practice because airlines may threaten to refuse tickets to agents who help travelers book throwaway tickets. Bottom line: Engage in throwaway ticketing at your own risk.
Where to find a cheap one-way flight
Before you risk your precious airline coupons by purchasing a throwaway ticket, search for cheap one-way flights from discount airlines and online booking sites, which frequently offer reasonably priced one-way tickets. Airlines like AirTran, JetBlue, Air Lingus, Spirit and Southwest sell air tickets a la carte.
These carriers price their fares based on one-way purchases, pricing each leg according to availability. This means you can pay X dollars for each leg of your journey whether you’re taking a one-way trip to Chicago or flying to seven cities in one itinerary.
Online booking sites like Orbitz and Hotwire are also good bets for finding affordable one-way flights. Our test cases showed Expedia and Orbitz both beat one-way and roundtrip fares for similar itineraries when pitted against airlines.
The legacy carriers (major U.S. airlines like Continental, United, Delta and American) often charge exorbitant fees for one-way flights — but as I previously mentioned, these guys sometimes match or beat the prices of discount airlines on certain routes. With millions of fares out there, the best way to find cheap one-way flights for your particular itinerary is to search for flight prices on multiple sites.
