On budget airlines (Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air), one-way tickets are priced at exactly half the return — there is zero pricing penalty, so always book one-ways for maximum flexibility and the ability to mix carriers. This strategy lets you pick the cheapest airline for each direction independently, often saving EUR 35-60 per trip compared to a return on a single carrier. On legacy carriers (Lufthansa, BA, Air France, KLM), always check both options — returns are sometimes 10-20% cheaper than two one-ways, particularly in economy and premium economy where round-trip discount structures persist. For multi-city European trips, one-way tickets are essential: fly into Barcelona with Ryanair at EUR 25, explore Spain by train, then fly out of Rome on easyJet for EUR 35 — an open-jaw itinerary impossible with a standard return ticket. The one exception to the one-way rule: if you need proof of onward travel for immigration (rare within Schengen, but relevant for non-EU entries), a return ticket simplifies border crossings considerably.
Ryanair, easyJet, and Wizz Air — which together carried over 400 million passengers in 2025 — price every leg independently, meaning a one-way ticket costs exactly 50% of the return. Legacy carriers like Lufthansa and Air France still discount returns by 10-20% versus two separate one-ways, but the gap has narrowed significantly since 2019. Skyscanner data shows that booking two one-ways from different airlines saves an average of EUR 35-60 per trip on popular European routes, making the flexible approach increasingly attractive for multi-city itineraries.
| Provider | Price | Flexibility | Route Options | Booking Simplicity | Multi-City Potential |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| One-Way Tickets | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ |
| Return Tickets | ★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Scores are based on our hands-on testing, user reviews, and price monitoring across multiple European countries.
On budget airlines (Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air), one-way tickets are priced at exactly half the return — there is zero pricing penalty, so always book one-ways for maximum flexibility and the ability to mix carriers. This strategy lets you pick the cheapest airline for each direction independently, often saving EUR 35-60 per trip compared to a return on a single carrier. On legacy carriers (Lufthansa, BA, Air France, KLM), always check both options — returns are sometimes 10-20% cheaper than two one-ways, particularly in economy and premium economy where round-trip discount structures persist. For multi-city European trips, one-way tickets are essential: fly into Barcelona with Ryanair at EUR 25, explore Spain by train, then fly out of Rome on easyJet for EUR 35 — an open-jaw itinerary impossible with a standard return ticket. The one exception to the one-way rule: if you need proof of onward travel for immigration (rare within Schengen, but relevant for non-EU entries), a return ticket simplifies border crossings considerably.
Data and regulations verified against official sources. Last checked 2026-04-27.
On budget airlines (Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air), one-way tickets cost exactly half the return — there's zero penalty. On legacy carriers (Lufthansa, BA, Air France), returns are sometimes 10-20% cheaper than two one-ways. Always check both options for legacy carriers.
Yes, this is called an open-jaw itinerary and it's one of the biggest advantages of booking one-way tickets. You can fly into Barcelona and out of Rome, mixing the cheapest airline for each leg. This is impossible with a standard return ticket.
Often yes. By booking separate one-way tickets, you can choose the cheapest airline for each direction — perhaps Ryanair outbound and easyJet return. The downside is managing two separate bookings and having no connected protection if one flight is cancelled.
Within the EU/Schengen area, immigration authorities rarely ask for proof of onward travel. However, some non-Schengen European countries and airlines may request evidence of a return or onward journey. Having a flexible booking or onward ticket is advisable for border crossings outside Schengen.
Skyscanner data shows that booking two one-ways from different airlines saves an average of EUR 35-60 per trip on popular European routes. For example, a London-Barcelona return on Ryanair might cost EUR 120, while a Ryanair outbound at EUR 25 and easyJet return at EUR 40 totals just EUR 65 — a saving of EUR 55. The savings are highest on routes served by multiple budget carriers, and smallest on routes dominated by a single airline.
If you booked two separate one-way tickets, the cancellation of one flight has no effect on the other — the airlines are independent of each other. Under EU Regulation 261/2004, the cancelled flight's airline must offer rebooking or refund, but your return flight remains your responsibility. With a return ticket, the airline handles both legs. This lack of connected protection is the biggest practical risk of booking separate one-ways, particularly during winter weather disruptions or airline strikes.
For weekend breaks on budget airlines, one-way tickets are almost always the better choice. Since Ryanair, easyJet, and Wizz Air price each leg independently, the total cost of two one-ways equals a return — but you gain the flexibility to change one leg without affecting the other. On legacy carriers for a simple A-to-A weekend trip, a return ticket is slightly cheaper (10-20% discount) and simpler to manage. Check both options on Google Flights or Skyscanner before committing.
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