When planning a trip that requires multiple flights, you may wonder if it’s better to buy all the tickets together as a single itinerary or purchase them separately. There are pros and cons to each approach, and the right choice depends on your specific situation.
The potential benefits of buying tickets together
Booking all flights on one itinerary through a single airline or travel booking site has some potential advantages:
- Easier change and cancellation policies – If you need to change or cancel part of your trip, it may be simpler to make adjustments when all tickets are together in one booking.
- Protection in case of delays/cancellations – If separate tickets are booked and one flight is delayed or canceled causing you to miss a connection, the airline may not be obligated to assist you. Booking together provides more protection.
- Saving money – Bundling can sometimes be cheaper than buying individually, especially if the airline offers a discounted fare for multi-segment itineraries.
- Earning more miles/rewards – Multiple flights on one booking can help you accumulate more miles or rewards points.
- Less chance of lost luggage – Having all flights on one ticket means your bags will be automatically transferred between flights.
The potential perks of purchasing tickets separately
On the other hand, there are also some scenarios where it may be better to buy flights individually:
- Flexible timing – Buying tickets separately allows you to better control the timing of each flight segment.
- Mix and match airlines – Purchasing flights individually allows you to shop for the best fares on different airlines for each leg of the trip.
- No wasted tickets – If plans change and you have to cancel part of the trip, you only lose the value of one ticket rather than the entire bundled itinerary.
- Opportunity to take advantage of sales – If you purchase tickets as you find good deals, you may pay less overall than buying a bundle upfront.
- Simple rebooking – If you miss a flight, you only have to rebook that one leg rather than dealing with changing the entire complex itinerary.
When buying together makes sense
As a general rule, booking all flights on one itinerary tends to be the better option when:
- You’re traveling with checked baggage – This avoids the need to retrieve and re-check bags at each connection.
- You have tight connections between flights – Booking together better guarantees you’ll be rebooked if delays cause you to miss a connection.
- The flights are international – It’s usually required to have all flights on one ticket when crossing borders.
- You foresee needing to change plans – Rebooking an entire itinerary is easier than changing many separate tickets.
- You’ll earn more rewards by bundling – Some loyalty programs give more miles/points for multi-segment bookings.
When buying separately is smarter
On the other hand, purchasing tickets individually can make more sense when:
- Your travel dates are flexible – This allows you to shop for the best deals and adjust timing as needed.
- You’re combining different airlines – Booking separately makes it easier to mix and match to find the best fares.
- You have ample layover time between flights – Less risk of misconnecting if flights aren’t linked.
- Your plans may change – Cancelling just one ticket wastes less money than cancelling an entire bundled itinerary.
- You want control over seat assignments – Picking seats is harder when flights are bundled across airlines.
Tips for getting the best deal either way
Regardless of whether you book together or separately, some general tips can help ensure you get the best value:
- Be flexible with dates/airlines when possible – Adjusting travel days or considering alternate airports and carriers opens up more options.
- Check both approachs – Compare bundled vs. individual pricing to see which is cheaper for your situation.
- Leverage flight search engines – Use sites like Kayak and Google Flights to efficiently view pricing across airlines and dates.
- Watch for sales and coupons – Signing up for airline/travel site emails can alert you to discounts.
- Book early for best selection – Prices generally go up closer to departure, so book as soon as plans firm up.
- Consider budget airlines – Carriers like Spirit or Frontier offer very low base fares but charge extra for amenities.
Weighing the pros and cons for your situation
Ultimately there’s no one right answer of whether booking all together or separately is best. It depends on factors like your dates, destination, need to change plans, baggage needs, and more. Carefully compare the pros and cons before deciding what works for your particular trip situation.
For complex international itineraries with checked bags, booking together often makes the most sense. But for flexible domestic trips on different airlines where you want to control seat selection, buying individually may be smarter. Consider the key factors impacting your specific travels, and you’re most likely to choose the booking strategy that results in convenience, savings, and peace of mind.
Conclusion
The choice between booking flights separately or together as one itinerary comes down to weighing factors like flexibility, protections, change policies, rebooking ease, rewards perks, and pricing. For complex trips, bundling often makes sense, while separate tickets can be better for flexible plans involving budget carriers and tight connections. Carefully compare the trade-offs for your particular situation and travel style to select the approach that maximizes value and meets your needs.
