What does separate tickets book together mean?

When booking flights online, you may come across the phrase “separate tickets book together.” This refers to a strategy of booking multiple individual flight tickets on different airlines or routes as part of the same trip, rather than booking the entire trip on a single ticket with one airline.

Why Book Separate Tickets?

There are a few potential advantages to booking separate tickets for a trip rather than booking the entire trip as a single ticket:

• Cost savings – Booking separate tickets can sometimes be cheaper than booking one long ticket, especially on long international trips. You can mix and match airlines to find the cheapest fares on each leg of the trip.
• Flexibility – With separate tickets, you have more flexibility to change part of your itinerary without affecting the rest of your flights. You only have to pay change fees on the one ticket you need to adjust, rather than changing the entire trip.
• Ability to create custom routings – Booking segment by segment allows you to build routings that may not be possible on a single ticket, such as combining low-cost carriers with international flights.
• Ability to take longer trips – Most airlines have a maximum permitted mileage for round-trip tickets. Booking separate one-way tickets gets around this limit.

How to Book Separate Tickets

Here are some tips for booking separate one-way tickets as part of a single trip:

• Use flight search engines like Google Flights and Kayak to compare options segment by segment. Look at both nonstop and connection options.
• Pay attention to connection times between flights. Leave sufficient time in case of delays – at least 2 hours for domestic connections and 3+ hours for international.
• Book all tickets at once if possible so you can keep track of the full itinerary. Printing each confirmation is helpful too.
• When searching for next segments look for tickets originating from your scheduled arrival airport.
• Allow extra time for making connections when separate tickets are booked.
• Compare round-trip vs two one-ways – sometimes the one-ways are significantly cheaper.

Risks of Booking Separate Tickets

While separate tickets can provide advantages, there are also some risks to keep in mind:

• Missed connections – If your first flight is delayed or canceled, the second airline is not obligated to accommodate you in any way. You may have to buy an entirely new ticket.
• Luggage – You will have to recheck bags between airlines. Leave enough connection time for this.
• No protection if something goes wrong – Each ticket comes with its own change/refund policies. If part of the trip falls apart, you may lose money.
• No guarantees for optimal routings – Booking together on one ticket ensures your airline can provide the shortest, simplest routing.

To minimize these risks, build plenty of connection time into the itinerary and consider travel insurance for full coverage between carriers.

What Does “Book Together” Mean?

When booking separate one-way tickets, you will often see the phrase “book together” used in the flight listings. This means that the airlines have identified these one-way tickets as being interlinked.

Tickets that are booked together will:

• Appear together on a single e-ticket
• Have fare rules and restrictions that apply to the entire itinerary
• Have coordinated schedules and connections
• Allow through checking of baggage across airlines

So in summary, “book together” refers to separate one-way tickets that are linked in the airline’s systems as a single itinerary. This provides a better experience than completely unconnected one-way tickets.

Benefits of Booking Together

Here are some key benefits of booking one-way tickets together as a single itinerary:

• Coordinated schedules – Airlines try to ensure optimal connections when booked together.
• Protection during irregular operations – Airlines will try to accommodate you if delays occur.
• Shared fare rules and restrictions – Only one set of change/refund policies applies.
• Checked baggage transfers between airlines – Don’t have to reclaim bags between flights.
• Consolidated booking record – The entire itinerary can be viewed and changed together.

How to Book Together

To book separate one-way tickets together on a single e-ticket, follow these steps:

1. Use a multi-city booking tool on an airline website or online travel agency.
2. Enter all segments together – this links them.
3. Compare pricing and connection times for mix and match options.
4. Select the entire multi-city itinerary and purchase at once.
5. Verify the tickets are issued on one e-ticket number.

As long as all segments are purchased in one transaction, the one-way tickets will be booked together even if spanning multiple airlines.

Tips for Managing Separate Tickets

Here are some tips for having a smooth trip when traveling on separate tickets:

• Build in extra connection time – aim for at least 2-3 hours between flights.
• Confirm baggage policies – some airlines may charge for interline transfers.
• Carry a printout of the full itinerary – agents can verify if booked together.
• Pack essentials and medications in your carry-on bag.
• Ask the gate agent to tag your bag for the next flight.
• Get lounge passes – nice to have waiting areas between flights.
• Inform agents at check-in about your connecting tickets.
• Pack loose items like coats accessible in case of delays.
• Have contact details and travel insurance in case of major disruptions.

FAQs about Separate Tickets

Can I check bags through between separate tickets?

If the one-way tickets are booked together and issued on a single e-ticket, then yes, you can check your luggage through to your final destination. The airlines will transfer bags between flights. If not booked together, you will likely have to reclaim bags and re-check them.

What if I miss a connection on separate tickets?

If your incoming flight is late and causes you to misconnect, the next airline is not responsible for accommodating you if the tickets were bought separately. You will have to arrange and pay for a new flight yourself, unfortunately.

Can I get a refund if I cancel part of a separate ticket itinerary?

Each one-way ticket has its own refund rules, so you would only receive a refund for the portion you canceled according to its fare rules. Any other unchanged tickets would be unaffected. Refundability depends on the type of fare purchased.

Is travel insurance more important when booking separate flights?

Yes, travel insurance provides very important protections when you book separate one-way tickets across different airlines. It safeguards you in case of delays or cancellations that disrupt your travel. Look for policies that include flight delay and trip interruption coverage.

Should I still allow extra connection time if booked together?

Absolutely – even when booked together, delays and irregular operations can still happen. Allow at least 2-3 hours between separate tickets whenever possible. Airlines are more likely to accommodate and rebook you when ample connection time was originally scheduled.

Conclusion

Booking separate one-way tickets can provide advantages like cost savings, flexibility, and custom routing options. However, the risk of travel disruptions increases without the protections of traveling on a single ticket. To maximize the benefits while minimizing hassle, aim to book separate segments together on the same e-ticket. This links the one-way fares as a consolidated itinerary. Allow plenty of connection time, prepare for irregular operations, and consider travel insurance when mixing and matching airlines.