circle trip explanation

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What Are Round Trip Tickets

Published: December 4, 2023

Modified: December 28, 2023

by Suzi Wilber

• Travel Guide

Introduction

Welcome to the world of air travel! In this fast-paced era, hopping on a plane is a common way to reach our desired destinations quickly and conveniently. Whether you’re jetting off for a business meeting, embarking on a dream vacation, or visiting loved ones, booking the right ticket can make all the difference. One popular ticket option that you may come across is the round trip ticket. In this article, we’ll explore what round trip tickets are, their benefits, how to book them, and some tips for finding the best deals.

So, what exactly is a round trip ticket? Simply put, it is a ticket that allows you to travel from one destination to another and then back again, all on a single reservation. Rather than purchasing separate one-way tickets for your outbound and return journeys, a round trip ticket combines both flights into one booking. This means that you’ll have a confirmed seat for both legs of your trip, providing peace of mind and a seamless travel experience.

The convenience and affordability of round trip tickets are some of the key reasons why travelers choose this option. Instead of researching and booking flights individually, you can find a round trip ticket that typically offers a discounted fare compared to two separate one-way tickets. By bundling your flights together, airlines are often able to provide better rates. This can be especially advantageous if you have fixed travel dates or want to avoid the hassle of searching for multiple flights.

Round trip tickets come in different types to cater to various travel needs. Some airlines offer flexible round trip tickets that allow you to change your travel dates without hefty fees, providing added flexibility in case your plans change. Others may have specific restrictions, such as non-refundable fares or penalties for changes. Understanding the type of round trip ticket you are booking will help you make informed decisions and avoid any unexpected surprises.

Now that you have an overview of what round trip tickets are and why they are a popular choice, let’s dive into the details of how to book them. Follow along as we explore different ways to find the best deals, including using online travel agencies, airline websites, and other sources.

Definition of Round Trip Tickets

A round trip ticket, also known as a return ticket, is a type of airline ticket that allows you to travel from one destination to another and then back to your original starting point. It is a convenient and cost-effective option for travelers who need to return to their departure location after their trip. With a round trip ticket, you don’t have to worry about booking separate one-way tickets for your outbound and return journeys.

When you purchase a round trip ticket, both the outbound and return flights are included in a single reservation. This means that you have a confirmed seat for both legs of your journey, eliminating the need to search for and book two separate flights. The airlines typically offer round trip tickets at a discounted fare, making them a more economical choice than purchasing two one-way tickets.

Round trip tickets are commonly used by business travelers, vacationers, and individuals visiting family or friends. They provide a sense of security and convenience, ensuring that you have a guaranteed seat for your return flight. Whether you’re traveling for a short weekend getaway or an extended trip, a round trip ticket allows you to plan your itinerary with ease.

One key feature of round trip tickets is that the departure and arrival airports must be the same. For example, if you book a round trip ticket from New York to Los Angeles, the return flight will take you back from Los Angeles to New York. This makes round trip tickets ideal for travelers who want to return to their original location without the need for additional travel arrangements.

It’s important to note that round trip tickets have specific terms and conditions set by the airlines. These may include restrictions on changes to travel dates, penalties for cancellations, and limitations on refunds. Before booking a round trip ticket, it’s always recommended to review the airline’s policies and understand the terms of your ticket.

In summary, a round trip ticket is an airline ticket that includes both the outbound and return flights in a single reservation. It offers convenience, cost savings, and flexibility to travelers. By booking a round trip ticket, you can enjoy a seamless travel experience with the assurance of a confirmed seat for your return journey.

Benefits of Round Trip Tickets

Round trip tickets come with several benefits that make them a popular choice among travelers. Whether you’re planning a quick weekend getaway or a long vacation, here are some advantages of booking round trip tickets:

• Cost Savings: One of the main advantages of round trip tickets is the potential for cost savings. Airlines often offer discounted fares for round trip bookings compared to purchasing two separate one-way tickets. This can be especially beneficial if you have fixed travel dates or want to stick to a budget.
• Convenience: With a round trip ticket, you have both your outbound and return flights conveniently bundled together. This eliminates the need to search for and book separate flights for your return journey. It provides peace of mind knowing that you have a confirmed seat for both legs of your trip.
• Streamlined Itinerary: Booking a round trip ticket allows you to plan your itinerary with ease. You know exactly when your departure and return flights are, making it simpler to coordinate other aspects of your trip such as accommodation, ground transportation, and activities.
• Avoiding Last-Minute Price Surges: By booking a round trip ticket in advance, you can avoid last-minute price surges. Airline ticket prices tend to increase significantly as the departure date approaches. With a round trip ticket, you lock in your return flight at the same fare, protecting yourself from potential price hikes.
• Flexibility in Travel Dates: Round trip tickets often offer flexibility in changing travel dates. Some airlines provide options to modify your itinerary without incurring hefty fees. This can be advantageous if your plans change or if you need to extend or shorten your trip.
• Accrue Frequent Flyer Miles: When you book a round trip ticket, you have the opportunity to accrue frequent flyer miles for both your outbound and return flights. These miles can be valuable for future travel benefits such as upgrades, lounge access, and free flights.

Overall, round trip tickets offer a range of benefits, including cost savings, convenience, and the ability to plan your itinerary with ease. By taking advantage of these benefits, you can enjoy a seamless and enjoyable travel experience.

Types of Round Trip Tickets

Round trip tickets come in different types, each offering specific features and flexibility. Understanding these types can help you choose the one that best suits your travel needs. Here are some common types of round trip tickets:

• Standard Round Trip: This is the most common type of round trip ticket, where the departure and return flights are fixed with specific dates and times. These tickets are typically non-refundable and may have penalties for changes or cancellations. Standard round trip tickets are suitable for travelers with fixed travel plans and who prefer a lower fare.
• Flexible Round Trip: Flexible round trip tickets offer more flexibility in changing your travel dates. They usually come with a higher fare but allow you to modify your departure and return dates without incurring hefty fees. This type of ticket is ideal for travelers who may have uncertain travel schedules or want the freedom to adjust their plans as needed.
• Open-ended Round Trip: An open-ended round trip ticket, also known as an open-jaw ticket, allows you to return from a different destination than your original departure point. For example, you could fly from New York to London and return from Paris to New York. This type of ticket offers flexibility to explore multiple destinations without the need to backtrack.
• Alliance Round Trip: Alliance round trip tickets are offered by airline alliances, such as Star Alliance, SkyTeam, or Oneworld. These tickets allow you to book round trip flights with multiple airlines within the same alliance. This can be advantageous in terms of connecting flights and seamless baggage transfers if you have flights with different member airlines.
• Circle Trip: A circle trip, or round-the-world ticket, is a round trip ticket that enables you to visit multiple destinations in a continuous journey. You can travel in one direction around the globe, visiting various cities or countries, before returning to your original starting point. Circle trips offer a unique travel experience and are suitable for those wishing to go on an extended adventure.

It’s important to review the terms and conditions associated with each type of round trip ticket before making a booking. Be aware of any restrictions, penalties, or limitations that may apply. Understanding the different types of round trip tickets allows you to make an informed decision based on your travel preferences and requirements.

How to Book Round Trip Tickets

Booking round trip tickets is a relatively straightforward process, and there are several methods you can use to secure your flights. Here are some common ways to book round trip tickets:

• Online Travel Agencies (OTAs): Online travel agencies, such as Expedia, Skyscanner, or Kayak, are popular platforms for booking round trip tickets. These websites aggregate flight options from various airlines, allowing you to compare prices, schedules, and select the best deal. Simply enter your desired departure and return dates, along with the origin and destination, and browse through the available flights. Once you find a suitable option, complete the booking process by providing passenger information and payment details.
• Airline Websites: Most airlines have their own websites where you can directly book round trip tickets. Visit the website of the airline you prefer to fly with and search for the option to book round trip flights. Enter your travel details, including the dates, origin, and destination, and the website will display available flight options. You can compare fares, select your flights, and proceed to book by providing passenger information and making the payment.
• Travel Agents: If you prefer personalized assistance in booking your round trip tickets, you can contact a travel agent. Travel agents have access to booking systems and can help you navigate through various flight options, provide advice, and handle the booking process on your behalf. They can also assist with any additional travel arrangements, such as hotel accommodations or car rentals.
• Mobile Apps: Many airlines and travel agencies offer mobile apps that allow you to conveniently book round trip tickets from your smartphone or tablet. Simply download the respective app, create an account if necessary, and search for round trip flights by entering your travel details. The app will display available options, and you can complete the booking process directly through the app.

When booking round trip tickets, it’s essential to compare prices, consider the flight schedules, and factor in any additional fees or restrictions. Pay attention to details such as baggage allowance, seat selection, and any additional services offered. It’s also a good idea to book your round trip tickets well in advance to secure the best fares and availability.

Once you have completed the booking process, you will receive a confirmation email or ticket with your flight details. Make sure to double-check the information provided and keep the confirmation safe until your travel dates. If you need to make any changes to your round trip ticket, such as modifying travel dates or adding extra services, consult the airline or booking provider for assistance.

Now that you know how to book round trip tickets, you can start planning your next adventure with ease and confidence!

Tips for Finding the Best Round Trip Deals

When it comes to booking round trip tickets, everyone wants to find the best deals that offer the perfect combination of affordability and convenience. Here are some tips to help you find the best round trip deals:

• Be Flexible with Travel Dates: Flexibility with your travel dates can significantly impact the price of your round trip ticket. Consider traveling during off-peak seasons or mid-week when flights tend to be cheaper. Use a flexible date search option when searching for flights to see if shifting your departure or return dates by a few days can yield better deals.
• Book in Advance: Booking your round trip tickets well in advance can often result in better fares. Airlines usually release their flight schedules around 6-8 months in advance, and booking during this window can help you secure the lowest prices. Avoid last-minute bookings, as prices tend to increase significantly closer to the departure date.
• Compare Multiple Airlines: Don’t limit yourself to a single airline. Compare prices and flight options across multiple airlines to find the best deal for your round trip ticket. Remember to consider factors such as baggage allowances, in-flight amenities, and overall convenience when comparing options.
• Sign Up for Fare Alerts: Many travel websites and apps allow you to sign up for fare alerts. These alerts notify you when prices for specific routes drop or when there are special promotions available. By staying updated with fare alerts, you can seize the opportunity to book your round trip ticket at the lowest possible price.
• Consider Alternate Airports: Sometimes, flying into or out of alternate airports can yield cost savings. Check if there are nearby airports with competitive fares for your desired destination. Be sure to factor in the additional travel time and transportation costs when considering alternate airports.
• Take Advantage of Airline Rewards Programs: If you frequently travel with a specific airline, consider joining their rewards program. Accumulating frequent flyer miles can lead to perks such as free upgrades, priority boarding, and even free round trip tickets in the future. Stay updated with the program’s promotions and take advantage of any opportunities to redeem your accumulated miles.
• Consider Package Deals: Some travel websites and agencies offer package deals that combine flights with hotel accommodations or car rentals. These deals can often result in cost savings compared to booking each component separately. Be sure to compare prices and read the terms and conditions to ensure you’re getting the best value for your money.

Remember to always read the fine print and understand the terms and conditions associated with your round trip ticket. Pay attention to any restrictions or fees for changes or cancellations and consider purchasing travel insurance for added peace of mind.

By implementing these tips and being proactive in your search, you can increase your chances of finding the best round trip deals that match your budget and travel preferences.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Round Trip Tickets

Round trip tickets offer several advantages and disadvantages that travelers should consider before making their booking decisions. Here are the main benefits and drawbacks of purchasing round trip tickets:

• Advantages:
• Cost Savings: Round trip tickets often come with discounted fares compared to purchasing two separate one-way tickets. This can result in significant cost savings, especially when traveling on a budget or during peak travel seasons.
• Convenience: With a round trip ticket, you have both your outbound and return flights booked on a single reservation. This provides convenience, as you don’t have to search for and book separate flights for your return journey.
• Peace of Mind: Round trip tickets provide peace of mind, knowing that you have a confirmed seat for both legs of your trip. This eliminates the stress of finding last-minute flights or dealing with potential flight disruptions.
• Streamlined Itinerary: By booking a round trip ticket, you have a set itinerary with specific departure and return dates. This allows for smoother planning of accommodation, transportation, and activities during your trip.
• Accrual of Frequent Flyer Miles: Round trip tickets allow you to earn frequent flyer miles for both your outbound and return flights. These miles can be valuable for future travel benefits, such as upgrades, free flights, or other rewards offered by airline loyalty programs.
• Disadvantages:
• Limited Flexibility: Round trip tickets are generally less flexible compared to booking separate one-way tickets. If your travel plans change, you may face restrictions or additional fees for modifying your reservation or changing your travel dates.
• No Option for Open-Ended Travel: Round trip tickets require you to return to your original departure point. If you’re looking for the flexibility to explore multiple destinations or return from a different location, a round trip ticket may not be the most suitable option.
• Potential Penalties for Changes or Cancellations: Depending on the airline and fare type, round trip tickets may have penalties or fees for making changes or canceling your reservation. Be aware of these potential costs before booking, as they can add to the overall expense in case your plans change.
• Less Options for Mix and Match Airlines: Round trip tickets often require you to fly with the same airline for both the outbound and return journeys. This can limit your options if you prefer to mix and match different airlines to find the best price or schedule.
• Dependency on Availability: Round trip tickets are subject to availability, and popular flights or peak travel periods may have limited availability. This means that if the seats on the desired flight are already booked, you may have to adjust your travel plans or consider alternative flights.

It’s important to consider these advantages and disadvantages in relation to your own travel needs and preferences. Assessing the pros and cons of round trip tickets will help you make an informed decision that aligns with your budget, schedule, and flexibility requirements.

Round trip tickets offer a convenient and cost-effective way to plan your air travel. With the benefits of cost savings, convenience, and a streamlined itinerary, they are a popular choice among travelers. By booking a round trip ticket, you have the assurance of a confirmed seat for both your outbound and return flights, allowing you to focus on enjoying your trip without the stress of searching for multiple one-way tickets.

Understanding the different types of round trip tickets and their respective advantages and disadvantages can help you make the best decision for your travel needs. Whether you opt for a standard round trip ticket, a flexible option, or even a round-the-world ticket, considering factors such as price, flexibility, and airport options will ensure you find the most suitable option for your trip.

When it comes to booking round trip tickets, there are various avenues to explore. Online travel agencies, airline websites, travel agents, and mobile apps offer different platforms for searching and booking your flights. By comparing prices, being flexible with travel dates, and taking advantage of specific promotions or rewards programs, you can find the best round trip deals that fit your budget.

It’s worth noting that round trip tickets have specific terms and conditions set by airlines, so it’s important to review and understand them before making your booking. Be aware of any restrictions, fees, or penalties for changes or cancellations that may apply to your ticket.

In conclusion, round trip tickets offer a convenient, cost-effective, and secure option for air travel. By considering the benefits and potential drawbacks, understanding the different types available, and following the tips for finding the best deals, you can make informed choices and enjoy a seamless journey to your desired destination.

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Open-Jaw and Circle Fares

Ed Hewitt started traveling with his family at the age of 10 and has since visited dozens of countries on six continents. He wrote for IndependentTraveler.com for more than 20 years, producing hundreds of columns on travel and offering his expertise on radio and television. He is now a regular contributor to SmarterTravel.

An avid surfer and rower, Ed has written about and photographed rowing competitions around the world, including the last five Olympic Games.

He's passing his love of travel on to the next generation; his 10-year-old son has flown some 200,000 miles already.

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When is a round trip not a round trip? When it’s a circle or open-jaw itinerary.

Thanks to the airlines’ complicated and arcane fare structures, roundtrip flights almost always cost less than the sum cost of two one-way trips on the same route. (Discount airlines are a notable exception to this rule.) And most round trips go from Point A to Point B and back again.

But what if you need to do some traveling at your destination, and it’s more convenient to fly home from a different airport? Or if you need to hit two or more cities in a short span of time, and want to do it in a single trip? If either situation applies to you, you may want to consider an open-jaw or circle ticket. Read on to learn how these special fares could save you money on your next multi-city itinerary.

The Open Jaw An open-jaw flight is one that, in the simplest terms, flies from Point A to Point B, then from Point C back to Point A. Points B and C are often neighboring airports, or at least in the same general area. A sample open-jaw itinerary might be a flight from Atlanta to Seattle on the way out and from Portland, OR to Atlanta on the way back.

Another open-jaw scenario is to fly into and out of the same destination city, but your starting and finishing points are different, thus: Fly Point A to Point B; then fly Point B to Point C.

An open jaw is ideal for travelers who are planning to cover a lot of ground during their trip and who don’t want to waste time returning to their original airport. Perhaps you fly into San Francisco and then drive down the coast of California to Los Angeles; an open-jaw fare would allow you to fly home out of LAX instead of making your way back up to San Francisco. Open jaws are also useful for cruise passengers whose sailings embark and disembark in different ports.

Despite the fact that an open-jaw itinerary isn’t quite a classic round trip, most airlines treat it as such and charge you half the roundtrip fare of what each leg of the trip would cost you. So if the Atlanta – Seattle round trip would cost $400 and the Portland – Atlanta round trip would cost $500, you end up paying $200 for the first leg and $250 for the second leg, for a total of $450 roundtrip. The resulting total fare will typically offer considerable savings over the cost of two separate one-way flights.

There is such a thing as a double open jaw — Point A to Point B on the way out, and then Point C to Point D on the return. While this is usually more expensive than a traditional open jaw, it may still save you money over two separate one-way flights.

The Circle A circle itinerary typically begins and ends in the same city, but includes at least three separate flights that take you to two or more different cities without the overland portions of the open jaw.

Example: Fly from New York to Detroit, then Detroit to Houston, then Houston to New York. (Feel free to add Points D, E, F and beyond, but make sure you start and end at your original city — New York in this example.)

Circle itineraries usually permit a maximum of two stopovers and are priced as a series of one-way flights. (Circle fares may not save you as much as an open jaw.) Still, circle fares qualify you for discounted fares, and you may even find that the fares on the separate legs of your flight add up to less than a pure roundtrip fare. This is especially true on popular long-haul routes.

Exceptions and Rules Open Jaw The most common restriction on an open-jaw itinerary is that the segment of your trip that you don’t fly (the Seattle-Portland leg in our example) must be shorter than the shortest leg of the trip that you do fly.

So, for example, if you flew from Atlanta to Seattle, then drove cross-country to New York, then flew back to Atlanta, you couldn’t qualify for the open-jaw discount, as the distance from Seattle to New York is much greater than the distance from New York to Atlanta.

Circle Fares Restrictions and rules on circle itineraries vary by airline, but usually take one of the two following forms, both a variation on the old “Saturday night stay” rules:

1. You may not begin travel from the farthest geographical point of your trip until the first Sunday of your trip. Note that it is the farthest geographical point, not the place you stay the longest or schedule in the middle of your trip.

2. You may not begin the last leg of your trip until the first Sunday after the beginning of your trip.

The difference between the two is critical: in the first instance, the order in which you visit the cities is extremely important. In the latter instance, it is much less so.

If your airline has different rules for different segments of your trip, the whole trip will generally be subject to the most restrictive ones. So, for example, if one fare requires a 14-day advance purchase and the other a 21-day advance purchase, you’ll need to book 21 days ahead in order to get the discounted circle fare.

How to Find Open Jaw and Circle Fares Luckily, open-jaw and circle fares are not too difficult to find. Most online booking engines and airline Web sites can recognize a circle or open-jaw itinerary, and price them accordingly; just look for the multi-city search option. It might still be worth checking with your travel agent just to be sure. If prices seem high, call and ask if minor adjustments of your flight dates might help you qualify for either an open-jaw or circle itinerary.

Keep in mind, however, that these fares may not necessarily be your cheapest bet. If a discount airline serves all or part of your itinerary, check that carrier’s one-way fares to see if they can beat what the big airlines are offering. For help finding low-cost carriers around the world, check out our guides to Domestic Discount Airlines (U.S.) and International Discount Airlines .

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What is the difference between a round trip and a circle trip?

Circle trip, 1. can i change my return date on a round trip ticket, 2. are round trip tickets always cheaper than one-way tickets, 3. can i make stops at different cities on a round trip ticket, 4. are circle trips more expensive than round trips, 5. can i combine a round trip and a circle trip, 6. can i book a circle trip online, 7. do i need a visa for each destination on a circle trip, 8. are there any restrictions on the duration of a circle trip, 9. can i make changes to my itinerary during a circle trip, 10. are there any specific travel insurance options for circle trips, 11. can i book a circle trip with different modes of transportation, 12. are there any recommended resources for planning a circle trip, what is the difference between a round trip and a circle trip.

A round trip and a circle trip are two common terms used in the travel industry to describe different types of journeys. While both involve returning to the starting point, they have distinct characteristics and purposes. Understanding the difference between these terms can help travelers make informed decisions when planning their trips.

A round trip refers to a journey from one location to another and then back to the original starting point. It typically involves booking a flight, train, or any other mode of transportation that covers the outbound and inbound segments. For example, if you plan to fly from New York to London and then return to New York, it would be considered a round trip.

One of the key advantages of a round trip is that it offers convenience and often cost savings. Airlines and other transportation providers usually offer discounted fares for travelers booking a round trip ticket. This means that the overall cost of the journey is lower compared to booking separate one-way tickets.

Additionally, a round trip provides a sense of continuity and convenience, as travelers know their return journey is already arranged. It eliminates the need to search for transportation options at the destination for the return trip, reducing travel-related stress.

A circle trip, on the other hand, is a more complex type of journey that involves visiting multiple destinations in a loop or circuit. It may include stops at various cities or countries before returning to the starting point. Unlike a round trip, a circle trip does not necessarily follow a direct route between the origin and destination.

Circle trips are especially popular among travelers who want to explore and experience multiple destinations within a single trip. They allow for greater flexibility and the opportunity to visit diverse locations.

While a circle trip offers more freedom and exploration, it can also be more time-consuming and expensive. Planning and coordinating transportation, accommodations, and activities in multiple destinations requires careful research and organization. It is essential to consider the distances between the various stops and plan for adequate travel time.

FAQs about Round Trips and Circle Trips:

Yes, most airlines allow passengers to change their return date on a round trip ticket, but it may be subject to additional fees or fare differences.

In many cases, round trip tickets are cheaper than booking separate one-way tickets. However, this can vary depending on the airline, destination, and specific travel dates.

Most airlines allow passengers to make stops at different cities on a round trip ticket, but it may be subject to certain conditions and additional fees.

Circle trips can be more expensive than round trips, as they involve visiting multiple destinations. However, this depends on the specific itinerary, transportation options, and accommodations chosen.

Yes, it is possible to combine a round trip with a circle trip. This allows travelers to visit multiple destinations before returning to their starting point.

Yes, many travel booking websites and agencies offer the option to book circle trips. It is recommended to use websites that specialize in multi-destination itineraries or consult a travel agent for assistance.

The visa requirements for each destination on a circle trip may vary. It is important to check the visa requirements of each country you plan to visit and apply for the necessary visas in advance.

The duration of a circle trip can vary depending on personal preferences and individual travel plans. Some travelers may opt for shorter trips, while others may plan longer journeys to fully explore each destination.

Yes, it is possible to make changes to your itinerary during a circle trip. However, this may be subject to availability and potential fees or fare differences.

Many travel insurance providers offer coverage for circle trips. It is important to review the policy details and ensure that it provides sufficient coverage for multi-destination travel.

Yes, circle trips can involve combining different modes of transportation, such as flights, trains, buses, or ferries, depending on the destinations and preferences of the traveler.

Many online resources and travel blogs provide useful tips, itineraries, and recommendations for planning a circle trip. It is advisable to research and gather information from reliable sources before finalizing your itinerary.

By understanding the difference between a round trip and a circle trip, travelers can make informed decisions and plan memorable journeys that suit their preferences and travel goals. Whether opting for convenience and cost savings with a round trip or seeking adventure and exploration with a circle trip, each type of journey offers unique experiences that contribute to a fulfilling travel experience.

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What is a Round Trip Flight? (Everything You Should Know)

A round-trip flight is when you fly from somewhere and then return to that original location.

When you book a round-trip flight, you receive a single ticket that covers both the outbound and inbound legs of the journey.

Round-trip flights are usually cheaper than booking multiple one-way flights, especially for international destinations. But you sacrifice flexibility and have to pay more upfront for a round-trip ticket.

Rescheduling round-trip flights can also be both difficult and expensive. 

Round-trip flights can include layovers and connecting flights . But as long as the start and end points are the same, it’s a round-trip flight. 

Table of Contents

• 1 How Round Trip Flights Work
• 2 Round Trip Flights Are Cheaper than One Way Flights
• 3 You Don’t Have to Fly Both Legs
• 4 How Long You Can Stay on a Round Trip Ticket
• 5.1 1. Lower Costs
• 5.2 2. Lower Taxes
• 5.3 3. Fewer Cancellation Fees
• 5.4 4. Vouchers
• 6.1 1. Changing the date can be more expensive
• 6.2 2. Expensive domestic flights
• 6.3 3. High Upfront Costs
• 6.4 4. Automatic Itinerary Cancellations
• 6.5 5. Decreased Flexibility
• 7 One-Way and Open-Jaw Flights

How Round Trip Flights Work

A round-trip flight includes a flight from your original location, let’s call ‘A,’ to your destination, let’s call ‘B,’ as well as a flight from B back to A. 

With a round-trip ticket, you get a flight to B, where you’ll stay for as long as you like before going back to A. 

Round-trip flights are the most popular flights for travelers who are flying for a vacation.

Round Trip Flights Are Cheaper than One Way Flights

Round trips are almost always cheaper than one-way flights when booking with the same airline, with most airlines incentivizing round trips, especially for leisure travel, and especially to international destinations. 

For example:

• A round trip from London to New York may cost $1,000.
• A one-way trip to New York City from London might cost $600, and a one-way trip from London to New York City may also cost $600.
• In this example, you’d save $200 by choosing a round trip with the same airline rather than booking two separate flights. 

But it could be cheaper for you to fly with two different airlines.

Let’s say you find a British Airways flight from London to New York City for $600. But you also find a Delta Air Lines flight from New York City to London for only $300. 

In that case, you’d save $100 by buying two one-way flights from different airlines. 

You Don’t Have to Fly Both Legs

You’re not technically obligated to fly both legs of a round-trip flight.

If you fly the first leg from your location to the destination, you could stay there longer and miss the return flight if you wanted to.

But airlines dislike this behavior and may penalize your flying privileges if you do this repeatedly. 

If you miss the first leg of your round-trip flight, the airline will most likely automatically cancel the return flight, too. 

How Long You Can Stay on a Round Trip Ticket

You can stay on a round-trip flight for as little as one day to as long as a year.

The exact duration you can stay depends on the airline’s booking policies and flight availability. 

Pros of Round Trip Flights

1. lower costs.

Round trips from the same airlines are almost always cheaper than booking two one-way flights.

Round trips for international flights are especially cheaper than purchasing two one-way tickets from the same airline. 

2. Lower Taxes

You only have to pay sales tax once with a round-trip flight.

That’s because you only have to pay for one ticket, which includes both your flights. 

3. Fewer Cancellation Fees

You’ll only be charged a single cancellation fee if you cancel a round-trip flight.

But if you cancel two one-way flights, you’ll pay cancellation fees for both flights. 

4. Vouchers

You can save a lot of money on round-trip flights if you have a voucher, like a companion voucher from a credit card.

You’ll save more when booking round-trip flights, since an individual round-trip flight costs more than an individual one-way flight.

And vouchers can only be used once and are usually a percentage discount. 

Cons of Round Trip Flights

1. changing the date can be more expensive.

Changing the dates for a round-trip flight costs between $0 to $400.

In some cases, it could be so expensive that you’d be better off missing a flight and booking a new one-way flight instead. 

2. Expensive domestic flights

Round-trip domestic flights with the same airline could be more expensive than booking multiple one-way domestic flights with different airlines.

Most airlines are more price competitive for domestic routes rather than international ones. 

3. High Upfront Costs

You have to pay more up-front for a round-trip flight than when booking a one way flight.

4. Automatic Itinerary Cancellations

If you miss the first leg of your round trip, the airline may also cancel your return trip, and you will lose your money.

5. Decreased Flexibility

You have to meet the scheduled flight date and times for a round trip flight.

Whereas with multiple one-way trips, you could just book your return flight whenever you want while at your destination. 

You can technically change your return flight for a round-trip, but it’s often expensive and difficult. 

One-Way and Open-Jaw Flights

A one-way flight is a flight from one destination to another destination that doesn’t include a return flight.

An open-jaw flight i s when you travel from your location to a first destination.

Then you travel to a different subsequent destination(s) and return to your original location from one of the subsequent destinations. 

For example, you could fly from New York to Paris. Then drive from Paris to Berlin and fly from Berlin back to New York.

In conclusion:

• A round-trip flight is when you fly from your location to another destination, and then fly back to your original location.
• With a round-trip flight, you purchase one ticket, which gives you an inbound and outbound flight.
• Round-trip flights are most popular among tourists.
• Booking a round-trip flight has many advantages over booking multiple one-way flights.
• Most importantly, round-trip flights are almost always cheaper than multiple one-way flights, especially for international destinations.
• Round trip flights are also more convenient for people who are only traveling a short time, such as for a vacation.
• But round trip flights are less flexible and more expensive to alter. 

See Also: A Complete Guide to Airline Operations

Ella Dunham

Ella Dunham, a Freelance Travel Journalist and Marketing Manager, boasts an impressive career spanning eight years in the travel and tourism sectors.

Honored as one of "30 Under 30" by TTG Media (the world’s very first weekly travel trade newspaper), a "Tour Operator Travel Guru" and "Legend Award" winner, Ella is also a Fellow of the Institute of Travel, a Member of the Association of Women Travel Executives, has completed over 250 travel modules, and hosts travel-focused segments on national radio shows where she provides insights on travel regulations and destinations.

Ella has visited over 40 countries (with 10 more planned this year).

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Travel Codex

Your Resource for Better Travel

An Introductory Guide to Fare Rules

I’m discussing airline inventory this week, including fare class availability, fares themselves, and fare construction. A lot of talk about fares for a product some people don’t think is priced very fairly at all. But maybe that’s just because they don’t know what to look for. I get upset, too, when things seem unnecessarily opaque. I’ll try to clear things up.

• Introduction to Airline Inventory
• Where to Find Information on Fare Class Availability
• How to Combine Availability and Published Fares

In today’s installment, I’m mostly just explaining a few key terms that you may run across when reading fare rules.

Permitted Routing

This is the route you are allowed to travel with this fare. There may be several different options available. For example, the permitted routing could look like SEA-SFO/OAK/SJC-JFK/EWR-LHR. In routing language, dashes indicate flights between airports, and slashes indicate an option between two or more airports. This example means you will fly from Seattle to either San Francisco, San Jose, or Oakland, then to either JFK or Newark (not La Guardia), and then to London Heathrow (not Gatwick or Luton).

I will use two slashes instead of one to indicate that there is a break in the itinerary rather than an option between two airports. For example, SEA-SFO//SJC-SEA means you fly from Seattle to San Francisco and later from San Jose to Seattle, making your way from San Francisco to San Jose by some other means as part of an open jaw. Thus, with two slashes you actually fly through both airports, whereas with one slash you have a choice between them.

Co-terminals

These are equivalent airports as far as the fare rules are concerned. Frequently you will see something like SFO/SJC/OAK in the fare rules. It doesn’t necessarily mean the airline has flights between all of the city pairs listed in its routing rules (maybe you can only get to one by connecting elsewhere), or even that it operates any flights at all to some of those airports. Co-terminals often make a lot of sense due to geographic proximity.

On the other hand, sometimes certain nearby airports WILL NOT be listed as co-terminals, which is annoying when you want to fly to a place like Washington, DC, and the fare only permits Baltimore or Dulles, not the convenient Reagan National airport.

Maximum Permitted Mileage

Rather than specify a particular routing, international fares often specify a maximum permitted mileage. Say you want to fly from San Francisco to London. The MPM may be something like 14,000. There may be a few other rules like the maximum number of transfers/connections and which regions they can be in, but otherwise the only requirement is that you keep the total distance flown under 14,000 miles.

Unless you’re trying to force a crazy routing or having difficulty finding fare class availability, I wouldn’t worry about MPM. This is information you can look up with a service like  KVS Tool  and is not airline specific. However, some airlines will have a policy that permits you to go over by a certain amount, like 10 or 15%, on award trips. On revenue trips, there may be a fare surcharge that matches the excess mileage.

Segment/Leg

These are the individual flights where you embark and debark an aircraft. Again, simple enough, but most people in my experience use the word “flight” instead of “segment.”

Nonstop Flight

Truly what it sounds like. For example, you fly from SEA to LHR without stopping.

Direct Flight

A deceptive ploy by the airlines for the most part. A direct flight refers not to the actual path the airplane travels but rather whether the assigned flight number changes en route. For example, flight 123 may travel from SEA to LAX to JFK to LHR with gate, plane, and crew changes at each airport. If you don’t pay close attention, you might book flight 123 hoping for a nonstop trip from SEA to LHR and not realize you have to change planes in LAX and JFK.

Not only that, but the fact these four separate trips all share the same flight number doesn’t guarantee the airline will hold one flight if the preceding one is delayed. Don’t think of a direct flight as anything other than a normal connecting flight. In fact, be very concerned. Sometimes the number of miles awarded will be  as if it were a nonstop flight even though you spent a lot more time in a seat. Check the rules of your loyalty program.

Open jaw trips are like a roundtrip but only involve a single shared airport. These may look like SFO-EWR-SJC (the jaw is open at the origin on the West Coast) or SFO-EWR//JFK-SFO (the jaw is open at the destination on the East Coast). Generally the open part of a jaw must be a shorter distance than either of the two flown segments. A double open jaw is one where both ends are open, such as SFO-EWR//JFK-SJC, and these generally require combining two one-way fares.

Open jaws can be a great way to save some money. A lot of fares these days don’t discriminate between booking a round trip or two one ways. If you have lots of airports to choose from, you’ll have more flexibility to find a cheap one way fare there and a cheap one way fare back. Also, if you’re doing something like a European tour you won’t have to double back to where you first arrived.

Circle Trip

Like it says, you travel in a circle/triangle/other polygonal approximation. The itinerary will look something like SFO-ORD-DFW-SFO. Alternatively, a circle trip may mean a round trip but one that uses a different one-way fare basis codes in each direction. A true round trip would use a single fare basis code.

Transfer/Connection

These are airports where you stop along the way. Simple enough, but sometimes the word “transfer” doesn’t always make sense to people who think of these as “connections.”

In general, you are permitted 4 hours to make a domestic connection and 24 hours to make an international connection. If there are very infrequent flights, like two flights a day 12 hours apart, you’ll be allowed to stay longer than 4 hours but only if you take the first connection available.

If you arrive after the last connecting flight of the day, you will be granted additional time until the next connecting flight the following morning (or another day if there aren’t daily flights).This can be a great way to take advantage of opportunities for mini-trips if you aren’t permitted a stopover, which is a real break in your trip to spend a few days and pick up later. Getting 24 hours to run into a favorite city for a nice meal can be better than not seeing it at all.

A stopover is a break in your itinerary to spend time in a connecting city. You may be traveling from New York to Dubai via London. Rather than spend three hours connecting in London, you can elect to stay there for a week and have a mini trip-within-a-trip. Sometimes this is free (especially on some award trips) and sometimes it costs $100 or so.

Combinability

Any time you are trying to combine two fares you will have to worry about combinability. Note that there ARE single fares that permit some crazy routings but get you back to the same place, like round-the-world fares. However, you can generally assume that anything other than a simple roundtrip or one-way ticket is going to require combining two fares. Usually most search engines will tell you when this is the case.

Examples of combinations include circle trips, open jaws (sharing only the origin or destination airport, not both), and end-on-end combinations (a combination of two roundtrip fares).

Because there are multiple fares are involved but purchased as one transaction, you might wonder which set of fare rules apply. It is very difficult to figure out how these rules work together, and it isn’t always easy to predict whether two fares will combine properly. However, you can generally assume that the most restrictive set of rules will apply. So if you are combining a non-refundable G fare with a refundable Y fare, then typically both fares will be non-refundable.

You will usually see this written as “add-ons permitted” or “no add-ons permitted.” An add-on is an extra flight added on to the beginning or end of an itinerary, usually for reasons like getting you to an international gateway. For example, you may have a roundtrip fare for SFO-CDG-SFO and want to add a one-way fare for SEA-SFO or SFO-SEA because there aren’t any nonstop flights from Seattle to Paris. Add-on fares cannot be sold by themselves but rather only in combination with another fare.

To be honest I am not especially clear on how this rule works, but you can read more about it from sources like this one .

Back-to-Back Ticketing

This is a practice forbidden by all airlines to my knowledge. It involves purchasing two separate tickets and using them out of order or using only parts of each ticket.

In the first example, using them out of order, you may buy two roundtrip tickets from Seattle to London but stagger the dates like so:

• SEA-LHR on the 1st (ticket A)
• LHR-SEA on the 3rd (ticket B)
• SEA-LHR on the 10th (ticket B)
• LHR-SEA on the 12th (ticket A)

Why is this forbidden? Perhaps there is a minimum stay requirement of seven days. Ticket A and ticket B both meet these requirements, qualifying for a cheaper fare. But the passenger is actually traveling on two separate roundtrips with only two days in London each time. He or she is circumventing the fare rules to pay less than required.

In the second example, intentionally using only part of each ticket, you may book the same tickets as above but only use the first leg of each. Maybe you don’t actually need to go to London twice, but it’s still cheaper to buy two tickets and throw away half of each rather than pay full price for a ticket that lets you stay less than seven days.

End-on-End Ticketing

End-on-end ticketing is when you place fare B within fare A. It is very similar to the first example of back-to-back ticketing. However, the fare rules will tell you if end-on-end ticketing is permitted, and there isn’t any particular reason why this wouldn’t be okay because it’s perfectly understandable that there won’t always be a single fare for every trip between two cities. Your purchase will look something like this:

• SEA-EWR (fare A)
• EWR-BOS (fare B)
• BOS-EWR (fare B)
• EWR-SEA (fare A)

United doesn’t fly directly to Boston from Seattle, but it does fly directly to each city from Newark. Perhaps the fares for each of those roundtrips together is cheaper than a single fare for Seattle to Boston that permits a connection. So you would buy fare A to get you between Seattle and Newark, and fare B to get you between Newark and Boston. However, they are all on the same ticket, not like what you saw above in back-to-back ticketing where they were purchased separately.

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About Scott Mackenzie

Scott is a former scientist and business student who created Travel Codex to unravel the complexity of travel loyalty programs. After 11 years in Seattle, he now lives in Austin with his wife and flies over 100,000 miles every year.

June 20, 2023

The SAT Problem That Everybody Got Wrong

The coin rotation paradox flummoxed SAT test writers even though we encounter this math problem every day

By Jack Murtagh

Mehmet Çetin/Alamy Stock Photo

The 1982 SAT infamously held a math question so tricky that even its creators didn’t include a correct answer. The botch required the rescoring of 300,000 exams, scholastic victims of the knotty coin rotation paradox.

Here’s how the paradox works: Place two quarters flat on a table so that they are touching. Holding one coin stationary on the table, roll the other quarter around it, keeping edge contact between the two without slipping. When the moving quarter returns to its starting location, how many full rotations has it made? In other words, how many times has George Washington returned to his upright position in the graphic below? If you dig puzzles like this, take a minute to think about it.

Credit: Amanda Montañez

Many people suspect that George will make one full rotation. A quarter’s circumference is about three inches around. So the moving quarter rolls along a path with a length of three inches, the same distance as its own circumference. If we wrap a string around a quarter and roll it along a three-inch path, unfurling the string as we go, then surely three inches of string will unfurl—just enough for a single rotation.

In fact, the moving quarter makes exactly two full rotations by the time it returns to its original position. The phenomenon defies common sense. If you find it hard to accept, I encourage you to test it for yourself. Any two disks of equal size will do.

[ For another mathematical exploration, read “Why the ‘Sleeping Beauty Problem’ Is Keeping Mathematicians Awake” ]

The version of this problem that snuck its way onto the 1982 SAT math section had a small variation: the center disk was larger than the one rolling around it. Here’s a version of that problem, with the wording slightly modified for clarity:

The radius of circle B is three times the radius of circle A. Starting from the position shown in the figure, circle A rolls around circle B. When circle A returns to its starting point, how many rotations will it have completed?

Does that seem familiar? Here, we’re told the larger circle’s radius is three times that of the smaller circle. This implies the same for the circumferences of the two circles: B is three times longer around its perimeter than A. It is tempting to reason that the smaller circle could “unwrap” itself exactly three times to encase the larger one. So “3” was the intended multiple-choice answer on the SAT. In fact, circle A makes four rotations on its trip—again, exactly one more rotation than intuition expects. The paradox was so far from the test writers’ awareness that four wasn’t offered as an option among the possible answers, so even the most astute students were forced to submit a wrong response. Three of the 300,000 students who took the test containing the question reported the issue to the College Board, and every exam had to be rescored .

So why is there an extra rotation? The approach that led us astray above does contain some wisdom. Rolling a quarter along a three-inch straight-line path would involve only one rotation. Likewise, a small circle rolling in a straight line with a length that is three times its diameter would rotate three times. So the circular shape of the path somehow causes a rotation of its own. To see why, imagine rolling a quarter around the perimeter of a tiny poppy seed. George will rotate once even though the length around the seed is negligible. So there are two sources of rotation: one from rolling along a path (the longer it is, the more rotations) and another from revolving around an object, which contributes one rotation regardless of its size.

Another helpful perspective comes from imagining rolling a quarter around a square. Each edge of the square is a straight-line segment, and George’s head will spin once for every three inches of length, but the moment you reach a corner, the quarter will have to rotate farther to clear that corner. (Again, try this for yourself if it’s hard to picture.) It turns out that this extra rotation at the corners is exactly 90 degrees, which results in one full rotation (360 degrees) by the time the coin traverses all four corners of the square and returns to its start. Similarly, rolling around a triangle would entail 120-degree rotations around each corner.

The effect scales up to celestial bodies. The moon famously has a far side and always shows the same face to us Earthlings. Many people erroneously interpret the unchanging view of the moon to mean that it must not spin about its axis like Earth does. If the moon didn’t spin during its orbit, though, we would see its far side from some places on Earth. You can demonstrate this with your own fists—hold one steady and orbit the other around it, without any rotation. Observers standing on one of your stationary knuckles will get a different glimpse of the orbiting fist at different times. To eternally hide its derriere, the moon has to rotate once every time it completes an orbit . (This perfect parity between orbit time and rotation time is not an astronomical coincidence but rather an example of a phenomenon called tidal locking . We’re also sidelining our relativistic reference frame, with apologies to Albert Einstein.) With the coins and the SAT problem, we saw that there were two sources of rotation: some from “straight-line” rolling along any path and one extra from revolving around an object. The moon doesn’t do any straight-line rolling. If the Earth were flat , the moon would glide above it without rolling. So the single rotation of the moon is entirely because of its revolution about the very spherical Earth.

If you had an aerial view of the solar system, how many times would you see Earth complete a rotation in a typical year? Many would say 365, but yet again, they would fall one short of the true answer: 366. (Note this has nothing to do with leap years, which are a completely separate matter.) Humanity has defined a day to be the amount of time it takes for the sun to return to the same location in the sky. It is convenient to always have the sun directly overhead at noon. But when Earth completes one rotation , the sun actually hasn’t quite returned to its perch in the sky yet. Let’s revisit the SAT diagram to see what’s going on—only this time we’ll mark a fixed dot on the small circle and observe what happens to the dot as that circle rolls around the big one:

Think of the big circle as the sun, the little circle as Earth (not to scale) and the dot as a fixed point on our planet. In the first panel, the dot stares directly at the sun. It is exactly noon. In the last panel, the small circle has completed a full rotation (the dot points down again), but notice that it’s not noon for someone standing at the dot. The small circle would need to edge forward a little beyond one rotation for the dot to kiss the big circle again. Likewise, although Earth completes a rotation in 23 hours and 56 minutes (which is called a sidereal day ), it takes four more minutes for the sun to return to its overhead location in the sky, yielding our definition of a 24-hour day. Over the course of 365 days, these four extra minutes of rotation per day add up to one additional rotation. 

Thanks for rolling along with us on this tour of coins, testing errors and planetary motion—it’s enough to make anyone’s head spin. 

Editor's Note (6/24/23): This story was edited after posting to change references to a “dark side of the moon,” which should be called the “far side of the moon.”

What is a round-trip flight?

Editor's Note

It's one of the first decisions we make when booking a flight: Should I book a round-trip or a one-way flight?

It's typically something you'll think about before you ever click "search" to find flights and airfare.

At face value, it seems like a pretty straightforward choice. Book a one-way flight if you're only flying in one direction, and book a round-trip flight if you'll be returning home ... right?

Unfortunately, it's not quite that simple. Thanks to airline pricing trends and our own personal scheduling quirks, there's a bit more to consider.

There may be cases where you wonder if you're better off booking two one-way flights to save money. You may have uncertain plans that make it difficult to commit to a return flight. In some cases, when visiting a few different cities, you may be better off with something different entirely: a multicity itinerary.

There are also plenty of additional considerations if you're booking an award flight using frequent flyer miles or flying internationally.

Here, we break down the basics of what you need to know about booking round-trip flights.

A round-trip flight is an itinerary from one destination to another, with a flight back to the original destination.

In most cases, this is what you probably book when going on vacation or visiting a family member for a holiday weekend.

Let's say I live in Charlotte and want to fly to Arizona for a spring break trip. I book an itinerary with an outbound flight to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) and a return trip to Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) aboard American Airlines.

The two flights, booked together on a single itinerary, constitute a round trip.

What is the difference between a round-trip flight and a one-way flight?

When you book a round-trip flight, your itinerary includes an outbound flight and a return trip.

A one-way flight only takes you one direction — say, from Charlotte to Phoenix — with no return flight scheduled.

Is a round-trip flight different from 2 one-way flights?

Yes, in terms of how you book your trip. No, in terms of your travel plans themselves.

Again, a round-trip itinerary includes both an outbound flight and a return trip to the city of origin. A one-way flight is a single trip from one airport to another, with no return booked.

Booking 2 one-way flights

However, if you book two one-way flights, you can, in essence, create your own version of a round trip. This could be on the same airline or on two entirely different airlines.

For the purposes of your travel experience, it's effectively a round trip.

But, know that in the airline computer system(s), you'd technically be traveling on two separate reservations. So, you'd receive different trip confirmation numbers for the outbound and return flights.

Is booking 2 one-ways cheaper than a round-trip flight?

In the U.S., splitting a round trip up into two one-way flights on the same airline and travel dates typically makes no difference in terms of price.

However, on a small number of routes, airlines do charge a premium for one-way bookings compared to the price they charge for a round trip. This is more common internationally, where round-trip flights can be a better value than two one-way trips. Booking two separate one-way flights tends to be more expensive for international travel.

Also, budget carriers frequently offer one-way fares at the same price as a round-trip ticket.

That means if you booked separate one-way flights, you'd most likely end up paying the same as, or even more than, a round-trip fare, depending on the route.

Booking 2 one-way flights on different airlines

On the other hand, there are cases where, thanks to a tool like Google Flights , you might discover that you can save money by booking an outbound, one-way flight on one airline and a one-way return flight on a different airline.

For example, last year, TPG contributor Sean Cudahy needed to travel to North Texas for the weekend. Round-trip flights on a single airline from the Washington, D.C., region to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) were coming in at more than $600 that particular weekend.

However, he saved a couple hundred dollars by mixing and matching: He booked a one-way, outbound flight to DFW aboard Delta Air Lines and a separate, one-way return flight on American Airlines.

Just keep in mind this can be risky. If your flight on one airline gets significantly delayed — to the point that you miss your return flight — your second airline won't automatically rebook you. The airline staff may not have much sympathy for your situation since your troubles happened aboard a different carrier.

Can I book a round-trip flight to 1 city and then return home from another?

Yes. These flights are known as open-jaw or multicity itineraries. Many airlines offer this booking option.

Let's say I want to fly from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Orlando International Airport (MCO). I'm going to visit Walt Disney World for a few days. Then, I'm going to take a Brightline train to South Florida and spend a few days at the beach before flying back to New York.

Since these are airports heavily served by JetBlue, I'll use that carrier as an example. On JetBlue's website, I'll select "Multi-city" instead of searching "Roundtrip" or "One-way" flights.

I'll need to separately enter each leg of the trip. Let's do a Saturday departure from Newark to Orlando, and then a Thursday return from Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (FLL) to Newark.

You'll end up booked on a single itinerary, with the outbound and return flights linked, but with the different city combinations.

Can I buy a round-trip flight with an open return?

No, not exactly. When you book a round-trip flight, you'll generally have to specify a return leg and date.

If your plans are likely to change, though, what you'll want to do instead is pick a date that's far enough out. You'll need to book with an airline or in a cabin class that doesn't charge change fees. Then, reschedule your return trip once your plans are set. Alternatively, you can book a "flexible" fare, which is more expensive but generally allows easier changes.

Make sure you're familiar with an airline's change-fee policy before booking an open-return round-trip flight. For example, most airlines won't let you cancel or change basic economy tickets.

Should I book mileage or award tickets as 2 one-ways or a round trip?

It largely depends on the route. In some cases, you'll get better award availability if you book two one-way flights. In others, the taxes for two one-way award flights could end up being higher than what you'd pay for a round-trip itinerary.

However, in most cases nowadays, award tickets for two one-way flights and a round-trip flight tend to add up to the same number of miles. Just be sure to check both on an airline's website to ensure you're getting the best possible award availability .

Related reading:

• When is the best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare?
• The best airline credit cards
• What exactly are airline miles, anyway?
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
• The best credit cards to reach elite status
• What are points and miles worth? TPG's monthly valuations

👋 Get My FREE Flight Search Tool That Finds Hidden Flight Deals Like This...

...Unless you enjoy paying full price on tickets!

What Does Round Trip Mean? | 5 Types of Fares You Should Know About

What does round trip mean? A round trip, as the name suggests, means traveling from one point to another and then returning back to the same starting point, usually via the same route.

This is considered to be a better way of booking tickets, if you have a fixed schedule, rather than booking two separate one-way tickets. And a round trip ticket generally costs a little less than two one-way tickets.

This works for both domestic and international travel. Airlines provide an option to book a round trip ticket for international flights, and may also give certain discounts or special offers on such bookings.

All you have to do is select the starting point of the journey and the destination.

Next is to fill in the date for the travel to the destination, and then fill in the date when you want to return from the destination.

Some airlines also provide an option to select a particular flight if there are multiple flights at different timings for the same destination.

Once done, you will have booked the tickets both to and from your destination.

While this can be one of the ways to travel , there are few other options which can make your travel convenient, fun, and maybe even cheaper.

Let’s have a look at them.

One way Trip

One of the most preferred ways of traveling is the one-way trip.

It is the easiest to book, and many find it convenient.

A one-way trip simply means that you travel from a starting point straight to the destination.

This is obviously the only way to travel if you are planning on staying at the destination place for an indefinite amount of time, or are moving from one city/country to another.

For shorter distances, a one-way ticket can be one of the cheaper options. But for longer travels or international travels, it may not be the best.

Apart from that, it does provide a little flexibility to the traveler.

If you have traveled to a place, on a one-way ticket, for a scheduled amount of days and wish to extend your trip or cut it short, you have the option to book another one-way ticket from your destination back to your home.

This is one of the advantages of booking a one way trip ticket.

Open Jaw Trip

Open jaw trips are one of the less used ways to travel but are really a very convenient and possibly cheap travel option when you are traveling to more than two different places which are relatively closer to each other, and then have to return back to your home. The traveling pattern usually looks like its name.

An open jaw or a triangular pattern to be precise. For example, you want to travel to Italy and visit a few cities on your trip before returning back.

One way of booking tickets for the trip would be a round trip ticket. But the problem here is, you will have to choose a destination, let’s say Venice, and then wherever you are in Italy, you’ll need to come back to Venice to catch your flight back home. This can be a little cumbersome.

To avoid this, you can book an open jaw ticket.

Which means you travel from your home airport to Venice. And whichever city you are supposed to be on the last day of your trip, book a flight back home from that city. In this case, after landing in Venice, you can catch a flight back from Rome.

This allows you to have a flexible trip and save you the money and the efforts to go back to Venice from Rome.

An open jaw ticket can be easily booked using the multi city booking option on any of the flight booking platforms.

Round the World (RTW) Trip

If you want to travel from one place to another with multiple stops and then back home, a Round the World trip is just what you need.

RTW trips are very beneficial when it comes to long haul trips covering multiple cities or countries.

These types of flights allow you to travel to several different places on a single ticket.

You can book a ticket for a trip to Australia from Europe with a few stops along the trip, or you can choose to travel to 3 or 4 different continents before returning back home.

These flights provide stopovers and no layovers.

This means that at a particular stop, you can go out of the airport and explore the city in the time you have left until your flight out. RTW tickets are known to be cheaper when compared to round trips or multi city tickets.

That’s because your ticket will also include a return back to your home airport.

Many alliances offer such kinds of ticket packages, which also includes a specific plan for every city you have a stop at.

Round Robin Trip

Round robin trips are basically the same as open jaw trips or round the world trips.

They allow you to book multi-stop itineraries on a single booking.

You can choose to travel from your point of origin to one destination and then take a flight back home from another destination.

This is similar to the open jaw booking. You can also choose to Travel to a destination with multiple stops along the trip. But unlike round the world trips, you have the option to choose how many stopovers you want and where.

This way round robin bookings provides a little more flexibility over round the world trips.

They can also save you some money by letting you travel to multiple places on a single ticket.

The trip starts from your point of origin and ends on the same place. Which means you don’t have to book a separate flight back home.

The only issue is that if you wish to extend or cut a trip short, you cannot do that with round robin bookings.

In such a case, you will have to make separate bookings according to your plans.

Multi city Trip

Multi city trips are what covers all the three- open jaw, round the world, and round-robin trips. As the name suggests, multi city trips include stops at multiple cities between your point of origin and your destination.

You can add multiple stops along your trip if you wish to visit those cities, just like you do in around the world booking.

You can also plan to travel to a destination, and return to your home from a different airport, just like an open-jaw trip.

Multi city trips allow stopovers, which are usually longer than 24 hours, where you can go out of the airport and explore.

But it also allows creating layovers, which can be as short as 30 minutes to as long as 23 hours.

Majority of the time, you are not allowed to leave the airport considering the short amount of time. You can book such flights directly via airlines or any agencies.

Depending on the destination and the number of stops or layovers, the prices may vary. Multi city flights can be advantageous if you are planning to take a long trip and want to visit more places with little flexibility.

They also allow you to set your itinerary according to your plan, unlike the planned packages provided on round the world trips by alliances.

Essentially, round the world, open jaw, and round robin trip are very similar to each other and branch out of the multi-city trip system.

All of them, in one way or another, allow you to travel to more than one place on a single booking, and also bring you back to your point of origin.

What kind of trip to choose majorly depends on what kind of trip you have planned.

If you have a limited number of places to visit that are a little closer to each other, an open-jaw trip is perfect for you. But if you want to travel to multiple cities or continents, and be able to spend some time exploring, round-robin or multi-city trips would be the best choice.

In such cases, round the world trips can also be given preference, but if you go with a certain package deal, then it limits your choice in terms of the places you can go to.

If you are not very good at planning a trip or are uncertain of the places to visit and the things to experience once you visit them, then around the world trip is the best choice.

You will not have to worry about selecting the number of places to visit, and the things to do over there.

And lastly, depending on your budget and plans, you can also choose from either a round trip or a one-way trip.

The former allows you to book a trip from your origin point to the destination and back, without having to worry about booking a separate ticket.

Whereas, a one-way ticket is the best when you are uncertain about your return plans.

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Circle Revolutions and the Coin Rotation Paradox

The concept of a circle ‘s revolution involves understanding its circumference, which is the distance around the circle. To calculate the circumference of a circle with radius r , use the formula:

Circumference = 2 πr

Here, π is a constant approximately equal to 3.14159.

Calculating the Number of Circle Revolutions to Cover a Distance

To determine the number of revolutions a circle with radius r makes to cover a certain distance s , divide the total distance by the circumference of the circle. The formula is:

Number of Revolutions = s / 2 πr ​

Example Problem

Find the number of revolutions a circle with a radius of 2 meters makes to cover a distance of 12.56 meters. Using the formula:

Circumference = 2 × π × 12.56​

Number of Revolutions = 12.56 / 12.56​ = 1

So, the circle makes exactly 1 revolution to cover 12.56 meters.

Circle Revolutions Around a Larger Circle

Now, consider a circle of radius r rolling around a larger circle of radius 3 r . The number of revolutions it makes is not directly proportional to the radii of the circles.

In this case, the smaller circle makes one complete revolution when it rolls around the larger circle. However, it also rotates on its own axis due to the motion. This additional rotation results in the smaller circle making one extra revolution for each revolution of the larger circle.

Since the circumference of the larger circle is 2 π ×3 r , which is three times the circumference of the smaller circle, the smaller circle completes three revolutions due to the rolling motion, plus one additional revolution on its own axis.

Therefore, the total number of revolutions is 3 + 1 = 4.

In general, circle of radius  r  rolling around one of radius  R  makes  R/r  + 1 rotations.

The Common Misperception

The common misperception that leads people to answer “3” instead of “4” is the oversight of the additional revolution the smaller circle completes on its own axis. Many people calculate the ratio of the circumferences (which is 3:1) and conclude that the smaller circle revolves three times. However, this calculation neglects the fact that as the circle rolls, it also spins on its axis, resulting in one extra revolution.

One of the math questions on the 1982 SAT omitted the correct answer, so don’t feel bad if you thought the answer was “3”.

The Coin Rotation Paradox

The circle revolution question illustrates the coin rotation paradox, also known as the coin rolling paradox. The coin rotation paradox is the counter-intuitive phenomenon that rolling one coin around another of equal size results in the moving coin completing two full rotations, rather than one. You can easily prove this to yourself using a pair of coins.

The coin rotation paradox relates to sidereal time. A sidereal day is the time Earth needs to rotates so that a distant star appears in the same position in the sky. In contrast, a solar day is the time for the Sun to return to the same position in the sky. The year takes around 365.25 solar days, but 366.25 sidereal days because of the revolution around the Sun.

Practical Applications of Circle Revolutions

The geometry problem of calculating the revolutions of a circle has many practical applications. Here are some notable examples:

• Mechanical Engineering and Design : Understanding circle revolutions is crucial in designing gears, pulleys, and wheels. The principles dictate how gears of different sizes interact with each other, influencing the speed and torque in machinery. This knowledge applies to automotive transmissions, clock mechanisms, and industrial machinery.
• Robotics and Automation : In robotics, wheel revolution calculations are essential for movement and navigation. Robots and automated vehicles use these principles to calculate the distance traveled and to navigate accurately.
• Civil Engineering and Construction : Large-scale construction equipment, such as cranes and excavators, rely on circular motion principles. Understanding how wheels and joints rotate helps predict the range of motion and the efficiency of the equipment.
• Astronomy and Space Exploration : Circular revolution concepts apply to orbital mechanics calculations. This is essential in satellite deployment, where understanding how celestial bodies move and orbit each other is critical for successful missions.
• Athletics and Sports Equipment Design : The design of sports equipment like bicycles and rollerblades involves understanding wheel revolutions. This helps in optimizing performance, such as maximizing speed or efficiency.
• Manufacturing and Conveyor Systems : In manufacturing, conveyor belts and rollers apply the principles of circular motion. This helps in calculating the speed at which items move and the efficiency of the production line.
• Art and Animation : Animators use these principles for simulating natural movements in characters or objects.
• Education and Demonstration Tools : This geometry problem teaches fundamental concepts in physics and mathematics in a tangible and relatable manner.
• Medical Devices : Some medical devices, like CT scanners, use principles of circular motion for accurate imaging.
• Wheelchair Design : For mobility aids like wheelchairs, understanding wheel revolutions optimizes the design in terms of effort required to propel the wheelchair and the ease of maneuverability.
• Bartlett, A. K. (1904). “ Solar and Sidereal Time “. Popular Astronomy . 12: 649–651.
• Bennett, Jeffrey; Briggs, William (2005). Using and Understanding Mathematics / A Quantitative Reasoning Approach (3rd ed.). Addison-Wesley. ISBN 978-0-321-22773-7.
• Bunch, Bryan H. (1982). Mathematical Fallacies and Paradoxes . Van Nostrand Reinhold. ISBN 0-442-24905-5.
• United Press International (May 25, 1982). “ Error found in S.A.T. question “. The New York Times .

Related Posts

Why Are Great Circles the Shortest Flight Path?

Why do you fly over Greenland in an airplane flight?

Or why is it that when you see flight paths on a map they always take a curved route between 2 cities?

It’s because planes travel along the shortest route in a 3-dimensional space.

This route is called a geodesic or great circle route . They are common in navigation, sailing, and aviation.

But geodesics can be confusing when you’re looking at a 2-dimensional map as they follow quite the odd flight path. Let’s dig into this concept a bit deeper.

Great Circle Routes Explained

In a flight path from New York to Madrid, if I asked you which line is shorter, you’d say the straight one, right?

However, a straight line in a 2-dimensional map is not the same as a straight line on a 3-dimensional globe .

This is why flight paths travel along an arc between an origin and a destination.

Now here’s what the same flight paths look like on a sphere. Remember that the straight line in the Mercator map above followed the 40° latitude line.

This paints quite a different story, doesn’t it? It’s deceiving to the human eye.

The takeaway is this:

A route that looks longer on the map is because of the distortion created by map projections like the Mercator Projection . In navigation, pilots often use great circles (geodesic) as the shortest distance flight.

Great circles vs small circles

Now that you have a visual understanding of great circles. Here’s a definition of what a great circle is:

• A great circle is a circle on the globe such that the plane passing through the sphere’s center is equal to the circumference of the Earth.
• Alternatively, a great circle is where the radius is equal to that of the globe representing the shortest distance between two points on the surface of the earth.

In basic terms, imagine you’re cutting into an orange. You can cut them at any angle – north-south, east-west, diagonally. As long as you cut two identical portions, then the circle where the cut was made is a great circle.

For example, the equator is a great circle because it’s the maximum possible circle:

You could also cut it at the north and south poles. This longitudinal line also cuts two equal portions. Any meridian line is a great circle as well.

From New York to Madrid, here’s how the plane creates two equal segments.

A great circle generates two arcs with the shorter one being the shortest path. Here is the shortest path and how the plane is angled to create the shortest path.

How about when you follow along the 40° latitude line? Anywhere that it doesn’t cut two equal pieces is a small circle .

While a rhumb line track is at a constant azimuth, a geodesic line changes direction all the time.

This fundamental difference in navigation concepts can have a significant impact on long-distance sea voyages.

READ MORE : Rhumb Lines: Setting it Straight with Loxodromes

How Geodesics Work

Planes travel along the shortest route in 3-dimensional space. This route is called a geodesic or great circle .

While map projections distort these routes confusing passengers, the great circle path is the shortest path between two far locations.

This is why pilots fly polar routes saving time and distance . And this is why pilots often fly over Greenland.

Have any questions? Please let us know in the comments section below.

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35 comments.

Buy a globe and figure it out.

I’m trying to figure out what flight path an LTA aircraft (Larger than Goodyear Blimp) would take from England to Idaho. It’s part of a novel I’m writing. Any suggestions?

You’re definitely on the right path and to use a great circle.

I am a layman. Please describe the route from Mumbai to New York and San Fransico to Tokyo through a diagram to show why airlines prefer polar routes?

A great circle connecting two points is the shortest distance but it requires frequent heading changes throughout the journey. A straight line (rhumb line) drawn on a Mercator projection map produces the constant compass bearing to follow for the same journey; which is easy to draw and much easier to follow. Over a short distance the difference between a great circle and a rhumb line route is negligible so the simple rhumb line route is used. However, over a very long journey the difference in distance will be quite significant so a great circle route is preferred.

In navigation latitude is the angle above (north) or below (south) of the equator. Longitude is the angle east or west of the prime meridian (ie the Greenwich Meridian). Both of these angular measurements are derived from the centre of the global earth mass. 0 degrees latitude, 0 degrees longitude is the intersection of the prime meridian and the equator (just south of Ghana West Africa).

When you try to draw a flat map to depict the surface of a globe there is a huge problem; imagine taking the peel off of an orange and trying to lay it out flat.

On the surface of global earth the horizontal distance measured between two meridians along the equator (0 degrees latitude) will be greater than the distance between the same two meridians measured along any other latitude because the circumference of each latitude gets smaller toward the poles so the meridians are closer together near the poles. However, the distance measured between two latitudes on the same longitude is the same distance on other longitudes because they will lie on a great circle.

For marine navigation the map solution generally accepted is the Mercator projection because of its unique property of representing any course of constant bearing as a straight segment that can easily be drawn on a flat map. Such a course, known as a rhumb line, is preferred in marine navigation because it is easier for a ship to sail in a constant compass direction to reach its destination even though it will be a bit further than a great circle route. For short distances the difference between the rhumb line and great circle route is negligible. For aviation the distance is more critical since it directly affects time, fuel and load. A simple solution is, where possible, create a sequence of short rhumb lines along the corresponding great circle route. In the modern era all of these positioning problems have been overcome by GPS satellite navigation.

These days we all take degrees latitude and degrees longitude for granted because they have been successfully used for over 2,000 years. Around that time there were early attempts to measure the circumference of the global earth. Early mariners setting off on long voyages either came ‘back’ or never returned; which for millenniums gave rise to the flat earth notion. The first circumnavigation of the earth was accomplished by the Magellan fleet sailing westward 500 years ago. I’ve personally used latitude and longitude to circumnavigate the earth 5 times.

I’ll finish with a reminder that latitude and longitude are both angular measurements derived from the centre of the global earth mass. If the earth were flat then for positioning on it there would be only one angle from the centre and a linear distance measurement from it… an idea that has never ever been tried and proven.

Taking all of the info from this page into consideration, how could it be used to strengthen flat earth theory? I was directed here because I wanted to learn what constitutes a “great circle” and I now understand. I seriously want to know how anyone could reach that conclusion.

High-altitude flying brings another problem to the fore. It is called “coffin corner” where if you fly slower you will stall, and if you fly faster you will also stall.

It actually makes sense if you go back to the comparison of cutting an orange. Again understanding how to navigate along a 3-dimensional globe while looking at a 2-dimensional picture is why it seems so confusing. And No Cari it doesn’t support the flat earth theory. Not even its own theory supports it. lol. The entire point of this is because of it’s a globe. If it were flat none of this would be necessary. Not to mention the Japanese would still be en route to Pearl Harbor if it were a flat earth. That’s an exaggeration but still, it would have been quite a long flight. One that those little planes would never have been capable of making. In fact, if the earth were flat many lives at Pearl Harbour as well as at both Hiroshima and Nagasaki would have been spared. It’s a shame that the earth is in fact round.

You have supported the theory of a flat earth. Thanks.

My wife just left Dallas for Tokyo. I looked on the flight plan and it goes up through Montana and Canada and over the edge of Alaska. I don’t see how this could be the shortest route to Tokyo from Dallas. It seems more like they are trying to avoid flying directly over the vastness of the Pacific Ocean in case there is a mechanical problem.

Having read all the above I’ve decided to go by boat.

Odd! I was told that because of centrifugal force, the Earth was compressed at the poles, thus making it wider at the equator. The great arc is a navigational compensation!

Meanwhile, the Egyptians, who started all this, still could not figure out the height of the pyramids even though they had Pythagoras. Not to mention that even today there is no certain way to measure the partial volume of a cylinder.

The Earth is flat and south polar centered. That’s it.

What about the direction of the route? Nobody can convince me that Madrid lies to the north of Newyork as they are saying now.

Maybe thats how they conclude it but its wrong, even if it works. the real reason is because of difference of rotational velocity of a shorter vs longer circumference. if you draw two lines from the center of a circle, each come out of the destinations. then draw two lines, one at altitude and the other at ground level. clearly the one at altitude is longer. it doesn’t matter if these lines are curved or not. what matters is the velocity the earth rotates at. the length of a circumference increases by 2 pi r. this means that at greater radius per starting location, the rotational velocity of a shorter radius vs a larger are varied. at a great altitude, though you are traveling at a perceived pace relative to the motor function, but you are multiplying that velocity by the increase in circumference relative to the ground’s. or vice versa, you can say the ground it traveling quicker as well since two point in the circumference have less distance to travel compared to the greater altitude. but what this really does is multiply the distance you travel at altitude relative to the ground. so one minute of flight at ground level vs one minute of flight at altitude results in greater distance. but its only if you fly against earth’s rotation. the earth is rotating at a constant speed, but the circumference between the greater height points travels at length over time just as the shorter one. but the shorter circumference then has less length to travel in that time, so its technically traveling slower. so as you increase height from the center of a circle, the increase in circumference, with earth’s rotation increase your velocity. if earth wasn’t rotating, then height wouldn’t matter and straight line would. 3 dimensions or 2… sure, you could look at it that way, but its over complicated…

Because the time it takes to fly to the higher altitude is not commensurate to the time lost by not climbing.

Let P = pressure, d = density, R = gas constant, T = temperature, h = height, g = gravitational acceleration.

By Ideal Gas Law PV = nRT -> d = n/V = P/RT

By the law of hydrostatic pressure

dP/dh = -d*g = P*g/RT

We know have a first-order separable differential equation. Solving this, we get:

Integral dP/P = Integral -g/RT dh log(P) – log(P0) = -g*h/RT -> P = P0*exp(-g*h/RT) d = P/RT = P0/RT*exp(-g*h/RT)

Therefore, as you go higher, the weight of the air column decreases reducing atmospheric pressure and density. However, the air also gets colder slightly increasing density. In the Stratosphere, temperatures increase with altitude instead of decrease. However, this layer of the atmosphere is above the troposphere where we live, so it has to be less dense. Thus, the weight of the hydrostatic pressure of the air column has a larger effect on atmospheric pressure and air density at least less than 10 km above sea level.

In the real world of long distance air navigation, great circle routes are *not* the shortest *flight* path, but they do make a good start on figuring out what will be the shortest flight path. The article fails to understand that aeroplanes travel in the air, which is moving, rather than fixed in relation to the earth. The origin and destination are fixed to the earth, if the sea and the air were likewise fixed, a great circle would yield the shortest path. A longer path with regard to the earth can yield flight path savings in the order of 30% to 50%, the classic example being North Atlantic flights in the forties, where savings of this order resulted from using Bellamy drift derived constant heading paths instead of great circle routing.

Aircraft need to travel the shortest route in the air, not in three dimensional space. Sometimes that will be the same thing, but not very often. For an air routing, you could use the barometric pressure at origin and destination plus the latitudes. Using these, you can calculate the drift for the entire flight due to pressure differences and Coriolis effect, the net geostophic winds. However, there may be jetstreams at less optimum altitudes that could provide considerable net improvement, even if more fuel is used per air mile (meaning movement through the body of air, not the 3D relationship with the earth), but lets not go there. Having derived a constant heading, it is flown, and neglecting political geography, with no concern for the position with respect to the position on earth below, other than the destination and not bumping into things.

To help with the lay understanding, imagine a rectangular table top, with a dot at each end. Over the top you have a much larger piece of perspex. You have a toy car which can travel at a speed equal to the distance between the dots over one hour. Over the course of an hour, the perspex moves half that distance to the left of the direct track, then half that distance to the right. If we attempt to stay on the “shortest” path from A to B, at the end of an hour, we will still be at A. If we calculate the net drift between A and B, which in this example means following a constant heading equal to the direct heading at the start of the journey, our path will be much longer than the direct path, a loop heading out to the left. However, after an hour, we will be at B. If we change the total distance moved by the perspex to half A-B, purely left and right, it will still take us one hour on the constant heading, but if we follow the direct path on the table top, we will get there, having taken considerably more than an hour to do so.

On shorter journeys in the real world, there are few wind reversals – there is also little difference between a rhumb line course and a great circle, so you may as well fly a rhumb line. Longer journeys are where this counts, and also where the great circle should be of use, but often is not, due to winds aloft.

The correct term is “Density altitude” which is a calculation of pressure altitude corrected for nonstandard temperature. As temperature and altitude increase, air density decreases. All aircraft have a flight “ceiling”, an altitude above which it cannot fly. As an airplane ascends, a point is eventually reached where there just isn’t enough air mass to generate enough lift to overcome the airplane’s weight. This is why (depending on the airplane) you might not be able to take-off from a high altitude airport on a particularly hot day. I have experienced this (pilot) myself several times.

If you depart from the North Pole with a plane along a meridian, directly from the rotation point (rotation axis) where speed is 0, to a destination at the equator where the rotation speed is around 1660 km / h , would the plane still reach its destination? From North Pole direct to Brazil(circular arc over meridian 60 W).

Thinner air does not give better engine performance. The reason flying high is more economical compared to flying at low altitude is because the TAS is higher due to density. Thus the amount of fuel burned per nm travel is lower.

You have such great figures. May I use one of them in a presentation to illustrate great circle routes?

Yes, you can. But please give credit by referencing to gisgeography.com

Chris, you are wrong. For air, D=PM/(RT), where D=mass density, P=pressure, M=molecular weight average, R=ideal gas constant, & T=absolute temperature. This is why you need to fill your tires with air in the winter. The temperature drop compresses the air, which means you have to add air to fill in the same amount of relative space.

There are many other atmospheric factors in play such as humidity, wind speed, and wind direction to consider as well.

…and yes, thinner colder air is better for fuel efficiency, but bad for lift. The higher you go, the harder it is to maintain altitude, so like everything else, there is a trade-off. Airplanes are designed to take advatange of the thickness of the air at a certain altitude. That altitude is not fixed relative to the ground, but depends on the weather. So on a hot day, they can fly higher. On a cold day, they.have to fly lower. But there is always an optimum “temperature altitude” for any given plane on any given day. You can’t just keep going up forever. You need pressure under the wings, or you’re flying a brick.

Airplanes need air pressure to fly, it doesn’t matter how dense the air is if there’s no pressure, and pressure and altitude have a consistent relationship. Does that make sense?

Actually, you’re all right, but you’ve each only got two-thirds of the puzzle. There is no direct relationship between temperature and density. There IS a relationship between PRESSURE and temperature and density.

In aviation, there is a concept called “termperature altitude.” So the actual relationship is between all three of them, but the focus is only on the two. The higher you go, the colder and thinner the air gets because the pressure is dropping. For every 1000 feet you go up, there is an expected drop in temperature and pressure, and this remains constant. So flying through colder air is like flying higher. The colder air makes the pressure go down while the density remains the same. The airplane acts as if the air is less dense. Got it?

I too, like Mr. Bir, noticed that there was something wrong with the explanation regarding the density of air. Yes, as air gets colder it gets denser, that’s why to start a cold gasoline engine you have to activate the ‘choke’ which in turn will supply the fuel-air mixture with an extra amount of fuel in order to compensate the leanness that otherwise would not start a combustion.

J Bir, unlike liquids the viscosity of gases inceases with increasing temperature. This can be explained using the kinetic theory of gases.

Mr Bir has it right on, as soon as I read it, I questioned it. But we appreciate your explanation of the great circle route. Good article.

Let me correct you. As the air gets colder, it gets denser, not thinner. However, as you increase in altitude, the air gets thinner and colder. Pilots will always want to fly higher as the low density of the air reduces drag and thus increases the efficiency of the fuel.

Every airline in the world has a business route. This route determines where the aircraft can and cannot fly. For example certain routes over the Atlantic are more costly to make but much faster, the final determination is down to the pilot, in regards to how much fuel he has on board, how delayed the aircraft is, in respect to flying faster than he normally would. This is a very significant thing when determining which transatlantic route to take, because there are at least a dozen of which only 3 of those routes are the fastest and most economical, the rest vary with flight cost. In respect to flying over Greenland, there was a very valid reason to do so especially during the winter and early spring months. As the air gets colder, it gets thinner, and the air thins it gets more and more difficult for an aircraft to stay in the sky. This meant under aviation rules, those aircraft with only 2 Jet Engines had to make the shortest distance between land masses, incase an engine stopped working. This way the pilot could make an emergency landing. Aircraft such as the 747 had no such problems, and could easily fly the quickest transatlantic routes. However over the decades Jet Engines have become increasingly reliable, so much so, that they too can now fly over the Arctic to whatever destination. There are very few airlines who actually use Arctic routes, because these routes are extremely expensive to use. An example of a flight from Helsinki (EHFK; HEL) to Barcelona (LEBL, BCN) does not use a Great Circle nor a Small circle, it uses a direct path from point A to B.

Small circles are not always used for short distances, infact they are seldom used in Europe. Instead most short distances are literally from A->B.

Why are small circles used in short distance trips and not the latter?

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Define Circle Trip

circle trip. Any trip that involves more than one destination, returning to the point of departure, as opposed to a " round trip ".

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OK Justice Circle to take OKC residents, local police for trip to Washington D.C.

A local justice group is taking several northeast Oklahoma City residents and metro area police officers to the nation's capital on a trip aimed at enhancing dialogue and establishing relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve.

Leaders with the OK Justice Circle said there is room for two more law officers now that Edmond Police Chief J.D. Younger has committed to sending a representative from his department and former Midwest City Police Chief Sid Porter has also agreed to join the group.

The Rev. Jon Middendorf, an OK Justice Circle member and senior minister of First Church of the Nazarene, said the weeklong trip planned for July will be free to participants. It is designed to bring Black residents from northeast Oklahoma City together with representatives from police departments for dialogue and an extended opportunity to learn more about each other and engage in empathic listening.

He said he was optimistic about the potential for connection and movement toward peace.

"The whole point of the trip is to give folks opportunities to hear one another, to see one another in a better light and then to see if friendship might work more to achieve peace than protest, and even policy work," Middendorf said. "Obviously, we still have to do the policy work and sometimes we need to do the protests. But, I don't know that we have invested in the power of connection yet the way that we could or should. I think that there might be some potential there."

Middendorf said the trip will include a visit to the White House and the National Museum of African American History and Culture, a Smithsonian Institute museum located on the National Mall. The group also will visit the National Law Enforcement Museum. The pastor said U.S. Sen. James Lankford helped the OK Justice Circle with certain aspects of the trip.

Younger, with the Edmond Police Department, said he didn't hesitant to accept the invitation for one of his officers to be part of the coming trip. He said he has been attending OK Justice Circle's Breaking Bread events. He said he felt the Washington trip was a natural evolution of those community forums.

"I think the Edmond community as a whole has the philosophy of community policing, quite simply police and community working in partnership," Younger said. "So, I think one of the foundational elements of that is for police to stay engaged and aware and constantly learning and seeking to understand different perspectives that may exist in our community."

Middendorf will be part of the OK Justice Circle trip along with Wayland Cubit, another OK Justice Circle member. Cubit, a retired Oklahoma City police lieutenant, currently serves as director of security for Oklahoma City Public Schools and is running for Oklahoma County sheriff.

"The OK Justice Circle just wants to establish relationships from unlikely places to talk about justice and unity and what that looks like for each group," he said.

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