Definition
A booking with three or more flights between different cities, such as Delhi–Singapore, Singapore–Bali and Bali–Delhi. On one ticket, changes, baggage and disruptions sit with one airline, but it isn't always the cheapest way to fly the route.
How multi-city differs from a return
A return is A to B and back. An open-jaw flies into one city and out of another. A multi-city ticket adds more legs, with days or weeks in each place, all on one booking reference.
One ticket or separate tickets?
Take a Hyderabad family's Singapore and Bali holiday. They can book:
- One multi-city ticket on a full-service airline: Hyderabad–Singapore, Singapore–Bali, and Bali back to Hyderabad via a hub. Same baggage allowance throughout, one place to change dates, and the airline must rebook them if a delay breaks a connection.
- Separate tickets: a return to Singapore plus a low-cost Singapore–Bali–Singapore return. Often cheaper, but the low-cost legs may include only 20 kg, or no checked bag at all on the base fare, and each ticket stands alone.
Price both. On short intra-Asia legs, low-cost airlines often undercut a full-service multi-city fare. On long-haul routes, a single ticket is usually better value and much safer.
Rules to know
- Fly the legs in order. Skipping one, even a short sector, usually cancels the rest. See no-show.
- Visas for every country: Singapore requires Indians to hold a visa, while Indonesia offers Indians visa on arrival or an e-visa. Sort every entry before you fly.
- Buffer days: if any leg is on a separate ticket, don't schedule it on the same day as a long-haul arrival.
Search multi-city fares on our flights page.