Holiday Travelers Consider Separate Tickets for Potential Savings
Travelers looking to save money on holiday flights can consider booking two separate one-way tickets instead of a traditional round-trip. This strategy, sometimes called 'hacker fares' by KAYAK, can result in significant savings, with examples showing cheaper prices for destinations…
Missoula, MT, November 11, 2026 — A growing number of travelers are exploring alternative booking methods to reduce costs for holiday flights, opting for two separate one-way tickets rather than a conventional round-trip fare. This strategy, which has been referred to as ‘hacker fares’ by travel booking platform KAYAK, can potentially lead to notable savings for consumers planning their holiday travel.
The appeal of this approach lies in its ability to uncover lower overall prices. According to KAYAK, this method has shown instances of yielding cheaper options for popular destinations. Examples cited include flights to and from cities such as Washington D.C., Chicago, San Diego, and Orlando, where booking two distinct one-way tickets has, in some cases, proven more economical than purchasing a single round-trip ticket.
However, travelers considering ‘hacker fares’ should be aware of the potential complexities and trade-offs involved. Unlike a traditional round-trip booking made with a single airline or through a unified itinerary, managing separate one-way tickets requires attention to multiple details. These can include adhering to different baggage policies for each leg of the journey, as each ticket may fall under distinct rules and associated fees. Furthermore, travelers may need to navigate the logistics of potential disruptions such as flight delays or cancellations, which could affect subsequent flights booked with a different airline. The airline responsible for the initial booking is typically not obligated to assist with rebooking or compensation for a missed connection on a separate ticket.
While the exact percentage of savings can vary significantly based on the route, airline, and booking time, the trend suggests that a segment of holiday travelers is willing to manage these complexities in pursuit of lower airfare. The specific savings amounts for the mentioned destinations were not provided in the trend summary, nor were details regarding how far in advance these bookings were made to achieve the lower prices.
Story summarized from the original created by John Matarese on www.kpax.com, see more information here.
