How to Find Cheap One Way International Flights in 2025

Members of our Travel Community often ask, “Is it cheaper to buy two one-way tickets instead of a roundtrip?” Well, if there’s something we know, it’s how to find cheap flights. 

While traveling internationally on a one-way ticket can offer flexibility and freedom, unfortunately, it often comes with a higher price tag than roundtrip options. The good news? There are plenty of strategies to help you save on one-way flights without sacrificing convenience. Whether you're planning a backpacking adventure, relocating, or just prefer one-way travel, this guide will help you navigate booking cheaper tickets while avoiding common pitfalls.

Why are one-way international flights so expensive?

Think about two groups of travelers: vacationers and business travelers. Vacationers (a) are price-sensitive and (b) firm up their plans well ahead of time. Businesspeople, on the other hand, (a) tend not to be price-sensitive (their company is paying), and (b) often don't know their plans until the last minute. Therefore, they can't always book a roundtrip because they don't know when they'll return.

If one-way flights cost less than half the price of a roundtrip, everyone would always buy one-way flights and never roundtrips. Instead, the airlines make one-way flights more expensive to generate extra revenue from the small subset of people who can't book their return flight yet.

In other words, airlines know they can charge more money for one-way flights because the people more likely to need them (business travelers) are willing to pay more for them.

In recent years this has begun to change with the rise of more international low-cost carriers, but if you know your date of return, you’re often better off booking a roundtrip.

If your reasoning for booking a one-way is because you are departing from one airport (say, Paris) and returning from another (such as Barcelona), it's likely cheaper to book an open-jaw ticket (often referred to as a multi-city itinerary in flight searches) than it is two one-way flights.

But what if you can’t book a roundtrip because you either won’t be returning soon or you don’t know when you’ll come back? The good news is that if you have some flexibility, not all hope is lost. If you know how to save money on flights, there are still ways to find cheap one-way tickets.

Which airlines offer one-way international flights for a reasonable price?

Airlines offering cheap one-way international tickets from the US to Canada or Mexico (and vice versa):

• Allegiant Air
• Frontier Airlines
• Hawaiian Airlines
• JetBlue Airways
• Southwest Airlines
• Spirit Airlines

When flying within the US, a roundtrip fare is almost always the sum of the two one-way fares, but that's generally not the case when flying internationally from the US to Canada and Mexico—with a few exceptions.

Allegiant Air, Frontier Airlines, and Spirit Airlines don't have stellar reputations for comfort or customer service (in fact, we think they’re among the worst budget airlines, hence why we don’t send deals for them), but in cases where you only need the cheapest one-way flight and you don't care as much about the rest, the savings might be worth it.

Southwest Airlines and JetBlue Airways are better options, especially considering Southwest’s roundtrip fares are usually the sum of two one-way fares. 

Airlines offering cheap one-way tickets flying to, from, or within Western Europe:

• Ryanair
• EasyJet
• Wizz Air
• Vueling
• Transavia
• Eurowings
• Norwegian Air Shuttle
• TAP Air Portugal
• Volotea
• LEVEL

Remember that low-cost carriers, such as Ryanair, offer incredibly cheap flights in Western Europe, but they frequently charge extra for essentials. 

On the other hand, EasyJet is one of Europe’s more established low-cost carriers and gives you a breakdown of everything that’s included in the ticket in your flight search results; its Flexi ticket includes bags, unlimited date changes, route changes, seat selection, and more, making it a smart option for the traveler with a lot of baggage or who hasn’t solidified plans.

Airlines like TAP Air Portugal and LEVEL are great for finding deals for transatlantic flights from the US to Europe.

Airlines offering cheap one-way tickets flying to, from, or within Eastern Europe:

• Wizz Air
• Ryanair
• Pegasus Airlines
• LOT Polish Airlines
• airBaltic
• Blue Air
• SkyUp Airlines
• Croatia Airlines
• TAROM
• Air Serbia

Wizz Air and Ryanair are the go-to options for budget travelers in Eastern Europe. While carriers like LOT Polish Airlines and airBaltic offer a bit higher prices, they also include more perks, like checked baggage and free snacks, something rare within ultra-budget airlines. For flights to and from Turkey, Pegasus Airlines often has affordable fares.

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Airlines offering cheap one-way tickets flying to, from, or within Latin America and the Caribbean:

• Arajet
• Avianca Airlines
• Azul Brazilian Airlines
• GOL
• JetBlue
• JetSmart
• Sky Airline
• Spirit Airlines
• Southwest Airlines
• Wingo

Over the past several years, Southwest Airlines has added service from the US to several Latin American and Caribbean hubs, such as Nassau, Grand Cayman, Cancún, Belize City, San Juan, and Punta Cana. JetBlue, Avianca, and GOL are also great options.

Airlines offering cheap one-way tickets flying to, from, or within Asia Pacific:

• AirAsia
• Jetstar Airways
• HK Express
• Qantas
• Cebu Pacific
• Scoot
• S7
• Air New Zealand
• IndiGo
• flydubai
• Jeju Air
• VietJet

One exception to the above is that one-way flights from the US on Air New Zealand are more expensive than half a roundtrip, while flights within the region are not. For flights within Asia and Oceania, AirAsia, Jetstar, Qantas, and Air New Zealand are all solid options, though only Qantas and Air New Zealand offer bags and seat selection included in the price.

Many of the low-cost carriers listed, such as AirAsia, Jetstar, Scoot, and HK Express, charge add-on fees for just about everything—from seats to bags to snacks. Some of them even charge for carry-on luggage. To avoid sticker shock, be sure to check all the costs you will incur before you commit to the ticket.

Airlines offering cheap one-way tickets flying to, from, or within Africa:

• Ethiopian Airlines
• EgyptAir
• Kenya Airways
• Mango Airlines
• Fastjet
• Jambojet
• Airlink
• FlySafair
• Air Arabia
• Kulula

Fastjet, Jambojet, and FlySafair are reliable low-cost carriers for regional and domestic flights within Africa. Watch out for extra fees on ultra-budget carriers like Mango Airlines and Kulula.

Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways are excellent choices for international routes, often offering one-way fares at competitive prices. 

Airlines offering cheap one-way tickets flying to, from, or within the Middle East:

• Flydubai
• Air Arabia
• Pegasus Airlines
• Jazeera Airways
• SalamAir
• Wizz Air Abu Dhabi
• Gulf Air
• Kuwait Airways
• Saudia
• Oman Air

The Middle East is a hub for affordable one-way flights thanks to carriers such as Flydubai and Air Arabia, which focus on regional connections but often have international options as well.

Saudia and Oman Air provide good value for long-haul routes. However, always review baggage policies and other fees, especially when flying with low-cost carriers.

The above lists aren't exhaustive. Keep in mind that, in most cases, the easiest way to see which airlines offer cheap flights for your dates and destination is to look on flight search engines or, even better, set flight alerts.

How can travelers save money on a one-way international flight?

Get a “throwaway ticket”

While airlines would prefer you not go this route, if it’s cheaper to book a roundtrip than a one-way, you could take only the outbound flight and then cancel (or simply not use) the return flight. Sometimes referred to as "hidden-city ticketing," this strategy involves booking a flight itinerary with multiple legs and only using the portion you need. While this can save money compared to booking a direct one-way flight, it comes with significant risks.

Airlines may rescind your frequent flyer miles or status, charge you a penalty, or even ban you from the airline, so be sure you know the risks. Note that this only works if the return leg is the part you ditch—if you skip the first leg, your whole itinerary will be canceled.

Look into nearby airports

Say you’re flying into New York City and can’t find cheap one-way international flights to JFK. Expand your search to include other airports in the area—like LaGuardia, Newark, and even DC or Philadelphia—to survey all your options. A little flexibility goes far when it comes to saving money. If you're flying to a more far-flung destination with less competition, you can also look at finding the cheapest flight to that continent and then booking a low-cost regional flight from there (what we call the Greek Islands Trick).

Book outside of peak seasons

If we want you to take one thing from this guide it’s that timing is everything when it comes to saving on flights. Off-peak seasons—such as winter in Europe or the rainy season in Southeast Asia—see reduced demand, which leads to cheaper airfare. Even during shoulder seasons, which fall between the high and low travel periods, travelers can enjoy a balance of favorable weather and affordable prices.

Create connections yourself

Creating your own connections is a practical way to save, especially in regions with dense airline networks, such as Europe or Asia. Airlines often charge a premium for one-way tickets with pre-arranged layovers, but you can hack their itinerary by piecing together your own connections. 

For example, if you're traveling to a smaller destination, book a one-way ticket to a major international hub like London, Frankfurt, or Singapore. From there, find a budget-friendly regional flight to your final stop. 

This strategy requires careful planning. Be sure to leave ample time between flights since, after delays or cancellations, airlines cannot be held accountable if you miss the connection. Besides, you need to account for luggage collection and re-checking, as well as visa requirements for transit.

General booking tips

Use tools to track prices

Monitor prices and detect trends to find a cheap one-way ticket. Many platforms offer insights into price fluctuations, helping you decide when to book. Unlike general tools, Going takes it a step further. We don’t just track prices—we also evaluate whether a deal is truly worth it based on historical trends and market insights, and we send you real-time alerts based on your preferences.

Want the best fare alerts? Download the Going App and never miss a deal!

Set up price alerts

You can also opt for tools like Skyscanner, Momondo, and Google Flights. Skyscanner’s "Everywhere" search is perfect for exploring the cheapest destinations, while Momondo’s comparison engine highlights price differences across various booking platforms. With its intuitive price graph feature, Google Flights allows you to track specific routes and see fare trends. If you want to make the most of this tool, check our guide on how to set Google Flights alerts.

Book during the Goldilocks Window

Timing matters, especially when you’re buying a one-way ticket. That’s why knowing the best time to book a flight can save you hundreds. For international flights, the best deals typically appear 2–8 months in advance. For domestic travel, the window is a bit more flexible but often 1–3 months prior.

If you're traveling during peak seasons (Christmas, summer, spring break), book even earlier to secure the lowest fares.

What else travelers should know about booking one-way international flights

International flight policies

Many countries, such as Brazil, New Zealand, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United States, require a return ticket or other proof of onward travel to show that you aren’t planning to overstay your tourist visa. You may not be allowed to board your flight without it.

Typically, which onward destination doesn’t matter so long as you have proof (in most cases this needs to be a plane ticket, but rules vary by country) that you will be exiting the country by a given date.

The risks of throwaway tickets

While throwaway or hidden-city tickets can save money, they come with significant risks. Airlines aren’t really fans of this trick and might cancel the rest of your itinerary, flag your frequent flyer account, or deny you service, so use this trick as your last resource. 

One-way tickets and open-jaw tickets

Open-jaw tickets—where you fly into one city and out of another—offer flexibility and are often more convenient than two one-way tickets. For example, if you're visiting Europe, you could land in Paris and depart from Rome, minimizing backtracking while exploring more destinations.

Get the best flight deals with Going

When it comes to finding cheap one-way international flights, Going is your ultimate ally. With our memberships, you gain access to exclusive fare alerts tailored to your preferences. Our experts track deals for you, ensuring you always find the best value for your next adventure, whether you’re looking into one-way or roundtrip flights.

Ready to save on one-way flights? Join Going, and start receiving alerts for cheap flights today!