Multi-city flights allow you to fly to more than one city within one itinerary.
For instance, if you wanted to visit Los Angelas, you might add a flight to San Diego or San Francisco (or both) during the same trip.
That was my last itinerary to California.
You would get 2 additional cities just by adding something as small as two $50 flights at times.
This is one of my favorite ways to fly.
It is a lot more travel, and a lot of fun.
As you can see in the Los Angelas example, you would get 1-2 additional cities in.
When the average ticket costs $200-$300, that is a bargain.
So, if a ticket to Los Angelas was $200-$300, instead of paying $600-$900 for two additional round trip flights later, you would just add 2 $50 flights (depending on the market and time).
Here is why I love the multi-city flight, and how to make it work for you.
Three Reasons I Love The Multi-City Flight
1. You get to see more places
On one trip I took to Texas, I flew into Dallas and scheduled a multi-city flight to start in Dallas and to return from Houston.
In between those two cities, I also stopped in Austin.
Here is how the itinerary looked.
First, I flew into Dallas.
Then, I flew from Dallas to Austin for around an extra $50.
Then, I rented a car from Austin to Houston for another $50.
Keep in mind that some rental car agencies charge extra for returning to a different location,
This was not one of those.
Next, I flew home from Houston.
This was my first time visiting Texas.
I don’t count or remember visiting Houston as a kid for a summer program for accelerated kids.
I wanted to see all three cities.
I actually hate I missed San Antonio, but there will be other Texas trips.
On an international multi-city flight, I visited both Toronto and Montreal.
I flew into Toronto, and flew home from Montreal.
In between, I took a flight from Toronto to Montreal.
I hate I did not add Quebec City, but there will be other trips to Canada.
In both cases, I got to knock off more cities on my bucket list, and I had a lot of fun.
2. It saves you money
My flight between Dallas and Austin was only $50.
I even got a third city in with a rental car for another $50.
So, my $200 ticket to Texas just added another $50 for each city.
This works with points too.
My Canada trip was booked on points,
I got a flash Delta sale for 7500 one way.
That flight was usually 12,500 Delta miles or more each way.
I then only had to get a flight from Toronto to Montreal
I paid cash on Air Canada for this part of the trip, but this could have been booked with points too.
3. You get to be a Jetsetter
Come on, it is just plain fun to be a Jetsetter hopping from city to city.
4. You get to fly more
All of us don’t have corporate jobs that let use fly every week.
As I have written before, I think everyone should be frequent flier.
That could mean different things to different people.
If you only fly three times a year, go for 4 flights a year.
If you fly every month (12 times a year), go for twice a month (24 times a year).
My goal this year is to start flying twice a month.
When you are flying multi-city, you get to fly more.
Tips To Do The Multi-City Flight
Whenever I get to New York, it will probably be a multi-city flight with a stop in Washington, D.C.
I will start in either city, and may take Amtrak in between.
The airline shuttle between the two cities cost more than in the past at $90 one way.
Also, the airline shuttle between the two cities is only an ERJ, so I think I wanted to try Amtrak for the pretty scenery.
The multi-city flight is not without negatives though.
For instance, I have missed flights,
I got to Austin and though I later enjoyed myself, after 24 hours in Dallas and a nonstop day, I did nothing but sleep the first night there.
If you plan accordingly, the multi-city flight can work well, and can cost as little as $50 more again.
Here are tips to make the multi-city flight easier.
1. Plan your rest times
Again, on my Texas trip (which I was crazy to try to do in only 24 hours for each city), I did nothing but sleep the first night in Austin.
Traveling is not about moving fast, so make sure you have your rest times.
I still enjoyed the trip, but I did nothing but get some barbecue in Austin the first night, and go to my hotel and sleep again.
The next morning and afternoon, I got to the sites in Austin though.
2. Know you won’t see everything
That is true of all trips.
On my last trip to Chicago this May, I did not get to a lot of things on my list, but I got to the most important.
As usual, I still had fun.
This was my third trip to Chicago.
I will probably get to Chicago again this year at least once before the year ends.
A multi-city flight, especially if your first time to a city, can be an introduction.
I have not had a second trip Texas yet (although I probably will this year).
For a long time, I could talk about Dallas, Austin, and Houston though.
I took time off travel before I started this blog, so this was a while ago.
So, know you may not get to all the attractions on your list, but that is ok.
3. Move slower
My multi-city trips like the Texas one move very fast.
As usually, with anything, slow down.
I like to plan my day of traveling in three parts: 2/3 of the day out seeing things, and 1/3 of the day just relaxing in my hotel room.
However, you do it, move slower.
4. Have enough days in each place
I think the ideal would be 2 days.
Most U.S. cities can be seen in two days.
I don’t travel with kids, so occasionally I still pull off 24 hours in a city.
Just know that 24 hours in a city is very fast paced, and do less if not traveling with kids.
I don’t know if 24 hours in one city can be pulled off with kids.
You may have to figure that out.
Summary
Multi-city flights allow you to visit more places, and therefore travel more.
Usually, for as low as $50 added, you can get a flight or Amtrak.
For around $20, you can even get a bus if need be.
So, you get to travel more and for less.
Most of my future flights will be multi-city.
This is one of my favorite ways to fly as long as you are not ragged, maybe it will be yours too.
The first two years I started traveling, and got into points and miles, I must have knocked off 20 cities in a year and a half.
Don’t make my mistake though.
I started out covering my U.S. bucket list.
That means I have been to almost every major city in The United States, but my international list is still long (covered countries in Africa, Europe, and Canada.
So, always start with international travel as a priority.
I plan to cover the three continents I have not been to quickly (South America, Asia, and Australia).
That was not including Antartica.
I also plan to do the Caribbean and Mexico quickly.
I will definitely be using the multi-city flight internationally.
Most people only do 1-3 vacations a year.
I know there are so many places people want to see both in the U.S. and abroad.
I think the multi-city flight will help you move through your list quicker, and see more places.
You don’t have to use it all the time (or at all), but keep it in mind when it works for you.
I know everyone wants to travel more.
The multi-city flight is just one of many ways to do that.
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