There are so many factors to consider if you want to see this sign! In the past I’ve said that in many cases, it makes more sense to book two one-way flights instead of booking roundtrip. For most airlines, there is no difference in the cost. When you book one-way, you can also shop around a bit more for the lowest price each way. I had the first leg of a roundtrip flight canceled once and so I booked on another airline. I discovered when I went to check-in that my seat on my return flight had been canceled as well. (Fortunately, I was able to rebook immediately.) For me, booking two one-way flights makes more sense. It gives me more flexibility.
Then 2020 rolled around. The way things are right now, I highly recommend booking roundtrip instead of two one-way flights. This is for the exact reason that I just gave, in case a flight is canceled. My flight to California next month was changed to something that would not work for me. If I had booked one-way, it could have been a mess to cancel the flight back home. Since it was roundtrip, it was simple to cancel both ways.
There is more that is important than low price right now. Instead of looking at the cost, the most important thing to consider when booking at the moment is the safety protocols that an airline is taking. I’ve heard horror stories of people stuck in middle seats next to strangers who would not wear their face masks properly. I don’t care if I can get a cheap flight, I am not going to risk getting sick because someone else refuses to follow the rules. I have also heard that some airlines are doing a great job. The two that I keep hearing over and over are Southwest and Delta. That’s not an endorsement, just what I’ve found out from my own research.
Another thing that I don’t necessarily recommend right now is booking through a third party site such as Expedia. This can be an added hassle if you need to change your flight or cancel. The prices that you’ll find on an airline’s site are most likely the lowest anyway. In the past, I’ve searched on Expedia to see who was offering the lowest prices, and then booked directly through the airline. If you search on Expedia or another third party site, make sure you do it on a private browser, and don’t sign in so that your inquiry won’t be saved.
When things return to some semblance of normal, I am sure that I will recommend booking two one-way flights instead of roundtrip again. Right now, though, if you’re flying I think that roundtrip is the way to go. Stay safe, my friends.