Journey Types in Airline Ticketing: Open, Circular, Round Trip, Multi-City & Complex

Key Definitions and Structures

1. Open Journey

An open journey is a one-way ticket where the passenger travels from point A to point B, with no return segment. It is the simplest form of air travel and is commonly used for one-time trips, such as visiting a new city or attending a conference.

flowchart LR
    A["Origin (A)"] -->|"One-way"| B["Destination (B)"]
    B -->|"No return"| C["End of journey"]

Real-world example:

• A student traveling from Kathmandu to Pokhara for a semester exam but not returning immediately.
• IMAGE: one-way airline ticket labelled diagram | A visual representation of an open journey ticket.

2. Circular Journey

A circular journey involves traveling from point A to point B, then to point C, and finally returning to point A. This type of journey is often used for multi-destination trips where the traveler ends up at the starting point.

flowchart LR
    A["Origin (A)"] -->|"First leg"| B["Destination (B)"]
    B -->|"Second leg"| C["Destination (C)"]
    C -->|"Return to origin"| A

Real-world example:

• A tourist visiting Kathmandu → Pokhara → Chitwan and returning to Kathmandu.
• IMAGE: circular journey airline ticket labelled diagram | A visual representation of a circular journey ticket.

3. Round Trip Journey

A round trip journey is a two-way ticket where the passenger travels from point A to point B and then returns to point A. This is the most common type of air travel for vacations or business trips.

flowchart LR
    A["Origin (A)"] -->|"Outbound"| B["Destination (B)"]
    B -->|"Return"| A

Real-world example:

• A family traveling from Kathmandu to Bangkok for a vacation and returning to Kathmandu.
• IMAGE: round trip airline ticket labelled diagram | A visual representation of a round trip ticket.

4. Multi-City Journey

A multi-city journey involves traveling between multiple destinations in a single ticket. The passenger can visit multiple cities but must follow a specific itinerary. This is useful for travelers who want to explore several locations without purchasing separate tickets.

flowchart LR
    A["Origin (A)"] -->|"First leg"| B["Destination (B)"]
    B -->|"Second leg"| C["Destination (C)"]
    C -->|"Third leg"| D["Destination (D)"]

Real-world example:

• A business traveler flying Kathmandu → Delhi → Mumbai → Singapore.
• IMAGE: multi-city airline itinerary labelled diagram | A visual representation of a multi-city ticket.

5. Complex Journey

A complex journey combines elements of multiple journey types, such as a round trip with additional stops or a circular journey with multi-city segments. These are often used for international travel or business trips involving multiple countries.

flowchart LR
    A["Origin (A)"] -->|"Outbound"| B["Destination (B)"]
    B -->|"Stopover"| C["Destination (C)"]
    C -->|"Return"| A
    C -->|"Additional leg"| D["Destination (D)"]

Real-world example:

• A traveler flying Kathmandu → Dubai → London → Paris → New York → Dubai → Kathmandu.
• IMAGE: complex airline itinerary labelled diagram | A visual representation of a complex journey ticket.

Comparison Table of Journey Types

How Journey Types Work in GDS Systems

Global Distribution Systems (GDS) like Amadeus, Sabre, and Travelport allow travel agents to book and manage different types of journeys. Here’s how each journey type is handled:

1. Open Journey in GDS

• Enter the origin and destination manually.
• Select the date and class of service.
• The system calculates the fare based on the one-way segment.
• Example: Booking a ticket from Kathmandu to Pokhara on Nepal Airlines using Amadeus.

2. Circular Journey in GDS

• Input the origin, intermediate destinations, and final return to the origin.
• The system validates the route and calculates the fare for all segments.
• Example: Booking a circular journey from Kathmandu → Pokhara → Chitwan → Kathmandu using Sabre.

3. Round Trip Journey in GDS

• Enter the origin, destination, and return date.
• The system automatically calculates the outbound and return fares.
• Example: Booking a round trip from Kathmandu to Bangkok on Thai Airways via Amadeus.

4. Multi-City Journey in GDS

• Input multiple destinations in sequence.
• The system checks for valid connections and calculates fares for each segment.
• Example: Booking a multi-city trip from Kathmandu → Delhi → Mumbai on Air India via Travelport.

5. Complex Journey in GDS

• Combine multiple segments, including round trips, open journeys, or circular routes.
• The system validates the entire itinerary and calculates the total fare.
• Example: Booking a complex journey from Kathmandu → Dubai → London → Paris → New York → Dubai → Kathmandu using Amadeus.

Worked Example: Booking a Multi-City Journey via GDS

Scenario: A traveler wants to book a multi-city journey from Kathmandu to Delhi, then Mumbai, and finally Singapore. The traveler will use Amadeus to book the ticket.

Step-by-Step Process:

1. Log in to Amadeus:

   • Access the Amadeus GDS platform and log in with agent credentials.

2. Enter Passenger Details:

   • Input passenger name, passport number, and contact details.

3. Input Itinerary:

   • Origin: Kathmandu (KTM)
   • Destination 1: Delhi (DEL)
   • Destination 2: Mumbai (BOM)
   • Destination 3: Singapore (SIN)
   • Dates: KTM-DEL (10th June), DEL-BOM (12th June), BOM-SIN (15th June)

4. Select Airlines and Flights:

   • For KTM-DEL: Nepal Airlines (Flight NA 201, 8:00 AM)
   • For DEL-BOM: Air India (Flight AI 123, 10:00 AM)
   • For BOM-SIN: Singapore Airlines (Flight SQ 456, 12:00 PM)

5. Calculate Fare:

   • Amadeus calculates the fare for each segment:
     • KTM-DEL: NPR 15,000
     • DEL-BOM: NPR 8,000
     • BOM-SIN: NPR 25,000
   • Total fare: NPR 48,000 (excluding taxes and surcharges)

6. Add Taxes and Surcharges:

   • Amadeus adds applicable taxes (e.g., airport tax, fuel surcharge).
   • Total fare after taxes: NPR 52,000

7. Confirm Booking:

   • Review the itinerary and fare.
   • Pay for the ticket and issue an e-ticket.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Each Journey Type

In the Real World

1. eSewa and Online Travel Agencies (OTAs):

   • When booking flights on eSewa or OTAs like Yatra or MakeMyTrip, passengers often select round trip or multi-city options. For example, a user booking a Kathmandu-Delhi-Mumbai itinerary on Yatra is using a multi-city journey type. The platform automatically calculates fares for each segment and applies taxes and surcharges.

2. Nepal Airlines and Domestic Travel:

   • Nepal Airlines frequently offers round trip tickets for domestic routes like Kathmandu-Pokhara-Kathmandu. Passengers benefit from discounted fares when booking a return ticket compared to two separate open journeys.

3. International Business Travel (e.g., Daraz Logistics):

   • Employees of companies like Daraz or Pathao traveling internationally for meetings often use complex journeys. For example, a Daraz executive might fly Kathmandu → Dubai → Singapore → Bangkok → Kathmandu, combining multiple destinations in a single ticket to optimize costs and time.

Exam Tip

For exams, focus on the following key areas:

1. Definitions: Clearly define each journey type (open, circular, round trip, multi-city, complex) and provide examples.
2. GDS Handling: Understand how each journey type is processed in systems like Amadeus or Sabre. Be ready to describe step-by-step booking procedures.
3. Fare Calculation: Know how fares are structured for each journey type, including taxes and surcharges.
4. Real-world Applications: Relate journey types to practical scenarios, such as booking tickets via eSewa, Nepal Airlines, or international carriers.
5. Comparison: Be able to compare journey types using a table or flowchart, highlighting their advantages and disadvantages.

Common Exam Questions:

• "Explain the difference between a round trip and a multi-city journey with examples."
• "How would you book a circular journey using Amadeus GDS?"
• "Calculate the total fare for a complex journey from Kathmandu to Dubai to London, including taxes."
• "What are the advantages of using a multi-city ticket for international travel?"

Visual Summary:

mindmap
  root((Journey Types in Airline Ticketing))
    Open Journey
      Definition: One-way
      Example: Kathmandu → Pokhara
    Circular Journey
      Definition: A → B → C → A
      Example: Kathmandu → Pokhara → Chitwan → Kathmandu
    Round Trip
      Definition: A → B → A
      Example: Kathmandu → Bangkok → Kathmandu
    Multi-City
      Definition: Multiple destinations
      Example: Kathmandu → Delhi → Mumbai
    Complex Journey
      Definition: Combination of types
      Example: Kathmandu → Dubai → London → Paris → Kathmandu