What is a one-way flight?

A one-way flight is a type of ticket that allows you to travel from your departure airport to your destination without including a return trip. Unlike round-trip tickets, which cover both the outbound and return flights in a single booking, a one-way flight focuses solely on getting you to your destination. If you want to be flexible on when you return or simply intend to stay in your destination, then a one-way ticket is more cost-effective than a return.

Is it cheaper to buy a one-way or return ticket?

Generally, whether one-way or return airfare is cheaper depends on several factors, such as your destination, which airline you’re flying with, and when you purchase the tickets. It used to be the case that a return trip purchase was the standard, but with budget airlines and increased competition, that is not always the case now. For domestic flights or short-haul trips, one-way tickets can often provide better deals, especially if you're booking with low-cost carriers. On the other hand, for international or long-haul flights, return tickets are still usually more economical. One method for potentially getting cheaper deals by booking two one-way tickets is by booking those tickets with two different airlines – commonly known as a ‘hacker fare’.

Which airlines offer one-way tickets?

Almost all airlines will offer one-way tickets, especially the budget airlines that fly shorter routes. Among KAYAK users, the most popular airlines for one-way tickets are Qatar Airways and Airlink, with 33% and 16% of bookings being for one-way airfare. One thing to bear in mind is that some destinations with stricter visa rules may require proof of onward travel and that this often falls on the airline to verify. That means that whilst your airline of choice does offer one-way tickets, you should be aware that, depending on your destination, proof of onward travel may be required, especially for international destinations.

What are the cheapest domestic destinations for one-way airfare?

Based on KAYAK data, the cheapest domestic destinations to fly one-way in the last 2 weeks were Durban from Johannesburg at R420; Johannesburg from Durban at R423; and Johannesburg from Port Elizabeth at R427.

What are the cheapest international destinations to fly to one-way?

It is possible to get cheap tickets one-way to international destinations too. KAYAK data shows that the cheapest international destinations booked on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks were from Johannesburg to Harare at R955; Johannesburg to Gaborone at R976, and Johannesburg to Victoria Falls at R1 070.

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Cheap One-Way Flights to Johannesburg

Tue, Apr 21

19:45 - 20:45

BFN

JNB

1h 00mdirect

R624FlySafair

Sat, Apr 18

20:25 - 21:35

DUR

JNB

1h 10mdirect

R640FlySafair

Thu, May 7

19:45 - 20:45

BFN

JNB

1h 00mdirect

R673FlySafair

Tue, Apr 14

19:45 - 20:45

BFN

JNB

1h 00mdirect

R722FlySafair

Thu, May 7

7:50 - 9:05

DUR

HLA

1h 15mdirect

R738FlySafair

Wed, Apr 15

14:00 - 15:05

DUR

JNB

1h 05mdirect

R870Lift

Sat, Sep 26

14:30 - 16:25

GRJ

JNB

1h 55mdirect

R1 017South African

Sat, Jun 20

15:45 - 17:20

PLZ

JNB

1h 35mdirect

R1 034Airlink

Fri, Sep 4

7:00 - 8:35

PLZ

JNB

1h 35mdirect

R1 050Airlink

Wed, Jun 24

7:00 - 9:00

CPT

JNB

2h 00mdirect

R1 132South African

Useful Info

What is a one-way flight?
A one-way flight is a type of ticket that allows you to travel from your departure airport to your destination without including a return trip. Unlike round-trip tickets, which cover both the outbound and return flights in a single booking, a one-way flight focuses solely on getting you to your destination. If you want to be flexible on when you return or simply intend to stay in your destination, then a one-way ticket is more cost-effective than a return.
Is it cheaper to buy a one-way or return ticket?
Generally, whether one-way or return airfare is cheaper depends on several factors, such as your destination, which airline you’re flying with, and when you purchase the tickets. It used to be the case that a return trip purchase was the standard, but with budget airlines and increased competition, that is not always the case now. For domestic flights or short-haul trips, one-way tickets can often provide better deals, especially if you're booking with low-cost carriers. On the other hand, for international or long-haul flights, return tickets are still usually more economical. One method for potentially getting cheaper deals by booking two one-way tickets is by booking those tickets with two different airlines – commonly known as a ‘hacker fare’.
Which airlines offer one-way tickets?
Almost all airlines will offer one-way tickets, especially the budget airlines that fly shorter routes. Among KAYAK users, the most popular airlines for one-way tickets are Qatar Airways and Airlink, with 33% and 16% of bookings being for one-way airfare. One thing to bear in mind is that some destinations with stricter visa rules may require proof of onward travel and that this often falls on the airline to verify. That means that whilst your airline of choice does offer one-way tickets, you should be aware that, depending on your destination, proof of onward travel may be required, especially for international destinations.
What are the cheapest domestic destinations for one-way airfare?
Based on KAYAK data, the cheapest domestic destinations to fly one-way in the last 2 weeks were Durban from Johannesburg at R420; Johannesburg from Durban at R423; and Johannesburg from Port Elizabeth at R427.
What are the cheapest international destinations to fly to one-way?
It is possible to get cheap tickets one-way to international destinations too. KAYAK data shows that the cheapest international destinations booked on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks were from Johannesburg to Harare at R955; Johannesburg to Gaborone at R976, and Johannesburg to Victoria Falls at R1 070.

If you’re planning to just fly one-way, check for deals with Qatar Airways and Airlink, who KAYAK users booked the most with for one-way tickets.
Book your one-way flight at least 1 week before departure in order to get a below-average price.
If you’re looking for the cheapest month then one-way flights are at their cheapest in November.
Which day you depart can also make a difference when looking for the cheapest one-way tickets. Based on all one-way bookings made on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks, the cheapest day to fly was Saturday.

One-wayReturn

Cologne3 stopsR6 876

London1 stopR5 021

HararedirectR1 493

New York1 stopR8 746

Bangkok1 stopR5 169

Dubai1 stopR4 644

Amsterdam1 stopR5 776

Paris1 stopR5 957

Mumbai1 stopR4 250

Istanbul1 stopR4 857

Port LouisdirectR4 463

Jeddah1 stopR5 235

Guangzhou1 stopR7 154

Phuket City1 stopR5 579

Tel Aviv1 stopR7 827

Lisbon1 stopR5 349

Rome1 stopR4 956

Lahore1 stopR5 628

Athens1 stopR4 775

Cairo1 stopR4 513

Cologne3 stopsR6 876

London1 stopR5 021

HararedirectR1 493

New York1 stopR8 746

Bangkok1 stopR5 169

Dubai1 stopR4 644

Amsterdam1 stopR5 776

Paris1 stopR5 957

Mumbai1 stopR4 250

Istanbul1 stopR4 857

Port LouisdirectR4 463

Jeddah1 stopR5 235

Guangzhou1 stopR7 154

Phuket City1 stopR5 579

Tel Aviv1 stopR7 827

Lisbon1 stopR5 349

Rome1 stopR4 956

Lahore1 stopR5 628

Athens1 stopR4 775

Cairo1 stopR4 513

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How to get cheap one-way airfare

What is a one-way flight?

Is it cheaper to buy a one-way or return ticket?

Which airlines offer one-way tickets?

What are the cheapest domestic destinations for one-way airfare?

Based on KAYAK data, the cheapest domestic destinations to fly one-way in the last 2 weeks were Durban from Johannesburg at R420; Johannesburg from Durban at R423; and Johannesburg from Port Elizabeth at R427.

What are the cheapest international destinations to fly to one-way?

It is possible to get cheap tickets one-way to international destinations too. KAYAK data shows that the cheapest international destinations booked on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks were from Johannesburg to Harare at R955; Johannesburg to Gaborone at R976, and Johannesburg to Victoria Falls at R1 070.

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