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What are multi-city flights and how to book them on KAYAK?

If you’re like me and you love to travel as much as humanly possible, then multi-city flights might be perfect for you. As booking multi-city flights allow multiple flight destinations, you’re able to see and visit various cities or countries in just one trip. They add that flexibility where you can create layovers, combine numerous trips, or even fly in and out of different airports. Sometimes, they might even cost less. In this article, I’ll fully explain what multi-city flights are, how precisely they work and how you can book them.

In this post

• What is a multi-city flight?
• How to book multi-city flights on KAYAK?
• What are the best destinations for a multi-city trip?
• Is there a secret trick to the best way to book multi-city trips?

1. What is a multi-city flight?

A multi-city flight is a type of flight itinerary that includes more than one destination. For example, you can book a multi-city flight from Los Angeles to St. Louis, then from St. Louis to New Orleans, and then from New Orleans back to Los Angeles. This way, you can visit more than one destination in just one trip , without having to book separate tickets for each of the legs. And you’re ready for a multi-city adventure . Read on how to build a multi-city itinerary and start planning your travel.

Some main advantages to multi-city flights are:

• Potentially save money on airfare by combining multiple destinations into one ticket.
• Definitely save on baggage fees by checking your luggage only once .
• Gain time by avoiding unnecessary layovers or connections.
• You can explore more destinations by adding extra legs to your trip.
• Customize your trip according to your preferences and interests.
• Mix and match different airlines and airports to find great deals.

2. How to book multi-city flights on KAYAK?

Booking a multi-city flight is very easy with KAYAK’s Flight Search tool that lets you select “Multi-city” instead of “Round-trip” or “One-way” – and here you can add your extra legs to your itinerary. Let’s give you a step-by-step on how to book a multi-city flight :

• Go to KAYAK.com/flights , and select “Multi-city” from a drop-down menu underneath where it says “Where are you flying?”
• Enter desired dates and destinations.
• Add the number of passengers, the cabin class you prefer and baggage per passenger.
• Now you just need to hit the search orange button 👇.

You can fine-tune the results by adding and subtracting legs as you start planning your itinerary. Sort the results based on time of day taking off, or landing (earliest or latest) to make things easy to sift through.

Next, it’s highly advisable to carefully review the booking details, as there are more legs to double-check on.

3. What are the best destinations for a multi-city trip?

Multi-city trips are fit for most destinations (not all) – so toggling with various options makes total sense. One ticket, multiple destinations . It’s easy and just the way I love to see the world. Here is an example itinerary for a trip with multiple stops.

• Atlanta – London Aug 1
• London by train to Paris, Aug 4
• Paris to Amsterdam also by train Aug 8
• Amsterdam to Berlin Aug 12
• Berlin to Madrid Aug 14
• Madrid back to Atlanta, Aug 17

✈️ Pro tip: Use the KAYAK Trips , which helps you with planning and organizing your trip in detail.

4. Is there a secret trick to the best way to book multi-city trips?

For me, a travel writer, it’s always about saving time. If I’m avoiding unnecessary layovers or connections , it means I have more time to explore my destination . If I spend all my time having to book multiple tickets and checking in multiple times, I am not spending my limited hours venturing around and meeting new humans. Of course, I also love to add extra legs to my trip.

I’ve added stopovers in Africa, like Nairobi en route to Johannesburg, in order to get some time in Kenya. Many airlines actually encourage this, too – with special offers and what they call “free stopovers” in places like Iceland and Portugal. And let’s face it, being able to mix and match also means I am actively curating and customizing my travel schedules.

How was this guide created?

I have been on the road, roughly 200 days every year , for the better part of two decades. As you can imagine I am constantly taking multiple flights and having to puzzle out my travel. What I like to do is spend time online finding interesting routes to fly – who knew you could get to Paris via Morocco! And then I often crowdsource and ask friends what they are doing with their itineraries, as I am always learning something new. It isn’t a perfect science, of course, but I love to be able to keep things a little more flexible.

Some of our top flight routes:

• Flights to New York
• Flights to Las Vegas
• Flights to Los Angeles
• Flights to Orlando
• Flights to Denver

This post is part of our Flight guide. Booking a flight and need handy travel tips ? Our guide has got you covered.

Multi-city flights FAQ

In fact, you can save money on flights by combining multiple destinations into one ticket. Sometimes, especially during peak season or between the most popular routes, booking a multi-city flight can be cheaper than booking multiple one-way tickets. And you can avoid all the search time looking for one-way tickets all over the globe.

Most airlines release their flight schedules around 11 months, or so, before the dates. With international travel, there are some rules worth following – summer months are very busy and thus demand goes up, and you might not be able to get the exact flights you are after. A good rule of thumb is to start looking roughly 6 months before your specific travel dates, and not wait much later than 3 months before you’re planning to get into the skies.

This is a type of multi-city flight. It means that you fly into one city and out of another. For example, you can book an open-jaw flight from New York to Boston, then take the train to Providence, Rhode Island from Boston, and then fly back to New York from Providence. This way, you can explore all these places in a way that you would like, without having to necessarily backtrack or return to your original destination.

Absolutely you can. It’s a simple multi-city flight, or call it an “open-jaw flight.” And KAYAK has the perfect search tool to help with these. Try KAYAK’s Flight Search and click on multi-city instead of return or one-way.

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What are multi-city flights and how do you book them?

If you’re like me, and you love to travel as much as humanly possible, then multi-city flights might be perfect for you. As booking multi-city flights allows for multiple flight destinations , you can visit and experience different cities or countries all in one trip. They add flexibility, so you can create stopovers, combine numerous journeys, or even fly in and out of different air ports. In this article, I’ll explain what multi-city flights are, how precisely they work, and how you can book them on KAYAK.

In this post

• What is a multi-city flight?
• How can I book multi-city flights on KAYAK?
• What are the best destinations for a multi-city trip?
• Is there a secret trick to making the most of multi-city trips?

1. What is a multi-city flight?

A multi-city flight is a type of flight itinerary that includes more than one destination. For example, you can book a multi-city flight from Manchester to Paris, then from Paris to Madrid, and then from Madrid back to Manchester. This way, you can visit more than one destination in just one trip , without having to book separate tickets for each of the legs of your journey. And you’re all set for a multi-city adventure.

Some of the main advantages of multi-city flights are:

• Potentially saving money on your plane ticket by combining multiple destinations into one journey.
• Saving on baggage fees by checking your luggage only once.
• Gaining time by avoiding unnecessary stopovers or connections.
• Exploring more destinations by adding extra legs to your trip.
• Customise your trip according to your preferences and interests.
• Mixing and matching different airlines and airports to find great deals.

2. How to book multi-city flights on KAYAK?

Booking a multi-city flight is simple with KAYAK’s Flight Search tool that lets you select “Multi-city” instead of “Round-trip” or “One-way”. This is where you can add your extra legs to your itinerary. Follow this step-by-step guide on how to book a multi-city flight :

• Go to KAYAK.co.uk/flights , and select “Multi-city” from the drop-down menu beneath the “Where are you flying?” heading.
• Enter your desired dates and destinations.
• Add the number of passengers, your preferred travel class, and baggage per passenger.
• Now you just need to hit the orange search button 👇.

You can fine-tune the results by adding and subtracting legs as you start planning your itinerary. Sort the results based on the time of takeoff or landing to make it easier to find what you’re looking for.

Next, it’s highly advisable to carefully review the booking details, as there are more legs to double-check.

3. What are the best destinations for a multi-city trip?

Multi-city trips are fit for most destinations (not all) – so toggling with various options makes total sense. One ticket, multiple destinations . It’s easy and just the way I love to see the world. Here is an example itinerary for a trip with multiple stops:

• London to Paris, August 1st
• Paris to Amsterdam, August 4th
• Amsterdam to Berlin, August 8th
• Berlin to London, August 12th

And look at that, you’ve managed to see a great section of Europe with just one plane ticket.

✈️ Expert tip: Use the KAYAK Trips , which helps you with planning and organising your trip in detail.

4. Is there a secret trick to the best way to book multi-city trips?

For me, a travel writer, it’s always about saving time. If I’m avoiding unnecessary stopovers or connections, it means I have more time to explore my destination . If I spend all my time having to book multiple tickets and checking in multiple times, I am not spending my limited hours venturing out and meeting new people. Of course, I also love to add extra legs to my trip.

I’ve added stopovers in Africa, like Nairobi en route to Johannesburg, in order to get some time in Kenya. Many airlines actually encourage this, too – with special offers and what they call “free stopovers” in places like Iceland and Portugal. And let’s face it, being able to mix and match also means I am actively curating and customising my travel schedules to suit my interests.

How was this guide created?

I have been on the road, roughly 200 days every year, for the better part of two decades. As you can imagine I am constantly taking multiple flights and puzzling out the best way to travel . What I like to do is spend time online finding interesting routes to fly – who knew you could get to Paris via Morocco! And then I often crowdsource and ask friends what they are doing with their itineraries, as I am always learning something new. It isn’t a perfect science, of course, but I love to be able to keep things a little more flexible.

Some of our favourite flight routes

• Cheap flights to Dublin
• Cheap flights to Los Angeles
• Cheap flights to Tokyo
• Cheap flights to Málaga
• Cheap flights to Paris

Multi-city flights FAQ

In fact, you can save money on flights by combining multiple destinations into one ticket. Sometimes, especially during the high season or between the most popular routes, booking a multi-city flight can be cheaper than booking multiple one-way tickets. And you can cut down on time spent looking for one-way tickets all over the globe.

Most airlines release their flight schedules around 11 months before the flight dates. With international travel, there are some rules worth following: summer months are very busy and thus demand goes up, and you might not be able to get the exact flights you are after. A good rule of thumb is to start looking roughly 6 months before your specific travel dates, and not wait much later than 3 months before you’re planning to take to the skies.

This is a type of multi-city flight. It means that you fly into one city and out of another. For example, you can book an open-jaw flight from London to Berlin, then take the train onwards to Prague, and finally fly back to London from there. This way, you can explore all these places in a way that you would like, without having to necessarily backtrack or return to your original destination.

Absolutely you can. It’s a simple multi-city flight, or call it an “open-jaw flight.” And KAYAK has the perfect search tool to help with these. Try KAYAK’s Flight Search and select multi-city instead of return or one-way.

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Did You Know? There’s a Cheaper Way to Book Multi-City Itineraries!

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Until recently, folks didn’t have to worry about comparing the cost of a multi-city flight itinerary to multiple one-way tickets.

Because the airlines’ reservation computers would automatically find the cheapest seats for each leg of the trip, and add them up for the total cost of the ticket.

I’ll explain what this means for you.

Certain Airlines Changed Their Ticketing Rules

United Airlines, Delta, and American Airlines changed their ticketing rules so that folks can no longer string together the cheapest fares for each leg of their trip.  So now you’ll have to compare the cost of a multi-city itinerary with separate one-way tickets!

I compared a couple of itineraries to see how this new rule affects ticket prices.

Buying 2 One-Way Tickets Can (Sometimes) Save You Money

For example, say you’re finishing up a work trip in New York, and you’re going to Florida to visit family in Fort Myers and Orlando, before heading home to San Francisco.

If you book this multi-city trip on one ticket with Delta, you’d pay ~$732 .

But if you booked multiple one-way tickets, you’d save money!

Breaking this trip into 2 one-way tickets would cost ~$659  (~$267 + ~$392).   Saving you ~$73  (~$732 – ~$659).

It might not seem like much, but if you fly a lot it can add up!  And this method could save you even more on other itineraries.

But do your research!  Because I found other multi-city itineraries that were NOT cheaper when split into multiple one-way tickets.  And some were even more expensive!

Sometimes Buying Multiple One-Way Tickets Doesn’t Make Sense!

Like this ticket on United Airlines, similar to the example above, from New York (LaGuardia) to Fort Myers.  Then from Orlando to San Francisco.

Booking this trip on one multi-city ticket would cost ~$561 .

And if you split it into 2 one-way tickets, the first leg would cost ~$236.

And the second leg of the trip would cost ~$330 .

For a total of ~$566 (~$236 + ~$330).  So you’d pay slightly more by purchasing separate one-way tickets.

Just remember, if you have to change your trip and you’ve booked multiple one-way tickets, you’ll ALSO have to pay a change fee for each ticket.  This would be very expensive!

And if one of your flights is delayed and you miss the next leg of your trip, it can be a hassle to re-book your flight.  Especially if it’s with a different airline.

If you’re interested in travel insurance, check out my post about the cards that offer the best coverage for trip delays and cancellations .

Bottom Line

American Airlines, Delta, and United Airlines changed the way they price multi-city tickets.  So you can no longer string together the lowest priced seats on one itinerary.

I experimented and found that SOMETIMES it was cheaper to purchase multiple one-way tickets instead of a single multi-city itinerary.  But in some cases the prices were almost identical.  Or even more expensive.

Just remember, if your plans change and you’ve booked multiple one-way tickets, you’ll be stuck with a lot of change fees.  So consider the pros and cons when deciding how to book your trip!

Have you recently booked a trip with multiple one-way tickets to save money?  Let me know in the comments!

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What is a Flight Leg?

A flight leg maintains the same flight number and aircraft throughout its journey from one airport to another.

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In other words, it’s a direct flight from point A to point B with no stops or changes of aircraft along the way. This flight may be one of multiple segments of an itinerary involving one or more layovers and/or changes of aircraft. With rare exceptions, every flight you take is an individual flight leg. If you board the plane in one city and get off in another city, that's a flight leg.

Can I skip a leg of my flight?

You can skip a leg of your flight, but it’s important to note that as soon as you no-show, the airline will cancel any legs after the once you’ve skipped, including any return flights if they’re on the same itinerary. 

Intentionally missing a leg of your itinerary is a key component of a money-saving travel hack called skiplagging. Instead of looking for direct flights to their intended destination, passengers search for deals that include a layover at their intended arrival airport regardless of the itinerary’s final destination. 

When they arrive for a layover in the city they want to stay in, they simply exit the airport instead of boarding the next flight leg. This can be a money-saving tactic due to something called “ hidden city ticketing ,” wherein an airline might sell a multi-stop itinerary connecting, for example, New York to Denver with a layover in Charlotte, at a lower cost than a direct flight from New York to Charlotte. 

Skipping a flight leg is not illegal but it is frowned upon by airlines. Passengers who frequently miss connecting flights as a part of this strategy can face retaliation from the airline like invalidated frequent flyer miles or loss of elite status. Additionally, as mentioned above, an airline will cancel any legs after the leg you’ve skipped.

What is a flight recovery leg?

When a flight is diverted due to weather or other unforeseen events, an aircraft might be rerouted to a different arrival airport than originally scheduled. A “flight recovery leg” is an industry term for the new flight segment created to deliver passengers to their intended arrival destination after an unexpected rerouting.

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Last updated Jan 10, 2024

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Can You Take One Leg Of A Flight?

Travelling has never been more accessible, but the rules and restrictions surrounding flights can sometimes make the experience less enjoyable. One common question many travellers have is ‘ Can you take one leg of a flight? ‘ 

In this article, we will delve into the details of taking only one leg of a flight, including the pros and cons, and help you determine if it’s the right option for you.

The answer depends on several factors, including the airline’s policy and the type of ticket you have. Some airlines may allow you to fly one way, while others may require you to take both legs of the trip or face a cancellation fee. 

In some cases, taking only one leg of a round-trip flight can result in a cheaper fare than booking a one-way flight, but this is not always the case.

It’s important to note that if you take only one leg of a round-trip flight, you may be subject to restrictions and fees , such as a change or cancellation fee. 

Some airlines may also require you to pay the difference in fare if the cost of a one-way ticket is more expensive than the unused portion of your round-trip ticket.

It’s always best to check with the airline directly for their specific policy regarding taking only one leg of a flight. 

This will help ensure that you have a clear understanding of any restrictions or fees that may apply and make an informed decision about your travel plans.

For Domestic Flights: 

Whether you can take only one leg of a domestic flight depends on the airline’s policy and the type of ticket you have. Some airlines may allow you to fly one way on a domestic flight, while others may require you to take both legs of the trip.

In general, taking only one leg of a round-trip domestic flight may not be cost-effective, as airlines often offer discounts on round-trip tickets. 

However, if you have a flexible schedule or unexpected circumstances arise, taking only one leg of a domestic flight can be a convenient option.

It’s always a good idea to familiarize yourself with the airline’s policy regarding taking only one leg of a flight before making your travel plans, so you can make an informed decision and avoid any unexpected fees or restrictions.

For International Flights:

No, often you cannot take only one leg of an international flight. Airlines typically sell tickets as round-trip or one-way, and taking only one leg of a round-trip ticket is generally not allowed. Moreover, if not the airlines, the TSA and customs may prevent you from doing so.

Taking only one leg of a round-trip ticket is considered “hidden-city ticketing” or “throwaway ticketing”.

Hidden-city ticketing occurs when a passenger books a flight with a layover at their desired destination and then exit the airport at that layover instead of continuing on to the final destination. 

This practice is controversial as it goes against the terms of the fare and ticket purchase agreement, and airlines typically prohibit it in their terms and conditions.

In addition, hidden-city ticketing can have several consequences for the passenger, including the following:

• Risk of losing the rest of the itinerary: If the airline discovers that you have taken only one leg of the flight, they may cancel the rest of your itinerary, leaving you stranded at the layover city.
• Risk of losing baggage: If your checked baggage is tagged to the final destination, it may not arrive at the layover city where you plan to exit the airport.
• No refund for unused portions of the ticket: You will not be able to receive a refund for the unused portion of the ticket, and you will have to purchase a separate one-way ticket to return to your original departure city.
• Risk of being banned from future travel: Airlines can take legal action against passengers who engage in hidden-city ticketing, and you may be banned from future travel on that airline.

Therefore, it is not recommended to take only one leg of an international flight, as it goes against the terms of the ticket purchase agreement and can have serious consequences for the passenger. If you want to fly to a specific destination, it is better to purchase a one-way ticket for that destination.

Can You Skip The First Leg Of Your Flight?

Photo by Jp Valery on Unsplash

When you book a flight with multiple legs, it is not recommended to skip the first leg of your flight. If you do not show up for the first leg of your flight, the airline may consider the rest of your itinerary as cancelled.  

It is important to double-check the airline’s policies and regulations before booking if you plan to make any changes such as skipping a leg of your flight. 

Most airlines will allow passengers to modify their reservations, but they may also charge extra fees or cancel all remaining segments. 

Additionally, some airlines may require passengers who skip a leg of their flight to re-book an entirely new ticket. 

Some airlines may offer flexible ticket options that allow passengers to skip the first leg of their flight without any additional charges or cancellation fees. 

However, these tickets often cost more than regular tickets and may be subject to certain restrictions. 

Can You Take Just The Second Leg Of A Flight?

When booking a flight, you may be wondering if it’s possible to take just the second leg of a multi-leg journey. The answer to this question depends on the airline and the specific flight. Some airlines may allow you to book only a portion of a multi-leg flight. 

However, many airlines only offer round-trip or multi-city tickets that include the entire itinerary. 

It’s always best to check with the airline directly to see if it’s possible to purchase just the second leg of a flight and what their policies and restrictions are. 

If the flight is operated by multiple airlines as part of a codeshare agreement, you may also need to check with each carrier to see if they allow partial tickets. 

When purchasing a flight, be sure to read all the conditions in the ticket agreement to ensure that you are buying the right type of flight for your needs. 

Do You HAVE To Take The Second Leg Of A Domestic Flight?

Whether you have to take the second leg of a domestic flight depends on the terms and conditions of the ticket you have purchased and the airline you are travelling with. Here are some scenarios in which you may or may not be required to take the second leg of a domestic flight:

• Round-Trip Tickets: If you have a round-trip ticket, you are usually required to take both legs of the flight, as the ticket is valid for a specific itinerary. Failing to take the second leg of the flight could result in a forfeiture of the remaining portion of your ticket.
• Multi-City Tickets: If you have a multi-city ticket, you may be required to take all legs of the flight, or you may have the option to skip one or more legs. This depends on the airline and the fare class of your ticket. If you are unsure whether you are required to take all legs, it is best to check with the airline directly.
• One-Way Tickets: If you have a one-way ticket, you are typically not required to take the second leg of the flight, as one-way tickets only allow you to travel from one destination to another. However, if you have a connecting flight and fail to show up for the second leg, the airline may cancel your onward travel.

It is important to note that the terms and conditions for domestic flights can vary depending on the airline and the type of ticket you have purchased. 

Can You Cancel One Leg Of A Flight?

Photo by Resource Database on Unsplash  

If you are looking to cancel one leg of a flight, it is possible depending on your airline and the type of ticket that you have purchased. It is important to be aware of the terms and conditions of cancelling one leg of a flight, with the airline.

For those with flexible tickets or travel insurance, there may be opportunities to cancel one leg without incurring a fee. 

However, if this is not the case then other options such as rebooking or cancelling the entire itinerary must be considered in order to avoid any additional costs. 

Before making any changes to your ticket, make sure you understand the consequences of doing so and contact your airline for further guidance. 

They will be able to provide you with all the information needed to make an informed decision and ensure that your travel plans remain on track. 

Ultimately, understanding the policies put in place by your airline as well as any fees associated with cancelling one leg of a flight is essential for ensuring a smooth and successful journey. 

Can You Cancel The First Leg Of A Flight?

Yes, you can cancel the first leg of a flight. However, this is not something that you should attempt to do. The reason for this is that when you skip a flight, all flights associated with that ticket are deemed invalid and will be cancelled by the airline.  

So even though you thought skipping the first leg of your journey would work, all other legs in your itinerary will become null and void as soon as this happens. 

This means that any additional costs or fees associated with cancelling these remaining flight legs become your responsibility. 

Therefore, it’s best to stick with your original itinerary and make any necessary changes through the official means provided by the airline. 

How To Cancel One Leg Of A Flight?

The process of cancelling a leg of a flight depends on the airline and the type of ticket you have purchased. Contacting the airline directly and checking the conditions of your ticket are key steps in the process of cancelling one leg of a flight.

Here are the detailed steps you can follow to cancel one leg of a flight:

Contact The Airline

The first step in cancelling a leg of a flight is to contact the airline directly. You can do this by calling the airline’s customer service centre or by using the airline’s online system.

Check The Airlines Terms and Conditions

Before cancelling a leg of a flight, it is important to check the conditions of your ticket to determine if cancelling one leg is possible and what fees may apply. Some airlines may allow you to make changes to your itinerary for a fee, while others may not allow changes to be made.

Request The Cancellation

If the conditions of your ticket allow for the cancellation of one leg of the flight, you can request the cancellation with the airline. The airline will then process the cancellation and provide you with a confirmation.

Consider The Consequences

Canceling one leg of a flight can result in consequences, such as a forfeiture of the remaining portion of your ticket, a fee for the cancellation, or a change in the fare for the remaining leg of the flight. 

It is important to consider these consequences before making a decision to cancel one leg of a flight.

Review Your Itinerary

After the cancellation is processed, it is important to review your itinerary to make sure that the cancellation has been made correctly and that your travel plans are still in place.

In conclusion, cancelling one leg of a flight can sometimes be necessary, but it is important to follow the steps outlined above and consider the consequences before making a decision. 

Is It Better To Not Show Up Or Cancel A Flight?

Photo by Dyana Wing So on Unsplash

If you know you won’t be able to make it to your scheduled flight, it’s better to cancel the flight rather than not show up . If you cancel a flight then you might be eligible for a partial or full credit of the fare purchased. 

Additionally, no-showing can result in airlines charging costly penalties and fees for failing to arrive at the ticket counter or gate before departure. 

Even if you are unable to get a refund by cancelling your flight, it is still better than not showing up as airlines charge significant fees for no-shows. 

In some cases, these fees can even be more expensive than the original cost of the ticket! 

Therefore, if you know that you won’t be able to make it for your scheduled flight, it’s better to cancel it than not show up. 

What Is Skiplagged?

Skiplagged is a travel website that provides travellers with a way to find cheaper flights by exploiting a loophole in airline pricing. The website allows travellers to book a one-way ticket for a multi-city trip, but only take the first leg of the trip and skip the second leg. 

This is known as “hidden city” ticketing.

For example, if a traveller wants to fly from New York to Los Angeles, but a direct flight is too expensive, they can book a flight from New York to San Francisco with a layover in Los Angeles. 

The traveller would then only take the first leg of the trip from New York to Los Angeles and skip the second leg from Los Angeles to San Francisco.

Skiplagged was created to provide travellers with a way to save money on airfare, as many airlines often charge higher prices for direct flights. 

By using the “hidden city” ticketing method, travellers can save money on their flights.

However, it is important to note that using Skiplagged and the “hidden city” ticketing method is not without risks. 

Airlines consider this practice to be a violation of their terms and conditions, and they may take action against travellers who use it. 

This could include denying the boarding, cancelling the rest of the itinerary, and even pursuing legal action.

Before using Skiplagged, it is important to consider the terms and conditions of your ticket and the possible consequences of using this method.

Do Airlines Ban You For Using Skiplagged?

The short answer is yes, airlines can ban you from using Skiplagged. It’s important to be aware of the potential repercussions before taking advantage of this travel hack. Although it is possible to save money on flights by using Skiplagged, it isn’t a risk-free option. 

Airlines could suspend your frequent flyer account and seize your miles if they decide that you are abusing the service. 

In some cases, travellers have even been sued for taking advantage of Skiplagged fares. 

Given these risks, it’s best to use Skiplagged sparingly if you decide to try it at all. 

Of course, no one can guarantee what will happen in any individual case; each airline has its own rules and policies when it comes to fare manipulation. 

However, it is important to be aware of the potential risks before taking advantage of this travel hack. 

Ultimately, the decision to use Skiplagged depends on each traveller’s individual situation and risk tolerance. 

What Happens If You Don’t Show Up For The First Leg Of A Flight?

If you are unable to make the first leg of your flight, it is important to inform your airline before departure. If you don’t show up for the first leg, the airline may cancel all other flights on your itinerary and charge you a no-show fee.  

You may also forfeit any refundable value associated with your ticket. To avoid these fees, contact the airline as soon as possible if you cannot attend the first leg of your flight.

Can You Change The Rest Of Your Itinerary If You Take Only One Leg Of A Flight?

The answer depends on the policies of the airline you are flying with. Some airlines may let you change the rest of your itinerary if you take only one leg of a flight, while others may require you to cancel your entire booking and rebook a new one. 

Be sure to check with your airline before making any changes.

Can You Cancel One Leg Of Your Flight?

If you are looking to cancel one leg of your flight, the best thing to do is check with your airline. Depending on the airline and ticket type, you may be able to cancel one leg without cancelling the entire trip. 

However, keep in mind that there are usually consequences for doing so, including fees or changes in your itinerary. 

Before you make any decisions, consider speaking with a representative from your airline or checking their website for more information.

Will You Be Charged A Fee If You Take Only One Leg Of A Flight?

If you are planning a trip and need to take only one leg of the flight, it’s important to know how it may impact you. Depending on the type of ticket you have purchased, you may be subject to fees or be required to forfeit the cost of your ticket.

If you have a flexible ticket, the airline may allow you to take only one leg of your flight without incurring any additional fees. 

However, if your ticket is non-refundable, then taking only one leg may result in either a fee or forfeiture of your ticket’s cost. 

It is always wise to check with the airline that issued your tickets before booking a single-leg flight.

Can You Take Only One Leg Of A Flight?

Yes, it is possible to take only one leg of a flight. However, the procedure and consequences may differ depending on your airline and the type of ticket you have purchased. Depending on your airline it may or may not charge additional fees or require rebooking a new ticket.

In some cases, taking only one leg may result in extra taxes or cancellation fees, so be sure to check with your airline for details about their specific policies. 

Additionally, if your itinerary involves multiple flights (on different airlines), it’s important to understand how these policies apply separately to each carrier before making any changes. 

Doing this research ahead of time can help prevent costly surprises later on!

In conclusion, whether you can take one leg of a flight depends on the type of ticket you have purchased and the specific terms and conditions set by the airline. If you have a round-trip or multi-city ticket, some airlines may require you to take both legs of the flight. 

However, others may allow you to skip one or more legs. If you have a one-way ticket, you are not required to take the second leg of the flight.

Before making a decision to take only one leg of a flight, it is important to check the details of your ticket and the terms and conditions set by the airline. This information can usually be found on the airline’s website or by contacting the airline’s customer service centre.

Swati Jaiswal

Swati Jaiswal is a dedicated traveler and an even dedicated individual who specializes in travel, digital marketing, & health and fitness niches. Passport stamps and coffee stains are her badges of honor.

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Simple Flying

Southwest airlines' day-long multi-leg flights have up to 6 stops.

These are Southwest's flights with the most stops.

Southwest is well known for multi-leg, long, same-plane flights using identical flight numbers. It is a way its aircraft are flown country-wide around its system, often helped by the time zone changes, although passengers can't book day-long through tickets. In this article, I've examined Southwest's 13 flight numbers with six or seven sectors in February .

Seven flights, same flight number

Examining Southwest's whole schedule and flights using Cirium data reveals that two numbers (WN185 and WN2949) consist of seven sectors each, the airline's maximum in February. They have six stops en route, with the 143-seat 737-700 used. Details of the two are provided below but note that you can typically only book up to about three stops, although it varies.

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Exploring WN185

'Southwest One Eighty-Five' starts Sundays in Tampa, Southwest's 18th busiest airport by flights in February. It leaves Florida at 08:00 and arrives in Providence at 10:40. After a 35-minute turn, it continues to Washington Reagan, arriving at 12:55. Southwest's website shows that passengers can book WN185 from Tampa to Reagan.

After another 35 minutes, the service leaves at 13:30 bound for Louisiana, arriving in New Orleans at 15:25 local time. While you would fly 1,974 miles (3,177km) more than a non-stop, passengers can book a Tampa-Providence-Reagan-New Orleans through ticket; on February 12th, for example, it's available for $110.

At 16:10, WN185 leaves for San Antonio, arriving at 17:50. Forty minutes later, it departs for El Paso, arriving at 19:05 local. WN185 has only two more sectors remaining. It departs at 19:40 for Las Vegas, expected to arrive in Sin City, subject to any delays, at 20:35 local. Finally, at 21:15, it leaves for Boise, ending the day at 23:55. It would have covered 4,555 miles (7,331km).

Discover more aviation news .

Six flights with the same flight number

In numerical order, details of the 11 flight numbers with six sectors (i.e., five stops en route) are provided below. As you can see, over half operate only on Saturdays or Sundays. It appears that, in some cases, aircraft continue elsewhere with another flight number, including in the case of WN679, arriving in Austin at 19:20.

How many sectors have you flown with Southwest at one time? Let us know in the comments.

Multi-Leg Flights

Multi-leg flights are flights that stop at one or more intermediary airports before reaching the final arrival airport. The segments of a multi-leg flight are sometimes refered to as connecting flights. You must take special care when tracking or viewing the status of such flights.

Finding a Multi-Leg Flight

By Flight Number. If the flight consists of several segments with the same flight number, simply search for that flight number and all the legs will appear in the results. If the segments have different flight numbers, you must search for each segment by its flight number.

By Airports. If the flight stops at one or more intermediary airports, each segment using the connecting airports as the departure and/or arrival airports, depending on which segment you want to find.

Viewing the Status of a Multi-Leg Flight

When you view flight information for a multi-leg flight, the flight status of each segment is displayed separately.

Related topics

A flight leg in the air industry is a flight from one airport to another under the same flight number, with the same aircraft, and no stops in between. The term is typically used to define a part of a complex (also called multi-leg ) itinerary that consists of multiple flight legs meaning that layovers and/or changes of aircraft are involved in such a journey.

For example, a direct, non-stop flight from New York to Boston includes only one flight leg. A flight from New York to Paris with a layover in London includes two legs, regardless of whether it’s the same aircraft, different planes of the same carrier, or even different carriers .

A flight leg is often used interchangeably with the term flight segment , but there’s a difference between the two. A flight segment is also a trip from origin to destination airport, but it can have a stop, for example, for refueling, when passengers don’t have to leave the plane . In case there’s an intermediate stop, a flight segment consists of two legs.

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Ensuring that multi-leg travel is on 1 ticket, not multiple - Air Travel Forum

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That said, for many other reasons you should book directly with the airline . Or if that's not possible use a reputable full service travel agent. If your trip starts in one city and ends in another use the multi-city search option on the airline's site and book an open jaw ticket. And then book travel within Europe on separate tickets, just make sure you're in your first and last city for at least a full day.

"tI know that it's always advised on this forum to buy tickets directly from the airline instead of 3rd party sites, but if I do that it will cost 3 times as much."

=>> No way are you going to get reputable tickets from online third party bookers three times cheaper than from the airline . If you're seeing those you should run away from that booker as fast as you can.

I agree that you will not find "real" tickets on the internet that are that much less expensive!

Please tell us from whom you are considering buying this ticket??

If the OP can suggest where and when he/she would like to travel, we may be able to advise further.

Zeanners ' has other have said, deals like that do not happen, It is called bait and switch.

Please provide the name of the booking agent and fight info,

No way. Either the price quoted by the 3rd party is imaginary or you're doing something wrong. I suspect DCH_in_Canada has hit on the reason in his post above.

I've never seen a third party get that low. (They don't sell these transient deals, because they appear and disappear too quickly.) And if you let the third party site pick your flights , you stand a fair chance of having either impossibly short transfer times or very, very long ones. And if short and not on one airline , the departing airline whose flight you missed may not feel obliged to help you. No one will feel obliged, because the third party isn't really selling you tickets. They're generally just booking on your behalf. You give them that authority, and anything that's not right or inconvenient is up to you to handle just as if you had bought them directly yourself.

My favorite is the mystery deal, They tell you about your flights only after you pay.

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Multi-leg journey setup

• 5 contributors

This article describes how to set up multi-leg journeys for the Landed cost module.

Legs are used to identify separate parts of a journey. Each leg is built by selecting the "to" and "from" shipping ports, and the transportation method that is used for that leg. Lead times can be associated with each leg. Lead times can help track a shipment and can also be used to calculate the estimated delivery date of the goods on a voyage. Additionally, when a leg of a journey is completed, the status of the voyage, shipping container, and associated purchase order lines can be updated through the tracking control setup. Legs can be used by a single journey template, or they can be reused by multiple journey templates. Container loading, customs, and local transport are generally set up as legs, and a non-specific shipping port is used for them.

To work with legs, go to Landed cost > Multi-leg journey setup > Legs . There, you can view, open, create, and delete records for legs. The following table describes the fields that are available for each record.

Journey templates

A journey template defines the multi-leg journey between two ports that goods travel during a voyage. The legs of the journey are combined to identify the amount of time that will be required for goods to travel from the vendor's point of origin to the final warehouse destination. When the legs are put on the journey template in a specific order, the lead times will identify the date of each leg and status of the voyage, container, and purchase lines for the voyage. You use the Tracking control center to set up the lead times that are associated with each leg that makes up the journey template. The journey template is also used when the automatic costs of a voyage are set up. When a journey is defined, the cost that is associated with the transport of the goods can be defined on the auto costs page.

To work with journey templates, go to Landed cost > Multi-leg journey setup > Journey templates . There, you can view, open, create, and delete journey templates.

For each journey template, set the following fields on the header.

In the Lines section, add a line for each leg of the journey, and put the lines in order. Use the Up and Down arrows on the toolbar to change the order of the lines. The following table describes the fields that are available for each line.

The settings on the Activities page establish the types of activities that can occur at the destination port of a leg. Users who work on the All shipping containers page can select among these values when they estimate the duration of each activity and record the actual duration for comparison purposes.

To set up your activities, go to Landed cost > Multi-leg journeys setup > Activities . There, you can add, remove, and edit activities by using the buttons on the Action Pane.

The following table describes the fields that are available for each activity in the grid.

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Mastering Multi-Leg Shipment Planning: Strategies for Efficient Logistics

• September 19, 2023

In the intricate world of logistics, multi-leg shipment planning stands out as one of the most complex yet essential components. As businesses expand their reach globally, the need for transporting goods across multiple modes and routes becomes inevitable. At Turvo, we’ve delved deep into the challenges and solutions of multi-leg shipment planning, and we’re here to share our insights. With the right strategies, you can transform this complexity into a competitive advantage, ensuring efficient logistics every step of the way.

1. Understand the Complexity

Before diving into strategies, it’s crucial to grasp the inherent complexity of multi-leg shipments. Unlike direct shipments, multi-leg involves multiple transportation modes – be it air, sea, rail, or road. Each leg has its own set of challenges, costs, and timelines. The key is to view the entire journey holistically rather than in isolated segments.

2. Centralized Technology Platform

One of the primary challenges in multi-leg shipment planning is managing information flow across various stakeholders. A centralized technology platform, like Turvo’s cloud-based solution, provides real-time visibility, ensuring all parties are on the same page. This not only reduces miscommunication but also speeds up decision-making.

3. Optimize Route Selection

Efficient logistics is often about choosing the right route. With multi-leg shipments, this becomes even more critical. Advanced analytics can help identify the most cost-effective and time-efficient routes, taking into account factors like weather conditions, geopolitical situations, and port congestion.

4. Consolidation is Key

Whenever possible, consolidate shipments. This means grouping smaller shipments together into a larger one, optimizing space and reducing costs. Especially in multi-leg logistics, consolidation can significantly reduce handling times and potential damages, ensuring goods move seamlessly from one leg to the next.

5. Build Strong Partnerships

In multi-leg logistics, you’re only as strong as your weakest link. It’s essential to build robust partnerships with carriers, freight forwarders, and third-party logistics providers. Regularly review performance metrics and ensure your partners align with your commitment to efficient logistics.

6. Plan for Contingencies

In the world of multi-leg shipments, disruptions are inevitable. Whether it’s a port strike, a weather event, or geopolitical unrest, having a contingency plan in place is crucial. This might involve identifying alternative routes, modes, or even storage solutions in case of unexpected delays.

7. Leverage Data Analytics

In today’s digital age, data is the backbone of efficient logistics. Harness the power of data analytics to gain insights into shipment patterns, performance metrics, and potential bottlenecks. Predictive analytics can also help forecast demand, allowing for better planning and resource allocation.

8. Focus on Sustainability

With increasing global focus on sustainability, it’s essential to consider the environmental impact of your multi-leg shipments. Opt for carriers that prioritize fuel efficiency, explore alternative fuel options, and consider routes that minimize the carbon footprint. Not only is this good for the planet, but it also resonates well with eco-conscious customers.

9. Regular Training and Skill Development

The logistics landscape is ever-evolving. Ensure your team is equipped with the latest knowledge and skills. Regular training sessions, workshops, and certifications can keep them updated on industry best practices and regulatory changes.

10. Review and Iterate

Lastly, remember that efficient logistics is a continuous journey. Regularly review your multi-leg shipment strategies, gather feedback from stakeholders, and be ready to adapt. The logistics industry is dynamic, and what works today might need tweaking tomorrow.

Mastering multi-leg shipment planning is no small feat. It requires a blend of strategic thinking, technological support, and on-ground execution. At Turvo, we’re committed to driving innovation in this space, helping businesses navigate the complexities of multi-leg logistics with ease. With the right strategies in place, businesses can not only ensure efficient logistics but also gain a competitive edge in the market. After all, in the world of logistics, efficiency is not just about saving time and costs; it’s about delivering value at every step of the journey.

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Standard Industry Fare Level (SIFL) Calculator

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Section 274(c) international travel sifl calculator (click to access), section 274(c) international travel sifl calculator..

Internal Revenue Code Section 274(c) provides that in the case of any individual who travels outside the United States away from home in pursuit of a trade or business or an investment activity, no deduction shall be allowed for the non-business portion of the trip and special SIFL income imputation rules apply for employer provided flights that have non-business days. These special rules do apply if any travel outside the United States does not exceed one week, or the portion of the time of travel outside the United States which is not attributable to the pursuit of the taxpayer’s trade or business or investment activity is less than 25 percent of the total time on such travel. For purposes of determining whether a trip outside the United States exceeds one week, the day in which travel outside the United States begins shall not be considered, but the day in which such travel ends shall be considered. In counting days for purposes of 25 percent test, travel days to and from the U.S. are considered business days. Treas. Reg. § 1.274-4(d)(2) . Moreover, any day that the taxpayer’s presence is required for business reasons at the foreign location is considered a business day. Weekends and holidays are also generally counted as business days if the days arise between business days. If Section 274(c) applies, the SIFL imputed income amount for any employer provided flights on the trip is determined by dividing the total number of personal days outside the U.S. by the total number of foreign travel days and multiplying that amount by the SIFL Amount determined as if the entire trip was a personal trip. See Treas. Reg. § 1.61-21(g)(4)(iv) . It should be noted that SIFL imputed income is only required where the flight is provided by an employer or other service recipient; if the aircraft is owned by the individual in lieu of SIFL income imputation, the rule disallows some or all of the expenses associated with the flight. Treas. Reg. § 1.274-4(a) (expense disallowance rule does not apply to an employer provided flight.). Lastly, these special rules only apply if the primary purpose of the trip was business; if the primary purpose of the trip was personal, then SIFL income is imputed under the regular rules.

SIFL Calculator -- Mixed Business and Personal Multi-Leg Trip (click to access)

Sifl calculator for multi-leg mixed purpose (personal and non-personal) trips..

Regulations under Section 1.61-21(g) contain special rules when an employee combines, in one trip, personal and business flights on an employer-provided aircraft. Different calculations apply if the primary purpose of the trip is business or personal. See Regulation § 1.61-21(g) . The regulations provide if an employee combines, in one trip, personal and business flights on an employer-provided aircraft and the employee's trip is primarily for the employer's business (see § 1.162-2(b)(2)), the employee must include in income the excess of the value of all the flights that comprise the trip over the value of the flights that would have been taken had there been no personal flights but only business flights. By contrast, if an employee combines, in one trip, personal and business flights on an employer-provided aircraft and the employee's trip is primarily personal (see § 1.162-2(b)(2)), the amount includible in the employee's income is the value of the personal flights that would have been taken had there been no business flights but only personal flights. Please note that for purposes of the calculator, if the primary purpose of the trip is personal, the final leg of any trip can be labeled as personal or business; the SIFL imputation will be the same in either instance.

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Regulatory Requirements to Use Statute Miles; Different Methods to Compute

*There are different ways to compute distances between airports, including statute miles, nautical miles and kilometers. Statute miles are the primary measurement used for calculating SIFL amounts under Treasury Regulation Section 1.61-21(g) . Miles between airports can be calculated using AircraftTaxSolution's Distance Calculator. There are two Trigonometric methods that can be used to calculate statute miles: Vincenty's formula and Haversine formula. The IRS has not provided guidance on this other than stating that statute miles are to be used for purposes of computing any SIFL income imputation amounts. The haversine formula determines the great-circle distance between two points on a sphere given their longitudes and latitudes. Vincenty's formula calculates geodesic distances between a pair of lati­tude and longi­tude points on the earth’s surface, using an accurate ellipsoidal model of the earth. Both formula's produce the straight line distance between two GPS points or the "as the crow flies" distance (ignoring mountains). Vincenty's formula is believed to be slightly more accurate.

We believe we have one of the more extensive airport GPS databases in our Distance Calculator . If you find that an airport is not in our list, please email us at [email protected] so we can add.

Learn more about the IRS' SIFL rules and regulations on our SIFL information page .

** AircraftTaxSolutions.com does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. These materials have been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors before engaging in any transaction.

Standard Industry Fare Level or SIFL

Sifl basics.

Internal Revenue Code Section 61(a)(1) provides that, except as otherwise provided in subtitle A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, gross income includes compensation for services, including fees, commissions, fringe benefits, and similar items. Examples of fringe benefits include: an employer-provided automobile, a flight on an employer-provided aircraft, an employer-provided free or discounted commercial airline flight, an employer-provided vacation, an employer-provided discount on property or services, an employer-provided membership in a country club or other social club, and an employer-provided ticket to an entertainment or sporting event. Hence, if an employer permits an officer, employee or other service provider to use the employer's aircraft for a personal flight (and the flight crew, including pilots, is provided), the value of that flight must be included in the individual's gross income for the applicable tax year (to the extent that there is no reimbursement). The regulations under Internal Revenue Code Section 61 provide that these income imputation rules apply to all service providers, even if not common law employees. See Treas. Reg. § 1.61-21(a)(4)(ii) ("The person to whom a fringe benefit is taxable need not be an employee of the provider of the fringe benefit, but may be, for example, a partner, director, or an independent contractor.").

The U.S. Department of Transportation publishes SIFL rates for each six-month period (January 1 - June 30 and July 1 - December 31). These rates are used to determine the imputed tax value of non-business or personal travel aboard employer-provided aircraft under Internal Revenue Service Regulation Section 1.61-21(g) . The SIFL amount is determined on a per-flight, per-person basis and generally is reported for tax purposes to the responsible employee or other person on IRS Form W-2 (employees), Form 1099 (independent contractors) or Schedule K-1 (partners) each taxable year. The value of a flight determined under the SIFL formula involves multiplying (1) the SIFL cents-per-mile rates applicable for the 6 month period during which the flight was taken by (2) the appropriate aircraft multiple provided in Treasury Regulation Section 1.61-21(g)(7) and (3) the miles (statute not nautical) between airports and (4) then adding the applicable terminal charge. If you need to determine the statute miles between 2 airports, this can be calculated using our distance calculator . Note that a statute mile is 5,280 feet in length whereas a nautical mile is 6,076.11549 feet in length. If your aircraft logs reflect nautical miles, you will need to convert them to statute miles to compute the SIFL amount for a flight using those records. The examples in the IRS regulations use the distance between airports suggesting that an employer use the miles between airports and not the actual miles flown in computing the SIFL amount for a flight. See Treas. Reg. § 1.61-21(g)(3)(iv), Examples 1 and 2 .

The SIFL valuation rule may be used to value international as well as domestic flights. Under the SIFL valuation rules, the SIFL value is determined separately for each flight. Thus, a round-trip is comprised of at least two flights. For example, an employee who takes a personal trip on an employer-provided aircraft from New York City to Denver, then Denver to Los Angeles, and finally Los Angeles to New York City has taken three flights and must apply the SIFL aircraft valuation formula separately to each flight. If a landing is necessitated by weather conditions, by an emergency, for purposes of refueling or obtaining other services relating to the aircraft or for any other purpose unrelated to the personal purposes of the employee whose flight is being valued, that landing is an intermediate stop. Additional mileage attributable to an intermediate stop is not considered when determining the distance of an employee's flight. The SIFL valuation rules may not be used to value a flight on any commercial aircraft on which air transportation is sold to the public on a per-seat basis (commercial airlines). The SIFL valuation rule may be used for flights on owned, chartered, leased and fractionally owned aircraft. The SIFL valuation rule only applies on employer provided flights; in the case of aircraft owned by a person (either directly or through a wholly owned entity (LLC, trust, etc...)), any personal use is not a fringe benefit and instead all deductions are simply disallowed for the personal use.

Who is a SIFL Control Employee?

For this purpose, a SIFL "control employee" of a non-government employer is any employee - (A) Who is a Board- or shareholder-appointed, confirmed, or elected officer of the employer, limited to the lesser of - (1) One percent of all employees (increased to the next highest integer, if not an integer) or (2) Ten employees; (B) Who is among the top one percent most highly-paid employees of the employer (increased to the next highest integer, if not an integer) limited to a maximum of 50; (C) Who owns a five-percent or greater equity, capital, or profits interest in the employer; or (D) Who is a director of the employer. Any employee who is a family member of a control employee is also treated as a control employee. For more details on the definition of a SIFL control employee, see Treasury Regulation § 1.61-21(g). Further, any employee who is a family member of a control employee is also a control employee. In general, an employee who is not a 5% owner nor a director and whose compensation is less than $50,000 will not be treated as a control employee. An employee who was a control employee of the employer at any time after reaching age 55, or within three years of separation from the service of the employer, is a control employee with respect to flights taken after separation from the service of the employer.

Each Flight Leg Must Be Tracked and Evaluated Separately

Each flight leg where a passenger boards and deplanes must be separately determined under the SIFL rules, although intermediate stops to refuel, for weather issues or other emergencies are ignored. Treas. Reg. § 1.61-21(g)(3) . If an employee combines, in one trip, personal and business flights on an employer-provided aircraft and the trip is primarily for the employer's business, the imputed SIFL income is the excess of the SIFL value of all the flights that comprise the trip over the SIFL value of the flights that would have been taken had there been no personal flights but only business flights. For example, assume that an employee flies on an employer-provided aircraft from Chicago, Illinois, to Miami, Florida, for the employer's business and then from Miami, the employee flies on the employer-provided aircraft to Orlando, Florida, for personal purposes and then flies back to Chicago. If the primary purpose of the trip is for the employer's business, the amount includible in income is the excess of the value of the three flights (Chicago to Miami, Miami to Orlando, and Orlando to Chicago), over the value of the flights that would have been taken had there been no personal flights but only business flights (Chicago to Miami and Miami to Chicago). If an employee combines, in one trip, personal and business flights on an employer-provided aircraft and the employee's trip is primarily personal, the SIFL amount includible in the employee's income is the SIFL value of the personal flights that would have been taken had there been no business flights but only personal flights. For example, assume that an employee flies on an employer-provided aircraft from San Francisco, California, to Los Angeles, California, for the employer's business and that from Los Angeles the employee flies on an employer-provided aircraft to Palm Springs, California, primarily for personal reasons and then flies back to San Francisco. Assume further that the primary purpose of the trip is personal. The amount includible in the employee's income is the value of personal flights that would have been taken had there been no business flights but only personal flights (San Francisco to Palm Springs and Palm Springs to San Francisco). The SIFL Calculator below includes options to account for mixed purpose trips.

Special rule where 50% of seats are occupied by Business Passengers.

There is a special rule that is applicable if at least 50% of the regular passenger seating capacity on a flight is occupied by business passengers. In that case, there is no SIFL charge for employees (but not directors or independent contractors) and their spouses and children traveling for personal purposes. Treas. Reg. § 1.61-21(g)(12) . In the case of other passengers (that is passengers other than an employee, spouse or children) traveling for personal purposes, SIFL income is still imputed, but using the non-control multiple. Treas. Reg. § 1.61-21(g)(12)(B)(1) . This special rule applies only if the seating capacity rule is met both at the time the individual whose flight is being valued boards the aircraft and at the time the individual deplanes. Consequently, if there are stops where passengers board and deplane, the changing composition of the passengers must be considered. When determining the regular passenger seating capacity of an aircraft, any seat occupied by a member of the flight crew (whether or not such individual is an employee of the employer providing the aircraft) shall not be counted, unless the purpose of the flight by such individual is not primarily to serve as a member of the flight crew.

How to cope with restless legs while traveling

The twitchy, achy condition doesn’t just affect people during sleep.

Through the windows of an express train from Kyoto, Japan, to a whisky distillery on Mount Kaikoma, my colleagues admired the views and calmly discussed the agenda for the day. Distracted and annoyed, I punched my quads while counting down the minutes until we could get off the train. I envied anyone in a state of calm.

My decades-long problem with restless legs interrupted what should have been an unparalleled experience. Every time I traveled, I found myself squished into a confined space or restricted with prolonged stillness — both triggers for my twitchy limbs.

Eventually I was diagnosed with restless legs syndrome (RLS), but the treatment plan for mitigating symptoms while traveling was not clear. On trips, I implemented my own treatments to assuage the annoying twitching in my legs — meditation, marijuana , stretching and taking muscle relaxers. My remedies didn’t reliably work, and the struggle left me feeling distracted, frustrated and helpless.

I’m not alone in the journey to mitigate symptoms. According to Karla Dzienkowski, executive director of the Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation , nearly 12 million adults and children in the United States deal with the condition. And travel in particular is known to exacerbate RLS.

What causes restless legs syndrome?

“The hallmark symptom of RLS is the uncontrollable urge to move the legs. Individuals often describe the accompanying RLS sensations as throbbing, aching, twitching, bubbling in the legs, or insects crawling under the skin,” Dzienkowski explained in an email. It’s also known as Willis-Ekbom disease, and my doctor identified genetics as the leading cause.

RLS is notoriously difficult to treat. Andy Berkowski, a physician and founder of ReLACS Health , says that RLS is unfortunately marginalized in the medical community, as the condition lacks a diagnostic treatment protocol. Berkowski said that RLS is the third-most-common sleep disorder, “but it doesn’t get the attention it deserves.”

According to the Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation, a single unifying cause of RLS has not been identified. The group says RLS often runs in families, and it’s more common in people with Type 2 diabetes. Also, up to 25 percent of women develop the syndrome during pregnancy, but symptoms often disappear after giving birth. Many experts say RLS is neurological.

“RLS is not a leg condition; it’s a brain condition,” Berkowski said.

How can restless legs syndrome affect you while traveling?

Traveling creates conditions that make it more difficult to mitigate RLS symptoms — particularly, the inability to move freely. In a confined space with limited mobility, the legs can twitch with aggression. “People call the airplane a torture chamber for restless legs,” Berkowski says.

For me, RLS flares up in the evening, especially if I’m traveling. If I am sleep-deprived or otherwise anxious, the symptoms dominate with increased intensity. And, as someone who is on and off planes frequently for work, my symptoms are exacerbated by sleep deprivation, limited mobility, and increased alcohol and caffeine intake.

During an overnight flight from Chicago to Paris , my sleep was interrupted by jarring kicks seemingly from deep inside my legs. Unfortunately, moving around the cabin, massaging my legs and flexing my toes did not offer relief.

Experts say anxiety also plays a role when traveling with RLS. “There’s the psychological effect that makes things worse. As with any sensation condition, the more you draw your attention to RLS, the more you will notice it,” Berkowski said.

How to mitigate RLS when traveling

Brian Koo, associate professor of neurology at Yale and director of Yale Medicine’s Restless Legs Syndrome center, recommends avoiding evening or overnight travel altogether if possible. Koo explains that sleep and RLS are intrinsically linked. “Try to get a good night’s sleep in the days leading up to travel,” Koo said. “If you’re changing time zones, adjust your schedule several days before the trip.” Koo warns patients that if they don’t get quality sleep, they are likely to have a bad bout with RLS during the trip.

Koo also voices a strict warning for patients who plan to use over-the-counter sleep aids. “The OTC sleep aids that contain antihistamines will make RLS worse,” he says. He recommends managing your sleep schedule before a trip and has seen improvement in people who avoid alcohol and sugar while traveling.

Berkowski agrees: “You’re not on the same schedule. You’re up early, and may grab that high-sugar mocha latte at the airport before your flight.” He warns that caffeine, sugar and alcohol are culprits of RLS, especially when combined with sleep deprivation.

Berkowski tells his patients that while traveling, mobility is key. “Mild to moderate activity throughout a trip is essential,” he advises. “Simple choices will mitigate symptoms: choose an aisle seat on a flight, avoid the moving walkway at the airport and walk beside it instead, board the flight or train as late as possible, stay standing in the airport before your flight, and on road trips, get out and walk briskly as often as needed.”

An important accompaniment to movement is ensuring proper blood flow to the legs while traveling. Sarah Hans, a physician at United Vein and Vascular Centers , treats patients with RLS. She advises wearing compression socks or stockings while traveling to help with blood flow. She says that “simple exercises such as calf raises with your feet on the ground and pulling your knees toward your chest can help.” Hans also recommends staying well hydrated.

Over the last 20 years, I’ve learned that punching my quads and obsessing over the sensation are not productive coping mechanisms. For me, pre-adjusting my schedule to the destination, avoiding caffeine and wearing compression stockings have helped the most.

Andrea Javor is a Chicago-based writer. Follow her on X or Instagram: @AndreaEJavor.

More travel tips

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Expert advice: Our By The Way Concierge solves readers’ dilemmas , including whether it’s okay to ditch a partner at security, or what happens if you get caught flying with weed . Submit your question here . Or you could look to the gurus: Lonely Planet and Rick Steves .