Multi city flights to Europe

[Whining&dining]

Hi guys, I normally post over in the Wine deals (including "Secret" Deals) forum (which probably points to my main interest ) but my partner and I are heading off to Europe in September 2025 and just wanted to get some insider info on multi-city flights. We've flown into Europe and left Europe previously from the same airport, usually Schiphol as my wife is dutch, but we're looking at flying to the Netherlands first and then wending our way down to Spain (over a number of weeks) and leaving to come back to Oz from Barcelona this time around.

We're just straight out cattle-class flyers without loyalty points etc so there aren't too many complications on that score. We've only booked simple return journey flights in the past but are unsure of how to make the multi-city thing work for us, if any one has any information to get us started that would be amazing, sorry in advance if I've posted in the wrong thread/forum...

 

[SYD]

Use something like Google flight or ITA Matrix ie Multi-city Flight 1: Oz (insert your home port) to AMS* and then say BCN to Oz (but add a bunch of other departure ports you’d consider eg MAD, CDG, etc).

If flexible, put in a range of dates and which airlines / fares suit you. Google flights will usually take you to the airline or OTA website to book those flights. ITA Matrix wont but I find it more useful for searching and then just see if I can replicate the fare directly with the airline.

Most airlines will have a “multi-city” search function - some better than others. The QF one actually isn’t to bad because it’ll show same fare brackets (the lower the $ number, the more limited options and higher fare ought to give more options).

*if you can start somewhere, also put in a bunch of alternatives. You might find the Oz to Berlin and home from Madrid (as an example) is cheaper. Easy to get from BER-AMS-BCN via train or plane.

 

[OZDUCK]

Edit: Syd posted his reply while I was typing mine but pretty similar advice.

We have done this several times with SQ and QR. It was all pretty simple.

As a first step have a play around with something like Google Flights, using their multi-city option, and see what sort of fares and which airlines pop up. This is easy to use and it is simple to play around with dates. You could then have a go on some of the most suitable airlines own sites to see if you can find an option to suit.

I just had a quick play using QR and selecting 'multi city'. Using my own location of Perth, as I don't know your origin city, I could find the best fare for Perth/ Amsterdam/Barcelona - leaving 1/9/25 and returning 30/9/25 - of around $2,000 per pax in 'basic' economy. This was actually about $60 cheaper than just doing a Perth/Amsterdam/Perth return flight on the same dates.

 

[SCM]

I have done literally that itinerary (SYD -> AMS -> BCN -> SYD) in Feb/Mar of this year with Etihad.

There is nothing special or complicated about it - just look out for airlines servicing both airports (there's a fair few), and you will know since they will only have 1 stop each way on the journey.

I also recommend google flights for this search, and look through multiple dates there and back - because often times airlines don't fly every day to every airport (especially BCN, which is a bit more seasonal). So just cycle through days before and after, +/- 2

 

[SYD]

I also recommend google flights for this search, and look through multiple dates there and back - because often times airlines don't fly every day to every airport (especially BCN, which is a bit more seasonal). So just cycle through days before and after, +/- 2

That’s why I prefer ITA Matrix. You can search by “calendar” and duration (basically X to X+7d).

If constrained, then specific dates +/- 2 days

 

[Whining&dining]

Wow, thanks so much for all the responses! As soon as I plugged into ITA Matrix everything became so much clearer, what a great tool. Things are still a little bit fluid at the moment as our proposed departure date of 3rd of September 2025 is accepted by the search engine but our proposed return date is 24th of October 2025 sits outside the 330 day restriction at the moment. We're still tyre-kicking at the moment but we are aware that forward planning is important in terms of securing the best price it seems.

The other factor is that the ITA system doesn't like that the departure/return airport is Hobart so I set it to Melbourne both ways which is fine, I guess we can fiddle with that a bit later in the year plus our youngest lives in Collingwood so we always tie in a few days with him there before commencing the trip...

 

[SYD]

Wow, thanks so much for all the responses! As soon as I plugged into ITA Matrix everything became so much clearer, what a great tool. Things are still a little bit fluid at the moment as our proposed departure date of 3rd of September 2025 is accepted by the search engine but our proposed return date is 24th of October 2025 sits outside the 330 day restriction at the moment. We're still tyre-kicking at the moment but we are aware that forward planning is important in terms of securing the best price it seems.

The other factor is that the ITA system doesn't like that the departure/return airport is Hobart so I set it to Melbourne both ways which is fine, I guess we can fiddle with that a bit later in the year plus our youngest lives in Collingwood so we always tie in a few days with him there before commencing the trip...

Yeah, ITA’s max date in the future can often be sooner than airline allowable searches - which is a pain for the super early planner. I think Google is less restrictive from memory.

Do note though that for revenue (paid) flights, you don’t have to book a year in advance to get the best deal. Sales come and go and you might might find good deals in the the 3 to 6 mth out window.

The key think is to monitor those different options so you know what a good Sale fare is and pounce when you’re ready.

Not sure why ITA doesn’t like HBA? Works for me.

Another tip. You can enter multiple origin points within one country eg HBA, MEL, ADL etc Then compare the costs of one ticket ex HBA or getting to MEL for possibly a better deal. Just be carefully travelling same day on seperate tickets but stopping over in MEL is ok.

 

[vdj_145]

For travel within Europe and surrounding regions, you'll be able to save a bunch of money by flying Ryanair. This should more than offset any increases in airfares associated with multi-city return flights to Australia.