: Today's equivalent of an open ticket. These fares allow unlimited date changes and are often fully refundable, though they typically cost 20–60% more than standard tickets.

: Purchase a round-trip ticket with a tentative return date. Ensure you choose a fare class that allows free or low-fee changes so you can move the date later.

: Award tickets often offer much better flexibility than cash fares, frequently allowing free date changes or cancellations.

True "open-ended" airline tickets—those with a fixed departure but no set return date—are largely a thing of the past in modern commercial aviation. Today, nearly all airlines require a specific return date for booking due to automated pricing systems and international "proof of onward travel" visa requirements.

However, you can still achieve the same flexibility using "open-style" booking strategies. How to Book Open-Style Travel