FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Scoop or other gurus: Can I use SWU on routing with a stopover?
Old Aug 3, 2008 | 8:09 am
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DanTravels
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Question Scoop or other gurus: Can I use SWU on routing with a stopover?

I have 2 EEP! SWUs from last year, and I'm pondering how to use them. I obviously want to get as many hours in WBC (or A330 "domestic F") as possible ex-HNL, which most likely means HNL-MSP-AMS-(EBB/NBO/JNB/CPT).

I know already that the times simply don't work out - I end up at a minimum sitting for hours in MSP and AMS, and possibly overnighting. The shortest is about 38 hours eastbound (13 of it layovers) and 53 westbound (26 of it layovers).

I'm actually pretty okay with that, since I could stop and visit people, or whatever. Interestingly, ITA spits out (although I haven't checked to see whether NWA's booking engine will do the same) durations up to 100-110 hours each way, apparently for about the same price as the shorter ones. For example, ITA shows this as valid (though I don't want to travel on these dates anyway):

NW 808 dep HNL 17:00 Sun Aug 24 arr MSP 05:53 Mon Aug 25
Layover 15:22
NW 056 dep MSP 21:15 Mon Aug 25 arr AMS 12:30 Tue Aug 26
Layover 70:40
KL 561 dep AMS 11:10 Fri Aug 29 arr EBB 20:15 Fri Aug 29

KL 562 dep EBB 22:20 Sun Aug 31 arr AMS 05:50 Mon Sep 01
Layover 31:35
NW 045 dep AMS 13:25 Tue Sep 02 arr MSP 15:35 Tue Sep 02
Layover 44:05
NW 809 dep MSP 11:40 Thu Sep 04 arr HNL 15:14 Thu Sep 04

Mind, 70:40 is enough time to do a quick turn to just about anywhere in Europe from AMS...

I am wondering, though, whether I can throw in a longer stop somewhere when using a SWU. If I booked HNL-MSP-AMS-EBB-AMS-MSP-HNL, but used the "multi-city" booking to stop for a week in AMS, would the EBB-AMS-MAP-HNL no longer be considered "one way" of a two-way round trip?

The idea of stopovers (longer than 70 hours ) wasn't addressed explicitly in the rules for the SWU, so I figured I would ask.

Thanks for any insight!
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