I am at work and don't feel like working, so I thought I'd write up a blurb about stopovers and how they work. It'll be a work in progress so please feel free to add comments. I hope this helps some folks out.
-------------------------------------------
Stopping over is a great way to get more for your buck. In some cases, you can nest a mileage run into an existing itinerary, or in others, you just get to see a new place or visit some old friends.
Generally when you travel, you are required to depart a connecting city within
4 hours for domestic flights or
24 hours for international flights. Of course, there are ways around this rule.
1. Check the fare rules and see if they allow for stopovers. I think the easiest way to do this is to go to
Travelocity and when you find the flight, click on the small link "Rules" on the right hand side of the fare. Scroll down to STOPOVERS and read the rules.
Some fares allow for no stopovers, others for one or two, some allow a stop over for an additional charge, and once in awhile, a fare will allow for unlimited stopovers.
It seems as though airlines are more likely to allow a free stopover in their hub city, but this isn't always the case.
Remember that all stopovers have to be "applicable to the routing." You can't stopover somewhere that you won't be connecting through and you can't generally fly too far out of the way in order to connect somewhere. The rules vary though. Just jump in and start to familiarize yourself with them.
2. Try to "force a stopover." If you arrive on the last flight in and the next flight out doesn't leave until tomorrow, you have just forced a stopover. If this is the case, the 4 hour/24 hour rule won't apply. In bigger airports/cities this is harder to do, but it is good to keep in your bag of tricks for those out of the way places.
Here are some specific examples where I have used stopovers to my benefit.
1. I have good friends in MSP. I fly NW and get a free stopover there regularly. In fact, sometimes I really just want to go see them, but I will book a flight ANC-MSP-??? that is cheaper than ANC-MSP. I get to stop over and see my friends, I get some extra miles out of the deal, and it actually costs less.
2. Flying from LAX to CGK (Jakarta) is long and tiring. Sometimes I can take a free stopover in TPE (Taipei). I spend the night in a hotel near the airport and feel much more refreshed. I once took a 2 day stopover so I could look around Taipei a bit. I did the same thing flying between LAX and CGK connecting through HKG (Hong Kong.) What a great way to relax/vacation at little additional cost! Remember, even if the fare rules don't allow for a stopover, you still get to stop for up to 23 hours and 59 minutes before it's considered a "stopover."
3. Continental Micronesia "hops" around several South Pacific islands. Some of these islands only get serviced once every couple of days. If you like to SCUBA dive or relax in the sun, why not arrange a stopover! Even if stopovers aren't allowed in the fare rules, remember that you might be able to "force" a stopover or to just simply stay over for up to 23 hours.
Some final thoughts:
1. Read the fare rules!
2. Remember that stopovers are more likely (although not exclusively) allowed in hub cities. Know which airlines have hubs in given cities. If you are flying domestically and want to stop in LAS (Las Vegas) look to HP (America West). If you are flying domestically and have always wanted to see the Golden Gate Bridge, look to UA (United) in SFO (San Francisco.) If you are flying to Asia and want to see TOY (Tokyo) look to fly NW (Northwest). Remember that most Asian airlines are owned by their respective goverments and obviously "hub" in their capital cities. Fly KL (Korean Airlines) to see Seoul or SQ (Singapore Airlines) if you want to see SIN (Singapore.)
2. Some countries/destinations do not require a visa for transit passengers but if you are stopping over (or leaving the airport for any reason) they may require one. Keep that in mind, and check into the rules.
This State Dept. website is a good place to find visa details.
3. Forcing stopovers may be the only practical way to see some locations where getting a tourist visa is next to impossible. (Saudi Arabia comes to mind.)
Your comments, criticisms, and additions are welcomed. -eastwest
[This message has been edited by eastwest (edited 12-10-2001).]