richard, we seem to have two topics going on here so I'll try to be clear.

First, fare and money:

If your fare basis permits one free stopover, yes you can make that stopover without it costing you any more money. There may be an additional charge for additional stopovers. Any stop you make that is less than 23 hours and 59 minutes is not a "stopover" and will not count against your free stopover.

That takes care of the fare and money issues. Now let's talk 1K Systemwide Upgrades:

If you take a free or paid stopover (that is a stop in excess of 24 hours), then that "breaks" the itinerary for purposes of using a 1K Systemwide. You would then need to surrender another one to continue to upgrade onward to your outbound destination.

If you stop under 23 hours and 59 minutes then that is not a "stopover" for purposes of the Systemwide and you may continue your onward travel to your outbound destination on the same certificate.

ozflier, it is my understanding that as long as you are traveling on an International ticket, you can make a stop anywhere at any legal connection point and have as many of these stops as you can arrange as long as they are all under 23 hours and 59 minutes.

23 hours 59 minutes = "Stop" or "Connection"
24 hours or more = "A Stopover"

Exception To The Above: (As Rudi points out) If the only other and next flight out to your next destination is over 24 hours away, as long as you take that next flight, your current stop will not count against you as a stopover.

Hope I got that right.


[This message has been edited by PremEx (edited 11-21-2000).]