Reward Stopover question
 

I'm planning a reward trip from US to Asia via Europe once again and hope you folks can answer this question for me. I'm thinking of starting with JFK-ZRH-FRA-NRT. My FRA-NRT flight would be leaving 30 hours after I land in ZRH. If my ZRH-FRA flight makes it so that I have less than 24 hours in FRA will this count as a stopover or as a long connection? There are earlier ZRH-FRA flights that I can take that would put me over 24 hours in FRA so I'm thinking that what I'm trying to do wouldn't work. Not quite ready to book my trip yet so haven't called CO yet but I want to make sure I know the right answer before I ask them the questions.

Thanks
greendx

Anything more than 24 hours is no longer a connection. You can only have one destination, one open jaw and one additional stopover.

If NRT is the destination and you can spend fewer than 24 hours in ZRH and fewer than 24 hours in NRT then you will still have the stopover and open jaw available for later in your trip. If you keep the 30 hour connection then that becomes your stopover.

Right so NRT is my destination with ZRH and FRA being connections. I only plan on being in ZRH for say 8 hours and wondering if I can spend 22 hours in FRA. In total that would be over 24 hours between the 2 connections. Japan being my destination and on my way back I plan on doing a stopover somewhere else.

Assuming they let you route via Europe to get to Japan, yes.

The rule is per connection. There is no additive rule where all the connections are added up and there is an overall maximum travel time.

Great thanks. That's what I wanted to know.

Why wouldn't they allow Japan via Europe? Is it different than going to say Thailand via Europe, which I was able to do last year. I know they are different zones, just wondering if you have any specific reason why they wouldn't allow it.


Also have another question. Returning from Asia if I fly to CDG first is it allowed to route back to NYC via FRA? So something like this: Asian city > CDG > FRA > JFK?


Thanks,
greendx

Because they are different zones. I know that SE Asia is permissible via Europe; I'm not sure about Japan. Give it a try and report back.

As long as you're under 24 hours in FRA that should be fine.

Thanks. I will report back if/when I can book this. Waiting on some miles to post to my OP account first.