Are there any Internet-booking services (other than easysabre, since it's about to go away) that allow you to build an itinerary segment-by-segment? The ones I've seen always want to require you to choose from among pre-selected pairs. In other words, I'd like to pick a (say) CMH-ATL leg and an ATL-CHA leg that the computers would not expect to be paired (I value non-turboprop more than quick turnaround--and sometimes, due to friends in hub cities, I prefer a longer layover).

I have actually seen one, Personal TravelWorks, that does this--but you can only book USAirways flights there...

Expedia allows this. Just choose multi-segment option.

This can be done on the DL web site or any site hosted by ITN (UA, AMEX corp travel, AAA, etc). You simply pick the "multi city" flight request and enter the segments individually with the approximate connecting times. This does take some knowledge (which you likely have) of what connections and general times are available. The computer will automatically price the selected itinerary for the lowest fare.

In addition, the ITN sites give experienced users the opportunity to view class of service availability by number of seats (i.e. F,Y,B,Q,H,K,and the dreaded L),which can be very helpful for those wishing for upgrades or stand-by opportunities.

Expedia has a limit on the number of segments (5) as does Travelocity (even fewer-4)

The DL website will only book up to three legs each way.

Remember when building connections that anything over four hours is considered a stopover and not a connection so the fare will be broken at that point and priced as a circle trip, etc. The only situation that does not fit this is when you arrive into a city on the last flight from your origin and take the first available flight out.

Lets say you arrive in ATL at 8:00PM and the first flight out is 8:00AM. You may book this and it is not a stopover.

The only problem with this is that NO CRS system will do this manually. The res agent must force the connection. Most T/A's are not even aware of this rule either. Its a good way for an overnight visit with friends/relatives.

Im still hunting for a booking site that will allow a request for a fare quote on all airlines that will bring up the airlines fare basis codes. Looking at this one could see all the valid connecting cities on say an KE14SPNR $298.00 R/T fare. Let's say this fare was from Florida to NYCa on USAirways. This fare may allow connections in Richmond You could fly FLL-CLT-RIC arrive evening. Depart next AM RIC-BWI-NYC. This is a legal connection if RIC is on the routing. I have yet to find a Web site that will price it though.

Sorry for rambling

TW

What constitutes a stopover seems to be defined by each carrier. I know that UA counts anything over 24 hours as a stopover. I had also heard this number for other carriers as well. 4 hours is new to me.

That limit on segments sucks!

Is that each way or round-trip? Round-trip I assume, because four or five segments each way should be plenty!

I know DL will allow at least six segments round-trip because I booked a six segment trip last year on their site to assure Gold Medallion status!

just to be (swiss timing) precise: UA counts 23 hours 59 minutes not yet as a stopover - 24 hours 00 minutes is considered a stopover.

That's UA's rule for ticketing, for luggage (if you have to check it in again on a overnight stay, or not) other rules apply (luggage example: if you take the very next flight with UA next morning, than only you can check the luggage trough.

I just spoke to both International and Domestic UA res and they both agree. 4 hours or more is a stopover for domestic travel and 24 hours or more is a stopover for international travel, anything under these times is a connection.

TW

Almost all the booking services I have used have the multi-segment option alon with one-way and round-trip. I know thetrip.com uses this.

TW,

Thanks for setting the record straight. I would have thought that UA had a standard stopover/connection definition. Is this common for other carriers?

As far as I know this 4 and 24 hour rule goes for all US based airlines.

I called TW and AA and they confirmed the same info.

TW