FlyerTalk Forums - RTW ?: Surface sector as stopover

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RTW ?: Surface sector as stopover

The TOC for RTW state on *A site:

Surface (Non-Air) sectors of your journey

You may include non-air (“surface”) sectors at your own expense. The mileage for such sectors will however be included into the mileage calculation. Non-Air sectors are counted as flight coupons.

If the time allocated to a surface sector exceeds 24 hours, it is considered to be a stopover.

Since there are few *A flights intra Australia (isn't UA SYD-MEL the only one - which requires arriving/departing US on UA?), if I arrive Perth and leave from Sydney within 3 days (using a surface sector paid for out of my pocket), is this one or two stopovers?

Spoiler: According to LH this is one stopover. I recognize most FT'ers would prefer this. On this trip, I prefer the other outcome.

Any thoughts; other experiences?

PS: This would be moot if *A would get some coverage in Australia :(

It's 1 stop.

If you buy the RTW starting in SYD ending in PER or vice versa, then the miles between SYD and PER are not counted - liberates more miles for the actual RTW -and it's not a stop.

So if you're struggling to make the minimum 3 stops, why not just buy a 1-way to Aus and start your RTW here?

Quote:

Originally Posted by #10

...if I arrive Perth and leave from Sydney within 3 days (using a surface sector paid for out of my pocket), is this one or two stopovers?

It's one stop ... but with a twist: both ends of the surface sector count as being stopover cities.

For example, if you had an itinerary like this

...-SIN-PER//SYD-AKL-syd-LAX-...

then the second time through SYD you could transit only, i.e., you would have to connect in less than 24 hours.

cheers,

Henry

However, you are only allowed 16 segments anyway. So why care about whether it is a stopover or a transfer? :confused: