How to get free stopovers?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 661
How to get free stopovers?
I visit India from LAX frequently and either go via London/Amsterdam or go via the Pacific stopping in Hong Kong or Incheon. I haven't been able to avail of any "free" stopovers despite the airlines making a stop at their hubs. Everytime I have needed to break my journey I have had to book a multi-city itinerary...i.e. LAX-LHR-BLR-LAX and it costs a little more.
Are there any airlines that offer 1 stopover for free outbound or inbound? for example: can I just book a LAX-BLR-LAX on British Airways and ask for the stopover in LHR for the same fare?
Are there any airlines that offer 1 stopover for free outbound or inbound? for example: can I just book a LAX-BLR-LAX on British Airways and ask for the stopover in LHR for the same fare?
#2
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You have to check the fare rules whether they allow a free stopover, stopover for $$$'s, or no stopovers at all.
Some MPM based fares may allow stopover(s) but then they need to be checked against HIP.
I would suggest that you contact a competent TA.
Some MPM based fares may allow stopover(s) but then they need to be checked against HIP.
I would suggest that you contact a competent TA.
#4
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#5
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I assume purchasing a revenue ticket and booking a stopover? Usually goes for a premium when purchasing..
With AE FFP program, we do get natural connection stopovers, and open jaws.. One of each or two stopovers (one outbound, and one inbound) plus destination.. If you're using FFP redemption, I would check with your airline's rules..
With AE FFP program, we do get natural connection stopovers, and open jaws.. One of each or two stopovers (one outbound, and one inbound) plus destination.. If you're using FFP redemption, I would check with your airline's rules..
#6
Moderator: Hilton Honors forums
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Marietta, Georgia, United States
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By my experience, a good way to get a free stopover is to purposely schedule yourself on the first flight segment of your flight where it arrives too late that day for you to embark on the second flight segment in time, forcing you to stay at the destination of the first flight segment overnight and catch the next flight segment the next day.
An alternative to that method is to ensure that there are no seats available on the second flight segment for that day, forcing you to take that second flight segment later or the next day.
I once had a ten-hour layover in Prague using this method, which was plenty of time to see much of the city leisurely, and I have similarly stayed overnight in Paris. These are merely two examples which I have experienced.
Hopefully this will work for you. It takes some research, but it is well worth it if you can score it...
An alternative to that method is to ensure that there are no seats available on the second flight segment for that day, forcing you to take that second flight segment later or the next day.
I once had a ten-hour layover in Prague using this method, which was plenty of time to see much of the city leisurely, and I have similarly stayed overnight in Paris. These are merely two examples which I have experienced.
Hopefully this will work for you. It takes some research, but it is well worth it if you can score it...
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
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By my experience, a good way to get a free stopover is to purposely schedule yourself on the first flight segment of your flight where it arrives too late that day for you to embark on the second flight segment in time, forcing you to stay at the destination of the first flight segment overnight and catch the next flight segment the next day.
An alternative to that method is to ensure that there are no seats available on the second flight segment for that day, forcing you to take that second flight segment later or the next day.
I once had a ten-hour layover in Prague using this method, which was plenty of time to see much of the city leisurely, and I have similarly stayed overnight in Paris. These are merely two examples which I have experienced.
An alternative to that method is to ensure that there are no seats available on the second flight segment for that day, forcing you to take that second flight segment later or the next day.
I once had a ten-hour layover in Prague using this method, which was plenty of time to see much of the city leisurely, and I have similarly stayed overnight in Paris. These are merely two examples which I have experienced.
You really cannot see much of a Prague during a ten hour transfer. Sorry.
Last edited by holtju2; Nov 8, 2011 at 10:24 pm Reason: typo
#9
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By my experience, a good way to get a free stopover is to purposely schedule yourself on the first flight segment of your flight where it arrives too late that day for you to embark on the second flight segment in time, forcing you to stay at the destination of the first flight segment overnight and catch the next flight segment the next day.
An alternative to that method is to ensure that there are no seats available on the second flight segment for that day, forcing you to take that second flight segment later or the next day.
An alternative to that method is to ensure that there are no seats available on the second flight segment for that day, forcing you to take that second flight segment later or the next day.
#10
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Or I refer the 24 hour stopover or transfer as a 24 hour connection..
#12
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We booked on points, so it was useful getting the comparison on the revenue ticket price versus getting the AE FFP Booking in with a stopover.. YYC-HOU-CUN,CUN-LAX, LAX-YYC
So do TAs get commision on revenue flights intercontinental, to Mexico, to Hawaii? If looking for a revenue flight, I'll call up a TA.. Usually we book on AE FFP points..
#13
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 95
@k374: I've done a similar stopover. My India trips were ORD-BOM. I wanted to visit Germany. Had to pay about $100 extra on BA to get a Stuttgart stopover: ORD-LHR-STR-LHR-BOM-LHR-ORD
This was a cheap economy, non-flex ticket and I had to use multi-city on Expedia. Of course, these posts make me wonder if I could have gotten it any cheaper by going to a TA.
BTW, what's a "nested ticket"?
This was a cheap economy, non-flex ticket and I had to use multi-city on Expedia. Of course, these posts make me wonder if I could have gotten it any cheaper by going to a TA.
BTW, what's a "nested ticket"?
#14
Moderator: Hilton Honors forums
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Marietta, Georgia, United States
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A “nested” ticket is an itinerary within an itinerary.
A simple example is if I purchase a return airfare between Atlanta and London, arriving December 1 and departing on December 15, but I purchase a separate ticket for a round-trip flight between London and Sydney, arriving December 4 and departing on December 11.
The London – Sydney itinerary is “nested” within the Atlanta – London itinerary.
A simple example is if I purchase a return airfare between Atlanta and London, arriving December 1 and departing on December 15, but I purchase a separate ticket for a round-trip flight between London and Sydney, arriving December 4 and departing on December 11.
The London – Sydney itinerary is “nested” within the Atlanta – London itinerary.