Apr 23, 2013, 6:22 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Presented as Q&A format (Originally posted by Alex_B)
Q: What is a stopover?
A: A stopover on an international itinerary is any break in your air travel for more than 24 hours except at the destination.
Q: What is an open-jaw?
A: An open-jaw is where you travel by your own means (either land, sea or a separate air ticket) between two points in a journey.
Q: How many stopovers am I allowed on a roundtrip award?
A: One stopover, in addition to the destination, is permitted (an unlimited number of stops less than 24hours is allowable).
Q: How many open-jaws are allowed on a roundtrip award?
A: Two open-jaws are permitted. These must be at the stopover, destination or origin.
Q: Can I have a stopover or open-jaw on a one-way award?
A: No
Q: Can I have a open-jaw at both the stopover and destination?
A: Yes, plenty of posters have reported success in booking this
Q: Can I transit my destination multiple times (e.g. fly to JNB, fly to CPT and then return home via JNB)?
A: Yes, plenty of posters have reported success in booking this. You can only stop in your destination for > 24 hours once though.
Q: Can I cross both oceans?
A: Yes. The rule that prohibited crossing both oceans appears to have been removed from both MP and *A award rules. There are many many successful examples of people booking these itineraries.
Q: Is EWR-PVG transatlantic or transpacific?
A: US-East Asia/South East Asia is always transpacific no matter what geography might suggest.
Q: Do I pay more for a stopover or open-jaw?
A: Typically no additional mileage is required but additional taxes or fees are often payable (especially in UK with high Air Passenger Duty). Extra mileage will often be required if an open-jaw or stopover adds a higher cost region into the itinerary. Also awards wholly within CONUS, Canada and Alaska (formerly known as Series 0 awards) require additional mileage (10K miles) for a stopover of >4 hrs.
Q: What's this about a free one-way I can get on awards?
A: The concept of free one-ways is a misnomer and often confuses people, it is better to consider it a stopover in the city of origin. If you have a simple roundtrip award without a stopover, you can often create a stopover and open-jaw at your origin on the return leg to add an addition flight. E.g. I wish to book EWR-LHR (destination)-EWR which is a roundtrip US-Europe award. I could also book this as EWR-LHR (destination)-EWR (stopover)-SFO for the same mileage (and a few dollars of extra tax). The EWR segment would need to be within 330 days of booking and would be subject to the usual change fees.
Other notes:
Seeing your fare construction on an already booked award ticket:
In order to see your award fare construction to see where your stopovers and destination are, follow these steps.
Go to http://www.saudiairlines.com/
Then hit "Manage My Bookings" and select "E-Ticket"
Enter your UA ticket number (hint: 016 will go in the first box, and then everything else in the second box). Then your last name and hit "Retrieve My Booking". On the next page you'll see a line like this under "Fare Calculation":
CHI LH X/FRA LH ROM0.00CSM/YB52 /- FLR LH X/FRA LH X/DUS LH CHI UA SEA
This example is:
ORD-FRA-FCO
Open Jaw at Destination
FLR-FRA-DUS-ORD
Stopover at origin
ORD-SEA
Q: What is a stopover?
A: A stopover on an international itinerary is any break in your air travel for more than 24 hours except at the destination.
Q: What is an open-jaw?
A: An open-jaw is where you travel by your own means (either land, sea or a separate air ticket) between two points in a journey.
Q: How many stopovers am I allowed on a roundtrip award?
A: One stopover, in addition to the destination, is permitted (an unlimited number of stops less than 24hours is allowable).
Q: How many open-jaws are allowed on a roundtrip award?
A: Two open-jaws are permitted. These must be at the stopover, destination or origin.
Q: Can I have a stopover or open-jaw on a one-way award?
A: No
Q: Can I have a open-jaw at both the stopover and destination?
A: Yes, plenty of posters have reported success in booking this
Q: Can I transit my destination multiple times (e.g. fly to JNB, fly to CPT and then return home via JNB)?
A: Yes, plenty of posters have reported success in booking this. You can only stop in your destination for > 24 hours once though.
Q: Can I cross both oceans?
A: Yes. The rule that prohibited crossing both oceans appears to have been removed from both MP and *A award rules. There are many many successful examples of people booking these itineraries.
Q: Is EWR-PVG transatlantic or transpacific?
A: US-East Asia/South East Asia is always transpacific no matter what geography might suggest.
Q: Do I pay more for a stopover or open-jaw?
A: Typically no additional mileage is required but additional taxes or fees are often payable (especially in UK with high Air Passenger Duty). Extra mileage will often be required if an open-jaw or stopover adds a higher cost region into the itinerary. Also awards wholly within CONUS, Canada and Alaska (formerly known as Series 0 awards) require additional mileage (10K miles) for a stopover of >4 hrs.
Q: What's this about a free one-way I can get on awards?
A: The concept of free one-ways is a misnomer and often confuses people, it is better to consider it a stopover in the city of origin. If you have a simple roundtrip award without a stopover, you can often create a stopover and open-jaw at your origin on the return leg to add an addition flight. E.g. I wish to book EWR-LHR (destination)-EWR which is a roundtrip US-Europe award. I could also book this as EWR-LHR (destination)-EWR (stopover)-SFO for the same mileage (and a few dollars of extra tax). The EWR segment would need to be within 330 days of booking and would be subject to the usual change fees.
Other notes:
- The open-jaw portion must be smaller (in miles) than any other leg. -While technically true for revenue fare construction this is not strictly enforced on awards.
- For awards between CONUS/Canada/Alaska and South Asia award regions the maximum number of segments is 5 segments each way on a round-trip and 4 segments on a one-way. (Note that many FTers report recently being read a memo that imposes an eight segment maximum on a roundtrip (4 each way). It is unclear whether this eight-segment maximum is limited to South Asia routings through Europe or North Asia, or has broader application.)
- Stopovers and open-jaws are NOT additive. You do not get extra stops included in your itinerary simply by making an open-jaw out of it.
Seeing your fare construction on an already booked award ticket:
In order to see your award fare construction to see where your stopovers and destination are, follow these steps.
Go to http://www.saudiairlines.com/
Then hit "Manage My Bookings" and select "E-Ticket"
Enter your UA ticket number (hint: 016 will go in the first box, and then everything else in the second box). Then your last name and hit "Retrieve My Booking". On the next page you'll see a line like this under "Fare Calculation":
CHI LH X/FRA LH ROM0.00CSM/YB52 /- FLR LH X/FRA LH X/DUS LH CHI UA SEA
This example is:
ORD-FRA-FCO
Open Jaw at Destination
FLR-FRA-DUS-ORD
Stopover at origin
ORD-SEA
Rules for Open Jaw & Stopover Award Flights (Consolidated)
Jul 5, 2012, 1:01 am
#181
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: NYC
Programs: All of them...
Posts: 382
Not on a one-way
Jul 5, 2012, 1:23 am
#183
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,769
Jul 5, 2012, 1:39 am
#185
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 72
You are right! It worked this time. Hmmm I wonder what I did wrong.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Jul 5, 2012, 10:52 am
#186
Join Date: Jul 2003
Programs: UA1K 3MM, AS MVP 75K Gold
Posts: 2,706
You should be able to book 335 days out now. I've never done it but I would consider booking a RT as soon as you can so you don't miss out on the outbound availability then moving the return out later. So, outbound on 12/1 return on 12/2, then push out the return later when the date opens.
Jul 6, 2012, 9:59 pm
#187
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: UA GS>1K>Nothing; DL DM 2MM; AS 75K>Nothing>MVP
Posts: 9,341
In the midst of a double open jaw with a stop.
Orginally booked Saver F for 137.5k miles
Outbound: BKK>NRT(stop)>SEA
Return: ORD>NRT
After arriving NRT a) changed the date on NRT>SEA, b) then later changed the destination from SEA>BOS (routed through FRA). No extra charge for either of these. A couple of things which this confirms is that:
1) You can change subsequent flights on a RT award ticket after your initial segment, and you can change dates, destinations and routes.
2) Your open jaws don't have to be between the same regions (e.g. leave out of BKK, return to NRT).
3) NRT>FRA>BOS is a legitimate routing for Japan to U.S. East Coast.
Agents were pretty quick and helpful when I called into to make the changes.
Orginally booked Saver F for 137.5k miles
Outbound: BKK>NRT(stop)>SEA
Return: ORD>NRT
After arriving NRT a) changed the date on NRT>SEA, b) then later changed the destination from SEA>BOS (routed through FRA). No extra charge for either of these. A couple of things which this confirms is that:
1) You can change subsequent flights on a RT award ticket after your initial segment, and you can change dates, destinations and routes.
2) Your open jaws don't have to be between the same regions (e.g. leave out of BKK, return to NRT).
3) NRT>FRA>BOS is a legitimate routing for Japan to U.S. East Coast.
Agents were pretty quick and helpful when I called into to make the changes.
Jul 7, 2012, 1:18 pm
#188
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,635
Hi,
I haven't flown UA in 5 years but before there I've been 1P or higher for close to 10 years. It seems all the rules around awards have changed.
I'm based out of NYC and want to travel to HKG using miles with a stopover. Would NYC-HKG with a stopover in FRA be a valid award routing?
On the return, do I have to go thru transatlantic or transpac (essentially RTW)?
Would the award in F be 140K (70K x 2)? Thanks.
I haven't flown UA in 5 years but before there I've been 1P or higher for close to 10 years. It seems all the rules around awards have changed.
I'm based out of NYC and want to travel to HKG using miles with a stopover. Would NYC-HKG with a stopover in FRA be a valid award routing?
On the return, do I have to go thru transatlantic or transpac (essentially RTW)?
Would the award in F be 140K (70K x 2)? Thanks.
Jul 7, 2012, 1:50 pm
#189
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
NYC-HKG is 140K return in F.
Jul 7, 2012, 2:08 pm
#190
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,635
Rules for Open Jaw & Stopover Award Flights
Thanks.
Jul 7, 2012, 6:03 pm
#191
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: ECP
Programs: DL Diamond
Posts: 1,658
Would this change to award ticket be allowed
currently have a 1 way in May '13 IAD-FRA-BKK-DPS but I'd liket to change it to:
Sept '12 HNL-IAD
(stopover)
May '13 IAD-FRA-BKK-DPS
Would that be allowed on UA? If so, it would be great since we have a HNL trip planned in Y, but the IAD-DPS award is in F, so being able to fly back in F would be a nice addition and certainly worth a $75 change fee...
Sept '12 HNL-IAD
(stopover)
May '13 IAD-FRA-BKK-DPS
Would that be allowed on UA? If so, it would be great since we have a HNL trip planned in Y, but the IAD-DPS award is in F, so being able to fly back in F would be a nice addition and certainly worth a $75 change fee...
Jul 7, 2012, 6:05 pm
#192
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Dubai / NYC
Programs: EK-IO, UA-1K2MM, ETIHAD-GOLD, SPG-PLAT LIFETIME, JUMEIRAH SERIUS GOLD
Posts: 5,220
currently have a 1 way in May '13 IAD-FRA-BKK-DPS but I'd liket to change it to:
Sept '12 HNL-IAD
(stopover)
May '13 IAD-FRA-BKK-DPS
Would that be allowed on UA? If so, it would be great since we have a HNL trip planned in Y, but the IAD-DPS award is in F, so being able to fly back in F would be a nice addition and certainly worth a $75 change fee...
Sept '12 HNL-IAD
(stopover)
May '13 IAD-FRA-BKK-DPS
Would that be allowed on UA? If so, it would be great since we have a HNL trip planned in Y, but the IAD-DPS award is in F, so being able to fly back in F would be a nice addition and certainly worth a $75 change fee...
Also, I may be wrong but since HNL is not in the same zone as the mainland US, I do not think they will allow HNL-ASIA via the Atlantic
Jul 7, 2012, 6:11 pm
#193
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: ECP
Programs: DL Diamond
Posts: 1,658
Bummer, 0 for 2 in terms of a) being able to route HNL-DPS that way and b) the one way stopover. Oh well, it's not like domestic F is anything worth getting upset about missing. At least we have a non-stop in Y (F would've been via DEN).
Jul 7, 2012, 6:29 pm
#194
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,740
I am pretty sure you cannot get a stopover on One-Way. I am not too sure you could not do HNL-DPS, because HNL is still part of North America. Unless UA chart single out Hawaii from the North America to Asia award and give you a separate pricing, then HNL-DPS may be of the same price as IAH-DPS.
Jul 7, 2012, 6:46 pm
#195
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Dubai / NYC
Programs: EK-IO, UA-1K2MM, ETIHAD-GOLD, SPG-PLAT LIFETIME, JUMEIRAH SERIUS GOLD
Posts: 5,220
I am pretty sure you cannot get a stopover on One-Way. I am not too sure you could not do HNL-DPS, because HNL is still part of North America. Unless UA chart single out Hawaii from the North America to Asia award and give you a separate pricing, then HNL-DPS may be of the same price as IAH-DPS.