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)
#121
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: UA GS>1K>Nothing; DL DM 2MM; AS 75K>Nothing>MVP
Posts: 9,341
Are there any limitations on making changes to a RT award ticket after completion the outbound but before the return.
#122
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Houston, TX
Programs: MAR TE ... UA PS
Posts: 92
Thanks. I seen online now that it can be done as a multi-leg trip for 40K miles but it appears that the return date out of Hawaii cannot be Fri Or Sat.
If I can't get the exact return dates (i.e. Friday or Sat return) on saver miles, should I go ahead and reserve another date (Sun or Mon return) and hope for the Fri or Sat to open up in the future?
I am testing all this several weeks in advance. The dates I am looking for are not available yet.
If I can't get the exact return dates (i.e. Friday or Sat return) on saver miles, should I go ahead and reserve another date (Sun or Mon return) and hope for the Fri or Sat to open up in the future?
I am testing all this several weeks in advance. The dates I am looking for are not available yet.
#123
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,731
Thanks. I seen online now that it can be done as a multi-leg trip for 40K miles but it appears that the return date out of Hawaii cannot be Fri Or Sat.
If I can't get the exact return dates (i.e. Friday or Sat return) on saver miles, should I go ahead and reserve another date (Sun or Mon return) and hope for the Fri or Sat to open up in the future?
I am testing all this several weeks in advance. The dates I am looking for are not available yet.
If I can't get the exact return dates (i.e. Friday or Sat return) on saver miles, should I go ahead and reserve another date (Sun or Mon return) and hope for the Fri or Sat to open up in the future?
I am testing all this several weeks in advance. The dates I am looking for are not available yet.
In your case, since you are booking a roundtrip, this will allow you to confirm the outbound leg first, with a provisional return. Otherwise, if you wait to book, the outbound leg may no longer be available when the return leg later opens up.
#125
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Houston, TX
Programs: MAR TE ... UA PS
Posts: 92
So should I do this one leg at a time as the dates become available and simply call to make changes?
My itinerary:
IAH to LAX layover 5 nights
LAX to LIH stay 7 nights
LIH to IAH
My itinerary:
IAH to LAX layover 5 nights
LAX to LIH stay 7 nights
LIH to IAH
#126
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
If you book it one leg at a time you'll pay for 3 one-way awards. If you book it all at once you pay the r/t price. I'd save the points.
#127
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: IAD/DCA
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Marriott Pltm, Hyatt Diamond, spg Pltm
Posts: 356
Additional Stop on Award Ticket
I heard that UA can now book you an additional stopover along your award itinerary by just 10K more miles.
Anyone actually used it?
I guess it's a CO policy? That would be great
Anyone actually used it?
I guess it's a CO policy? That would be great
#128
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,162
You've been able to (in effect) add extra stopovers since they introduced one-way awards by using an open-jaw booking.
eg, if you wanted SFO-NRT-SIN-BKK-SFO with a stop in each location you could book a return rewards SFO-NRT(stopover)-SIN(destination), then an open jaw followed by BKK-SFO as the return. Then add in a one-way award SIN-BKK which would be 10k for economy.
In this case the extra leg wouldn't be a flat 10k, but dependent on where you were flying.
Not sure if that's what you're referring to, or if they have added something new...
eg, if you wanted SFO-NRT-SIN-BKK-SFO with a stop in each location you could book a return rewards SFO-NRT(stopover)-SIN(destination), then an open jaw followed by BKK-SFO as the return. Then add in a one-way award SIN-BKK which would be 10k for economy.
In this case the extra leg wouldn't be a flat 10k, but dependent on where you were flying.
Not sure if that's what you're referring to, or if they have added something new...
#129
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: IAD/DCA
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Marriott Pltm, Hyatt Diamond, spg Pltm
Posts: 356
Open jaw + stopover
You've been able to (in effect) add extra stopovers since they introduced one-way awards by using an open-jaw booking.
eg, if you wanted SFO-NRT-SIN-BKK-SFO with a stop in each location you could book a return rewards SFO-NRT(stopover)-SIN(destination), then an open jaw followed by BKK-SFO as the return. Then add in a one-way award SIN-BKK which would be 10k for economy.
In this case the extra leg wouldn't be a flat 10k, but dependent on where you were flying.
Not sure if that's what you're referring to, or if they have added something new...
eg, if you wanted SFO-NRT-SIN-BKK-SFO with a stop in each location you could book a return rewards SFO-NRT(stopover)-SIN(destination), then an open jaw followed by BKK-SFO as the return. Then add in a one-way award SIN-BKK which would be 10k for economy.
In this case the extra leg wouldn't be a flat 10k, but dependent on where you were flying.
Not sure if that's what you're referring to, or if they have added something new...
#130
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: IAD/DCA
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Marriott Pltm, Hyatt Diamond, spg Pltm
Posts: 356
What I need is
PEK-(NRT)-HNL-SFO-IAD-PEK where () is not intended for a stopover. So in order to have 2 stopovers (HNL and SFO) in addition to the destination IAD, I though I can pay just 10000 miles. However, if both OJ and SO are permitted, I can just drop the SFO-IAD seg, and rebuy that seg by 12500 miles separately.
But I believe I couldn't do this online using "Multiple Destinations", so have to call.
PEK-(NRT)-HNL-SFO-IAD-PEK where () is not intended for a stopover. So in order to have 2 stopovers (HNL and SFO) in addition to the destination IAD, I though I can pay just 10000 miles. However, if both OJ and SO are permitted, I can just drop the SFO-IAD seg, and rebuy that seg by 12500 miles separately.
But I believe I couldn't do this online using "Multiple Destinations", so have to call.
#131
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA Plat 2MM; AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 35,068
What I need is
PEK-(NRT)-HNL-SFO-IAD-PEK where () is not intended for a stopover. So in order to have 2 stopovers (HNL and SFO) in addition to the destination IAD, I though I can pay just 10000 miles. However, if both OJ and SO are permitted, I can just drop the SFO-IAD seg, and rebuy that seg by 12500 miles separately.
But I believe I couldn't do this online using "Multiple Destinations", so have to call.
PEK-(NRT)-HNL-SFO-IAD-PEK where () is not intended for a stopover. So in order to have 2 stopovers (HNL and SFO) in addition to the destination IAD, I though I can pay just 10000 miles. However, if both OJ and SO are permitted, I can just drop the SFO-IAD seg, and rebuy that seg by 12500 miles separately.
But I believe I couldn't do this online using "Multiple Destinations", so have to call.
You could also see if an agent could build it on one itin and price it. Or consider paying cash for SFO-WAS, whichever is sometimes reasonable.
#132
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,162
#133
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Houston, TX
Programs: MAR TE ... UA PS
Posts: 92
Can I make these changes with no penalty? This three step process would solely be so I can get the exact 3 legs I need as they come available. I have Marriott timeshares reserved, one in CA and one in HI, and the dates cannot be changed.
#134
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
I am actually talking about booking the entire round trip (IAH to LIH) with only the first leg (IAH to LAX) being the correct date. Then as the correct second leg (LAX to LIH) becomes available (at 335 days out) then I would change it. When the 3rd leg (LIH to IAH) becomes available, change that one too.
Can I make these changes with no penalty?
Can I make these changes with no penalty?
#135
Join Date: May 2004
Programs: UA 1K 2MM, BA Gold, SQ TPP
Posts: 1,487
Less availability with stopover
I notice that when searching for international round trip awards with a stopover, there is less availability (both in terms of awards seats being available and the number of flights that show up in the search).
I'm comparing with searching for the three individual legs one by one.
Is this deliberate? Or is it just a glitch and I can expect to book the flights if I call?
I'm comparing with searching for the three individual legs one by one.
Is this deliberate? Or is it just a glitch and I can expect to book the flights if I call?