Jan 19, 2015, 1:50 am
Last edit by: Kacee
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 (OJ)?
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 is permitted.
Q: How many open-jaws are allowed on a roundtrip award?
A: Two open-jaws are permitted.
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: It has become extremely difficult to book an open-jaw at the stopover. Best not to count on getting one.
Q: When I try to book my OJ itinerary online, the website errors out. Does that mean there is something wrong with my itinerary?
A: Not necessarily. The website typically can't handle complex itineraries. These must generally be called in.
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: No.
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 a UA award?
A: The term "free one-way" is a misnomer and often confuses people (and may annoy the regulars here!). The technical definition of this concept is "stopover at origin." There have been mixed reports recently about UA's willingness to ticket a stopover at origin.
Important Notes - PLEASE READ:
1. 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. This is probably the number one error made in attempting to construct a complex itinerary. If you have more than two stops >24 hours on a roundtrip award, it is not legal and will not ticket.
2. An open jaw always creates a stopover, even if you're stopping for less than 24 hours.
3. Many awards are subject to segment or "transfer" limitations. For example, the North America to South Asia award is currently restricted to four transfers in each direction.
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
Previous thread on this topic:
Rules for Open Jaw & Stopover Award Flights (Consolidated)
Consolidated: Rules for Open Jaw & Stopover Award Flights [2014]
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 (OJ)?
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 is permitted.
Q: How many open-jaws are allowed on a roundtrip award?
A: Two open-jaws are permitted.
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: It has become extremely difficult to book an open-jaw at the stopover. Best not to count on getting one.
Q: When I try to book my OJ itinerary online, the website errors out. Does that mean there is something wrong with my itinerary?
A: Not necessarily. The website typically can't handle complex itineraries. These must generally be called in.
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: No.
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 a UA award?
A: The term "free one-way" is a misnomer and often confuses people (and may annoy the regulars here!). The technical definition of this concept is "stopover at origin." There have been mixed reports recently about UA's willingness to ticket a stopover at origin.
Important Notes - PLEASE READ:
1. 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. This is probably the number one error made in attempting to construct a complex itinerary. If you have more than two stops >24 hours on a roundtrip award, it is not legal and will not ticket.
2. An open jaw always creates a stopover, even if you're stopping for less than 24 hours.
3. Many awards are subject to segment or "transfer" limitations. For example, the North America to South Asia award is currently restricted to four transfers in each direction.
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
Previous thread on this topic:
Rules for Open Jaw & Stopover Award Flights (Consolidated)
Consolidated: Rules for Open Jaw & Stopover Award Flights [2014]
Questions on Open Jaw/Stopover and Award Routings for United UA/*A Partners [2015]
Dec 16, 2015, 11:41 am
#646
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: san antonio, texas
Programs: 3.2MM AA, 1.4MM UA,StwdLftPlt
Posts: 1,586
Trying to book DFW-SYD (UA), SYD-ICN (Asiana), HND-DFW (Air Canada) on the mileageplus site. There are award tickets available for each leg, but when I try to search for them together as one roundtrip I get an error message. Am I not understanding the stopover/open jaw rules or am I doing something wrong on the website?
Dec 16, 2015, 3:31 pm
#647
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,480
Trying to book DFW-SYD (UA), SYD-ICN (Asiana), HND-DFW (Air Canada) on the mileageplus site. There are award tickets available for each leg, but when I try to search for them together as one roundtrip I get an error message. Am I not understanding the stopover/open jaw rules or am I doing something wrong on the website?
Dec 22, 2015, 11:24 am
#648
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: UA:1k; MR: PLT; Hilton: Gold
Posts: 1,324
Can somebody help with a typical "is this valid" question (as the website errors out and I want to be sure before I call). I think it is because it only has two open jaws at what I would think of as the 'destination' and the 'stopover', but I could be wrong.
Day 1: LAX-ARN (SK) Stop
Day 5: CPH-NCE (SK) Stop
Day 14: LIN-ARN-LAX(SK)
Thanks in advance!
Day 1: LAX-ARN (SK) Stop
Day 5: CPH-NCE (SK) Stop
Day 14: LIN-ARN-LAX(SK)
Thanks in advance!
Last edited by jmanirish; Dec 22, 2015 at 2:31 pm
Dec 22, 2015, 2:16 pm
#649
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
Can somebody help with a typical "is this valid" question (as the website errors out and I want to be sure before I call). I think it is because it only has two open jaws at what I would think of as the 'destination' and the 'stopover', but I could be wrong.
Day 1: LAX-ARN (SK) Stop
Day 5: CPH-NCE (SK) Stop
Day 14: LIN-ARN-(SK)
Thanks in advance!
Day 1: LAX-ARN (SK) Stop
Day 5: CPH-NCE (SK) Stop
Day 14: LIN-ARN-(SK)
Thanks in advance!
Unless you left out an airport at the end and meant it to be LIN-ARN-LAX, then yes, the above should be valid, because you have one stopover and two open jaws.
Dec 22, 2015, 2:31 pm
#650
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: UA:1k; MR: PLT; Hilton: Gold
Posts: 1,324
You cannot have a stopover on a one-way award. You can't start out from the US and end in Europe and have it considered a round trip. What you'd have above is 3 one way awards.
Unless you left out an airport at the end and meant it to be LIN-ARN-LAX, then yes, the above should be valid, because you have one stopover and two open jaws.
Unless you left out an airport at the end and meant it to be LIN-ARN-LAX, then yes, the above should be valid, because you have one stopover and two open jaws.
Dec 22, 2015, 3:11 pm
#651
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,480
Can somebody help with a typical "is this valid" question (as the website errors out and I want to be sure before I call). I think it is because it only has two open jaws at what I would think of as the 'destination' and the 'stopover', but I could be wrong.
Day 1: LAX-ARN (SK) Stop
Day 5: CPH-NCE (SK) Stop
Day 14: LIN-ARN-LAX(SK)
Thanks in advance!
Day 1: LAX-ARN (SK) Stop
Day 5: CPH-NCE (SK) Stop
Day 14: LIN-ARN-LAX(SK)
Thanks in advance!
Dec 23, 2015, 1:34 am
#652
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 4,431
I've been looking through this thread and it looks like the "free one way" really is a myth. Specifically, I'm talking about LAX-OGG-LAX-(stopover)-FLL. I could've sworn I've priced this award itinerary a couple years ago (but didn't actually book it), but when I try it now, it costs 68K. Did something change? Or is my memory of the price 2 years ago wrong? I know there are no "free one-ways" for domestic roundtrips, but I figured Hawaii is considered a different zone.
Dec 23, 2015, 4:56 am
#653
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
Stopover at point of origin is nearly impossible these days.
I have been successful in booking similar in the past but it was a challenge to convince the agent that this is, in fact, just two open jaws and a stopover rather than three random one way segments tagged together. Getting an agent to price stopover at the OJ and at the destination is hard and the computer will rarely do it.
You might try booking it as LAX-ARN, ARN-NCE, LIN-LAX and then changing the middle segment, just "adding in a second open jaw" to the res, but that's easier if you have status such that the changes are free.
Can somebody help with a typical "is this valid" question (as the website errors out and I want to be sure before I call). I think it is because it only has two open jaws at what I would think of as the 'destination' and the 'stopover', but I could be wrong.
Day 1: LAX-ARN (SK) Stop
Day 5: CPH-NCE (SK) Stop
Day 14: LIN-ARN-LAX(SK)
Thanks in advance!
Day 1: LAX-ARN (SK) Stop
Day 5: CPH-NCE (SK) Stop
Day 14: LIN-ARN-LAX(SK)
Thanks in advance!
You might try booking it as LAX-ARN, ARN-NCE, LIN-LAX and then changing the middle segment, just "adding in a second open jaw" to the res, but that's easier if you have status such that the changes are free.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Dec 23, 2015 at 11:11 am Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
Dec 24, 2015, 8:17 pm
#654
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 8
Suggestions for extending connections/stops and adding cities to my January TPP tour?
DFW-SFO-SYD, DPS-TPE-SIN-BKK, BKK-NRT-HNL-SFO
SF: 14 hrs
TPE: 12 hrs (I know, ..., will swap TPE for ~KUL or SIN for HKG)
SIN: 22 hrs
NRT: 36 hrs
HNL: 15 hrs
80k
No fee for calling it in (I'm a statusless pleb on United, not even a cardholder). Covers 6 chart zones (NAm-AUS, SA-NAsia-SA, SA-J-H-NAm) over 8 segments, first & last 2 on UA metal. Purchasing a separate ticket to DPS from somewhere in AUS/NZ for that wide OJ. Was NOT allowed to route through ICN or PEK.
Thanks!
DFW-SFO-SYD, DPS-TPE-SIN-BKK, BKK-NRT-HNL-SFO
SF: 14 hrs
TPE: 12 hrs (I know, ..., will swap TPE for ~KUL or SIN for HKG)
SIN: 22 hrs
NRT: 36 hrs
HNL: 15 hrs
80k
No fee for calling it in (I'm a statusless pleb on United, not even a cardholder). Covers 6 chart zones (NAm-AUS, SA-NAsia-SA, SA-J-H-NAm) over 8 segments, first & last 2 on UA metal. Purchasing a separate ticket to DPS from somewhere in AUS/NZ for that wide OJ. Was NOT allowed to route through ICN or PEK.
Thanks!
Jan 6, 2016, 10:39 pm
#655
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
Time to turn a new leaf, close this thread and turn to http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...rs-2016-a.html.
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator