How to Use Stopover Programs to Book Extra Flights with Airline Miles

Stopover programs are one of the most powerful yet underutilized tools in the world of travel hacking. They allow you to visit an additional city at no extra cost (or for a small fee) on your way to your final destination. Imagine flying from New York to Tokyo, stopping in Los Angeles for a few days, and then continuing to Tokyo—all on a single award ticket. With the right frequent flyer program, this is entirely possible. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore how stopovers work, which airlines offer the best stopover policies, and step-by-step strategies to book these extra flights using your hard-earned miles.


What Is a Stopover and How Does It Differ from a Layover?

Before diving into the specifics, it’s crucial to understand the difference between a stopover and a layover. A layover is a short connection, typically less than 24 hours for international flights or less than 4 hours for domestic flights. A stopover, on the other hand, is an intentional extended stay in a connecting city, usually lasting more than 24 hours. Many frequent flyer programs allow you to include one or more stopovers on an award ticket, effectively giving you a free extra destination.

For example, if you book a round-trip award from Chicago to Bangkok using United MileagePlus miles, you might be able to add a stopover in Tokyo for a few days at no additional miles. This turns a simple trip into a multi-city adventure without increasing the cost.

Why Stopovers Are the Ultimate Travel Hack

Stopovers offer several advantages:

• Maximize Your Miles: Get more destinations for the same number of miles.
• Break Up Long Journeys: Avoid the fatigue of ultra-long-haul flights by stopping en route.
• Explore New Cities: Visit places you might not have considered otherwise.
• Flexibility: Many programs allow stopovers on one-way awards, not just round-trips.

However, not all stopover policies are created equal. Some airlines charge additional miles, while others only require you to pay taxes and fees. Let’s examine the most generous programs.

Top Airline Stopover Programs for Award Tickets

1. ANA Mileage Club: The Gold Standard

All Nippon Airways (ANA) Mileage Club offers one of the most valuable stopover policies in the industry. On a round-trip award ticket, you can include up to four stopovers—two on the outbound and two on the return—for no extra miles. This is exceptional for a Star Alliance member, as you can use ANA miles to book flights on partners like United, Lufthansa, and Singapore Airlines.

Key Rules:

• Stopovers are only allowed on round-trip awards.
• You cannot have a stopover at the origin or destination city.
• Stopovers must be in the same region as the departure or arrival point, per ANA’s zone-based award chart.
• Taxes and fees apply to each segment, but no additional miles are charged.

Example Itinerary:

• Outbound: New York (JFK) → Tokyo (NRT) [stopover] → Bangkok (BKK)
• Return: Bangkok (BKK) → Frankfurt (FRA) [stopover] → New York (JFK)

This itinerary would price at the round-trip award rate for travel between North America and Asia, even with stopovers in Tokyo and Frankfurt. ANA’s award chart is distance-based, so the total mileage flown may affect the cost, but the stopovers themselves don’t add miles.

Booking Strategy:

• Search for availability segment by segment on United’s website (since it shows Star Alliance space well).
• Call ANA to book, as their online tool doesn’t handle complex stopovers.
• Be flexible with dates; ANA passes on fuel surcharges on some partners, so choose carriers like United, Air Canada, or Avianca to minimize fees.

2. Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan: Generous One-Way Stopovers

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan is famous for allowing a free stopover on one-way awards, which is rare among U.S. carriers. This means you can book a one-way ticket from the U.S. to Asia with a stopover in another city—for example, Seattle to Tokyo with a stop in Los Angeles—all for the same miles as a direct flight.

Key Rules:

• One free stopover is allowed on one-way international awards (except on certain partners like LATAM).
• Stopovers are not permitted on domestic awards or within the U.S. on international itineraries (except for Alaska’s own flights).
• You can combine multiple partners on a single award, but the stopover must be at a partner hub or a city served by the partner.
• Stopovers must be added by phone; the online booking engine doesn’t support them.

Example Itinerary:

• Seattle (SEA) → Los Angeles (LAX) [stopover] → Tokyo (NRT) on Japan Airlines
• Cost: 35,000 Alaska miles in economy (one-way)

Booking Strategy:

• Use the Alaska website to search for segment availability, but note that some partners (like Cathay Pacific) require calling.
• Call Alaska reservations to piece together the itinerary. Agents are generally knowledgeable about stopover rules.
• Be aware of partner-specific restrictions: for example, stopovers on Cathay Pacific awards are only allowed in Hong Kong.

3. Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer: Stopovers with a Twist

Singapore Airlines offers a unique stopover option through its KrisFlyer program: a free stopover in Singapore on round-trip awards, or the ability to add a stopover for $100 USD on one-way awards. While not as flexible as ANA or Alaska, it’s a great way to explore Singapore.

Key Rules:

• One complimentary stopover in Singapore is allowed on round-trip Saver awards (both ways, so you could have two stopovers total).
• For one-way awards, a stopover can be added for $100.
• Stopovers are only permitted in Singapore; you cannot stop in other cities.
• The stopover must be at least 24 hours.

Example Itinerary:

• Los Angeles (LAX) → Singapore (SIN) [stopover] → Bali (DPS) → Singapore (SIN) [stopover] → Los Angeles (LAX)
• Cost: Round-trip Saver award miles plus taxes.

Booking Strategy:

• Use Singapore Airlines’ website to search for awards; it handles stopovers well for simple itineraries.
• For complex routings, call KrisFlyer. Note that phone booking fees may apply.
• Consider using Singapore Airlines’ “Spontaneous Escapes” for discounted awards, but stopovers may not be allowed on these promotional fares.

4. Other Notable Programs

• Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles: Allows one stopover on round-trip awards, with the stopover in Istanbul. This is a great way to visit Turkey en route to Europe, Africa, or Asia. Fuel surcharges are low on Turkish Airlines flights.
• Aeroplan (Air Canada): Aeroplan allows stopovers for 5,000 points each. While not free, it’s a low-cost way to add a destination. You can have multiple stopovers on a single itinerary.
• Flying Blue (Air France/KLM): Stopovers are not typically free, but Flying Blue often runs promotions with free stopovers in Paris or Amsterdam.

How to Search for and Book Stopover Awards

Booking a stopover award requires patience and a bit of know-how. Here’s a step-by-step process:

1. Choose Your Program: Based on where you want to go and which miles you have, select the best program. ANA is ideal for round-trips with multiple stopovers, while Alaska is perfect for one-way trips.

2. Research Partner Availability: Use tools like United.com (for Star Alliance), American Airlines (for Oneworld), or ExpertFlyer to find saver-level award space on each segment. Write down flight numbers, dates, and times.

3. Verify Stopover Rules: Check the program’s terms to ensure your stopover city is allowed. For example, Alaska Mileage Plan stopovers on Japan Airlines awards must be in Tokyo or another Japanese city.

4. Call to Book: Most complex stopover itineraries cannot be booked online. Call the frequent flyer program’s reservations line. Be prepared to feed the agent segment by segment.

5. Confirm Taxes and Fees: Before ticketing, ask for a breakdown of taxes and fuel surcharges. Some partners (like Lufthansa) impose high surcharges that can negate the value of a free stopover.

6. Check for Married Segment Logic: Some airlines use married segment logic, which means you might not see availability for a connecting flight unless it’s booked as part of a through itinerary. If you encounter this, try searching from different origin points or use a multi-city search.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

• Fuel Surcharges: Programs like ANA and Lufthansa pass on high fuel surcharges. Avoid partners that levy these fees, or use programs that don’t pass them on (like United MileagePlus for Star Alliance awards).
• Stopover Location Restrictions: Many programs only allow stopovers at the airline’s hub. For instance, Emirates allows stopovers in Dubai, but not elsewhere.
• Award Availability: Stopovers require saver-level award space on each segment, which can be scarce during peak travel times. Be flexible and book early.
• Phone Booking Fees: Some programs charge a fee for phone bookings. Politely ask the agent to waive it if you couldn’t book online.
• Incorrect Pricing: Agents may incorrectly price your itinerary. Know the award chart and be prepared to (politely) explain the stopover policy.

Comparison of Major Stopover Programs

Data as of 2025; always verify current rules before booking.

Advanced Strategies for Maximizing Stopovers

Nesting Stopovers for Extended Travel

If you have a flexible schedule, you can nest multiple stopover trips. For example, book a one-way award with a stopover to City A, then from City A book another one-way award with a stopover to City B, and so on. This requires a stash of miles in different programs but can lead to months of travel.

Using Open-Jaws with Stopovers

An open-jaw is when you fly into one city and return from another. Many programs allow you to combine an open-jaw with a stopover. For instance, using ANA miles: fly New York to London (stopover), then London to Paris (destination), then return from Rome to New York. This is priced as a round-trip between Europe and North America.

Taking Advantage of Promotions

Airlines occasionally offer free stopover promotions. For example, Icelandair allows a free stopover in Reykjavik on transatlantic flights, and TAP Air Portugal offers a free stopover in Lisbon or Porto. While these are usually for paid tickets, sometimes award tickets qualify—check the terms.

Real-World Examples and Booking Walkthroughs

Example 1: ANA Round-the-World Lite

• Program: ANA Mileage Club
• Route: Chicago (ORD) → Tokyo (HND) [stopover] → Singapore (SIN) [destination] → Istanbul (IST) [stopover] → Chicago (ORD)
• Miles Cost: 90,000 ANA miles in economy (round-trip between North America and Asia, with Europe as a stopover—note this may push the itinerary into a higher distance band; always verify with ANA’s distance calculator).
• Taxes/Fees: ~$200 (choosing United and Turkish Airlines to avoid fuel surcharges).

Example 2: Alaska Mileage Plan One-Way to Asia

• Program: Alaska Mileage Plan
• Route: Portland (PDX) → Seattle (SEA) [stopover] → Tokyo (NRT) on Japan Airlines
• Miles Cost: 35,000 Alaska miles in economy
• Taxes/Fees: ~$50

Example 3: Singapore Airlines with a Free Stopover

• Program: KrisFlyer
• Route: San Francisco (SFO) → Singapore (SIN) [stopover] → Bali (DPS) → Singapore (SIN) [stopover] → San Francisco (SFO)
• Miles Cost: 70,000 KrisFlyer miles in economy (Saver level)
• Taxes/Fees: ~$150

FAQ

Can I add a stopover to an existing award ticket?

It depends on the program. Some, like Alaska, allow changes for a fee (or free for elite members). Others, like ANA, may require canceling and rebooking, which could incur a fee. Always check the change/cancel policy before booking.

Do stopovers count toward elite status or mileage accrual?

No. Award tickets generally do not earn miles or count toward status, regardless of stopovers.

Can I have a stopover in the same city as my origin or destination?

No. Stopovers are meant to be in a third city. For example, you cannot have a stopover in New York if your trip starts or ends there.

Are stopovers allowed on domestic awards?

Rarely. Most programs restrict stopovers to international itineraries. Alaska Mileage Plan does not allow stopovers on domestic awards. ANA allows stopovers on domestic Japan awards, but that’s an exception.

How do I avoid fuel surcharges on stopover awards?

Choose partners that don’t impose fuel surcharges. For Star Alliance, book on United, Air Canada, Avianca, or Copa. For Oneworld, use American Airlines or LATAM (though LATAM has restrictions). For SkyTeam, Delta rarely has surcharges. Always verify before booking.

References

1. ANA Mileage Club Award Rules, All Nippon Airways, 2025. https://www.ana.co.jp/en/us/amc/reference/tokuten/tekiyo.html
2. Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Stopover Policy, Alaska Airlines, 2025. https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mileage-plan/use-miles/award-charts
3. Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Stopover Rules, Singapore Airlines, 2025. https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/us/ppsclub-krisflyer/use-miles/
4. Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles Stopover Information, Turkish Airlines, 2025. https://www.turkishairlines.com/en-us/miles-and-smiles/award-tickets/
5. Air Canada Aeroplan Stopover Policy, Air Canada, 2025. https://www.aircanada.com/us/en/aco/home/aeroplan/use-miles.html