Maximize Your Award Travel: A Complete Guide to Stopovers and Open Jaws on Frequent Flyer Tickets

Introduction

When redeeming airline miles for award tickets, most travelers simply book a round-trip from A to B. But savvy frequent flyers know that incorporating stopovers and open jaws can dramatically increase the value of their miles, allowing them to visit multiple destinations on a single award, often for the same number of miles.

This guide explains what stopovers and open jaws are, how they work in major frequent flyer programs relevant to Australian travelers—including Qantas Frequent Flyer, Virgin Australia Velocity, and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer—and provides step-by-step strategies to maximize your redemptions while minimizing fuel surcharges.

What Are Stopovers and Open Jaws?

Before diving into program-specific rules, let’s define these key concepts:

• Stopover: A deliberate break in your journey at an intermediate city for more than 24 hours (international) or 4 hours (domestic). For example, flying Sydney to London with a three-day stop in Singapore.
• Open Jaw: A ticket where you return from a different city than you arrived, or fly to one city and return from another. There are three types:
  • Origin Open Jaw: You depart from City A to City B, but return to City C. Example: Melbourne to Los Angeles, then San Francisco back to Melbourne.
  • Destination Open Jaw: You fly from City A to City B, but return from City C to City A. Example: Sydney to Tokyo, but return from Osaka to Sydney.
  • Double Open Jaw: Combines both: City A to City B, and City C to City D. Example: Brisbane to Bangkok, and Singapore back to Perth.

These tools allow you to stitch together more complex itineraries than a simple round-trip, often at no extra mileage cost.

Why Use Stopovers and Open Jaws?

1. Visit More Destinations: See two cities for the price of one award ticket.
2. Flexibility: Start and end your trip in different places, saving backtracking.
3. Value Maximization: Some programs allow free stopovers, effectively giving you a bonus segment.
4. Fuel Surcharge Avoidance: By choosing partners with low surcharges for your stopover segments, you can reduce overall costs.

Major Frequent Flyer Program Rules

Qantas Frequent Flyer

Qantas allows stopovers on Classic Flight Reward bookings, but with restrictions:

• Domestic Stopovers: Not permitted on domestic itineraries.
• International Stopovers: Allowed on oneworld multi-carrier awards (up to 5 stopovers). However, on simple Qantas-only return trips, stopovers are generally not allowed unless you book a multi-city award.
• Open Jaws: Permitted at either origin or destination. For example, you can fly Sydney to London and return from Paris to Sydney.
• Cost: Qantas Classic Rewards are distance-based, so adding a stopover or open jaw may increase the mileage required if the total distance jumps to a higher band. Always use the multi-city booking tool to price your itinerary.

Sweet Spot Example: Sydney to Tokyo (Jetstar) + stopover + Tokyo to Helsinki (Finnair) + Helsinki to Sydney (Finnair/Qantas). This oneworld multi-carrier award can be a great way to experience Asia and Europe on one ticket, though fuel surcharges on Finnair may apply.

Virgin Australia Velocity

Velocity allows stopovers and open jaws on many partner awards, with some unique sweet spots:

• Stopovers: Permitted on international partner awards. For instance, you can book Melbourne to Los Angeles via Nadi (Fiji Airways) with a stopover in Fiji.
• Open Jaws: Allowed on round-trip partner awards. You can fly Sydney to Hong Kong (Cathay Pacific) and return from Singapore (Singapore Airlines) to Sydney.
• Cost: Velocity uses a zone-based award chart for partners. Adding a stopover or open jaw within the same zone usually costs the same miles as a simple round-trip. However, if the stopover city is in a different zone, it may price as two one-way awards.
• Fuel Surcharges: Velocity passes on carrier-imposed surcharges. To avoid high fees, choose partners like United Airlines (trans-Pacific) or Singapore Airlines (no surcharges on KrisFlyer redemptions, but Velocity may impose them).

Sweet Spot Example: Sydney to Los Angeles on United (low surcharges) + stopover + Los Angeles to Tokyo on ANA (low surcharges) + Tokyo to Sydney on Singapore Airlines. This Japan and USA combo can be booked as a single partner award if within the allowed routing rules.

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

KrisFlyer is renowned for its generous stopover and open jaw policies on round-trip awards:

• Stopovers: One complimentary stopover is allowed on round-trip Saver awards (two on Advantage awards), except on flights solely between Singapore and the USA/Canada. You can also add a stopover in Singapore for $100 USD.
• Open Jaws: Permitted at destination. For example, fly Sydney to Frankfurt, and return from Milan to Sydney.
• Cost: Miles are based on round-trip zones. A stopover or open jaw within the same zone does not increase miles.
• Fuel Surcharges: KrisFlyer does not levy fuel surcharges on its own flights, making it a top choice for avoiding fees.

Sweet Spot Example: Sydney to Singapore (stopover) to Istanbul on Singapore Airlines. This allows a free stop in Singapore and visits to both Southeast Asia and Europe for the miles of a single Australia to Europe round-trip.

Step-by-Step: How to Build a Stopover/Open Jaw Itinerary

1. Identify Your Desired Destinations: List the cities you want to visit and determine a logical routing.
2. Check Airline Alliances and Partners: Ensure your chosen frequent flyer program has partners that serve those routes.
3. Review Program Rules: Look up stopover/open jaw policies, mileage costs, and fuel surcharge details.
4. Search Segment by Segment: Use the program’s booking engine to find award availability for each leg individually.
5. Build the Multi-City Booking: On the program’s website, select the multi-city or stopover option and input your segments. If the site doesn’t allow it, call the frequent flyer service center (note: phone booking fees may apply).
6. Compare with One-Way Bookings: Sometimes booking two separate one-way awards (e.g., outbound with one program, return with another) can be cheaper or more flexible.

Comparison of Stopover/Open Jaw Policies

Data based on 2024 program rules. Always verify current policies before booking.

Advanced Strategies to Maximize Value

1. The “Free One-Way” Trick

Some programs allow a stopover at the hub city on a round-trip, effectively giving you a free one-way ticket. For example, using KrisFlyer, book Sydney to Singapore (stopover) to Tokyo. After your trip, you have a Sydney–Singapore one-way that you can use later by paying a change fee (if allowed) or by booking it as a stopover on a future trip.

2. Mixing Programs for Optimal Routing

You don’t have to stick to one program. Use Qantas points for one direction and KrisFlyer miles for the return to avoid high surcharges on Qantas metal. For instance, fly outbound on Singapore Airlines (via KrisFlyer) and return on United (via Velocity).

3. Positioning Flights

If a stopover isn’t allowed, consider a cheap paid positioning flight to a city where your award starts, then book an open jaw from there. Example: Fly paid from Gold Coast to Sydney, then book a Velocity award Sydney to Johannesburg (via Perth) and return from Cape Town to Sydney.

4. Exploit Fifth Freedom Routes

Fifth freedom flights (where an airline flies between two foreign countries) can offer unique stopover opportunities. For example, Singapore Airlines flies from Moscow to Stockholm. You could book a KrisFlyer award from Australia to Moscow, stopover, then continue to Stockholm.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

• Fuel Surcharge Shock: Always check which partners have low or no surcharges. Use Qantas points on partners like American Airlines or Cathay Pacific instead of Qantas metal. For Velocity, prioritize United, Singapore Airlines, and ANA.
• Mileage Cost Creep: An open jaw or stopover might push your itinerary into a higher mileage band. Use distance calculators to estimate total flown miles before calling.
• Availability Headaches: Popular routes have limited award seats. Be flexible with dates and consider alternative airports.
• Married Segment Logic: Some airlines only release award seats for certain combinations. If you can’t find a segment alone, try searching from a different origin or with a connection.

Case Study: A Round-the-World Open Jaw with Stopovers

Goal: Visit Tokyo, London, and New York on one award.

Program: Qantas oneworld multi-carrier award (Classic Reward).

Itinerary:

• Sydney to Tokyo (Japan Airlines) – stopover 4 days
• Tokyo to London (British Airways) – stopover 5 days
• London to New York (American Airlines) – stopover 3 days
• New York to Sydney (Qantas) – end

Cost: Approximately 280,000 Qantas points + ~$1,200 AUD in taxes/fees (2024). This is a distance-based award covering ~20,000 miles; compare to separate round-trips which would cost significantly more points.

Alternative: Use KrisFlyer for the Sydney–Tokyo–London segments (with a stop in Singapore) and Velocity for New York–Sydney on United. This might reduce surcharges.

FAQ

Can I add a stopover after booking my award ticket?

It depends on the program. KrisFlyer allows changes for a fee, and you can add a stopover if the award type permits. Qantas typically requires cancelling and rebooking, which may incur a fee. Always check the change/cancellation policy before booking.

Do stopovers and open jaws cost more miles?

Not necessarily. In zone-based programs like Velocity and KrisFlyer, a stopover or open jaw within the same zone usually costs the same as a simple round-trip. In distance-based programs like Qantas, it may increase miles if the total distance goes up.

Can I have a stopover in my home city?

Generally, no. Programs define a stopover as a break in a city that is not your origin or destination. For example, if you’re based in Sydney, you cannot have a stopover in Sydney on a round-trip.

What’s the difference between a stopover and a layover?

A layover is a connection of less than 24 hours (international) or 4 hours (domestic). A stopover is longer than that. Layovers don’t usually incur extra miles; stopovers might.

Which program is best for avoiding fuel surcharges on stopovers?

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer is excellent because it charges no fuel surcharges on its own flights. For partner awards, Velocity can be good if you stick to United, ANA, or Singapore Airlines. Qantas often has high surcharges on its own metal, so use partners like American Airlines or Cathay Pacific.

References

1. Qantas Frequent Flyer Program Terms and Conditions, 2024. https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/terms-and-conditions.html
2. Virgin Australia Velocity Program Partner Booking Rules, 2024. https://www.velocityfrequentflyer.com/content/Redeem/Airlines/
3. Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Program Guide, 2024. https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/sg/ppsclub-krisflyer/terms-and-conditions/
4. Cathay Pacific Asia Miles Terms and Conditions, 2024. https://www.asiamiles.com/en/terms-and-conditions.html
5. Emirates Skywards Program Rules, 2024. https://www.emirates.com/au/english/skywards/about/terms-and-conditions/

This article is for informational purposes only. Always verify current program rules and award availability before booking.