In the world of award travel, stopovers and open jaws are among the most powerful yet underutilized tools. These advanced routing features can dramatically increase the value of your airline miles and open up complex itineraries for fewer points. However, many travelers either don’t know they exist or fail to use them strategically.
A stopover is when you pause in a city for more than 24 hours (international travel) or 4 hours (domestic) before continuing to your destination. Open jaws involve flying into one city and returning from another, with the traveler covering the distance between the two on their own.
The benefits are substantial. With a single award ticket, you can visit multiple cities or even multiple countries. Imagine flying from New York to Tokyo, spending a week there (stopover), continuing to Singapore (final destination), and then returning home from Bangkok (open jaw). This would cost far more in cash, but many airline programs allow it for the same or only slightly more in miles.
These strategies are especially powerful with flexible point currencies like Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, and Citi ThankYou points, which can transfer to partner airlines. Airlines such as Air Canada Aeroplan, ANA Mileage Club, and Alaska Mileage Plan offer excellent stopover and open jaw opportunities.
This blog will walk you through the exact mechanics of booking these award tickets, which airline programs to focus on, how to avoid pitfalls, and real-life examples that prove how game-changing these redemptions can be. If you’re serious about stretching your points and flying farther for less, understanding stopovers and open jaws is essential.
A stopover is not just a layover — it’s a strategic pause that lets you explore an additional destination en route to your final stop. Most commonly used in international travel, stopovers are allowed by many award programs, often for little or no extra cost in miles.
Understanding which programs permit stopovers, and how to leverage them effectively, is crucial. While many U.S. programs have devalued their stopover options, international carriers still provide excellent value.
An open jaw ticket allows you to fly into one city and depart from another, without requiring a round-trip to the same airport. For instance, you could fly from San Francisco to Rome, travel by train to Paris, and fly back home from Paris. Open jaws increase flexibility and allow you to create more efficient travel itineraries.
When used correctly, open jaws allow for significant travel freedom. They’re particularly helpful for European or Asian trips where cities are well-connected by train or budget airlines.
While stopovers and open jaws are powerful on their own, combining them on a single award ticket opens up even greater potential. This strategy allows you to turn a one-destination ticket into a multi-city adventure, all while staying within a single mileage redemption.
This type of booking allows you to visit three cities (Istanbul, Bangkok, and Tokyo) for nearly the same number of miles it would cost to fly to just Bangkok and back.
Combining these advanced tactics can save you thousands of dollars and allow for richer travel experiences. While not every program supports both, those that do offer exceptional value for savvy travelers.
While stopovers and open jaws are powerful on their own, combining them on a single award ticket opens up even greater potential. This strategy allows you to turn a one-destination ticket into a multi-city adventure, all while staying within a single mileage redemption.
This type of booking allows you to visit three cities (Istanbul, Bangkok, and Tokyo) for nearly the same number of miles it would cost to fly to just Bangkok and back.
Combining these advanced tactics can save you thousands of dollars and allow for richer travel experiences. While not every program supports both, those that do offer exceptional value for savvy travelers.
Understanding and leveraging stopovers and open jaws isn’t just about saving points — it’s about expanding your travel experiences. These advanced strategies let you explore more destinations, avoid rigid routing, and make the most of the airline miles you've earned.
While not all programs support both features, those that do offer immense value. Travelers who take time to research routing rules and partner airlines can create itineraries that go beyond the standard round trip. In many cases, the cost in miles and taxes is the same or only slightly more than a basic redemption.
To begin, start with flexible programs like Aeroplan, ANA, or Alaska Mileage Plan. Use their tools or customer service to construct your ideal itinerary. Be open to traveling overland between cities if needed. And don’t hesitate to experiment — the more you try these advanced bookings, the more confident you’ll become.
Most importantly, always measure the value of your miles. A simple round-trip may be easy, but it rarely delivers optimal value. With stopovers and open jaws, you can easily triple your destinations, maximize your rewards, and create unforgettable journeys — all on a single ticket.
By mastering these tactics, you transform your frequent flyer points from simple savings tools into engines of global exploration.
Lina Zhou is a globe-trotting travel writer from Chengdu, China. With a passion for hidden gems and cross-cultural experiences, she shares practical tips, visa guidance, and immersive stories from every corner of the world. When not exploring, she’s sipping tea while planning her next adventure.
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