How to Book Stopover Flights Using Qantas Points
Introduction
Stopover flights are one of the most powerful yet underutilized features of frequent flyer programs. They allow you to visit multiple cities for the price of a single award ticket, effectively giving you a free extra destination. Qantas Frequent Flyer, Australia’s largest loyalty program, offers generous stopover rules that can be leveraged to maximize the value of your hard-earned points. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to book stopover flights using Qantas Points, from understanding the rules to finding availability and booking your dream multi-city itinerary.
Whether you’re planning a European adventure with a stop in Asia, or a US trip with a Pacific island break, mastering stopovers can save you hundreds of thousands of points. We’ll cover the official Qantas rules, partner airline quirks, real-world examples, and advanced tips to get the most out of your points.
What is a Stopover?
A stopover is a deliberate break in your journey at an intermediate city, typically lasting more than 24 hours for international flights (or more than 4 hours for domestic). Unlike a layover (a short connection), a stopover allows you to leave the airport, explore the city, and continue your trip days or even weeks later. In the context of award bookings, a stopover is included in the price of a single award ticket, meaning you don’t need to book separate flights or use extra points for that segment.
For example, instead of flying Sydney to London direct, you could book Sydney to Singapore (stop for 5 days), then Singapore to London, all for the same number of points as Sydney-London. This is the magic of stopovers.
Qantas Stopover Rules: The Basics
Qantas Frequent Flyer permits one stopover on a one-way Classic Flight Reward ticket, or two stopovers on a return ticket (one in each direction). These are the fundamental rules:
- One-way bookings: 1 stopover allowed.
- Return bookings: 1 stopover per direction (total 2 stopovers).
- Stopover definition: A stopover is any stay of more than 24 hours at an intermediate point.
- Eligible flights: Stopovers are permitted on Qantas and most partner airlines, but some restrictions apply.
- Stopover location: Must be en route to your final destination. You cannot backtrack or deviate significantly from the direct path.
- Taxes and fees: You’ll pay taxes and carrier charges for each segment, but no additional points are required for the stopover itself.
These rules apply to Classic Flight Rewards booked using Qantas Points. Points Plus Pay bookings may have different conditions, but for maximum value, we focus on Classic Rewards.
Step-by-Step Guide to Booking a Stopover Flight
Step 1: Plan Your Itinerary
Before searching for award availability, decide on your destinations. Consider:
- Origin and final destination: Where are you starting and ending?
- Stopover city: Which city do you want to visit along the way? Common choices include Singapore, Dubai, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Los Angeles, or Doha.
- Travel dates: Be flexible if possible; award availability can be scarce, especially in premium cabins.
- Airlines: Qantas partners include Oneworld members (British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, American Airlines, etc.) and non-alliance partners like Emirates, China Eastern, and Air France/KLM. Each has different availability patterns.
Step 2: Search for Award Availability
Use the Qantas website or app to search for Classic Flight Rewards. Here’s how:
- Log in to your Qantas Frequent Flyer account.
- Go to Book > Flights and select Classic Flight Rewards.
- Enter your origin and final destination, but do not select multi-city yet. Search for the long-haul segment first to gauge availability.
- Note the points required and available dates.
For stopovers, you’ll need to search segment by segment. For example, if you want Sydney-Singapore-London, search Sydney-Singapore and Singapore-London separately. This helps you piece together the itinerary.
Pro tip: Use partner airline websites to find award space not always visible on Qantas. For instance, British Airways Executive Club or American Airlines AAdvantage can show Oneworld availability that Qantas can book. Once you find space, call Qantas to book if it’s not online.
Step 3: Use the Qantas Multi-City Booking Tool
Once you’ve confirmed availability for each segment, use the Multi-city booking tool on the Qantas website:
- Select Multi-city from the booking options.
- Enter your first flight (e.g., Sydney to Singapore), date, and class.
- Add the second flight (Singapore to London), with the date after your intended stopover.
- If it’s a return trip, add the return segments with the second stopover.
- Click Search and select Classic Flight Rewards.
If the system prices the itinerary as a single award with the correct points (e.g., 132,400 points for Sydney-London in business class plus taxes), you’ve successfully booked a stopover. If it prices as separate awards, call Qantas.
Step 4: Call Qantas if Needed
Sometimes the online tool cannot handle complex stopover itineraries, especially those involving partner airlines. Call the Qantas Frequent Flyer Service Centre at 13 11 31 (within Australia) or your local number. Have your itinerary details ready:
- Flight numbers, dates, and classes.
- Passenger details.
- Be prepared to pay the phone booking fee (typically 5,000 points or AUD $50 per passenger) unless you can prove the booking cannot be made online.
Step 5: Pay and Confirm
Pay the points and taxes. Ensure you receive an e-ticket with all segments on a single PNR (booking reference). Check that the stopover is correctly reflected and that you have the correct baggage allowance and lounge access (if applicable).
Qantas Stopover Rules for Partner Airlines
While Qantas’ own rules are straightforward, partner airlines may impose additional restrictions. Here’s a breakdown:
1、 Qantas · Stopover Allowed: Yes · Notes: 1 per one-way, 2 per return 2、 Emirates · Stopover Allowed: Yes · Notes: Must be on a Qantas-issued ticket; Emirates’ own stopover rules may differ 3、 Cathay Pacific · Stopover Allowed: Yes · Notes: Hong Kong is a popular stopover; Oneworld rules apply 4、 Japan Airlines · Stopover Allowed: Yes · Notes: Tokyo or Osaka; must be en route 5、 American Airlines · Stopover Allowed: Yes · Notes: US domestic stopovers allowed if part of international itinerary 6、 British Airways · Stopover Allowed: Yes · Notes: London is a hub; high taxes may apply 7、 China Eastern · Stopover Allowed: Limited · Notes: Stopovers may not be permitted on all routes; call to confirm 8、 Air France/KLM · Stopover Allowed: Limited · Notes: Flying Blue partners may not allow stopovers on Qantas awards
Always verify with Qantas or the partner before booking.
How to Maximize Value with Stopovers
Stopovers can dramatically increase the value of your Qantas Points. Here’s how to get the most bang for your buck:
1. Choose High-Value Stopover Cities
Pick cities that are expensive to reach on their own. For example, a stopover in Dubai or Singapore on the way to Europe adds a luxury destination for no extra points.
2. Combine with Open-Jaw Tickets
An open-jaw ticket allows you to fly into one city and out of another. Combined with a stopover, you can visit three cities for the price of one. Example: Sydney to Tokyo (stopover), Tokyo to London, then return Paris to Sydney. This requires careful planning and may need phone booking.
3. Use Points for Premium Cabins
The value of a stopover is magnified in business or first class. A Sydney-London business class award (132,400 points) with a stopover in Singapore gives you two long-haul business flights for the same points. Paying cash for these flights would cost thousands.
4. Leverage Married Segment Logic
Some airlines release award space only as part of a connecting itinerary. If you see availability from Sydney to London via Singapore but not Sydney-Singapore alone, book the full itinerary with a stopover to secure the seats.
5. Book Early or Late
Qantas releases award seats 353 days in advance. For peak routes, book as soon as they become available. Alternatively, last-minute availability can appear, especially in economy.
Real-World Stopover Examples
Let’s look at some concrete itineraries and their points costs (one-way, per person, based on Qantas Classic Flight Reward tables):
Example 1: Sydney to London with Singapore Stopover
- Sydney (SYD) → Singapore (SIN): Qantas business class
- Stopover: 5 days in Singapore
- Singapore (SIN) → London (LHR): Qantas or British Airways business class
- Points cost: 132,400 Qantas Points + taxes (~AUD $1,200)
- Value: Two business class flights for the price of one; cash cost would be ~AUD $6,000+
Example 2: Melbourne to Los Angeles with Fiji Stopover
- Melbourne (MEL) → Nadi (NAN): Qantas economy
- Stopover: 3 days in Fiji
- Nadi (NAN) → Los Angeles (LAX): Fiji Airways economy (partner)
- Points cost: 41,900 Qantas Points + taxes
- Value: Adds a Pacific island holiday for minimal extra cost
Example 3: Brisbane to Tokyo with Hong Kong Stopover
- Brisbane (BNE) → Hong Kong (HKG): Cathay Pacific business
- Stopover: 4 days in Hong Kong
- Hong Kong (HKG) → Tokyo (NRT): Cathay Pacific or Japan Airlines business
- Points cost: 75,000 Qantas Points + taxes
- Value: Two Asian capitals in one trip; cash business fares would be AUD $3,000+
Example 4: Return Sydney to New York with Los Angeles and Dallas Stopovers
- Sydney → Los Angeles: Qantas economy (stopover 3 days)
- Los Angeles → New York: American Airlines economy
- Return: New York → Dallas: American Airlines economy (stopover 2 days)
- Dallas → Sydney: Qantas economy
- Points cost: 83,800 Qantas Points + taxes
- Value: Explore three US cities on one award
Advanced Tips and Tricks
Use the “Free One-Way” Trick
Some programs allow a “free one-way” by combining a stopover with an open-jaw, but Qantas’ rules are less flexible. However, you can sometimes add a domestic segment at the end for minimal extra points. For example, Sydney-London-Sydney with a stopover in Singapore, then add a Sydney-Melbourne flight for 8,000 points (if available as a separate award or part of the itinerary).
Check for Hidden City Ticketing
While not officially allowed, some travelers use “hidden city” ticketing where the stopover point is actually the intended destination and the final leg is skipped. Warning: This violates Qantas’ terms and conditions, can lead to account closure, and you cannot check bags. We do not recommend this.
Monitor Award Availability with Tools
Use tools like ExpertFlyer (subscription required) or free alternatives like AwardWallet to set alerts for award seats. This is especially useful for partner airlines that don’t show on Qantas’ website.
Take Advantage of Status Benefits
If you have Qantas status (Silver, Gold, Platinum, or Platinum One), you may get access to additional award seats or priority waitlisting. Higher status can also waive phone booking fees.
Combine Points from Multiple Sources
You can transfer points from credit card partners (like American Express Membership Rewards, CommBank Awards, etc.) to Qantas Frequent Flyer to top up your balance. Check Qantas’ points earning page for current partners.