Question about distance-based pricing

Hey, all

I'm entirely new to multi-segment distance-based awards.

Assume this route with stopovers at each point: http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=XIY-KWL-CTU-LXA-CTU-BKK

Am I right in thinking that a distance-based award chart like ANA's would price that by summing the segment lengths (3,918 miles), thus costing only 22,000 miles in coach?

If so, any "gotchas"?
If not, what am I missing?

Thanks in advance.

 

Some (IIRC Avios) would calculate the miles for each segment separately and then add the miles. This essentially has the effect of rounding up rather than rounding down as your method would.

 

I'm sorry, but I didn't understand your answer ... I did round up.
Let me try that map again; this time being more explicit about the stops:
http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=XIY-KWL;KWL-CTU-LXA;LXA-CTU-BKK

(and here's the ANA chart: http://www.ana.co.jp/wws/us/e/asw_common/amc/reference/tukau/teikeiair_1.html)

So by my reckoning, that's 640 + 1,311 + 1,967 = 3,918 < 4,000 so cost is 22,000 miles

Are you saying it'd be calculated like this?:

1. 640 miles < 2,000 miles. Cost is 20,000 miles.
2. 1,311 miles < 2,000 miles. Cost is 20,000 miles.
3. 1,967 miles < 2,000 miles. Cost is 20,000 miles.
   TOTAL cost is 60,000 miles?

I guess the question is, "Does triggering a stopover trigger a new award?"

 

Yeah, that's what would happen if they calculate the way Avios does.

 

Okay, cool. Thanks, guys.

Since I posted this in the ANA forum though, ... does anyone know whether that's how ANA works as well?

Anyone? Bueller?

 

ANA uses total itinerary mileage:

 

Thanks, KVS Tool

I saw that example on their site, but so nothing that indicated whether there were stopovers in New York and Seattle.

You're saying it makes no difference?

 

Stopovers are allowed for free, up to a maximum of four per itinerary: http://www.ana.co.jp/wws/us/e/asw_common/amc/reference/tukau/teikeiair_1_2.html.

Also, you must start and finish in the same country. In your case you can find a random domestic China segment to "top off" the award and that should count, but you need to have the final segment on the trip land in China for it to be valid.

 

Thanks, Seth. That's a huge help. I've only got 82 miles of "wiggle room" before I exceed the 4,000 mile tier, but I'll start looking over other permutations.

I've been trying to avoid itineraries that leave China and re-enter, just because it requires a different visa, but I'm hearing more-and-more that shouldn't be a concern.

 

With only 82 miles to spare I don't know that you'll make it. That said, I think the next tier is only 2000 points more so not too bad. And unless you actually plan to fly back in to China and use the final segment the visa issue doesn't matter.

 

Well, crud. Looks like that's a no-go anyway.
"No stopovers or ground transportation within the country of origin are permitted on international routes (itineraries that include 2 or more countries)."