7.1 Journey Types & Stopover vs Connection Rules

Journey Types & Stopover vs Connection Rules

In international tariff construction, understanding how travel itineraries are structured is the single most critical preliminary step. International Air Transport Association (IATA) pricing algorithms rely on precise categorization of journey types to determine whether an itinerary can be priced as a single continuous fare component or must be broken into multiple fare components. Tariff specialists must master both the physical geography of the itinerary and the definitions published in the IATA Passenger Air Tariff (PAT) General Rules and the IATA Ticketing Handbook.

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Fundamental International Journey Classifications

An itinerary represents the complete sequence of flights and surface sectors booked by a passenger. IATA categorizes international journeys into four primary structures:

1. One-Way (OW)
2. Round Trip (RT)
3. Circle Trip (CT)
4. Open Jaw (OJ)

Each classification carries specific fare selection rules, combinability conditions, and minimum/maximum stay restrictions.

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One-Way (OW) and Round Trip (RT) Structures

One-Way (OW)

A One-Way (OW) journey is travel from an origin point to a destination point without a return segment to the origin country or city. It may consist of a non-stop flight or multiple flight segments involving transfers and stopovers, provided the direction of travel remains continuous without creating a loop.

• Fare Component: A single OW fare component is assessed from origin to final destination.
• Example: London Heathrow (LHR) to Singapore (SIN) to Sydney (SYD).

Round Trip (RT)

A Round Trip (RT) journey involves travel from an origin point to a point of turnaround and back to the exact same origin point, where outbound and inbound travel follow identical routes and use identical fare classes, or where outbound and inbound half-round-trip fares are identical.

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Circle Trip (CT) Principles

A Circle Trip (CT) is an itinerary that originates and terminates at the same point but does not qualify as a standard Round Trip. This occurs under three distinct operational scenarios:

1. Different Outbound and Inbound Routes: Flying from Paris (CDG) to Tokyo Narita (NRT) via Dubai (DXB) on the outbound, but returning Tokyo Narita (NRT) to Paris (CDG) via Zurich (ZRH).
2. Different Carriers or Fare Classes: Flying outbound in Business Class (J fare) and returning in Economy Class (Y fare), where the outbound and inbound half-round-trip fares differ in value.
3. Multiple Destination Points: Traveling in a continuous circular loop touching three or more distinct geographical points (e.g., Madrid MAD → Miami MIA → Bogota BOG → Madrid MAD).

Under IATA rules, a Circle Trip pricing check (known as the Circle Trip Minimum / CTM check) must be performed to ensure the total fare is not lower than the highest direct round-trip fare between any two ticketed points in the itinerary.

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Open Jaw (OJ) Variations and Turnaround Rules

An Open Jaw (OJ) journey is a modified round-trip or circle-trip structure where a gap exists either at the turnaround point, at the origin/destination point, or at both ends. The non-flown gap between cities is called a surface sector (often indicated on tickets as ARUNK — "Arrival Unknown").

Types of Open Jaw Itineraries

An open jaw at either the origin or the turnaround — but not both — is also referred to as a Single Open Jaw (SOJ). When the fare used is a normal (unrestricted) fare, the IATA Ticketing Handbook abbreviates these as NOJ (Normal Fare Open Jaw), ONOJ (Origin Normal Fare Open Jaw) and TNOJ (Turnaround Normal Fare Open Jaw).

Exam trap: "DOJ" means Double Open Jaw, not Destination Open Jaw. The destination-side gap is TOJ. There is no such code as "STOJ".

The Open Jaw Distance Rule (IATA Turnaround Limitation)

Critical Exam Rule: To qualify for half-round-trip pricing on an Open Jaw itinerary, the surface sector distance (in miles) must be shorter than or equal to the shortest flown sector. If the surface gap is longer than the flown segments, the itinerary fails the Open Jaw rule and must be priced as two separate One-Way (OW) fares!

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The 24-Hour Rule: Stopover vs. Connection (Transfer)

The distinction between a stopover and a connection (transfer) is one of the most tested concepts in IATA fare construction. It governs whether an intermediate city is treated as a brief pause or a major stay.

The Universal International Threshold

• Connection / Transfer (No Stopover): An intermediate departure occurring within 24 hours of arrival at that airport for international flights. On linear fare calculation strips, intermediate transfer points are preceded by the X/ code (e.g., LHR X/FRA TYO).
• Stopover: A deliberate break in journey where the passenger departs from an intermediate city more than 24 hours after arrival (or where no scheduled connecting flight operates within 24 hours). Stopover points are written without the X/ prefix (e.g., LHR FRA TYO).

Domestic Exception Note

Within North America (domestic United States and Canada), the connection limit is strictly 4 hours (or the next available connecting flight on the same day). However, for all international IATA fare construction, 24 hours is the definitive global standard.

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Impact of Stopovers on Fare Components and Ticket Pricing

Whether an intermediate point is a stopover or a connection dramatically affects ticket pricing:

1. Stopover Surcharges: Many published fares permit a limited number of free stopovers (e.g., 1 free stopover in Singapore), while subsequent stopovers incur a fixed charge (e.g., 100 NUC per stopover).
2. Break of Fare Component: An unauthorized or excessive stopover can force the tariff engine to end one fare component and begin a new one, increasing total ticket cost.
3. Passenger Facility & Departure Taxes: Stopovers activate local airport departure taxes and passenger facility charges (PFCs) that are exempt for transit/connecting passengers under 24 hours.