Alaska Airlines has been making moves lately, but one of its best perks has been around for years: the ability to add a free stopover on award tickets — a benefit few airlines still offer.
With Alaska's expanding partner network, this strategy unlocks some seriously amazing redemption opportunities. If you’re not using stopovers to maximize your Alaska Airlines miles, you’re leaving free travel on the table. Here’s how to make it happen!
What’s a Stopover and Why Should You Care?
A stopover is when you spend more than 24 hours in a city between flights — sometimes even days or weeks. Think of it like the “serious relationship” of layovers. While a layover might have you sprinting to your gate, a stopover lets you settle in and explore a new destination before heading to your final stop.
And the best part? Alaska Airlines lets you do this for free on award tickets. No extra miles required.
The Ground Rules
Before you start booking, here are a few key rules to keep in mind:
One stopover per direction (two for round-trip bookings)
Only allowed on international itineraries
You can’t combine multiple partner airlines on the same ticket, but you can mix Alaska flights with one partner
Given how many airlines have gutted their stopover policies, Alaska’s rules are some of the most generous out there. And with partners like Japan Airlines, Qantas, and Finnair, you’ve got plenty of options to work with.
How to Book a Stopover with Alaska Airlines
Now that you know why stopovers are awesome, let’s walk through how to actually book one.
Go to Alaska Airlines’ website and navigate to the booking page.
Click on “All Search Options.” This is the small link that Alaska doesn’t want to be super obvious.
Toggle the boxes for “Multi-city” and “Use miles.”
Enter your route with the stopover city and search for availability.
Boom — you’re in business.
Real-World Stopover Examples
Example 1: A Week in Ireland for No Extra Miles
Let’s say you want to visit Ireland before heading to Budapest. You can book:
New York (JFK) → Dublin (DUB) on May 5
Dublin → Budapest (BUD) on May 13
Total cost? 27,500 Alaska miles + $33 in taxes. That’s the exact same price as if you flew straight to Budapest with just a two-hour layover.
Example 2: Australia & New Zealand Combo for 42,500 Miles
Want to maximize your miles even further? You can book:
Los Angeles (LAX) → Sydney (SYD) on Qantas
Sydney → Auckland (AKL) on Qantas
Total cost? 42,500 Alaska miles + $151 in taxes. That’s a fraction of what these flights cost in cash, and you get to explore two great destinations in one go.
Why This Is a Game Changer
This trick lets you turn one award ticket into two trips for the same price — especially valuable for long-haul flights. And since Alaska Airlines partners with top-tier international carriers, you can use this to unlock incredible redemptions across Europe, Asia, and Oceania.
🚨 Pro Tip: Right now, you can still transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to Alaska Airlines via Hawaiian Airlines at a 1:1 ratio. This won’t last forever, so if you’ve been eyeing an epic redemption, now’s the time to make your move.
Final Thoughts
Alaska’s free stopover policy is one of the most underrated tricks in award travel. Whether you’re squeezing in an extra city in Europe, exploring Japan before heading to Southeast Asia, or turning a trip to Australia into a multi-country situation, this feature is pure gold.
