How to add Business Class flights to Cairo (Pyramids), Johannesburg (Safari), St. Petersburg (White Nights), and Casablanca (Marrakech) all for free, Israel for just $89, and Delhi (Taj Mahal) for just $200—with Star Alliance airlines when traveling to Germany and Switzerland.
So your business or leisure trip to Europe went well and now it’s time to pack your bags and return home…
Not so fast!
It’s time to see the Great Pyramids of Giza, enjoy the White Nights Festival in St. Petersburg, experience a safari in the Serengeti, or visit the legendary Taj Mahal.
“As if!” you say, “I can’t afford to do all that.”
Yes you can, dear FCF reader, and thanks to FCF’s Stopover Loophole Strategy (SLS), bucket lists across the nation are shrinking before our very eyes.
This is a stunner of a strategy, tailor-made for European business and leisure travelers because for many of these great destinations, you’re halfway there already.
And here’s the real kicker: In terms of cost, you’re already there with your Europe fare investment.
Let’s look at how the strategy works, then dive into the fares and opportunities.
The Stopover Loophole Strategy (SLS) in a Nutshell
Most people have never heard of a “stopover allowance” but savvy flyers know it can be an absolute deal maker under the right circumstances.
A stopover is a planned stop of more than four hours (domestic) or 24 hours (international) between flight segments on a trip. But here’s the thing–these stopovers are sometimes allowed for free (or a very small fee). Even better than that, you can have a stopover that lasts a day or even weeks, which is key for business travelers who also moonlight as vacationers, adventurers and bucket list busters.
That’s because the stopover can be a mini (or full-sized) vacation if you’re on a business trip (or a second vacation if you’re already traveling for pleasure). You could end up visiting a great add-on destination for a fraction of the price.
And on top of that, your flight to your original European destination can sometimes be even much less. Hard to beat that.
This Month: How It Works on Trips to Germany and Switzerland With Lufthansa and SWISS
Last month we looked at how this works on British Airways to Africa, Asia, Europe, India and the Middle East via London. This month we look at the SLS with Star Alliance airlines Lufthansa and SWISS, which opens up a whole range of destinations all over the globe from your original trip to Germany or Switzerland.
Roar Off to a Safari
“I saw many impala, kudu, zebras, wildebeests, elephants, giraffes, and hippos, as well as a hyena, a baboon, a few monkeys, and even A LION!” AJ J, TripAdvisor
Europe + Africa SLS Example: Say you’re flying Los Angeles to Zurich (non-stop on SWISS) September 9 to 23 for the lowest Business Class fare of $3,301 round-trip. Okay. Now, why not add flights to Johannesburg, South Africa (the jumping off point to the hottest safari destinations in Africa including Botswana, or South Africa’s Kruger National Park) for $180 less ($3,121) for the whole trip?
Los Angeles to Zurich for $3,301 screenshot:
Los Angeles to Zurich to Johannesburg for $3,121 screenshot:
Or add flights to Nairobi, Kenya (a jumping off point for safaris in Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park), to your Los Angeles-Zurich itinerary on SWISS for $109 less. Don’t do that safari and Europe separately, do them both together. You’ve already packed your bags and are on the road. Talk about a thriller!
While some will say that blending two trips in one can be overwhelming and less memorable, not me. In fact, it was customary for global explorers before commercial air travel became pervasive.
With FCF’s SLS strategy, it’s as easy to get on a flight to another hot place as it is to get on a flight home. You’re on the move anyway, so just leverage it.
And it’s not just convenience. Consider that your return on investment goes way up for ticking a bucket list destination off your list as part of the same trip. Hey, you’re not just a traveler, you’re now a smart “investor” too.
The easiest time to take a trip…
is when you’re already on one.
Spend a Few Short Nights in St. Petersburg
“Long regarded as the country’s premier cultural hub, St. Petersburg offers an endless array of artistic thrills that span over 200 museums (including the Hermitage and the Russian Museum) and world-class ballet, opera and classical music.” The Telegraph
Europe + Russia SLS Example: Say you’re flying non-stop on Lufthansa New York to Munich on June 2 to 16 and the lowest Business Class fare is $3,315 round-trip. Why not add St. Petersburg, Russia, and the White Nights Festival for a week for $3,118, or $197 less?
The spectacular White Nights Festival in St. Petersburg takes place between May and July and celebrates the season of the midnight sun when the sun doesn’t slip beyond the horizon all night long.
Of All the Gin Joints, in All the Towns, in All the World
“Casablanca… is the entry point to exotic Morocco, a country of dizzying diversity. Here you’ll find epic mountain ranges, ancient cities, sweeping deserts – and warm hospitality.” Lonely Planet
Europe + Morocco SLS Example: For a non-stop flight on Lufthansa from Miami to Frankfurt from May 24 to June 7, the lowest Business Class fare is $4,152 round-trip. So add Casablanca, Morocco, for a week for even less, because you pay $3,775 for the whole trip from Miami to Frankfurt and Casablanca. Here’s looking at you, kid.
Pyramid Scheme
“Giza Pyramids are one of the highlights of my life. And to top it off I got to ride a camel.” Barbara R, TripAdvisor
Europe + Egypt SLS Example: Flying non-stop on Lufthansa Dallas to Frankfurt from July 7 to July 22 costs $3,736 round-trip. But you can add Cairo for cheaper than free, because the whole trip is $3,247, or $489 less. Don’t leave Egypt for another time; do it now and save while you’re at it.
Israel? Is Real!
“With interlacing histories, clashing cultures and constant reinvention, Jerusalem is an intense, multisensory experience.” Lonely Planet
Europe + Israel SLS Example: Flying non-stop on Lufthansa, Los Angeles to Frankfurt, on April 7 to 21 costs $3,529 round-trip, the lowest Business Class fare. But you can add Tel Aviv, Israel, for just $89 more.
In other words, you can spend Easter in Jerusalem, less than an hour from Tel Aviv, for next to nothing, and visit the Garden Tomb, the Via Dolorosa, Sea of Galilee, Bethlehem and countless other fascinating places.
Give Your Favorite Partner a Treat
“One of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage.” UNESCO
Europe + India SLS Example: Fly non-stop on Lufthansa from Los Angeles to Frankfurt March 4 to 17 for $3,509 round-trip for the lowest Business Class fare. Why not tack on New Delhi and the Taj Mahal for just $206 more?
Amman? Oh Man!
“Jordan is an enchanting country to visit in the Middle East. It has some of the most exciting things to see like the ancient city of Petra, the Dead Sea, Wadi Rum and so much more!” The Planet D, TripAdvisor
Europe + Jordan SLS Example: Fly non-stop on Lufthansa New York to Frankfurt May 24 to June 2 and the lowest Business Class fare is $2,679 round-trip. However, you can add Amman, Jordan, for $556 more, totalling $3,235 for the whole trip from New York to Frankfurt and Amman.
Not planning on a trip to Germany or Switzerland
on Lufthansa or SWISS?
Had your heart set on Paris instead? No problem. Travel within Europe is cheap. Fly, drive, bicycle, balloon or take the train between these countries. Consider this: Paris is only about an hour’s flight from Frankfurt and Zurich (that’s closer than Chicago is to Minneapolis). In fact, many famed European cities are much closer than most imagine.
Star Alliance Bonus
But wait, there’s more: Most of these great deals can be booked as code-share flights with United, so United elites and non-elites earn miles, while earning elite status credit as well.
Third bird with the same stone.