Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
FREQUENT FLYER GLOSSARY
What is a surface sector?
A surface sector is a non-airborne part of a ticketed itinerary: a stretch between two points that the passenger travels by land or another means of transport rather than on the flight being priced, while the ticket still treats the routing as one journey. Fare rules decide whether the gap is allowed, whether its distance counts toward mileage limits and whether it uses up a stopover. The Star Alliance Round the World fare, for example, permits up to five surface sectors on a single ticket. [1]
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- The Star Alliance Round the World fare allows up to five surface sectors on one ticket. [1]
- Surface sectors are not included in the calculated fare and are at the passenger's expense. [1]
- Their mileage must still be included in the maximum permitted mileage calculation. [1]
- A surface sector that involves a stay of more than 24 hours counts as one stopover. [1]
How are surface sectors counted in a Round the World fare?
In fare construction, a surface sector is a gap in the flown routing that is nevertheless counted as part of the journey: the distance is measured, the gap is recorded on the ticket and the passenger arranges the transport. The Star Alliance Round the World fare applies that approach in its published rules.
The total airfare is determined by the total mileage of the journey, the point of origin and the class of travel, plus applicable fees, taxes and surcharges. [1] The rules set four maximum permitted mileage levels: 26,000, 29,000, 34,000 and 39,000 miles, with class conditions attached to the 26,000-mile level; Special Economy fares are not applicable if the trip starts in Japan. [1]
| Question | What the fare rules say |
|---|---|
| How many are allowed? | Up to five per ticket [1] |
| Are they included in the fare? | No; they are at the passenger's expense [1] |
| Does their distance count? | Yes; the mileage must be included in the maximum permitted mileage calculation [1] |
| Do they use a stopover? | Only if the stay exceeds 24 hours, when it counts as one stopover [1] |
| Do they need a coupon? | Yes, between cities and between airports in multiple-airport cities [1] |
Do surface sectors count as stopovers?
A transfer is a stop of less than 24 hours; a stopover is any stay of more than 24 hours. [1] Star Alliance applies that threshold to surface sectors: if the stopover in the intermediate surface sector included in the itinerary exceeds 24 hours, it is considered as one stopover. [1]
Stopovers are capped. In general the Round the World fare requires a minimum of two stopovers and allows a maximum of 15; the Special Tourist Round the World fare and the Round the World Special Economy Fare require at least three and allow at most five. [1] No more than three stopovers are permitted in any one country, except in the contiguous United States, where five are allowed for travel that does not start in the USA or Canada. [1] Only one stopover per city is allowed. [1]
A land leg with a stay of more than 24 hours therefore uses one of those permitted stopovers, even though no flight is operated on that sector. [1]
When can a surface sector replace a flight?
Surface sectors can stand in for a flight, including on the long ocean crossings, but the routing rules still apply. The itinerary must include only one transatlantic crossing and only one transpacific crossing. [1] Such an intercontinental sector may be a surface sector provided the mileage for any land segments is included in the total mileage calculation. [1]
The journey must start and end in the same country, travel in one direction east or west, and cross both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. [1] It must include between two and 15 stops, and the journey must be completed between 10 days and one year, with the trip lasting up to 12 months after the departure of the first flight. [1] The fare allows a maximum of 16 flight coupons for the entire journey, including any subsequent re-routing. [1]
The fare is valid on the flights of all Star Alliance member carriers, but certain flights marketed under a member carrier's flight number and operated by a different airline are not offered for this product. [1]
What limits apply to surface sectors?
- The rules cap surface sectors at five: no more than five are permitted on a Round the World ticket. [1]
- The land portion is not covered by the fare. Surface sectors are not included in the calculated Round the World Fare and are at the expense of the passenger. [1]
- The distance still counts. The mileage for surface sectors must be included in the maximum permitted mileage calculation. [1]
- The gap must be visible on the ticket. Surface sectors between cities, and between airports in multiple-airport cities, require a separate coupon. [1]
- The published FAQ points to the full Round the World Terms and Conditions, which may outline further exceptions. [1]
Frequently asked questions
How many surface sectors does the Star Alliance Round the World fare allow?
Up to five. No more than five surface sectors are permitted on the ticket. [1]
Does surface sector mileage count toward the fare limit?
Yes. The mileage for surface sectors must be included in the maximum permitted mileage calculation, even though the sector is not flown. [1]
Does a surface sector count as a stopover?
Only when the stay exceeds 24 hours. A stop of less than 24 hours is a transfer; a longer stay in an intermediate surface sector counts as one stopover. [1]
Can the transatlantic or transpacific crossing be a surface sector?
Yes. The rules allow that intercontinental sector to be a surface sector if the land mileage is included in the total mileage calculation, and the itinerary still needs one transatlantic and one transpacific crossing. [1]
Sources
Sources checked on 18 October 2026. Star Alliance is the only programme covered; other alliances' round-the-world products and individual airlines' multi-city fare rules are not covered here.
- Star Alliance Round the World fare rules and FAQs, checked 18 October 2026