Still Limber, the Leg Stretch Strategy (LSS), One of FCF’s Favorite Airfare Secrets, Is Still Scoring Perfect 10s

Did You Stretch This Morning? Shhhh. The Airlines Still Haven’t Hamstrung the Acrobatic Leg Stretch Strategy. Still Awesome. Still Valid. Here’s Why It Is Premium Flying Gold…

Our regular readers know that we love below-the-radar, counter-intuitive strategies that save tons of money. After all, it’s been the cornerstone of our reputation for over two decades.

But one thing often happens. Airlines tend to shut down these strategies quickly once they realize how much money smart travelers can save.

Think of it like the beta version of a new app or operating system. The developer (or airline) removes the glitches and bugs that come up as users start working with it.

Well, we’re happy to say that our Leg Stretch Strategy has defied that trend and continues to offer amazing opportunities today — as long as you’re prepared to take advantage of it.

It’s Not a Stretch to Say It’s
One Our Favorite Airfare Strategies

If you’re new to this idea, or you need a refresher, here’s a quick rundown:

The Leg Stretch Strategy makes use of round-trip itineraries between two continents with free stopovers each way on a third continent. (See map below.)

This last continent is the “connecting continent” between the other two. In all our examples that third continent is the U.S. Simple so far. But here’s the thing, the U.S. stopovers are free each way. That means if you intend to go to those other continents in a 12-month period, you can use the Leg Stretch Strategy to fly in Business Class for LESS than what you would pay in coach.

99.999999% of travelers would treat those trips separately instead of combining them together on one ticket to save big.

The Stretch for Premium Travelers

Let’s look at an example of this strategy with Stella, an acrobat based in the U.S who’s planning to have two performances in Europe this year, and one in South America.

Now, most people would fly to Europe, do their thing, and return. Then they would fly to South America, do their thing, and return. And then finally fly to Europe again and return. Not many folks would think, or know, that they could combine those trips into one ticket to save thousands of dollars — even if the itineraries are stretched out over time.

Obviously, this strategy won’t make sense for everyone. Plenty of business travelers need to visit different continents more than once in a 12-month period, especially Europe. Many leisure travelers would do it if they knew how to do it in Business Class for the cost of coach. One of the great things about this strategy is that you can even link a couple of Leg Stretches together if you’re traveling much.

Stretchy Stella’s Leg Stretch

Stella’s itinerary has four discreet legs on her ticket (equivalent to two round-trips):

1. Europe to the U.S. (the stopover/home)
2. U.S. to South America (your vacation or business destination)
3. South America to the U.S. (the second stopover/ home)
4. U.S. to Europe (the start of your next trip)

Stella can do all that starting at $2,419 in Business Class on United, and a bit more on Delta, at $2,525.

That’s a crazy-great price—just $605 per long-haul / international flight segment, and it’s in Business Class.

Here’s how all the flight segments look on a map:

Now, you might be a bit confused, thinking: “Guys, you’re saying it starts and ends in Europe?!” Don’t worry, we’ll get to that. But first, let’s dive deeper into this deal.

Europe-U.S.-South America Leg Stretch in Detail

EXAMPLE: This Leg Stretch is on United Airlines and connects Rio de Janeiro with Zurich via (either) Chicago, Houston, Newark/New York, or Washington, D.C., and on Delta via (either) Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Detroit, Miami, Minneapolis, or New York.

Based on where you live, you book the corollary connection point

So there are plenty of options in the U.S., while Rio and Zurich are gateway cities to the rest of their respective continents. (See the chart below for many different FCF-pre-baked itinerary options with both Delta and United.)

Here’s exactly how it plays out for Stella. As mentioned, you have to get to Europe to “kick off” the Leg Stretch. But the savings received from this Leg Stretch are so high that the additional cost of getting to, and then at the end, back from Europe still makes it well worth it.

EXAMPLE TICKET #1 (Getting to the Leg Stretch Starter City)

One Segment: New York (or other complying U.S. city) to Zurich one-way. Use miles or a great published fare. Check out ideas on getting that initial one-way cheap.

EXAMPLE TICKET #2 (The Start of the Leg Stretch)

Zurich to Rio round-trip—four segments on one ticket—via the U.S.

Example Segment #1: Zurich to New York (the free stopover as part of the Zurich-Rio Leg Stretch). Stay at home as long as you’d like before your trip to South America—as long as you complete the entire itinerary in 12 months.

Example Segment #2: New York to Rio. Stay for a week or more and have an awesome time in Brazil.

Example Segment #3: Rio to New York. Go home and relax.

Example Segment #4: New York to Zurich (the final leg of the Leg Stretch).

EXAMPLE TICKET #3 (Getting Home from the Leg Stretch)

Now it’s decision time. You can return home on another one-way ticket OR you can start the process again, returning to the U.S. as Leg 1 of your next Leg Stretch ticket from Zurich to another great destination (with stopovers in the U.S.).

Here are sample flight segments on Google Flights:

Yoga for Frequent Premium Flyers

With this deal, you’re getting Business Class for about the price of coach. It all depends on the destinations you choose.

Sample Math: A New York-Zurich non-stop ticket in economy typically ranges from ~$600 to $1,100 round-trip and New York-Rio de Janeiro in economy ranges from ~$1,300 to $1,800 on Delta/United. That’s $1,900 minimum to fly economy—and possibly $2,900 depending on your dates—while the Leg Stretch nets those same destinations in Business Class for as little as $2,419.

Another way to look at the savings is that a New York-Zurich ticket in Business Class typically ranges from ~$2,500 to $6,500 and a New York-Rio de Janeiro return ticket in Business Class ranges from ~$4,000 to $5,800 on Delta. That’s $6,500 minimum to fly Business Class—and as much as $12,300 depending on your dates. Meanwhile, the LSS can net those same destinations in Business Class for $2,419.

That’s a Business Class trip at better than two-for-one savings.

Fine print for ticket rules:

Delta: 300 EUR for changes before departure (plus fare difference if any), 300 EUR after you started your trip (based on space being available), routing changes are not permitted, 12 months maximum stay.

United: 300 EUR for changes before departure (plus fare difference if any), 300 EUR after you started your trip (based on space being available), routing changes are not permitted; 12 months maximum stay.

Here are SAMPLE itinerary options FCF Has Pre-Baked for you: