Free stopover costs $600 Sing. Extra

[OZDUCK]

I am trying to avoid the 'Australia tax' by flying to Singapore on ScootPlus and then booking a J flight to Paris using Etihad. For example using sample dates of departing Singapore on 7/5/25 and returning from Paris on 5/6/25 I can get a fare of $8,986 SGD for two people in J. The Etihad site prompts me to take up the opportunity of a complimentary stay with a free hotel for 2 nights. When I select that option the fare for 2 pax increases to $10,247 SGD. the price increase is on the leg to Paris which is when the stopover would occur. The fare for the Singapore/Paris leg jumps from S$3,801 to S$5,032.

Am I misunderstanding the terms "complimentary stay" and "free hotel" or am I doing something silly?

 

[Mattg]

Could it be that the lower fare class you're seeing on the cheaper itinerary isn't available on the later flight if you stop over?

 

[dajop]

If you look closely at fare conditions, the cheaper fare does not allow stopovers.

Looking at the pricing on Expertflyer, it looks like your fare combines W & Z class. $2441/2 (Z class)+ $3603/2 (W class)+ $1471 taxes/surcharges = $4493/pax = $8986 for 2 pax. As you have a Z class in the mix - no stopovers permitted. SOOL.

FOR ZNN03V5R TYPE FARES

NO STOPOVERS PERMITTED.

FOR WNN03V5R TYPE FARES

UNLIMITED STOPOVERS PERMITTED ON THE PRICING UNIT
LIMITED TO 2 FREE AND UNLIMITED AT USD 100.00 EACH.
1 FREE IN AUH
1 FREE IN AREA 1/AREA 2
1 FREE IN AREA 3
UNLIMITED IN AREA 1/AREA 2/AREA 3 AT USD 100.00 EACH.
A STOPOVER MAY NOT EXCEED 21 DAYS.
NOTE -
STOPOVER PERMITTED AT GUESTS OWN EXPENSE.

 

[OZDUCK]

Thanks to both of you I was doing something silly. That should have been obvious. I have never been affected by this sort of thing before but have read plenty of queries from others with similar sorts of questions.

A hotel near/at the airport for the night using the lower fare to cover the 16 hour plus stopover on one of the legs would be cheaper. It would still save me about $6,000 against booking a J flight ex Perth.