Hi! I'm trying to use USAirways frequent flyer miles to fly from Charleston to Minneapolis and then to DC. Does anyone know if that requires 50,000 miles (i.e., the equivalent of two round-trip tickets), or is there some sort of break (say, 35,000 miles)? I tried to ask USAirways directly but failed to make contact with a human. Thank you!

Charleston-Minneapolis and then Minneapolis to DC should be considered a 35k open-jaw, but you probably have to speak to a human as it may not be bookable online.

Thanks! I'll give them another try.

If you are flying from Charleston, then to Minneapolis, and ending the flight in DC, that is not an open jaw. For a legal open jaw, you need to return to your origination point. What you have described is simply two one-way flights.

An example of open jaw would be if you fly from Charleston to Minneapolis, then go to DC by some other means, then fly back from DC to Charleston.

Aha! So should I inquire about flying Charleston to MSP to DCA and back to Charleston for 35,000 miles?

Oh! Duh. I just figured out what you're saying -- I'd have to get from MSP to DCA on my own steam. . . .