transport journey with stopover

How to Book a Long Layover and Get More Travel in One Trip

Scott Keyes

August 6, 2023

Layovers are a nearly inevitable part of traveling internationally, which means many travelers often find themselves with a few hours to spend in an airport in between flights. While these short layovers might be a small inconvenience, longer layovers (9+ hours) can actually be an opportunity.

Adding a long layover, also called a stopover, in between flights is one of the easiest ways to see more of the world in one trip, and you don’t have to be a super savvy traveler to do it.

Why should I add a long layover?

Few things are worse for travel lovers than having to pass quickly through a destination you’d otherwise like to visit. With a little time and flexibility, adding a long layover into your journey is easy. Rather than being stuck at an airport for 8+ hours, you get to explore a new destination. Plus, there are other benefits.

A long layover breaks up an otherwise long flight, even helping to cut down on jet lag. In many cases, a stopover flight is also cheaper than a direct flight. And, it might be cheaper still if you create your own itinerary rather than booking it all one one ticket (we call that the Greek islands trick .)

Here's an example: if you’re flying from Boston to Sydney, Australia, you might see round-trip prices around $1,267.

But if you want to hang out in Los Angeles for a bit, you can book roundtrip Boston to Los Angeles for $197, and then Los Angeles to Sydney roundtrip for $710—unless, of course, you snagged a Going deal from LAX direct to Sydney for $477.

The difference is $360, which is a significant amount and allows you to break up the long flights and see a new city.

‍ Some other routes where it might make sense to add a long layover:

• Between North America and Africa, layover in a European hub like Frankfurt, Amsterdam, or London
• Between Australia and the East Coast of the US, layover in San Francisco or Los Angeles
• Between North America and Europe or the UK, layover in Iceland or another large European hub like Zurich, Barcelona, or Amsterdam
• Enroute to a smaller destination in Southeast Asia, layover in a larger hub like Hong Kong or Bangkok

What are the different types of long layovers?

Layovers come in all shapes and sizes (and lengths!). One type of long layover is a layover imposed by the airline, meaning you’ve bought one ticket and a layover is part of the itinerary. In these cases, the layover might only be a few hours or it could be a full day or more.

To take advantage of this kind of layover, simply choose an itinerary with a long stopover on the same ticket. Take that Boston to Sydney flight, for example—if you did want to book it all on one ticket, you could choose a flight with a 19-hour stopover in Hawaii even if shorter flights are available.

The other main type of layover is one you choose to create by booking two separate tickets.

Airlines that offer free stopovers 

Some airlines offer free long layovers as part of an incentive program to bring new travelers onboard while increasing tourism traffic to a destination. Everyone wins!

• The Icelandair layover program is an excellent option; they’ve built a whole campaign around it. If you’re flying between North America and Europe or the UK, you can layover in Iceland for up to seven days—at no extra cost for the flight. (Read our guide to Icelandair's business class. )
• Qatar Airways will allow a Doha stopover for up to two days, and they’ll even give you a hotel for one or two nights. Just check their website ahead of time to see if you qualify for visa-free entry into Qatar.  
• You can also get a free Portugal stopover with TAP Portugal for up to five nights in Lisbon or Porto, or stay in Helsinki for up to five days when you fly round-trip with Finnair between Europe and Asia.

>> Read more about these stopovers paid by carrier.

Airlines that offer free layover hotels and tours.

Some airlines will offer free hotels if the layover is forced by their schedule. It’s called STPC—Stopover Paid by Carrier—and it’s offered by airlines such as Turkish, Royal Jordanian, and China Southern, among others. 

• For  Turkish Airlines , if you’re flying economy through Istanbul and you have a layover over 10 hours (or 7 hours for business class), you can take advantage of the STPC—but only if there is no available earlier flight to the same destination.
• On  China Southern , if you have an 8- to 48-hour stopover in Guangzhou, you’re entitled to a transit hotel. This allows you up to 72 hours of visa-free transit, but there are a series of conditions involved (for example, you have to be from one of 53 nations outlined on the  China Southern website ).
• Royal Jordanian  offers free hotel, transit, and meals for layovers of 8-24 hours if no same-day connection is available.  

If you’re searching flights and you find a great deal with a really long stopover, do some digging to see if the airline offers a STPC. Sometimes the info is buried on their website.

If you’re a bit shorter on time, some airlines and airports offer free or cheap transit tours from the airport. You can do this at Singapore Changi, Seoul Incheon, Doha International, Tokyo Narita, Taiwan Taoyuan, and Istanbul Atatürk (to name a few).

• At Seoul Incheon you can hop on a guided tour around Songdo Hanok Village in Incheon, or visit Jeondeungsa Temple (the oldest temple in Korea). The airport website has a  long list of transit tours —all you have to do is pay the attraction entrance fees (or any extras, like meals).
• Singapore Changi offers a  free heritage tour  through Chinatown, Little India, and Kampong Glam, or you can join a city sights tour with stops in Merlion Park, Marina Bay Sands, and the Esplanade. 

Make sure you read the full tour details. Registration for tours tends to be restricted to certain hours throughout the day, and in the case of longer tours like the ones from Singapore Changi, you’ll need at least 5.5 hours to spare.

>> Read more about airlines and airports that offer free layover tours .

How to create and book a long layover in between flights:.

Start with Google Flights , and make a general search for your final destination. Let’s say you’re headed to London from New York City. You know you might be able to stop over in Iceland on the way there or back. If you’re flexible on dates but know you want to go sometime in May, first search for flights to and from London to find the best dates. Then search for flights to and from Iceland to get an idea of when those flights are the cheapest.

Once you have found the dates that offer the lowest prices across the Atlantic, move to a multi-city search. You’ll need to create three searches:

• You could do NYC to Iceland, Iceland to London, London back to NYC
• Or you could do NYC to London, London to Iceland, Iceland back to NYC

Play around with the order and dates to find the best possible combination.

Google Flights packages this up nicely so that you can easily see the price for two or more separate tickets, but you may need to go to multiple websites to book.

You could also book a cheap open jaw flight (for example, NYC to London and then Paris back to NYC) and then book a separate flight (or train) ticket that gets you from London to Paris.

Things to consider when choosing a layover city

Before you rush off to purchase that stellar deal, here are some things to keep in mind:

• Make sure the city is easy to reach from the airport . You’ll want to ensure you can get into town easily via public transit, like in London or Amsterdam. If it’s an obscure airport on the outskirts of town, chances are this could be difficult and you’ll lose a lot of time (or money) to transiting between the city and the airport.
• Consider hubs/cities that encourage long layovers . E.g. the ones listed above with free tours or hotels that help you save money on your long layover.
• Choose cities/countries that do not require a visa . Check to see if a visa is required. In some cases, like Doha, you can easily get a transit visa specifically for the stopover, but you’ll want to avoid places like Russia that require an expensive visa.
• Consider how the stopover jives with the rest of your trip . If you’re planning a winter trip to the beaches of Thailand, do you really want to stopover in chilly Frankfurt and have to lug a bunch of extra cold-weather gear?
• Know what to do with your luggage . If your stopover is an overnight one, you’ll have the option to check the bag all the way through or pick it up during your stopover. If the stopover isn’t a full day and you’ve booked on one ticket, you may have to collect your bags after the first flight or leave them checked through, unless you’ve made separate bookings. If you’ll have your bags with you on a shorter connection, make sure the airport has storage facilities for your baggage. You don’t want to be pulling a heavy suitcase around cobblestone streets as you’re sightseeing. If the airport doesn’t offer storage, see if there’s a hotel or hostel in the area that will hold your luggage for a small fee.
• Check customs regulations ahead of time . If your baggage isn’t checked all the way through, keep in mind that customs regulations vary per country. Here’s a hypothetical situation: if you’re bringing dairy gifts from Europe to friends in Australia but you have a layover in Guangzhou, make sure your bag is checked the whole way through. Dairy isn’t allowed through customs in China, so you’ll have to surrender all that delicious cheese if you’re rechecking your luggage.

Read some of our layover guides: 

• The Layover Guide to Seoul
• The Layover Guide to Istanbul
• The Layover Guide to Frankfurt
• The Layover Guide to Amsterdam
• The Layover Guide to Doha
• The Layover Guide to Panama City

How much time to allow for a layover

If you’ve got a shorter layover, you need to decide if journeying beyond the airport is really worth your time. In general, leaving the airport requires a layover of at least 9 hours, but the minimum time varies by airport. Here are some things to think about when deciding the minimum time you need for a layover.

• Will you need to go through immigration? Deplaning and going through immigration could take up to two hours, especially in the busiest hubs. In general, you'll need to go through immigration any time you land in a new country, though there are some exceptions, such as when you're traveling within the  Schengen Area . For example, if you're traveling from Paris to NYC with a layover in Zurich, you will not have to go through immigration on your layover in Zurich because you are traveling from a country in the Schengen Area (France) to another country in the Schengen Area (Switzerland). However, if you were starting in Dubrovnik you would have to go through immigration on your layover in Zurich because you'd be traveling from a non-Schengen country (Croatia) to a Schengen country (Switzerland). Here's a handy list of which countries are within the Schengen Area.
• How long will it take you to get to and from the airport? You’ll need to figure out ahead of time how easy it is to get from the airport into the city. Cities with excellent transit systems (like Amsterdam and London) make it easy to get back and forth, but if there’s no rail system available, you’ll need to check for traffic delays. Trying to get back to the airport via bus during rush hour is not the best idea.
• How long will it take to get through airport security? Allow yourself at least 2-3 hours before departure back at the airport to recheck your luggage (if necessary), get through security, and find your gate.

Here’s how that looks in practice, if you’re flying from New York to Istanbul with an 8-hour stopover at London Heathrow.

Immigration is usually pretty efficient, but this airport is one of the largest in the world, so there very well could be long line-ups. Heathrow also has baggage storage facilities, but you’ve checking luggage all the way through, so you don’t need to allot for time to store and retrieve your luggage. Budget 2 hours.

Fortunately, the Heathrow Express runs non-stop to Central London (Paddington) every 15 minutes, and the journey itself is only 15 minutes. + 30 minutes minimum roundtrip

At the latest, you’ll want to arrive back at Heathrow two hours before your flight. This will give you enough time to make it through security and find your gate. + 2 hours

Total time: 4.5 hours, but if you’re cautious, you might want to bump that to 5 hours to account for delays.

Time remaining to explore London: 3 hours.

If you were arriving at a different London airport, like Stansted, you’d have to allow for a longer direct train journey—up to an hour—which would reduce your time in London to a point where you might find it less stressful to simply stay at the airport. It really depends on what you’d like to do with your time.

Don’t forget to think about the time of day, either. For example, if your layover is between 6am and 2pm, you’ll have some ideal time for exploring the city, but a layover from 11pm to 7am is a whole different story. Unless you’ve planned the layover to break up two long flights, crash at the hotel and start out fresh the next day, you may want to stick to a daytime layover.

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Founder & Chief Flight Expert

Published August 6, 2023

Last updated December 19, 2023

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Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here .

When you search for airfare from your home airport to your destination airport, you're getting an inflated price. Search engines just show you whatever predetermined fares the airlines have decided it costs to get you there, along with connections that are often either rushed and hectic or long and boring in places you're not interested in going.

I book one-way flights almost exclusively. One great reason is to build fun stopovers into your route. It can give you the opportunity to turn one vacation into many -- while saving several hundred dollars in airfare. There's a science to it.

New to The Points Guy? Want to learn more about credit card points and miles? Sign up for our daily newsletter .

I'll show you the tools that make it easy for you to sniff out a cheap route to your destination while adding exciting stopovers.

What is a stopover?

When most people plan for a trip, they're only focused on point A and point B. Any extra stops in between are a hassle. Here are some helpful definitions of what happens to you on the way to your vacation:

• Connection : Any point during your journey when you have to stop at an airport that isn't your origin or destination. If your flight isn't nonstop, you've got a connection. Common parlance implies that these are normal, unremarkable stops (not hours and hours long).
• Layover : This definition is more rigid. For domestic flights, a layover is a connection lasting less than four hours. If you're flying internationally, a layover is any connection less than 24 hours.
• Stopover : If flying domestically, a stopover is any connection lasting more than four hours. If flying internationally, a stopover is any connection lasting more than 24 hours

Stopovers can either be really, really inconvenient (spending an extended period of time wandering the airport corridors), or very enriching (leaving the airport for some tourism in a city other than your destination). The latter is what this post is about.

When you build a stopover into your travels, you can make them for as long as you want (months, even!). It's a fun way to turn a boring commute into a hopscotch of bucket-list items -- and if you know the strategy, you can do it while paying far less for airfare than had you gone straight to your final destination.

Example: Building stopovers to Europe

As our example, I'll search from my home airport of Cincinnati to the island of Malta. The lowest price I can find is in early October for $952 round-trip. As you can see from the below screenshot, that's quite low. Google even claims the price is $1,240 cheaper than usual (that seems a bit steep). No matter, we can handily beat this price -- and throw in three or more fun stopovers while we're at it.

Google Flights has this really cool map search function that allows you to enter an origin airport but not a destination. If you're unfamiliar with Google Flights, read our Google Flights guide to become an instant expert. Just as a refresher, here's how it works:

• Input your home airport
• Leave the destination blank and click "Search"
• Make your dates flexible by clicking "Trip in the next 6 months"
• See the cheapest destinations around the world from your home airport

With this tool, you can basically mine cheap routes from any city. Once you figure out the notably inexpensive routes, you'll just have to play with dates to find the best prices. Let's walk through it.

Related: Guide to Google Flights

Step 1. Search hubs from your home airport

Note that this entire post will be a series of one-way searches.

Enter your home airport to see cheap routes from your origin. My home airport is Cincinnati. I simply leave the destination blank, search with flexible dates, and then slide that price filter (left side of the page) as low as it will go to search flights costing $50 and under.

My results are below. These flights will almost certainly be nonstop. I've highlighted hub airports I wouldn't mind having as a stopover: New York, Miami, San Francisco and Washington, DC. I'll keep these four airports in mind as I'll need them in step 3.

Step 2. Search hubs from your destination airport

I'm now repeating step 1 except I'm searching from my destination (Malta) instead of my home airport. I'm looking to see which cities offer cheap service to Malta. There are plenty -- most of Europe is super cheap once you get to the continent. I've again noted some fun options that I'd enjoy as a stopover, like Edinburgh, Vienna, Porto and Rome.

Step 3. Search routes between your stopover-worthy cities

Another fun feature of Google Flights is that you can search up to five origin airports at once. I'll now enter my choice stopover destinations from step 1 (Miami, New York, Chicago) into Google Flights, but again keep the destination blank. I'll then swing the map over to Europe to see any potential cheap transatlantic routes. I put the price filter at $300 or under, as that's all I'm willing to pay.

This instantly gives me hundreds of permutations between all airports in Europe. Now all I have to do is cross-reference the cheapest European airports with the airports that fly to Malta and then choose the one I want to visit the most.

As you can see, the cheapest flight to Europe is to Porto, Portugal. Clicking on the city reveals that the flight originates in Newark. For $167, I'll gladly make a stop in Portugal, the magical land of castles, wine and cobblestone streets.

Step 4. Enter your route into the Google Flights multi-city tool

The above steps have led me to the following itinerary:

• Cincinnati to Newark
• Newark to Porto
• Porto to Malta

I know it's possible to score a deal on all these routes. I'll pull up Google Flights again, and input these airports into the multi-city tool. Dates don't matter yet.

Step 5. Check the dates for each leg separately

The next step is to check all three legs separately to find a cheap date for each. This may be the most time-intensive portion of your research, though I don't find it to be a burden (it's actually fun). Just open a separate tab for each leg and pull up Google Flights to do your pricing.

My first leg is Cincinnati to New York. I've highlighted the cheapest dates in yellow. After I find the cheap fare I want, I'll look at the flights from New York to Portugal and Portugal to Malta. I'll tinker with the dates until the prices are low across the board and the time spent at each stopover is to my liking.

Step 6. Plug the cheap dates into your multi-city itinerary

Once you find your dates, head back over to your tab with the multi-city search and begin plugging in your dates. From Cincinnati to New York, I chose October 4. It's the cheapest date at $69 one-way.

Step 7. Book your ticket

After you've figured out how long you'd like to stay at each destination (along with low prices), you can view your final ticket price and book! The below one-way route from Cincinnati to Malta costs $260 (before any baggage fees). That's about $400 cheaper than simply searching for a one-way flight from Cincinnati to Malta.

Step 8. Use the same process to get home

You can use this exact same strategy for your return flight as well -- though it would be understandable if you tried to find the most direct route home after all that traveling.

After spending a few days in Malta, I built-in a four-day stopover in Paris, which set me up for a super cheap transatlantic flight back to New York. I tried to keep that connection as small as possible, as I'd already had a stopover in New York on my outbound journey. New York was just a necessary evil to cross the ocean for cheap.

Total cost for a round-trip?

The total cost of this ticket is $629 (plus potential bag fees, depending on the airline). That's $323 cheaper than that fare to Malta we looked at earlier -- a 34% savings! And if you're traveling with a friend or family member, you'd collectively save nearly $650. Plus, you get free visits to:

For the same price, I could have strategically tossed in a few more destinations like Las Vegas, Italy, Lanzarote and London. That's even further removed from reality for the average traveler, though. Trying to keep it plausible over here.

Beware of booking flights too close together

Yes, booking your own routes can save several hundred dollars over allowing the airline to work it out for you. But you're destined to spend a lot of money at your stopover cities.

If you're purely trying to save money on the way to your destination (i.e. not interested in side-trips), you'll have to schedule each leg closely together. The biggest caveat here is that if one flight is delayed for some reason, you could miss a series of future flights. Remember, you'll have to re-check your bags and go back through airport security for each flight.

Related: Best credit cards with trip delay reimbursement in 2021

Build time for complications into your itinerary. And be sure to use a credit card with travel insurance to buy your flights in case of trip delays or cancellations.

Search by city, not by airport

Google Flights allows you to enter city names instead of just airports. By entering the city, you'll find discounts you otherwise wouldn't have if you'd just typed in the airport code. For example, instead of typing in CDG for flights to Paris, you can just type "Paris," and Google Flights will search for routes that include other airports that serve the Paris area:

Some of these airports specialize in low-cost carriers, so you'll often see lower fares that don't fly to Charles de Gaulle, the main airport serving Paris.

The same goes for any city served by multiple airports. Type New York instead of JFK, San Francisco instead of SFO, London instead of LHR, etc.

Use miles and points for the outbound or return

Hopping around is fun -- for a while. But if you've built a load of stopovers into your outbound journey, you may just want to get home without any extra hassle. In that case, use miles to book a flight home from whatever obscure airport you're at to whatever obscure airport you're from.

For example, a flight from Malta to Cincinnati (generally) costs 30,000 American Airlines miles and ~$110 in taxes and fees. Yeah, that means you'll only save $257 over the return itinerary we pieced together -- and you won't get a stopover in Paris -- but it's effortless, and there's nothing to think about. American will carry your travel-weary cadaver all the way back to your bed at home.

Related: How to book your first award flight

How to avoid the worst low-cost airlines

Some of these fares are ridiculously cheap. Like, fly across Europe for $12 cheap. The problem is that some airlines often nickel-and-dime you; sometimes it feels like they go out of their way to make your trip miserable, whether it's charging to use the bathroom, lambasting you with advertisements or meticulously designing seats for optimum discomfort.

If flying Ryanair is out of the question for you, narrow your search by clicking the "Airlines" tab at the top of the Google Flights search map and checking all the alliances. Most low-cost carriers aren't part of an alliance.

Skyscanner is a good supplementary tool

Similar to Google Flights, Skyscanner allows you to search for flights to anywhere, as well. It's a little more functional than Google's tool in a couple of ways:

• You can search for flights to everywhere nearly a year into the future with Skyscanner. Google Flights only allows for flexible dates up to six months in advance
• Your origin can be broad with Skyscanner. For example, you can type in "United States," whereas Google requires an actual origin airport

This can be a good tool for finding the long legs of your journey. If you enter the U.S. as the origin and Europe as the destination and then select the "Cheapest month," it'll give you a very digestible list of European destinations, sorted by price. Click on the destination to see the specific route.

Related: Best flight booking apps

Bottom line

You can easily save hundreds of dollars by locating a series of cheap one-way flights to reach your destination -- and swing by a few other enchanting locations while you're at it. Be sure to book your flights with a travel credit card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, which covers you in case your flights are canceled or delayed. It's also got a 60,000-point bonus after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening. That's worth $1,200 in travel, per TPG valuations (and a ton more if you know how to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards for maximum value ).

Let me know if you've got a better way to build stopovers into your travels! And subscribe to our newsletter for more practical money-saving travel tactics.

What’s the difference between a layover, stopover and transfer?

Can you exit the airport?

Managing the nuances of air travel goes beyond simply choosing a destination; it involves understanding the nuances of your itinerary. From layover to stopover, each term carries a different meaning when it comes to travelling.

Was your flight delayed or cancelled? Get up to €600

A layover refers to a relatively short stop between flights, typically in the same airport. It’s often a brief pause during your journey, allowing the airline to change planes, refuel, and board new passengers. Layovers can range from 30 minutes to a few hours. Passengers usually stay within the airport terminal and don’t go through immigration.

Example: Imagine flying from Amsterdam to Rome with a layover in Frankfurt. You might have a 2-hour layover at Frankfurt Airport before boarding your connecting flight to Rome.

What is a layover, and how does it differ from other flight terms?

A layover is a short stop between flights, typically occurring in the same airport. It is distinct from a stopover in that it is brief, usually ranging from 30 minutes to a few hours. During a layover, passengers stay within the airport terminal and do not pass through immigration. The purpose of a layover is often to facilitate activities such as changing planes, refueling, or boarding new passengers.

How can I make the most of a layover?

To make the most of a layover, consider checking the airport amenities, such as lounges, restaurants, or shops. Some airports offer guided tours or attractions for passengers during layovers. Use this time to relax, grab a bite to eat, or explore the airport surroundings. Be mindful of your connection time, and ensure you return to your departure gate well in advance.

What if I missed my connection during a layover due to a delay or cancellation?

EUclaim provides you with free advice regarding your rights to compensation when you missed your connection. All we need are your flight details. Share your flight number and date and you will immediately know if you are eligible for cash compensation of up to €600!

A stopover is a more extended break in your journey, often exceeding 24 hours. Unlike a layover, during a stopover, you have the opportunity to explore the city or region where your stopover occurs. Some airlines and travel agencies even offer packages encouraging passengers to make the most of their stopover by including hotel accommodations and city tours.

Example: If you’re flying from Paris to Istanbul with a stopover in Athens for 48 hours, you can explore the historical city before continuing your journey to Turkey.

What defines a stopover, and how is it different from a layover?

A stopover is a more extended break in your journey, often exceeding 24 hours. Unlike a layover, a stopover provides the opportunity for passengers to explore the city or region where the stopover occurs. Airlines and travel agencies may even offer packages that include hotel accommodations and city tours, encouraging passengers to make the most of their time in the stopover location.

Can I choose the duration of a stopover when booking a flight?

In many cases, yes. Some airlines allow passengers to choose the duration of a stopover when booking their flights. Check with your airline or travel agent during the booking process to see if there are options for customizing the length of your stopover. This way, you can plan your itinerary to include the desired amount of time to explore the stopover destination.

Can I leave the airport during a stopover?

Yes, during a stopover, you have the opportunity to leave the airport and explore the city or region where the stopover occurs. Unlike a layover, which is typically short and keeps passengers within the airport, a stopover allows for an extended break, often exceeding 24 hours. Be sure to check visa requirements for the stopover destination and plan your time accordingly, factoring in immigration processes and transportation to and from the airport.

What if I missed my connection during a stopover due to a delay or cancellation?

Missed your connecting flight? Share your flight number and date and you will immediately know if you are eligible for cash compensation of up to €600!

A transfer involves changing planes at an intermediate airport to reach your final destination. This is common in connecting flights, where you disembark from one aircraft and board another to complete your journey. Transfers may occur in the same terminal or require a change of terminals, depending on the airport layout.

Example: When flying from Madrid to Moscow with a transfer in Vienna, you would change planes in Vienna before continuing on to Moscow.

What is a transfer, and when does it occur in air travel?

A transfer involves changing planes at an intermediate airport to reach your final destination. This commonly happens in connecting flights, where passengers disembark from one aircraft and board another to complete their journey. The transfer may occur in the same terminal or require a change of terminals, depending on the airport layout.

How much time should I allow for a transfer between flights?

The recommended time for a transfer varies by airport and can depend on factors such as airport size, terminal distance, and whether you need to go through security or immigration. As a general rule of thumb, allow at least 60-90 minutes for domestic transfers and 2-3 hours for international transfers. Check with your airline for specific recommendations based on your itinerary.

What if I missed my connection during a transfer due to a delay or cancellation?

Missed your next flight while on a transfer? Share your flight number and date and you will immediately know if you are eligible for cash compensation of up to €600!

While not a widely used term, a “scale over” can be considered a brief stop at an intermediate airport without leaving the aircraft. It’s similar to a layover but typically involves a short refueling or technical stop rather than a change of planes.

Example: If you’re on a long-haul flight from London to Buenos Aires with a scale over in Lisbon, the plane might touch down briefly for refueling before proceeding to the final destination.

What is a scale over, and how does it differ from a layover?

While not a widely used term, a “scale over” refers to a brief stop at an intermediate airport without leaving the aircraft. It is somewhat similar to a layover but typically involves a short refueling or technical stop rather than a change of planes. Passengers stay on board during a scale over.

Are scale overs common in modern air travel?

Scale overs are less common in modern air travel due to advancements in aircraft technology and more efficient flight planning. However, they may still occur on certain long-haul flights, allowing the aircraft to refuel or address technical issues without requiring passengers to disembark. Check your flight itinerary for information on any potential scale overs.

Was your flight cancelled or delayed? Then file a claim and you could be entitled to up to €600!

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How To Maximize Stopovers and Open-jaws [Ultimate Guide]

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An Introduction to Stopovers and Open-jaws

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In the award travel world, stopovers and open-jaws are topics that get a ton of attention. They can be difficult to plan and overwhelming to visualize, but can allow you to visit 2 or more places for the price of 1 !

With revenue tickets, these routes are normally not allowed — so, in this sense, award tickets are sometimes objectively better than revenue tickets.

But there are several frequent flyer programs that have incredibly generous award routing rules: Japan Airlines Mileage Bank, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, and Cathay Pacific Asia Miles immediately come to mind.

In this guide, we’ll provide you an overview of award routing rules with specific airlines, and discuss the planning side of stopovers and open-jaws.

Lastly, we will show you some amazing example itineraries you can build with each frequent flyer program that can be worth tens of thousands of dollars in added value, for free!

Let’s first define what a stopover and open-jaw are, exactly.

A stopover is the act of stopping and staying in a city for longer than 24 hours . Here’s an example of a stopover:

An open-jaw is named that because of how the flight trajectory physically looks. Here’s what we mean.

Let’s say you were in New York, and you wanted to fly to Hong Kong — but then return to NYC from Tokyo. Basically, you’re flying from Point A to Point B, and then going to Point C for your return journey to Point A.

The map would look like this:

The last term we’ll talk about is a  double open-jaw . This might be tremendously beneficial if you’re visiting multiple cities!

Here’s an example of what we mean:

The 9 Best Programs To Maximize Stopovers and Open-jaws

Before we go in-depth into each rewards program, it’s important to note that airlines can change their award routing rules at any time without notice .

In the past, airlines such as American, Delta, and United have had very generous award routing rules. Unfortunately, this is no longer the case.

Here, we’ve compiled what we think are the best programs you can use to work in stopovers and open-jaws to your vacation.

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan wins so many awards in the hearts of frequent flyers.

It has an easy-to-use online award search engine (with the exception of Cathay Pacific and LATAM), and it also has generous “beginner” routing rules!

What do we mean by beginner routing rules? Well, these routing rules are very generous, but also extremely simple to understand and use .

Basically, here are Alaska’s routing rules:

• You may only fly 1 partner airline and Alaska Airlines on an award ticket.
• The terms and conditions state that the stopover must occur in a hub city (i.e. Hong Kong when flying Cathay Pacific), but you might have luck calling in and requesting another stopover.
• There are no close-in booking fees, and the partner booking fee is $12.50 plus a $15 phone booking fee.
• Changes and cancellations are free until 60 days before departure. After that, you must pay $125.
• You can transit via a third region.
• You  may be able to backtrack , but this is unconfirmed and generally not allowed.

Now that you have an idea of the routing rules, let’s see how we can put this in practice.

Keep in mind that each airline has its own award chart with Alaska Airlines — so this might be hard to keep track of, but it will be totally worth it!

There are some ways to eke out extra value without paying more miles, particularly from Air Tahiti Nui, Cathay Pacific, Fiji Airways, Hainan Airlines, Japan Airlines, and Qantas.

Let’s put some numbers to routes now. Here are some great example routes you can take:

• Boston (BOS) – Beijing (PEK) – Urumqi (URC)  one-way for 50,000 Alaska miles in  Hainan Airlines business class
• Chicago (ORD ) – Hong Kong (HKG) – Johannesburg (JNB)  one-way for 70,000 Alaska miles in Cathay Pacific first class (or 50,000 in business class )
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Brisbane (BNE) – Perth (PER) one-way for 70,000 Alaska miles in Qantas first class (or 55,000 in business class )
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Nadi (NAN) – Adelaide (ADL)  one-way for 55,000 Alaska miles in Fiji Airways business class
• New York (JFK) – Tokyo (HND) – Bangkok (BKK) one-way for 75,000 Alaska miles in Japan Airlines first class (or 65,000 in business class )

These are just a few examples of ways you can build in additional value into your trip!

Take the ORD-HKG-JNB itinerary, for instance. You are literally adding 13 hours of first or business class flying time and ~$10,000 worth of first-class flights for no additional miles.

Let that sink in for a moment … you will get $10,000 in free plane tickets, just for knowing about Alaska’s award routing rules !

Hot Tip: Want some more inspiration for using Alaska miles? See our guide on the best ways to redeem Alaska miles.

We love Air Canada Aeroplan ‘s generous routing rules when traveling round-trip with any long-haul itinerary on different continents.

Right now, you can pay just 5,000 additional Aeroplan points to add a stopover on flights, even one-way flights! You can add up to 2 stopovers on round-trip tickets.

Stopovers are not permitted on travel wholly within North America (including the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America).

With such a diverse network of partners in the Star Alliance, it’s easy to build awesome vacations. Keep in mind that Aeroplan uses a hybrid region-based and distance-based award chart.

Here are some great example routes you can take:

• Chicago (ORD) –  Seoul (ICN) – Singapore (SIN) for 90,000 Aeroplan points on Asiana Airlines business class
• Los Angeles (LAX) –  London (LHR) – Athens (ATH) for 80,000 Aeroplan points on United Polaris business class and Aegean Airlines business class
• New York (JFK) –  Taipei (TPE) – Bangkok (BKK) for 90,000 Aeroplan points on EVA Air Royal Laurel business class
• Seattle (SEA) – Auckland (AKL) – Tokyo (HND)  for 90,000 Aeroplan points on ANA business class and Air New Zealand business class

Overall, Aeroplan offers a simple way to book stopovers. You can get tons of extra value from it!

Hot Tip: Want to know some better ways to redeem Aeroplan points? Look at our best ways to use Aeroplan points !

Let’s call ANA Mileage Club ‘s routing rules as they are: generous for simple travelers.

You might be wondering what differentiates Alaska Airlines from ANA since we used the same “generous for simple travelers” above? Well, ANA allows 1 stopover and 1 open-jaw, but it only allows round-trip flights. Basically, Alaska has generous routing rules on one-ways, while ANA requires round-trip travel.

ANA also has very generous fares for  round-trip business class awards . Combining these routing rules with the best-in-class award prices, ANA becomes a powerful asset that we can use.

To be specific, ANA has its regular routing rules and round-the-world award routing rules (the latter is generally going to be out of scope of this guide, so we’ll focus on adding value from the regular routing rules).

Remember that ANA-operated flights are subject to seasonality rules, so keep that in mind when planning trips.

Let’s get into some example redemptions you can make:

• Miami (MIA) – Zurich (ZRH) – Dubai (DXB) – Miami (MIA) for 104,000 ANA miles in SWISS Air business class ( high fuel surcharges )
• New York (JFK) – Tokyo (HND) – Jakarta (CGK) – New York (JFK)  for 100,000 ANA miles during the low season in ANA business class
• San Francisco (SFO) – London (LHR) – Istanbul (IST) – San Francisco (SFO)  for 88,000 ANA miles in United Polaris business class and  Turkish Airlines business class
• Washington, D.C. (IAD) – Brussels (BRU) – Accra (FRA) – Washington, D.C. (IAD) for 104,000 ANA miles in Brussels Airlines business class and South African Airways business class

Overall, using ANA miles is an excellent way to add some value to your trip.

Hot Tip: Be careful of huge fuel surcharges and avoid them by trying to fly on United (preferably its brand-new Polaris class ), Air Canada, LOT Polish, or Turkish Airlines. Otherwise, you’ll be paying upwards of $1,000 in total taxes and fees.

Asiana Airlines Asiana Club employs 2 region-based award charts: 1 for Asiana flights, and 1 for partner flights.

Additionally, Asiana Airlines-operated flights are subject to seasonality, so in a sense, its award redemption scheme is very similar to ANA.

Asiana Airlines allows up to 7 stopovers, but they cost extra miles (no additional value added). This is overall a pretty weak offering, but it can still provide some value flying to places like Europe , Korea , and South America .

We won’t go over some stopovers with the airline since this always costs extra miles, but here’s an idea of how to use an open-jaw for convenience purposes (and also using a well-known sweet spot to Europe):

• Los Angeles (LAX) – Frankfurt (FRA), Munich (MUC) – Los Angeles (LAX) for 100,000 Asiana miles in Lufthansa first class

Since they’re in the same region, you’ll be charged for 2 U.S.-Europe one-way awards, which price out at 50,000 miles each way.

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles continues to be one of the most underrated loyalty programs out there.

There are tons of optimization to be had using Asia Miles , but the program is a bit complex. For this reason, we think Asia Miles is for “advanced award travelers.” Let’s get into the routing rules.

Basically, you can fall into 3 sets of award redemption buckets:

• Asia Miles Awards Chart (only flying Cathay Pacific)
• Airline Partners Award Chart  (only flying 1 partner the entire way)
• Oneworld Multi-carrier Award Chart  (flying 3+ partners if part of your itinerary includes Cathay Pacific; otherwise, up to 2 partners  without Cathay Pacific)

Each of these is distance-based, and they are subject to different open-jaw and stopover rules. We will focus on Oneworld multi-carrier awards, as they are the most complex and can provide the most value .

Here are the rules when using the multi-carrier award chart, as well as what they mean for you:

• If your travel includes Cathay Pacific, you may fly on 3 or more Oneworld airlines. Otherwise, you may fly up to 2 partners. Basically, you should add Cathay Pacific, if not for its amazing inflight product, because it allows you to fly more partners!
• The maximum distance you can fly in 1 itinerary is 50,000 miles ( 50,000 miles is an extremely long distance — 99.99% of travelers will be under this all the time ).
• The total mileage is determined by the sum of the distances from each of the segments (airport A to airport B). For example, if you’re flying from New York to Hong Kong to New Delhi, you must add the total distances between the 2 segments as opposed to taking the distance between New York and Delhi without considering Hong Kong.
• You are allowed a maximum of 5 stopovers, 2 transfers (layovers), and 2 open-jaws per itinerary.
• Mixed cabin awards will be charged the highest class mileage price for the entire itinerary. Don’t book mixed cabins unless you don’t have a choice.
• You can’t book premium economy.

These might be confusing, but if you take the time to really understand what you could be booking, you can get some outsized value from using Asia Miles’ generous routing rules.

Here’s an extreme example of a trip you could take, illustrating the value you can get with these routing rules:

• New York (JFK) – Tokyo (HND)  [Japan Airlines]
• Tokyo (HND) – Hong Kong (HKG) [Cathay Pacific]
• Hong Kong (HKG) – Kuala Lumpur (KUL) [Malaysia Airlines]
• Kuala Lumpur (KUL) – Sydney (SYD) [Malaysia Airlines]
• Sydney (SYD) – Doha (DOH) [Qatar Airways]
• Doha (DOH) – Colombo (CMB) [SriLankan Airlines]
• Chennai (MAA) – London (LHR) [British Airways]
• Madrid (MAD) – New York (JFK) [Iberia]

How long is this itinerary? You’d be flying 32,975 miles and over 71 hours on 8 different airlines across 9 countries.

How complex is this itinerary? It has 5 stopovers and 2 open-jaws between Doha/Dubai and London/Madrid.

If this doesn’t have you drooling yet, just wait. This amazingly complex itinerary will cost 130,000 miles in economy, 210,000 miles in business class, and 300,000 miles in first class! Using the Asia Miles award calculator will help price out your itinerary.

Just 210,000 Asia Miles in business class?!

So, for 40,000 miles more than a round-trip JFK-HKG ticket in Cathay Pacific business class, you can visit 7 more countries, try 8 different business class products (including Malaysia Airlines’ A330 and A350 business class), and fly more than  double the distance?

Yes, please!

We can’t overstate just how amazing using Cathay Pacific Asia Miles for Oneworld multi-carrier award tickets truly is.

The biggest challenge will be finding award availability for all flights. If you can pull off a huge, round-the-world trip using Asia Miles, you’ll have the opportunity to try loads of amazing airlines and visit tons of countries!

Emirates has 3 reward tiers for redemptions: Saver, Flex, and Flex Plus.

We’ll focus on Saver awards for economy and business class because they are the cheapest options for its cabin classes. Also, Emirates eliminated Flex first class awards a while ago, so those are no longer possible.

The stopover allowance is 1 free stopover on round-trip saver tickets (business/economy).

In practice, you can always add stopovers to Flex Plus tickets, though these are considerably more expensive than Saver and Flex tickets.

Also, open-jaws are allowed if they are in the same zone.

Emirates doesn’t publish the zone definitions, so the best way to find out if 2 places are in the same zone is to compare the mileage costs using the Emirates Skywards Miles Calculator. To find out, follow these steps:

• Visit the Emirates Skywards Miles Calculator .
• Type in your route (e.g., Los Angeles – Dubai).
• Note the award costs (e.g., Business Saver on LAX – DXB = 165,000 miles round-trip).
• Type in another route with one different city (e.g., New York City – Dubai).
• Note the award costs (e.g., Business Saver on JFK – DXB = 145,000 miles round-trip).
• Compare the award costs (165,000 ≠ 145,000).
• If they’re the same, you can be pretty certain that the 2 cities are in the same zone; if not, they are not in the same region.

Of course, you will still need to pay for fuel surcharges , which can be upwards of $1,500 for round-trip tickets.

Here are some great example routes you can take to maximize open-jaws and stopovers:

• Los Angeles (LAX) – Dubai (DXB) – Johannesburg (JNB) round-trip for 200,000 Emirates Skywards miles in Emirates A380 business class
• New York (JFK) – Milan (MXP) – Dubai (DXB) round-trip with a stopover in Milan for 90,000 Emirates Skywards miles in Emirates A380 business class
• Newark (EWR) – Athens (ATH) – Dubai (DXB) round-trip for 145,000 Emirates Skywards miles in Emirates business class
• San Francisco (SFO) – Dubai (DXB) – Malé (MLE) round-trip for 180,000 Emirates Skywards miles in Emirates business class

In all examples, Business Saver allows for 1 stopover.

Bottom Line: Overall, Emirates has a decent stopover policy for round-trip flights, but because of its hub-and-spoke model of airline networks, it’s very difficult to add open-jaws since Emirates only allows them for “cities in the same zone.”

Japan Airlines Mileage Bank is similar to Cathay Pacific Asia Miles: it employs a region-based award chart for JAL flights and 2 distance-based award charts for partners.

We’ll focus on the distance-based award charts for partners since there’s more opportunity to optimize using the partner award chart.

The 2 award charts are for travel on:

• Oneworld partners
• Non-alliance partners (including Air France, Korean Air, Emirates, etc.)

Here are the routing rules for partner airlines:

• One-way itineraries are allowed.
• Itineraries cannot backtrack to the point of origin in order to continue onwards to a final destination.
• Itineraries cannot backtrack to the country of origin in order to continue onwards to a final destination.
• Departure and arrival cities may be different but must be in the same country.
• You’re allowed a total of 6 segments, excluding an open-jaw.
• You are allowed 3 stopovers or 2 stopovers and 1 open-jaw.
• The distance of the open-jaw is counted in the total itinerary distance.
• You cannot mix non-alliance partners and Oneworld partners.

Here is a great example redemption you can make with Japan Airlines while maximizing stopovers and open-jaws:

• Los Angeles (LAX) – Paris (CDG) [Air France]
• Paris (CDG) – Dubai (DXB) [Emirates]
• Dubai (DXB) – Sydney (SYD) [Emirates]
• Sydney (SYD) – Hangzhou (HGH) [China Eastern]
• Shanghai (PVG) – New York (JFK) [China Eastern]

The total trip distance is 28,639 miles (according to JAL’s Total Mileage Calculator), which would cost 110,000 miles in economy or 160,000 miles in business class.

A minor caveat to consider is that Air France, Emirates, Malaysia Airlines, and Korean Air don’t allow first class award bookings , so you’ll have to plan another itinerary that allows you to fly first class the whole way. We think 160,000 miles in business class is the best redemption for this particular itinerary.

This is a great way to optimize Japan Airlines’ distance-based award chart!

Hot Tip: Using Oneworld partners is an  easier way to book complex itineraries, but it is quite a bit more expensive in terms of mileage costs.

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer is generally very strict with award routing rules. These are the following:

• Round-trip saver awards are allowed 1 stopover and 1 open-jaw.
• One-way  advantage (more expensive!)  awards are allowed 1 stopover.
• Stopovers are only allowed up to 30 days.

Here are some other itineraries where you can take advantage of the routing rules provided by Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer:

• Los Angeles (LAX) – Tokyo (NRT) – Singapore (SIN) 
• Houston (IAH) – Manchester (MAN) – Singapore (SIN) 

If you book an Advantage award, you would be entitled to a free stopover in either Tokyo (NRT) or Manchester (MAN). That said, the price for itinerary #1 is 128,500 miles, while the price for itinerary #2 is 143,500 miles.

United Airlines has something peculiar called the  Excursionist Perk .

According to United, here are the rules to use it:

• For example, if your journey begins in North America, you will only receive the Excursionist Perk if travel is within a region outside of North America.
• Travel must end in the same MileagePlus defined region where travel originates.
• The origin and destination of the Excursionist Perk are within a single MileagePlus defined region.
• The cabin of service and award type of the free one-way award is the same or lower than the one-way award preceding it.
• If 2 or more one-way awards qualify for this benefit, only the first occurrence will be free.

Here’s an example that qualifies:

• Los Angeles (LAX) – London (LHR) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Los Angeles (LAX)

There’s not much else to talk about, besides the fact that you basically get a free intra-region award flight. Because United has so many regions, it’s not super useful to extract extra value.

In the example above, the only added value you’re getting is the London-Frankfurt flight, which isn’t great because intra-Europe business class is horrible anyway.

Nevertheless, using the Excursionist Perk will get you a tiny bit of extra value, though it’s really only useful for convenience purposes.

Whew, what a guide! Between reading crazy legal documents, obscure terms and conditions, and confusing award charts, we’ve definitely scrutinized the fine print in this guide to maximizing open-jaws and stopovers.

Of course, there are tons more airline programs out there, but we covered most of our bases here. There are also some outdated resources out there, so we made sure to show you award maximization opportunities based on up-to-date rules!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an open-jaw.

An open-jaw is a flight where the destination and return city are not the same. An example flight could be:

• New York (JFK) – Detroit (DTW)
• Detroit (DTW) – Washington, D.C. (IAD)

What is a stopover flight?

A stopover is a stay in a city that lasts 24 hours or more.

An example would be:

• Flying San Francisco (SFO) – Tel Aviv (TLV)
• Stay in Tel Aviv for a week
• Tel Aviv (TLV) – New Delhi (DEL)

What is a transfer/layover flight?

A layover is a stay in a city for less than 24 hours.

Which airlines stopover in Singapore?

Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines are the main airlines that stopover in Singapore.

Which airlines stopover in Bangkok?

THAI Air, EVA Air, Korean Air, and Singapore Air are the main airlines that stopover in Bangkok.

Which airlines stopover in Hong Kong?

Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Malaysia Airlines, and Korean Air are the main airlines that stopover in Hong Kong.

Which airlines stopover in Dubai?

Cathay Pacific, SWISS Air, and Emirates are the main airlines that stopover in Dubai.

Which airlines have the best award routing rules?

We’ll split this answer up into airlines that have the best award routing rules for simple itineraries and complex itineraries.

The airlines with the best award routing rules for simple itineraries are Alaska Airlines, Air Canada, and Singapore Airlines.

The airlines with the best award routing rules for complex itineraries are Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, and Asiana Airlines.

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About Stephen Au

Stephen is an established voice in the credit card space, with over 70 to his name. His work has been in publications like The Washington Post, and his Au Points and Awards Consulting Services is used by hundreds of clients.

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The Best Airline Stopover Programs to Book in 2024

By Jessica Puckett

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Many long-haul flights make pit stops in another city or country before reaching the final destination—so why not turn your layover into a mini vacation? Through offerings known as “stopover” programs, some international airlines allow passengers to add a free stop to their flight itinerary in order to do just that.

Essentially, a stopover is an extended layover that allows travelers to leave the airport and explore the city (typically where the airline heads its operations). Airline stopovers can span anywhere from 24 hours all the way up to 10 days, depending on the carrier, making them highly customizable to travelers’ schedules and needs.

Taking advantage of these free airline programs is one of the best ways to stretch your travel budget—but not all stopovers are created equal. The ones with the most value for travelers offer free or discounted hotel stays, as well as savings on tourist activities like city tours, admission to museums, and even restaurant bills.

We've rounded up nine of the best stopover programs available in 2024 that allow travelers to explore Madrid , Abu Dhabi , Dubai , Doha , Reykjavik , Istanbul , Panama City , Porto , and Lisbon for hardly any additional airfare costs.

TAP Air Portugal offers free stopovers in Porto and Lisbon with discounted hotel stays.

TAP Air Portugal

As the only airline to offer free stopovers in two cities (Porto and Lisbon), TAP Air Portugal has one of the most flexible programs out there. Plus, it allows travelers to stay in either city for up to 10 days. The stopover booking process is super simple, as TAP has integrated it into its standard booking field. All you need to do is choose your travel dates, departure city, and destination as usual, then click the “Add Stopover” button. This will open a pop-up window where you can input the details of your stopover, including whether you'd like to visit Porto or Lisbon and for how long.

When your flights are squared away, you can book a discounted hotel stay by browsing TAP's list of hotel partners . The list offers booking codes with average savings of 10-20% off your stay. You'll also have access to discounts for restaurants, museums, and walking tours. Browse the airline's stopover offers page to see the full list. And once you wrap up your stopover, you also get a 25% discount on airfare to a second destination in Portugal, like the Azores archipelago.

Turkish Airlines' stopover program includes a free hotel stay in Istanbul.

Turkish Airlines

Travelers on Turkish Airlines on any itinerary from the US with at least a 20-hour connection in Istanbul qualify for the carrier's Stopover in Istanbul offering. The program is one of the most generous when it comes to accommodations, giving all fliers a free hotel stay: Passengers flying from the US in economy class can stay two nights in a four-star hotel free of charge, and business class passengers get three free nights in a five-star hotel. There's also an option book additional nights at contracted hotels offering discounted stays starting at $49 USD per night.

Turkish Airlines has recently simplified its stopover booking process, making it easier than ever to take advantage of the program. There is now a “Stopover in Istanbul” button right on the airline's booking page.

Travelers can stay in Madrid for up to six nights with no extra airfare costs through Iberia's stopover program.

With its Stopover Hola Madrid program, Iberia allows travelers to stay in the Spanish capital for as little as 24 hours, all the way up to seven days and six nights at no extra cost in airfare. Passengers can add a stopover to either their outbound or return flight and select the length of their stay on the airline's booking page. Stopover customers are also afforded a host of discounts, including 20% off tickets to the Prado museum, a free public transportation card valid for two days that can be picked up at the airport, and reduced hotel stays through the airline's partners.

Shannon McMahon

CNT Editors

Hannah Towey

Icelandair offers free stopovers in Reykjavik.

If you're interested in adding a few days in Reykjavik to your next vacation, book with IcelandAir, which offers free Reykjavik stopovers from one to seven days for its transatlantic passengers. When booking your flights, simply click the “Stopover in Iceland” button and choose how many days you'd like to stay. While there's no additional airfare involved, IcelandAir's program does not include a free or discounted hotel stay, so passengers will need to factor that in as an extra cost. However, the airline's stopover page does offer suggestions for a wide range of affordable sightseeing tours, like an abbreviated tour of the Golden Circle (from $81), a Reykjavik walking tour (from $40), and a Blue Lagoon experience (from $172).

The low-cost carrier Play Airlines offers free stopovers in its home base of Reykjavik for up to 10 days.

Play Airlines

A second option for enjoying the natural wonders of Iceland on a budget is with Play Airlines ’ free stopover deal. The low-cost carrier offers free stopovers at its home base of Reykjavik for up to 10 days. Aside from that long window to stay in Iceland, the budget airline doesn’t offer too many extra perks—you’ll have to secure your own accommodations and tours. But given that Play’s airfares are so cheap, starting at $129 for a one-way flight from the US to Europe, you’ll have plenty of extra budget to put toward an affordable place to stay , like hybrid property Hlemmur Square , which offers both hostel-style rooms and traditional private hotel rooms. To book the stopover, go to Play’s booking page and select “Stopover in Iceland” from the ticket type dropdown menu (the button that says “Roundtrip”).

Qatar Airways' popular stopover program offers steep discounts on luxury hotels in Doha.

Qatar Airways

One of the best airline stopover programs is Qatar Airways ', which offers a valuable hotel bundle. The carrier offers stays of up to four days in Doha , with bundle rates for four-star hotels starting at just $14 USD per person per night. If you want to upgrade to a luxury five-star hotel, the fee starts at $23 USD per person per night, which is still a deep discount. And of course, the stopover will cost you nothing in terms of extra airfare fees.

To score the bundle, book your stopover through Qatar Airways' dedicated page , which allows you to select the leg of the journey you'd like to stop in Doha and for how many days. Once your flights are booked, visit the airline's stopover hotel booking page to browse options for your stay. Choose your hotel and input your flight information during the booking process to receive the discount.

Also available during your time in Doha are discounted tour packages that range from activities like kitesurfing lessons, a private Bedouin dinner in the desert, souq tours, and many more.

Etihad's stopover in Abu Dhabi includes a free stay at a three-star hotel, subject to availability.

With its “Stopover on Us” package, Etihad is offering free stopovers in Abu Dhabi . The one- or two-night packages include a free stay at a three-star hotel in the city, plus perks like 24-hour check-in and free in-room Wi-Fi. Among the hotel partners are the Centro Al Manhal, the Millennium Al Rawdah Hotel, and the Traders Hotel Al Maqta.

To add the stopover, you need to first book a flight connecting through Abu Dhabi in any cabin class. Then, select your stopover package and check hotel availability on the airline's stopover page . It's important to note that a flight reservation is required to check the program's hotel availability (which is not guaranteed) and bookings must be made at least 72 hours before travel.

Copa's free stopover program lets travelers stay in Panama City for up to one week.

Copa Airlines

Travelers can take up to seven days to explore Panama City with Copa Airlines’ stopover program . Copa passengers can add a stopover in the capital city—one of the best places to go in South America in 2024 —on either the outgoing or return leg of their journey. Travelers can stay in Panama for as little as 24 hours all the way up to one week without needing to pay extra airfare. (Copa also offers the option to add a second stopover to your flight itinerary for $250 USD.) To book the stopover, simply go to the booking page on Copa’s website and toggle to the “Multi-city/Stopover” tab. Although the stopover program does not include a free or discounted hotel stay, there are many exciting new hotels in Panama City that would be well-worth the splurge, like the boutique eight-room Amarla, located in the city’s Casco Viejo historic district, or the waterfront Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo.

Emirates offers two options for travelers looking to extend their layover in Dubai.

With its Dubai Connect program, Emirates offers travelers with extended layovers in Dubai an array of complimentary perks, including a one-night hotel stay, visa, meals, and transfers to and from the airport. Passengers in economy through first class are eligible for these perks. To qualify for the program, your layover must be between eight to 26 hours for economy and premium economy tickets or six and 26 hours for business and first class tickets. Your connection time must be the shortest available—meaning you have to depart Dubai on the next available flight to your destination or your itinerary won’t be eligible.

When passengers arrive in Dubai, they can head to the Dubai Connect desk in the arrivals terminal for their free car transfer to their hotel. The airline usually puts Dubai Connect passengers in the Copthorne Hotel Dubai, the Le Méridien Airport Hotel Dubai, or the JW Marriott Marquis , but it’s possible travelers will be booked at a different property at the carrier’s discretion. While at the hotel, all applicable meals will be included as part of the service. You can book Dubai Connect online at least 24 hours before your layover.

For a longer stopover experience, travelers can book a multi-city itinerary on the airline’s booking page. Toggle the “advanced search” feature and input Dubai International airport as an additional destination between your city of origin and final destination. When your flights are booked, you can add on Dubai hotels and experiences through Emirates’ Dubai stopover page , which offers discounts and extra perks like 24-hour hotel check-in.

This story has been updated with new information since its original publish date.

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21 Airlines with Free Stopover Programs in 2024

By: Author Zachary Friedman

Posted on Last updated: February 9, 2024

Categories Travel Destinations , Travel Tips

Home » Travel » Travel Tips » 21 Airlines with Free Stopover Programs in 2024

When taking an intercontinental flight, you’ll often have a layover. Many airlines allow you to schedule a free stopover in the city where they’re based. Scheduling a stopover is a great way to visit part of the world that you otherwise wouldn’t get to see. It’s like visiting two destinations for the price of one. In this guide, I outline 21 airlines with free stopovers. I’ll also outline how to schedule your own flight stopover. In addition, I’ll explain how to book stopovers and schedule them into your itinerary. Hopefully, this guide helps you add an additional destination to your next trip.

I’ve also made this YouTube video to outline the main points of the guide.

What is a Free Stopover?

When taking an intercontinental flight, you will often have a layover while in transit. Rather than spending your layover in an airport waiting for your next flight, you can schedule a couple of days between flights. This gives you time to explore a new city and have a bit of rest .

There are two ways to make a free airline stopover. You can take advantage of a free stopover program offered by an airline. You can also schedule your own stopover by booking two separate tickets with a couple of days in between.

Many airlines offer free stopovers in their hub city. Airlines often make deals with local hotels as well as the country’s tourism board. Sometimes you can get a free or deeply discounted room when you bundle a hotel stay with your stopover. There may be other perks as well. Sometimes airport transportation is included. You may get discounts on tours, meals, or entertainment options. All of these perks make stopovers extremely tempting.

Stopover programs are offered for a couple of reasons. First, airlines use these programs as an incentive for passengers to fly their airline. A free trip to a new city is a nice perk. These stopover offers also bring tourism to the country where the airline is based. Oftentimes national airlines offer stopovers for this reason. Sometimes, the airline partners with the country’s tourism board to make these stopovers possible.

You schedule an airline stopover when booking your flight. Some stopovers can be scheduled online. Sometimes you have to call the airline to schedule the stopover. Oftentimes, you can book a hotel with your flight. If you schedule your own stopover

Airlines with Free Stopovers

1. icelandair free stopover in reykjavik, iceland.

If you are flying Icelandair, you can make a stopover in Reykjavik, Iceland for 1-7 days at no additional cost when you’re connecting through Keflavik International Airport (KEF).  Icelandair makes it incredibly easy to schedule a stopover. When booking your ticket, simply select the free stopover option and choose the number of days you want to stop.

This stopover is most convenient when flying between North America and Europe. Icelandair offers some competitive rates between the two continents. This is a pretty economical stopover. I made this stopover when flying from Seattle to Helsinki in 2013 and highly recommend it.  

Icelandair pioneered the free airline stopover. In the early 1960s, Icelandair started offering stopovers in Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik. This program greatly increased tourism in Iceland. Hundreds of thousands of travelers take advantage of this stopover option every year.

Iceland is one of the most naturally beautiful countries on earth. Make sure you get out of the city to experience the breathtaking landscapes. If you plan your stopover between September and April, you may be lucky enough to see the northern lights.

For more info on this free stopover, check out Icelandair’s stopover page.

2. Turkish Airlines Free Stopover in Istanbul, Turkey

Turkish Airlines offers a stopover in Istanbul if you are taking a round trip flight to a qualifying destination. This is one of the most generous stopover programs available. Turkish Airlines also offers a free night of hotel accommodation in Istanbul if your layover is longer than 20 hours. Business class passengers will stay in a 5 star hotel for up to two nights. Economy class passengers will stay in a 4 star hotel for one night. The hotel stay is completely free. It is paid for by Turkish Airlines.

To take advantage of the Turkish Airlines stopover, you must send an email with your name, reservation code (PNR) ticket number, desired accommodation dates, preferred room type (single, double, triple), telephone number, and e-mail address. You must send the email to the Turkish Airlines email address that corresponds to the country you’re departing from. To make this stopover, you must send the email at least 72 hours before your first flight departs. You can find the email address on the Turkish Airlines stopover page.

If you have a layover lasting 6-24 hours, Turkish Airlines offers a free city tour of Istanbul. The tour includes transportation and meals. It is not necessary to reserve in advance. Simply visit the Touristanbul desk when you arrive at the airport to register for a tour.  

3. TAP Air Portugal Free Stopover in Lisbon or Porto, Portugal

TAP Air Portugal allows you to make a free stopover for one to five nights in Lisbon or Porto, Portugal. The only requirement is that you must purchase a round-trip intercontinental flight to qualify for this stopover. You can not make a free stopover on a one-way flight.

TAP Air Portugal allows you to choose whether you’d like to make your stopover during your inbound or outbound flight. You can also choose whether you’d like to stopover in Lisbon or Porto.

After booking your stopover in Portugal, check out TAP Air Portugal’s mobile app. Here, you can take advantage of discounts on hotels and attractions. You’ll also find travel guides and itinerary suggestions.

This stopover is most convenient for flights between North America and Europe or between Africa and Europe.

For more information on this stopover, visit the TAP Air Portugal stopover page.

4. Emirates Free Stopover in Dubai, U.A.E.

Emirates offers a free stopover in Dubai. To schedule the stopover, just use the multi city booking page  on the Emirates website. Simply add the desired duration of your stopover to your itinerary.

After making your booking, you can contact Emirates for help designing and reserving your stopover package. Emirates can help you arrange accommodation, meals, transportation, visas, and more. Emirates is partnered with over 100 hotels in Dubai.

All arrangements do come at a cost but Emirates does offer special rates and discounts for passengers who take advantage of the stopover program. The airline also makes it extremely easy and convenient to make bookings. They handle everything for you. They can even assist you with a visa if you need one. You can get visa assistance with both 96 hour and 30 day tourist visas.

5. Qatar Airways Free Stopover in Doha, Qatar

Qatar Airways free stopovers in Doha, Qatar when you transit through Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH). To take advantage of the offer, use the multi city booking page on the Qatar Airways website and schedule your desired length of stay in Doha. 

Qatar Airways offers generous discounts on stopover packages. You can score great deals on hotels, meals, activities, and tours. There are even some interesting themed packages available. For example, you can book a luxury beach vacation or a desert themed vacation that includes a desert safari.

One great reason to consider this stopover is because of the level of service that Qatar Airways offers. The airline is consistently ranked as one of the top in the industry. They offer excellent customer service and a superb safety record. They even serve decent food. When you fly Qatar Airways, you can expect a pleasant flight.

Citizens of 80 countries can enter Qatar visa-free. You can check the list here.  If your country isn’t on the list, you can learn about applying for a free transit visa here.

It’s important to note that there are some blackout dates when this offer isn’t available. You’ll need to check the calendar before booking to make sure this stopover is available during your trip.

6. Etihad Stopover in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.

Etihad offers travelers a chance to have a free stopover in Abu Dhabi between flights on their itinerary. The stopover is available for Economy class, Business class, and first class passengers and allows them to explore the city of Abu Dhabi for up to four nights.

When you schedule a stopover, of at least 24 hours, you can use your flight booking number to reserve a hotel room at one of over 20 luxury properties in Abu Dhabi. Depending on where you book, you can receive a free night stay or a discount of up to 40%.

To be eligible, you must be connecting to and from an Etihad flight. You can not be traveling within the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) or some African destinations. You must also be eligible for a visa on arrival or have a visa for the U.A.E. In addition, you must be 21 years old or older. The free stopover can be booked up to 72 hours prior to your departing flight.

For more info, check the stopover in Abu Dhabi page on Ethiad website here .

7. Finnair Free Stopover in Helsinki, Finland

FinnAir offers free stopovers in Helsinki when you travel through Helsinki airport (HEL). You can stop for up to 5 nights on your way to your final destination. You can also stop on your way home.

This package doesn’t include any additional discounts. You have to book your own accommodation, transport, and activities. Finnair has partnered with Visit Finland. Here, you can find itineraries as well as restaurant, hotel, and activity suggestions.

8. Swiss International Air Lines Free Stopover in Switzerland

Swiss International Air Lines offers free stopovers in Switzerland for one to four nights with their Stopover Switzerland program. To make this stopover, first, you must book a multi-city itinerary through the Stopover Switzerland booking page. You can choose the number of days you wish to stay and book your stopover package.

A range of stopover packages are offered. The packages are bundled with accommodation, transportation, and sometimes activities and meals. There are bundles available for different cities and experiences. For example, there are bundles for Zurich, Lucerne, Interlaken, and Montreux. There are also nature bundles that include glacier tours, mountain tours, and lake tours. There are also luxury options that include 5 star accommodation. You can also book multi-city train tours.

You must book a tour bundle to take advantage of the stopover. Tours start at 180 Swiss franks for around $185. This includes the price of accommodation and public transportation across Switzerland. You’ll also receive a coupon pass with over 100 offers that can be used for discounts on meals, mountain trains, and attractions around Switzerland.

9. Oman Air Stopover in Muscat, Oman

Oman Air offers free stopovers in Muscat International Airport (MCT). You can book a stopover for 1-3 nights. There are a number of stopover packages to choose from. Most packages include discounted hotel rooms and free breakfast. You can choose from 3, 4, and 5 star hotels. There are also tours available.

If you have a long layover of 8 hours or more, you can take a full-day Muscat city tour. The tour is offered at a discounted rate. This tour also includes airport lounge access.

There are a few limitations to this stopover. In order to take advantage of this free stopover, you must book a round-trip flight that transits through Muscat. It’s important to note that Oman Air does not fly to the United States.

For more info, check out the Oman Air stopover page.

10. Aer Lingus Stopover in Dublin, Ireland

Aer Lingus is an Irish airline that is based in Dublin. They fly to over 20 countries. Passengers can use the multi-city booking page to schedule a stopover in Dublin for up to seven nights. You can also call the airline to schedule this stopover over the phone. There is no additional cost for booking a stopover in Dublin.

This is not a formal stopover program. Aer Lingus doesn’t offer any hotels, tours, or airport transportation. They simply allow you to make a stopover if you choose. You’ll have to make your own reservations for transportation, accommodation, and entertainment in Dublin.

11. Copa Airlines Free Stopover in Panama City, Panama

Copa Airlines offers stopovers in Panama City, Panama. Passengers can stop for 1-7 days. You can make this stopover on your departing flight or on your return flight.

This is an easy stopover to book. You can book it online or over the phone through Copa’s reservation center. While buying your ticket, you need to specify that you want to make a stopover. You can’t add a stopover later on.

You will need to cover your own hotel room when you make this stopover. Hotel discounts are available for stopover passengers. There are also discounts for tours. It’s possible to see the main sights in Panama City in just one day when you take a full-day tour.

A number of tour packages are also available. You can tour the Panama Canal, view wildlife in the rainforest, visit museums, enjoy the nightlife, and more.

Check out Copa’s stopover page for more info on this stopover and the tour packages that are available.

12. Iberia Free Stopover in Madrid, Spain

Iberia’s Hola Madrid free stopover program allows passengers to spend 1-6 nights in Spain’s capital, Madrid.

This stopover also comes with a number of perks. You can receive up to 40% off your stay at Meliá hotels, enjoy discounted airport transfers, visit popular museums like the Prado and the Thyssen-Bornemisza, enjoy guided tours of Toledo or Segovia, and receive a complimentary two-day transport card. There are also discounts available for rental cars, shopping, and other activities.

13. Ethiopian Airlines Stopover in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

If you have a layover in Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (BOL) of 8-24 hours and there are no immediate connecting flights to your final destination, Ethiopian Airlines will facilitate hotel accommodation, airport transportation, and a transit visa. The hotel room, transportation, and transit visa are all provided for free. To take advantage of this deal, visit the Interline desk on the first floor of the airport. You don’t need to make any reservations in advance. Read more about this service on Ethiopian’s website .

You can’t really take advantage of this stopover voluntarily. It is only available if you have a layover of 8-24 hours. If you have a longer layover, you are not eligible. If there is an earlier flight available, you are not eligible. For more info, check out this guide.

14. Avianca Free Stopover in Bogota, Colombia

Avianca offers passengers the option to make a stopover in Bogota, Colombia at no additional cost. This stopover is a bit more restrictive than most others. Avianca only allows stopovers from 8-24 hours. In the past, Avianca offered stopovers up to 48 hours but they recently reduced it to 24.

To book this stopover, use the multiple-city or multidestinos option on Avianca.com. Enter your travel dates, origin, and final destination city with a stopover in Bogota. Make sure your stopover is at least 8 hours long so you can take advantage of one of the tours that are available.

There are tours available for 8, 12, and 24 hour stopovers. During your stopover, you can go on a city tour, climb Monserrat hill and enjoy views of the city, enjoy a night out, and more.

15. Japan Airlines Free Stopover in Tokyo or Osaka, Japan

Japan Airlines allows passengers to schedule a free stopover in Tokyo or Osaka, Japan. This is not really a formal stopover program. Japan Airlines does not advertise free stopovers on its website. To make a stopover, simply use the multi-city booking page or call the airline .  You can stop in Tokyo (NRT or HND) or Osaka (KIX) at no additional cost.

This stopover does not include any perks such as discounted hotel stays or tours. It’s just a stopover. You will have to arrange accommodation, transportation, and tours by yourself.

A stopover in Japan is convenient for flights between North America and Asia. Whether you stop over in Tokyo or Osaka depends on which airport you fly out of. Most Japan Airlines flights from North America to Asia will transit through Tokyo-Narita Airport. 

16. China Southern and Air China Free Stopover

China Southern and Air China both offer free stopovers . There is no need to worry about a visa for this stopover as long as you stop in one of the 32 open ports and stay for less than 144 hours. This stopover is available for citizens of 53 countries.

A few cities where you can make this free stopover include Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Tianjin, Chongqing, Wenzhou, and Wuhan. The cities can vary. Sometimes promotions are offered. Be sure to check with Air China or China Southern before booking.

The only requirement is that you must have a confirmed ticket to a third country after your stopover. You can check the list of accepted nationalities on the Travel China Guide website . For more info, visit China Southern’s 144 hour transit page . Also, check out Air China’s layover page.

Beijing and Shanghai are very convenient cities to make a stopover in if you are flying between East Asia or Oceania and North America. I made a stopover in Beijing on a flight from Sydney to Los Angeles. Two 12 hour flights back to back would have been exhausting. By making this stopover, I was able to break up the long journey and visit a really fascinating city. I was also able to take advantage of flying on a low-cost Chinese airline for the Beijing to Los Angeles leg. For more info, check out my guide: 144 Hours in Beijing Visa Free

17. KLM and Air France Free Stopover in Amsterdam, Netherlands or Paris, France

KLM and Air France offer passengers free stopovers for up to a year at no additional charge. You can stop over anywhere as long as you are connecting from KLM to KLM, Air France to Air France, KLM to Air France, or Air France to KLM. If you are connecting with another airline, this stopover isn’t available.

This stopover is possible at a number of different airports. The easiest places to make this stopover are Amsterdam and Paris, which are the hub cities of KLM and Air France respectively. It is also possible to make a Singapore stopover as well.

This is a new program. The details have not been released yet. It is unknown whether or not this stopover is available for one-way flights or flights within Europe. For more info on this stopover, check out this article.

18. Singapore Airlines Free Stopover in Singapore

Singapore Airlines offers passengers free stopovers in Singapore while transiting through Changi Airport. To book this stopover, you must use the multi city booking page on their website or give them a call. You must stay in Singapore for more than 24 hours to take advantage of this stopover offer.

The Singapore Airlines stopover isn’t always free. If you book a saver ticket or book with miles, you may have to pay an extra $100 to make this stopover. If you book a round-trip flight ticket or a higher priced ticket, the stopover is included.

A range of stopover packages are available. There are packages that focus on dining, history and culture, shopping, nightlife, nature, wellness, and more. Some packages include a hotel room and airport transportation. Booking a stopover package can save you up to $300. This makes a Singapore stopover a pretty great deal.

19. Air Canada Stopover in Toronto, Canada

Air Canada allows you to make a stopover in Toronto, Canada for up to 48 hours. This stopover is only available for passengers traveling between Canada or the U.S. and Europe or Asia. It is not available for flights within North America. Air Canada offers this stopover on both one-way and round trip tickets.

During your visit to Toronto, you can take a day trip to Niagra Falls, visit the CN Tower, visit the Royal Ontario Museum, and experience Toronto’s nightlife.

To book this stopover, use Air Canada’s multi-city booking page. For more information on qualifying routes, check Air Canada’s stopover page.  

20. Hawaiian Airlines Free Stopover in Hawaii

Hawaiian Airlines offers free stopovers in Hawaii on international flights between North America and Asia or the South Pacific. This isn’t a formal stopover that is offered on their website. Scheduling a stopover in Hawaii is easy. To book this stopover, use Hawaiian Airlines’ multi-city booking option.

Probably the biggest benefit of this stopover is that it can break up some really long flights. Instead of spending 20 hours in the air traveling from the East Coast to Asia or Oceania, you can break up the flights by stopping in Hawaii for a few days. Of course, Hawaii is also a beautiful place for a stopover.

21. Saudia or Flynas Free Stopover in Riyadh or Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

To help increase tourism, Saudia Arabia recently started offering free stopover visa. The visa is valid for up to 96 hours (4 days). As a perk, you’ll receive a free stay in a hotel for one night.

To take advantage of this stopover, you will have to fly one of the national carriers, Saudia or Flynas. You will have to apply for the stopover visa through the airline’s booking engine. According to the tourism board, you can apply for this visa in just 3 minutes. You must book this stopover through the airline. The process is very easy and streamlined.

How to Schedule Your Own Stopover while Flying

You don’t have to use airline stopover offers. Instead , y ou can schedule your own stopover by simply booking two separate one-way flights with a couple of days in between. You could book on two separate airlines or on the same airline.

For example, maybe you’re flying from New York to Barcelona. You could book a flight from New York to London. You could then book a second flight from London to Barcelona a few days later. This gives you a few days to sightsee in London. In my experience, 2-3 days is an ideal amount of time for a stopover. You can spend longer if you like.

By booking separate flights, you can search for the best price for each leg of your journey. You can take advantage of cheap flights between major airline hubs. You can also take advantage of budget airlines or regional airlines to make it to your final destination. Depending on where you are flying, you often save a nice chunk of money by doing this. Especially when you are flying between destinations that don’t offer a lot of connections.

This is my favorite way to make a stopover because the options are endless. You can stop over anywhere you want for however long you want. For researching flights, I recommend Skyscanner , Google Flights, and Kayak. These sites allow you to quickly and easily search flights from many airlines to find the cheapest and most convenient flight options.

Don’t Forget to Check Visa Requirements Before Booking a Stopover

It’s important to note that you still need to pass through immigration when making a stopover. For this reason, checking visa requirements before scheduling a stopover is essential. Depending on the country you are stopping in, you may need to apply for a visa in advance. You may need to pay a visa fee on arrival.

Some countries offer transit visas. Others allow travelers with a valid passport to enter without obtaining a visa. Researching entry requirements ahead of time will help ensure an easy transition when making a layover in another country.

If you find that you need a visa, the stopover may or may not be worth it depending on how difficult the visa is to obtain and how much the visa costs.

Read the Terms Carefully

In some cases, you can only take advantage of the stopover offer if you’re flying round trip. One way tickets may not be eligible for a stopover.

Sometimes only certain classes of passengers are eligible for stopovers. For example, if you bought a saver fare, you may not be eligible to make a stopover.

In some cases, you are required to book a stopover package through the airline. You can’t just schedule a stopover and do your own thing. This can get expensive. Particularly if you’re required to stay in a fancy hotel.

Stopovers may only be available on specific routes. Many airlines only offer stopovers on long intercontinental flights. You usually can’t make a stopover if you’re just flying regionally or while taking domestic flights.

You should also keep an eye out for hidden fees. Stopovers are usually free. Some airlines charge a fee.

My Experience With Free Stopover Programs

Over the years, I have taken advantage of several stopover offers. I made the Icelandair stopover in Reykjavik. I scheduled a stopover in Dubai while flying from Latvia to India. Also, I made a stopover in Beijing when flying home from Australia to Los Angeles.

I have also scheduled my own stopover flights. Last year I needed a flight from Cape Town to Seattle. This isn’t a common connection so instead of flying on one airline and having a long layover somewhere, I booked two separate flights on two different airlines and scheduled a stopover in between.

While searching for the best stopover for my route, I searched for stopover cities that had the best prices on both the flight from Cape Town and the flight to Seattle. I had several potential stopover options including Bangkok, Manila, and Tokyo.

After a bit of research and shopping around on multiple airlines, I ended up stopping in Bangkok for a week on my way to Seattle. I flew Kenyan Airways from Cape Town to Bangkok, then Korean Air from Bangkok to Seattle. I stopped for 14 hours in Seoul and took a quick tour of the city. This turned out to be cheaper than flying one airline all the way and I got to spend a few days in one of my favorite cities, Bangkok.

Final Thoughts

Scheduling a free stopover is a great way to explore a new city that you otherwise wouldn’t get to visit. It also helps to avoid those situations where you are forced to spend hours on end waiting for your next flight. Instead of spending 12 hours waiting around an airport, schedule a longer layover and take some time to enjoy the stopover city. A stopover is also a great way to break up a long journey. Instead of taking multiple long-haul international flights back to back, schedule yourself a few days to rest somewhere in the middle.

So far in my travels, I have made stopovers in London, Seoul, Reykjavik, Beijing, Dubai, and Bangkok. Visiting these exciting cities didn’t cost me any extra in airfare. In some cases, I even saved money on airfare by booking connecting flights on budget airlines.

Have you made any free stopovers that aren’t on the list? Comment below with your experience and recommendations. 

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Zachary Friedman is an accomplished travel writer and professional blogger. Since 2011, he has traveled to 66 countries and 6 continents. He founded ‘Where The Road Forks’ in 2017 to provide readers with information and insights based on his travel and outdoor recreation experience and expertise. Zachary is also an avid cyclist and hiker. Living as a digital nomad, Zachary balances his professional life with his passions for hiking, camping, cycling, and worldwide exploration. For a deeper dive into his journey and background, visit the About page. For inquiries and collaborations, please reach out through the Contact page. You can also follow him on Facebook.

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Monday 13th of June 2022

I want to travel one way MIA-TLV with stopover Lisbon, but you wrote must buy RT tickets w TAP Portuguese Airline, stopovers not allowed on 1 way itineraries ?

wheretheroadforks

Monday 20th of June 2022

I believe they only allow stopovers on round-trip flights but I'm not 100% sure. Sometimes you can book two separate flights and schedule a stopover in between for the same price.

Saturday 10th of April 2021

Great article. Just found your website and love the content over a lot other travel sites. You focus on useful information vs. just personal travel articles. Thank you!

I'm curious whether you recommend booking flights through consolidator sites like Booking, Expedia, etc., for these kinds of stopover flights or go directly to the main airline? I'm always confused as to when I should use either for saving $$.

Thanks for reading! I always try to book flights directly with the airline whenever possible. Usually, the airline can offer the best price because there is no middle man. It's also easier to change or cancel your flight if you have to when you book directly. That said, I always check the booking sites as well. Usually, I search for the flight I want in Kayak, Google Flights, Momondo, or Skyscanner. These sites gather prices from multiple airlines and multiple booking sites such as Orbitz, Expedia, etc. I'll look for the cheapest or best flight then search for the same flight on the airlines' website. I'll book whichever is better. Once in a while, the consolidator site offers a better rate. Also, sometimes I mix and match flights. Maybe I'll book one leg directly then with one airline then book the next leg with another airline. You can sometimes save money that way as well. Particularly when flying between major cities.

Stopover Explained: How to Visit Extra Countries at No Cost

By Kateryna Kirian

Is a stopover the same as a layover? But don’t you hate layovers ? All of us at least once had to plan a long air trip with an unpleasant break between flights . Uncomfortable chairs, unsteady Wi-Fi connection, snacks from the vending machine and who knows what else… brr. Many opt out for the quickest flights then, which often turn out to be the most expensive ones, too. But what if the layover’s inescapable ? Well, if the airport is close enough to the city center, you don’t have much baggage, and time allows, you may risk doing a quick tour downtown. However, you’ll be most probably accompanied by an annoying companion – stress. So, what do you do when you are faced with time pressure or an unbearable alternative of spending quite a few hours in the airport losing all the sanity there’s left?

What you do is you plan it ahead, and you turn those intolerable layovers into stopovers , and we’ll tell you how. Wait, there’s more to it. Did you know you can actually take more flights, visit more countries and still pay less than for a one-way ticket ? Let us guide you through this amazing travel hack by covering all the stopover essentials :

What is a stopover?

Stopovers vs. layovers, pros and cons of stopovers, how to book a stopover.

Stopover is a great way to break up a long-haul flight into two or more stops, which turn into bonus destinations . Sounds interesting, doesn’t it? You can easily make two or three trips out of one!

Booking stopovers is one of the easiest ways of checking several destinations off your travel must-do list. The thing is that you can usually book a few flights with stopovers either for free or with a tiny bit more money than you would have paid for the long-haul flight. Sometimes breaking up a single air journey into various destinations actually costs less !

Say no to difficult travel choices. Say YES to more adventures

So if you were having a hard time choosing between cycling on the streets of Amsterdam (mind you, the city has more bikes than people) or taking a picture in front of the Queen’s Guard in London, there is a better solution. You can have both. Thanks to booking stopovers, you won’t have to decide – you can explore the Dutch canals and indulge your craving for English breakfast in one go. To get you started in creating spectacular flight combinations and enjoying amazing locations at low or no cost, here are top 20 stopovers to create the cheapest flights .

The first thing you should know is that a stopover is NOT a layover 🙂

Layover explained

Layover is the connection between flights which lasts less than 24 hours. It’s more of an unavoidable technical stop , typically for a few hours or so, just to wait for the next available connecting flight.

Stopover explained

Stopover is often a much longer break, lasting for 24 hours or more . It’s a part of the route and usually includes a city that’s “on the way” to your final destination. Depending on the flight combinations you selected, a stopover may have no extra cost . If you don’t yet feel comfortable selecting flight combos on your own to make space for some extra breathtaking destinations in your itinerary, let Airwander all the hard work for you.

The ultimate stopover flight search

The co-founders of Airwander, fellow-travelers Ela and Douglas designed the ultimate stopover flight search to spare you loads of hours of monitoring flights and combining flights. All you need to do is to choose the dates, select your origin and destination, and click the nice big red icon in-between. This is where all the magic happens.

Just have a look at what we’ve got here.

Bonus destinations at no cost

Instead of spending hours at the airports on your long way from Warsaw, Poland to Washington, US, you can chill for a few most exciting days on Palma de Mallorca…and save $304. Alternatively, you can decide on Oslo in Norway, Barcelona in Spain or Manchester in the UK and still save more than $200. These are just the first 4 bonus destinations Airwander suggests as a must-try for your stopovers. There’s much more to it, I bet you can spot at least a couple of places from your travel bucket list for any flight you search on Airwander. Just give it a try!

Why is not everybody booking stopovers? You must have asked. Naturally, stopovers have both advantages and downsides. So if you are having doubts, have a look at the following arguments.

Advantages of a stopover

#1 book a stopover to explore a new city.

You may be surprised, but sometimes travelers discover more on a 24-hour trip than in a few days of sightseeing. If you do some good t ravel planning and optimize your schedule, you suddenly realize extra hours appear out of nowhere, hurrah! Pack your bag and be sure you took all the must-haves you’ll need for your trip . Be creative and open to new destinations. You’ve always been dreaming about visiting ancient temples for finding your own harmony or relaxing on splendid Goa beaches? There’s nothing easier than that! Look how our co-founders managed to visit 3 destinations in India in one go.

#2 Go local

Find a local guide to give you a tour. It can be your Couchsurfing or Airbnb host, or you can look around for Free Tours, which are gaining in popularity and are now available in both small towns and big cities. Local people are your best chance to gain unparalleled insights into the foreign culture. Icelandair even used to have a “stopover buddy” to show you around during your break in Iceland.

With a help of a local, it’ll be easier to reach destinations off the beaten path and fully immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the country’s culture, food and people. A local can put your surroundings into a perspective, so you can live through history and explore the culture through the eyes of a local. Moreover, you’ll feel safer in the company of a person who knows the locations inside out.

#3 Break up a long flight

This benefit is the most obvious one. Booking a stopover allows you to cut the long hours of waiting throughout your journey. Instead of wandering around the airport and exploring its vending machines, you can extend your trip a bit and use the additional time for discovering new places. It’s a chance to get off the plane for a proper stretch, hydration and a breath of fresh air . Just think that you can have a tasty meal, get a good night’s sleep, and come back to the airport fresh and well-rested for the next leg of your trip.

#4 Avoid health issues

Probably each of us has experienced enormous tiredness, headaches or other symptoms after a long flight. Sometimes travelling by plane may turn out to be a challenge for our body, in both physical and psychological sense. Dividing your journey into more manageable parts flight legs is a chance to give yourself a break and recharge your batteries. 

So you get two in one : a good rest for your body and lots of pleasures for your inner traveling monkey. A stopover allows you to schedule your morning/evening physical activities and get eight hours of sleep at night. You will arrive at your final destination bursting with energy and newly acquired memories rather than irritated and frustrated. After all,

It is good to have an end to journey towards; but it is the journey that matters, in the end . Ursula K Le Guin

If there is no way to break up the trip and you already know that there is a long-haul flight in front of you, check the recommendations on how to get over the jet lag , so that it doesn’t ruin the trip.

#5 Manage your work schedule

Business trips abroad quite often involve a packed itinerary, and it’s a real challenge to find some free time just for yourself. It helps to plan the majority of activities ahead not to lose time on the move. In the end, however, we are not robots and sometimes we would all love to just escape all the hustle and bustle .

Stopovers make you more productive

Bonus time between the flight legs of your business trip helps you refocus and put things into the perspective. Additionally, a stopover gives you time to rest in a comfortable hotel room with a workspace, where you are able to get prepared for the forthcoming conference or meetings. Use stopovers to get away from the intense activities and hard work, clear your head and calmly organize your thoughts.

Naturally, there are also some aspects of a stopover that might prove problematic.

Things to keep in mind when booking stopovers

#1 extra time in the trip.

While stopovers allow to avoid the rush , enjoy an extra destination, take your time with exploring and save some money, an absolute prerequisite for being able to take advantage of stopovers is time . If you have no time to spare, you’ll be better off with direct flights. However, even for those with no time, stopovers may actually be of value. If you spend your vacation once or twice a year in just one country, and it gets boring closer to the end, imagine what it would be like to have visited 3 in the same amount of time? You don’t need ages, a week will suffice for a few amazing city-breaks .

# 2 Risk of in-transit delays

Naturally, the more flight legs you have, the greater the chance that at least one of them will be delayed. Weather, technical issues, an outbreak of the pandemic and a lot of other things may affect the timetable of the flights. Unfortunately, you can’t predict such changes, let alone influence them in any way. However, delays and cancellations happen to everybody, no matter if there’s a stopover or not . So all you can do is just be mentally prepared to deal with any unplanned changes and it wouldn’t hurt to make yourself familiar with the airlines’ and OTAs’ cancellation policy . As they say, hope for the best, but prepare for the worst ;). After all, if you have a great company around, no delay can scare you!

#3 Stress management

Forthcoming flights may be the source of nightmares. We are afraid of missing a flight, coming too late to the airport, forgetting the documents, waiting in long check-in lines or choosing the wrong gate. If that’s the case, every additional flight probably means just more stress to you. But from a different perspective, the more flights you take, the more experienced you become and the calmer you deal within all the unexpected obstacles during your next flights. You see, you can turn this downside into an opportunity to improve your travel skills.

We are those who choose to wander

There isn’t such thing as an ideal trip or ideal means of travelling. Everybody chooses what’s best for them. Stopovers may sometimes be tricky and unexpected, but where there’s unexpectedness, there’re often adventures, too. If you choose to wander, stopovers will definitely brighten up your trip .

If you’ve decided to book a stopover, check out our travel hacks to amplify your stopover experience . While it’s not at all difficult to book a stopover, it might take some time and mental effort to select the best flight connections. Remember that airlines will not provide you with stopovers by default – you have to choose them on your own and include in your itinerary . The following steps will help you out.

Stopover travel hacks

1. use a proper flight meta search engine.

Indeed, there’s no easier way to find a great offer than choosing the proper meta search engine which specializes in stopovers . It’ll give you the most attractive and interesting connections in a few seconds. Imagine doing the same on your own, but for at least a few hours! You’ll be surprised by a plethora of options that appear in the search results. I bet you didn’t realize that there’s such a diverse choice of destinations for a stopover . Don’t miss out on the amazing opportunity to discover something new and bewildering on the way to your final destination. 

2. Do the research

If you decide on planning a trip on your own, check which cities have good connections with your origin or destination airports . Also, go through the websites and social media profiles of the airlines you are going to fly with, to see if they have recently opened any new routes (which often turn out to be both exciting and cheap). What’s more, some low-cost airlines offer a reasonably priced annual membership , which will pay off as soon as you’ve completed just a few flights. However, take notice of visa requirements . In some countries, you may not be allowed to leave the airport based on your citizenship or current restrictions, so check twice.

Based on all the information above, you’ll be able to book a perfect stopover. For instance, if you’re heading from Helsinki to Amsterdam, why not have a stopover in Copenhagen? If you’re looking for more places to visit in Denmark, here’re 9 reasons for a stopover in Copenhagen .

3. Choose multiple destinations

If you’re in for a real adventure, you can select a multi-city trip instead of a round trip . Then, add as many cities as your heart desires and…f or each flight leg, you can book a stopover ! Remember though, if you have checked baggage, you’ll have to check it in every time you board the flight. Thus, you may opt out for the carry-on baggage , as it will save you enormous amounts of time. Still, the baggage check-in (if you have any) is probably the only major downside, so as soon as you get it over with, you can enjoy your bonus destinations to the full extent.

4. Use frequent flier miles

You are a loyal user of the airline company with a mileage plan ? Try not to overlook the bonuses and opportunities you already have! With some frequent fliers’ advantages, you’ll be able to book stopovers at almost no cost . For example, Alaska Airlines has a good policy of booking stopovers, which will allow you to both use your miles and enjoy a bonus destination.

If you don’t yet feel comfortable selecting flight connections on your own to make space for some extra breathtaking destinations in your itinerary , let Airwander do all the hard work for you.

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Planning a Trip? Here’s When You Should Consider a Stopover vs Layover 

Layovers and stopovers are different flight itineraries that can help you save time and money when traveling. But which one is right for you? They are not the same thing, so it’s helpful to understand the differences so you can make the best decision.  Let’s look at the stopover vs layover question and the pros and cons of each to help you decide. 

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Table of Contents

What is a layover.

• Pros of Taking a Layover 
• Cons of Taking a Layover 

What Is a Stopover?

Why have a stopover.

• Pros of Taking a Stopover 
• Cons of Taking a Stopover 

Price Implications of Layovers vs Stopovers

Making the decision – layover vs. stopover, frequently asked questions – faq, conclusion – stopover vs layover, stopover vs layover.

A layover refers to the waiting time during a flight connection at the airport for a certain amount of time before your next flight. A layover typically lasts up to a few hours but does not exceed 24 hours. 

During this time, the traveler must remain in that airport’s terminal and may be unable to leave the premises. 

Example: Los Angeles to London via Toronto. The layover is in Toronto, just the airport where you will change planes for your final flight to London.

Why Have a Layover?

The typical scenario for a layover is to change planes for a connecting flight to get you to your final destination. Many airlines travel to hub airports, making it easier to transport passengers to various airports throughout the country and the world.  Layovers can also provide savings as compared to direct flights.

What Happens During a Layover?

Layover can last from less than one hour to just under 24 hours.  In the short scenario, you may scramble to make it from your airplane that just landed to your connecting flight.  As a result, we recommend paying attention to the layover time when booking your tickets. If you have a layover of less than one hour, you might be in a stressful and rushed situation when your initial flight lands, significantly if it is delayed in takeoff.

During more extended layovers, you can explore the airport, drink at the bar, enjoy food, or shop at the airport stores.  It’s also an excellent time to move around and stretch your legs.

Layover Example

Did you know most airlines allow multiple layovers of under 24 hours to reach your destination? This means you can plan your journey strategically and make the most out of layovers that last 23 hours and 59 minutes. These layovers are perfect for exploring cities you can cover in a single day. With this trick, you can visit another city without using up a stopover or paying for two separate tickets.

Let’s take American Airlines as an example. When redeeming American Airlines miles, you are not allowed to have any stopovers, which are stops lasting more than 24 hours. However, you can undoubtedly have layovers of under 24 hours to reach your destination. So, imagine redeeming miles from Toronto to London to Paris. You can have a long layover of less than 24 hours in London at no additional cost. It’s an excellent opportunity to explore the city and maximize your travel experience. It’s important to note that if the connection time in London exceeds 24 hours, this would be considered two separate tickets, as American Airlines does not allow stopovers.

Pros of Taking a Layover

• You can save money on airfare by choosing multiple flights rather than a direct flight 
• It may be possible to explore a new city by booking a layover that’s long enough to leave the airport and take in some sightseeing
• Can break up a long journey into more manageable segments 

Cons of Taking a Layover

• More time spent waiting at airports means less time spent enjoying your destination 
• A delay in one flight can cause a ripple effect on the rest of your journey, resulting in missed connections or long wait times 
• Layovers often require changing airports, which means additional transport costs to get from one airport to the other 

Layover Tips

If you are opting for the standard layover, here are additional tips:

Take advantage of amenities – Many airports offer a variety of amenities that you can take advantage of during your layover. Whether it’s shopping, eating, or catching up on work, you can be productive with the time if that’s important to you.

Stay near your gate – A delayed flight can become available sooner than announced. If you leave the gate area for an extended period, you risk missing your flight.

You can still walk over to the airport lounge or bar if you have a multiple-hour wait, but you have a way to learn if your flight time changes during your wait.

And flight delays happen often -during the first part of this year, nearly 24% of flights encountered delays. This usually starts when an inbound aircraft arrives late, which snowballs into flight delays for subsequent flights at the airport. Another significant cause of delays is air carrier issues ranging from maintenance or crew problems to aircraft cleaning, baggage loading, and fueling.

In the United States, airlines are legally required to provide passengers with flight status changes within 30 minutes of being made aware of the status change. Most airlines offer communication options that you can select, including flight alerts by email, smartphone app, or text message. That’s an option you’ll want to choose when booking your flight.

A stopover is when you spend more than 24 hours at an airport before continuing your journey. A typical scenario is a stopover during international travel before arriving at your final destination.  During a stopover, travelers usually can leave the airport and explore the local area before returning for their next flight. A stopover can even last several days.

Example: Los Angeles to London via Toronto. If you spend more than 24 hours in Toronto, that is considered a stopover.  You can visit the Hockey Hall of Fame or another top tourist destination, spend the night in Toronto, and then continue to London the next day.

While layovers are commonly scheduled by airlines as a result of the incredible matrix that allows passengers to move from point A to point B, stopovers are typically scheduled by travelers.

Stopovers allow a traveler to get one night or more in a connecting city before moving on to the final destination. This extended stop will enable you to explore a city as part of your journey.

Stopover Parameters Vary by Airline

When it comes to airline travel, it’s important to understand that the airline issuing your ticket determines the rules that apply. For instance, if you’re using American Airlines miles to fly with American Airlines from Los Angeles to Chicago to London, remember that you won’t be able to make a stopover in Chicago.

However, if you’re using Alaska Airlines miles (which happens to be an American Airlines partner) for the same flights on American Airlines, you can enjoy a stopover in Chicago for as long as you’d like. That’s because Alaska Airlines sets the rules, and they allow stopovers even on one-way tickets. It’s just one of those handy features to keep in mind when planning your travels.

Pros of Taking a Stopover

• You can save money on airfare by booking multiple flights instead of a direct one 
• More time at each destination, allowing you to get a taste of what the city has to offer 
• Stopovers are often cheaper than booking two separate trips 

Cons of Taking a Stopover

• The cost of extra accommodation or tours can add up quickly and reduce any savings made on airfare 
• Delays in one flight can cause ripple effects across the rest of your itinerary, resulting in missed connections or long wait times 
• Stopovers often require changing airports, which means additional transport costs to get from one airport to the other. 
• You will have to go through security again
• You may have to pass through immigration and check in again
• You might need a transit Visa – This visa permits you to stay in a country for a short time, usually between 24 to 72 hours. Don’t assume you can spend more than 24 hours in another country without a visa. If you want to plan a stopover, check to see if a transit visa is required. These are usually easy to apply for and inexpensive to obtain. The benefit is getting a day or two to explore a new destination.

With this information in mind, you can decide whether a layover or stopover is right for your next trip. Do your research and consider all the pros and cons before making any decisions. 

Ideas to Maximize Your Time During Your Stopover

If you change your layover into a stopover of one to two days, here are a few thoughts on filling the time.

Consider a hotel near the airport – stay close to the airport if you’re staying for one day.

Take an organized tour of the city – Companies like Viator or Get Your Guide are great resources.

You can try out the local cuisine.

Visit a top attraction on TripAdvisor – e.g., the Toronto Hockey Hall of Fame.

Layovers usually offer the benefit of a lower price as compared to direct flights. And when you book your flight from point A to point B, the layover stop is most often part of the whole ticket purchase buying experience.

If you choose to schedule a stopover (longer stay), you may need to purchase several tickets with the total cost exceeding the layover option.  You’ll likely find that planning a multi-city itinerary for your flights is the cheapest option for including a stopover.

In addition to your flight tickets, a stopover will most likely entail needing to book a hotel for one or more nights.

There are full-service airlines that offer stopovers with access to discounted hotels and tours for the stopover location. You might find such opportunities when airlines seek flexibility to encourage passengers to fill seats offered throughout their routes.

Price Example – Direct vs Layover vs Stopover

When you book a flight, you’ll see options for direct flights versus those with one or more stops until you arrive at your final destination. Airlines usually offer a lower price for flights with more extended layovers, so if you’re willing to spend a bit more time getting to your destination, you can often save money by selecting a flight with a layover. 

We experimented on Expedia to dig a little bit deeper into the layover cost difference with an eye on the length of the layover. And there are just as many different results in a world of thousands of flights and hundreds of thousands of flight combinations. The one we share is based on the travel we’ll discuss, so it has context for our situation.

Having recently flown to London, our flight included a Layover on the east coast. Here’s an example of price differences if we were to book a similar flight today:

Our sample flight goes from Los Angeles to London via an optional stop in New York.

• The non-stop rate for early October is $573
• When adding a layover in New York, the price drops almost 87 dollars one-way down to $486
• We then priced the journey with an extended stay in New York – say, for example, you wanted to explore the city for 24 hours before hopping onto the 2nd leg of your flight. We found a one-way from Los Angeles to New York of $108 on Jet Blue or Delta and then $432 on American from New York to London.
• The total price with a 24-hour stopover instead of a short layover is $540. That is still cheaper than the non-stop rate by 33 dollars and just $60 more than the standard layover rate.

So, if $60 is worth buying some time to see a city, this is an example of how to break up your flight and see a bit more than you otherwise would. And with such a stop, it gives you an extra day to build your time zone change shock into your system.

Luggage Implications

Airlines will automatically transfer your luggage from your initial flight to your connecting flight when you book travel that includes a layover.  A huge benefit is that this saves you the hassle of collecting your luggage and checking it back for your next flight.

You’ll most likely lose this benefit when booking a stopover. So, after your initial flight, you’ll pick up your luggage, possibly go through immigration and customs, and then recheck your baggage when you return to the airport for your next flight after the stopover.

Whether to go with a layover or stopover largely depends on your travel plans and preferences. Here are a few tips for helping you make the right choice: 

• Consider your overall travel time : A layover might be better if you want to reach your destination as quickly as possible since a stopover will add more time to your journey. 
• Think about connecting flights : If multiple connections are involved, opting for a layover could be the better option since you’re less likely to miss any connecting flights. 
• Consider how long the transit period is : The length of the transit period is one of the most important factors in deciding between a layover and a stopover. If the transit period is longer than 8-10 hours, you might want to opt for a stopover to have enough time to explore the city and get some rest.
• Assess if exploring a new destination quickly is important to you : If you pass through a city you’ve never visited, and it’s on your list of places to explore, the stopover can offer an opportunity to scratch another location off your bucket list.
• Evaluate the cost : While layovers tend to be cheaper than stopovers, this isn’t always the case. So do your research and compare the prices of both options. 
• Check if the airline offers a stopover option :   You might find that the airline provides a discounted option for choosing a stopover and deals for hotels and tours in the stopover city.
• Consider your budget: Depending on how much money you’re willing to spend, a layover or stopover could be more economical. For example, if you want to explore a new city but don’t have enough money for accommodation, then opting for a layover might be the best option. 

One more thing to remember when planning a flight is the local laws of the country you’re traveling to. Make sure to check out any visa requirements and restrictions that might apply to you. Doing that beforehand can help you avoid unpleasant surprises and ensure a smooth journey! 

Ultimately, it all comes down to your travel plans and preferences. Consider these tips when deciding between a layover or stopover and find the best solution for your journey! 

Are You Ready to Book Your Flight?

Check out unmissable flight deals to get you going here . We are fans of Expedia and book most of our flights through this provider. Check out the link below to book your next flight.

A short layover typically refers to a break between flights that lasts less than 3 hours. However, the definition can vary depending on the airline and the airport. Some airports may require more time for passengers to navigate, so a short layover could be longer. Always check your travel itinerary and the airport’s guidelines to ensure you have enough time to make your connecting flight.

This depends on several factors, including the size of the airport, the distance between gates, potential customs and immigration checks, domestic vs. international flights, and the punctuality of your incoming flight. Generally, airlines typically allow a minimum of 30 minutes for domestic flights for a connecting flight, though a safer bet would be an hour. For international flights, it’s advisable to have at least a 2-hour layover as you will often need to go through security and customs. However, unexpected delays can occur, so it’s always a good idea to allow extra time.

For domestic layovers, travelers are generally free to leave the airport. If your layover is longer than an hour, you might have enough time to exit and reenter the airport. Regarding international flights, you can also leave the airport during a layover, but additional considerations exist. You’ll need to go through customs and immigration, which could take some time. You also need to ensure that your passport allows you visa-free entry to the country you’re in. However, leaving the airport during a layover does come with risks. If you miss your next flight due to delays in reentering the airport or getting through security, airlines may not be responsible for rebooking you.

Yes, you can leave the airport during a stopover. A stopover generally refers to a break in your journey of 24 hours or more, often intentionally planned into an itinerary to allow travelers to explore the city where they’re stopping. Unlike layovers, which are typically long enough to allow passengers to travel from one gate to another, stopovers can last a few days or weeks. However, you need to consider factors including potential visa requirements, customs and immigration implications, and rechecking your baggage.

Listen to our podcast episode – Awesome Layover Epiphany and Assorted Airport Lessons

In episode 103, we share Julie’s awesome layover epiphany.  Plus, we toss a few lessons from the airport your way.

Lessons From The Airport Cover a Variety of Topics, Including:

• Expecting changes 
• Charging devices on airplanes and the airport
• Cables to bring on the flight
• Layovers vs. stopovers
• Getting the seats you want
• Compression sock benefits
• …and more

During a layover stop in Toronto, we had our epiphany about layovers versus stopovers. Upon landing, I realized that having family near Toronto, we could have scheduled a day or two in Toronto for this part of the trip. With family within an hour’s drive, we could have taken advantage of this stop for a visit. It also would be an excellent way to break up what otherwise becomes a very long travel journey. But it was not to be for this trip – but it is a consideration for future travel, to make the layover locations an extra part of a trip – when practical.

In conclusion, layovers and stopovers offer different ways to extend the length of your trip. Both can be used to add more destinations, experiences, or cultural insight into a larger itinerary. Layovers tend to be shorter, with less time spent in each airport and are usually cheaper than stopovers. Stopovers involve spending at least one night in a connecting city, providing a more immersive experience. Consider your budget and the type of trip you want to take when deciding between a layover or stopover for your next journey. 

In either case, check with your airline regarding any restrictions on layovers or stopovers before booking. Also, remember that planning can save time and money, so ensuring you’re informed and prepared before taking off is worth it. With the proper research, resources, and mindset, a layover or stopover can enrich your next trip! 

Happy travels! #traveltips

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Art Dobrucki is a travel writer and podcast host for The Places Where We Go. With his wife Julie, they bring their travel stories to curious travelers to inspire adventures. Art is also a composer and keyboardist with several albums to his credit. Check out more information on our About Us page.

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How To Book A Flight With A Stopover?

Are you planning a long-haul flight and looking for ways to break up the journey? Or perhaps you want to explore a new destination before reaching your final destination? Whatever your reason may be, booking a flight with a stopover can be a great option. But how to book a flight with a stopover?

From finding the best airlines and routes to understanding the different types of stopovers, this guide will provide you with all the information you need to book a flight with a stopover. So, let’s get started!

Start by searching for flights on a travel booking website or airline website. Look for flights with layovers that fit your schedule and budget. When booking, make sure to select the option for a stopover and enter the desired location and duration of the stopover. 

Some airlines may charge an additional fee for stopovers, so make sure to check the terms and conditions before booking.

• Visit a travel booking website or an airline website that allows you to search for flights with stopovers.
• Enter your departure and arrival cities, travel dates, and the number of passengers.
• Look for flights with a stopover option, usually found as a “multi-city” or “stopover” option instead of a round-trip or one-way ticket.
• Select your preferred flight with a stopover from the available options.
• Review your booking information including price, flight times, and additional fees before confirming your selection.
• Make sure to factor in any extra time you may need at each airport during the stopover period when planning your itinerary.
• Once you’ve booked your flight, all that’s left for you to do is enjoy the experience of visiting two destinations at once!

What Is The Process Of Layover Flight?

A layover flight is a flight that includes a stopover at an intermediate airport before continuing on to the final destination. The process of a layover flight typically involves disembarking from the first flight and going through security checks and customs (if applicable) at the intermediate airport. 

Passengers then wait in the airport lounge or gate area until their next flight is ready for boarding. The duration of the layover can vary depending on the airline and the flight itinerary, ranging from a few hours to a day or more. 

During the layover, passengers may have the opportunity to explore the airport or nearby areas. However, they must ensure they have enough time to get back to the airport and board their next flight. 

Overall, layover flights can be a convenient and cost-effective way to travel, but they require careful planning and patience to navigate the process smoothly.

What Is A Stop-Over?

A stop-over is a layover during a long-distance flight where passengers can leave the airport and spend some time in the city or country they are stopping at before continuing their journey. A stop-over is different from a layover because it is usually planned by the passenger. 

A stop-over can last for a few days or even weeks. Airlines sometimes offer stop-over options to encourage passengers to visit and experience different destinations. Some cities have created programs that offer discounted tours or hotel stays for stop-over passengers. 

Stop-overs can be a great way to break up a long journey and explore new places along the way.

How To Book A Layover Flight?

Booking a layover flight is easy. When searching for flights on websites such as Expedia or Kayak, simply select the option for a “multi-city” or “layover” flight. This will allow you to choose your departure and arrival airports, as well as the duration of your layover. 

You can also book a layover flight directly through the airline’s website. Just make sure to give yourself enough time during your layover to make your connecting flight.

• Use a flight search engine or booking website to search for flights with a layover. Compare prices and look for the best deal that fits your needs and budget.
• Choose your preferred layover city and duration. Look into the different cities available and take note of any additional fees or restrictions associated with the chosen city.
• When booking your layover, it’s important to account for potential delays or issues. It’s recommended to allow enough time between flights to avoid any unexpected complications.
• Booking flights with the same airline for both legs of your trip can lead to a more seamless transfer experience, eliminating the need to switch airlines or manage varying procedures.
• Pay attention to any additional fees or restrictions associated with the layover flight. These can include extra baggage fees, rerouting restrictions, and more. Make sure you understand all of these before booking your flight.
• Finally, once you’ve found the perfect layover flight for your needs and budget, go ahead and book it! 

Why Are Flights With A Stopover Less Expensive?

Flights with a stopover/layover are less expensive because airlines use the layover as a way to fill up seats that may have otherwise gone unsold. Additionally, airports charge airlines for using their facilities, so airlines try to minimize these costs by scheduling layovers at airports .

While layovers may be inconvenient for travelers, they offer a cost-effective option for those who are willing to sacrifice time for savings.

Here are the reasons explained in detail:

• Smaller Planes: Instead of using large, expensive aircraft to cover long-distance flights, airlines can fly shorter itineraries with smaller planes. This helps them save money on fuel and other costs associated with running the aircraft.
• Unreliable Demand: Airlines are able to avoid non-stop routes with unreliable passenger demands by opting for layovers instead. This helps them reduce the risk of flying an entire plane that is not full, or worse, flying without any passengers at all.
• Increased Reliability: Multiple stops allow airlines to increase reliability by diversifying the risk associated with long-distance flights. If one leg of the journey is canceled due to weather or mechanical issues, there’s a good chance the rest of the trip will still be completed.

How To Book Long Stopover Flights?

To book a long layover flight, you can start by searching for flights with layovers that are longer than usual. Many search engines offer filters that allow you to specify the length of your layover. Alternatively, you can book separate flights with different airlines and create your own layover . 

Be sure to check visa requirements for any countries you will be visiting during your layover, and consider purchasing travel insurance to cover any unexpected delays or cancellations.

Use Multi-City Search:

To book a flight with a long stopover, start by using a multi-city search. This lets you choose multiple destinations, dates, and airports. 

With just a few clicks, you can see many flights with different stopover lengths . Keep in mind that longer layovers may result in a lower overall flight cost.

Fly Through a Popular Airport:

After using multi-city search to find flights with long stopovers, check if the airports are popular ones. 

Popular airports have many amenities nearby such as hotels, restaurants, and shopping centers to make your layover more enjoyable. Moreover, popular airports offer more options if your flight is delayed or canceled.

Book Your Long Layover:

When booking a flight with a long stopover, ensure the details are correct before confirming. Check for fees associated with changing or canceling flights. 

Check that the airline offers necessary amenities for your comfort during the flight, such as meals and entertainment.

How To Find Flights With Long Layovers?

If you’re looking for flights with long layovers, the best way to find them is by using flight search engines such as Skyscanner or Kayak. These search engines allow you to filter your search results by layover duration, allowing you to select flights with longer layovers . 

You can also try booking directly through airlines, as some airlines offer longer layovers as a feature of their flights. 

Another option is to book separate tickets for each leg of your journey, which may allow you to select longer layovers between flights.

• Use search engines that have flexible dates and layover options. Search for flights with different departure and arrival dates, and longer layovers. This gives you the ability to plan a trip that fits your schedule and budget.
• Research flights with layovers in cities you’re interested in. Longer layovers provide a chance to explore a new place, so take advantage of it. Search for flights that allow you to spend time in a city or country that intrigues you.
• To create a longer layover, it may be beneficial to book separate flights for each leg of the journey. While it may cost more than booking a single flight, it can potentially save time and money if the traveler is able to take advantage of free or discounted accommodations in the layover city.
• Some airlines offer free or discounted hotel stays during long layovers. It’s important to research what discounts are available before booking your flight. By taking advantage of this service, you can save money and have more time to explore the cities you visit.

How To Book A Flight With A Long Layover?

Start by searching for flights with multiple legs or stops. Look for layovers that are longer than a few hours and preferably in a city you would like to visit. Use a travel booking website or airline website to compare prices and select the best option . 

When booking, make sure to check the layover time and confirm that you have enough time to leave the airport and explore the city. Finally, consider packing a carry-on bag to avoid any issues with checked luggage during your layover.

The easiest way to book a flight with a stopover is to use a travel search engine that offers multi-city flights. Simply enter your departure city, final destination, stopover city, and date. You can also book directly with the airline and select the multi-city option when searching for flights. 

It’s important to note that not all airlines offer stopovers, so you may need to do some research to find the best options. 

How To Get A Flight With A Long Layover?

First, when searching for flights, select the “multi-city” option instead of “round-trip” or “one-way.” This will allow you to choose flights with longer layovers. Additionally, you can choose flights with layovers in cities you’ve always wanted to visit, so you can explore during your layover . 

Another option is to book a separate flight for your layover, which can sometimes be cheaper than booking a direct flight. Lastly, consider signing up for a credit card with airline rewards programs that offer free layovers or stopovers.

How To Book A Multi-Day Layover?

To book a multi-day layover, start by searching for flights with layover options that meet your desired length of stay. Many airlines offer free or low-cost stopover programs that allow you to visit multiple destinations for a longer period of time. 

You can also use travel booking websites to search for flights with layover options and compare prices. 

How Long Can You Stay At An Airport For Layover?

The length of time you can stay at an airport for a layover depends on several factors, such as the airline, flight route, and destination country. Generally, standard layovers are up to four hours on domestic flights and up to 24 hours on international flights . 

However, some airlines and airports offer extended layover programs that allow travelers to stay for a few days and explore the city or region before continuing their journey. 

Why Is It Cheaper To Have A Layover?

It is cheaper to have a layover because airlines offer lower prices for flights with layovers compared to direct flights. This is because layovers can be seen as an inconvenience to travelers and airlines want to entice passengers to choose the direct flight option . 

Additionally, airports charge fees for landing and takeoff, so airlines may choose to have a layover at an airport with lower fees to save on costs. 

Another reason for cheaper layover flights is that it allows airlines to fill up seats on connecting flights, which may have otherwise gone empty. 

Is It Better To Fly Nonstop Or Layover?

Whether it is better to fly nonstop or layover depends on the individual’s priorities. Nonstop flights offer convenience and save time, but they tend to be more expensive. On the other hand, layovers can be cheaper, but they can also be frustrating and add extra travel time. 

Some people prefer to break up a long flight with a layover to stretch their legs, grab a meal, or explore a new city. 

Others prioritize getting to their destination as quickly as possible and opt for nonstop flights. 

In conclusion, booking a flight with a stopover can be a great way to add an exciting twist to your travel plans. Whether you’re looking to explore a new city, break up a long flight, or save money on airfare, a stopover can be a great option.

Just remember to give yourself enough time to explore and make it back to the airport for your connecting flight. 

With these tips in mind, you can book a flight with a stopover and make your next trip even more memorable.

Swati Jaiswal

Swati Jaiswal is a dedicated traveler and an even dedicated individual who specializes in travel, digital marketing, & health and fitness niches. Passport stamps and coffee stains are her badges of honor.

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The Secret to Seeing Two Destinations on One Airfare? Stopovers

Airline stopover programs provide a great, affordable way to extend your trip and visit an additional destination. here’s how to see two countries for the price of one..

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Heading to Europe? Why not stop off in Lisbon, Portugal, en route to your final destination when flying with TAP Air Portugal?

Photo by Diego Garcia/Unsplash

Often, when you’re traveling from one country to another on a connecting flight, the time spent in the connecting hub feels a bit like being lost in a no-man’s-land of travel—neither here, nor there. However, a growing number of airlines are working to reshape travelers’ relationships with extra-long layovers.

In recent years, more carriers have started offering airline stopover programs that encourage travelers to explore additional destinations along their journey, spending between 24 hours and 10 days (depending on the program) in a locale without incurring additional airfare charges. It’s a more extended break in the itinerary than a layover, which generally refers to a relatively short stop between connecting flights. Stopovers are typically free to schedule and often include complimentary or heavily discounted hotel stays and on-ground transit. It’s an opportunity for the airline to direct more tourism dollars to a capital city or flagship country and offer travelers the opportunity to visit multiple destinations for (more or less) the price of one.

Here are six of the best airline stopover programs to help extend your vacation.

Take a detour to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi.

Photo by Katerina Kerdi/Unsplash

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Those transiting through Abu Dhabi can opt to stay in the capital of the United Arab Emirates for a spell with Etihad’s stopover programs .

There are two stopover packages: the “Stopover on Us” and the “Best of Abu Dhabi” package. The former allows visitors to receive up to two nights at select three- and four-star hotels in Abu Dhabi (including Centro Al Manhal, Premier Inn Abu Dhabi International Airport Hotel, TRYP by Wyndham Abu Dhabi, and others); the latter offers up to 40 percent off Abu Dhabi’s four- and five-star hotels (such as Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri, Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel & Residences Emirates Pearl, and Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi) for up to four nights.

To be eligible, you must book at least three days before you arrive at the hotel.

Those who will only be in Abu Dhabi for 10 to 24 hours can also make the most of the “Transit Connect” program, which allows for complimentary accommodations near the airport. However, you’ll need to book at least five days before arrival in Abu Dhabi. All programs can be booked through the airline’s stopover page .

Soak up the art, architecture, culture, and cuisine in Doha, during an extended Qatar Airways layover.

Photo by Deepak Siva/Unsplash

Doha, Qatar

If you’re interested in exploring Doha, Qatar’s capital city, on the cheap, the country’s airline can help. Under the Qatar Airways stopover program , travelers can book a stopover of up to four days and then choose from a handful of heavily discounted accommodations packages. For example, fliers staying a single night in Doha can choose between the Standard option (which includes a four-star hotel for $14 per person) or the Luxury option (a five-star hotel for $77 per person).

To book, choose “Qatar Stopover” in the flight search panel on Qatar’s dedicated page for the program. From there, you’ll need to enter the preferred trip and stopover details, then click “Show Flights.” The site will show your options, which work for any flight that connects through Doha. After you’ve purchased your tickets, you’ll need to visit the stopover hotel booking page to score the deal on accommodation.

Explore libraries (such as the public Rikhardinkatu library pictured) and coffee shops galore in Helsinki, Finland.

Photo by Natalya Letunova/Unsplash

Helsinki, Finland

Chances are, if you’re flying with Finnair, you’ll have to route through Helsinki . For those interested in experiencing the flag carrier of Finland, there’s a stopover service.

The program allows travelers to stay in the capital city for up to five days at no additional cost—and booking it is incredibly easy.

When you start booking on Finnair’s website, select “stopover” (as opposed to round trip or one way), enter your departure and destination cities, intended travel dates, whether you want to make your stopover on the outbound or return journey, and how many days you’d like to stay in the country.

Finnair doesn’t offer discounted hotel stays, but the airline does provide some suggested itineraries to help visitors maximize their visit—be that exploring the concept shops of Helsinki or chasing the northern lights farther north.

When in Türkiye, eat all the bazaar sweets.

Photo by Michael Parulava/Unsplash

Istanbul, Türkiye

Turkish Airlines’ stopover program is somewhat tricky to navigate—there’s no option to search for itineraries with long stopovers on the website, so you’ll have to hunt for one—but it’s one of the more generous schemes out there once you work out the details.

Any passenger with at least a 20-hour connection period in Istanbul qualifies for the “Stopover in Istanbul” program, wherein you’ll be granted a hotel room completely free of charge. (Economy-class passengers are awarded one night in a four-star hotel and business-class fliers get two nights in a five-star hotel.)

Once you’ve booked the flight (and it’s at least 72 hours before departure), you’ll need to email a program representative your ticket number, name, desired accommodation dates, preferred room type (single, double, or triple), and phone number. The representative differs depending on what country you’re departing from, but all contact information is available on the airline’s online stopover page . Vouchers for the accommodation will be sent via email.

Beyond the complimentary rooms, travelers can also take advantage of a free city tour, which is sponsored by Turkish Airlines’ Touristanbul . To sign up, passengers need to go to the Hotel Desk at the International Arrivals Terminal of Istanbul Airport.

There are worse ways to spend a layover than exploring the Portuguese coastal city of Porto.

Photo by Shutterstock

Lisbon and Porto, Portugal

What sets TAP Air Portugal apart from the other stopover programs is that it’s not limited to just one city (and it allows fliers to stay for up to 10 days).

TAP Air Portugal’s stopover system is incredibly easy to navigate—when you’re booking, all you need to do is input dates, departure, and destination cities and select the “Add Stopover” button. After that, a pop-up will allow you to choose between a stopover in Lisbon or Porto, whether you want to do the stopover on the inbound or outbound flight, and for how long.

After you’ve finished booking, TAP Air Portugal offers discounts on hotels, attractions, and more on its mobile app.

If you’ve never explored the land of fire and ice, this is your chance.

Photo by Daniel Schoibl/Unsplash

Reykjavík, Iceland

Icelandair is credited as the pioneer of the free airline stopover —it has been offering some iteration of the program since the early 1960s, which greatly helped increase tourism to the land of fire and ice.

The current program allows travelers to book a stopover in Reykjavík, Iceland , for one to seven days at no additional cost—all you have to do is select the “Stopover in Iceland” option and input how many days you’d like to stay when booking your ticket. It’s particularly useful for flights between the United States and mainland Europe.

Unlike some other destinations, Icelandair’s program doesn’t offer free or discounted accommodation or transportation, so be sure to factor travel within the country into your costs. However, it is possible to book some tours (like an abbreviated Golden Circle tour , where guests can visit Gullfoss waterfall and the Geysir geothermal area, two of Iceland’s most famous natural wonders) directly through the airline.

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• Plan Your Trip

How Do You Book A Flight With A Stopover?

Published: December 17, 2023

Modified: December 28, 2023

by Gayleen Cass

• Travel Guide
• Travel Tips

Introduction

Booking a flight with a stopover can be a fantastic way to add an extra adventure to your travel plans. Whether you’re looking to explore a new city or simply break up a long journey, a stopover can provide you with the opportunity to experience more and make your trip even more memorable.

A stopover is a planned layover during a journey where you spend a certain amount of time in a connecting city before continuing to your final destination. It’s different from a layover, which is usually a shorter transit time without the option to leave the airport.

By adding a stopover to your itinerary, you can not only explore a new destination but also potentially save money on airfare. Many airlines offer stopover programs that allow travelers to extend their layover for a few days, giving them the chance to discover a new city without incurring additional costs for the flight.

In this article, we will delve into the concept of stopovers, discuss the benefits of booking flights with a stopover, and provide practical tips for finding the best options. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or a novice explorer, this guide will help you navigate the world of stopovers and make the most of your journey.

Understanding the Concept of a Stopover

A stopover is a planned break in your journey at a connecting city, allowing you to spend some time exploring the city before continuing on to your final destination. Unlike a layover, which is typically a short period of time between flights, a stopover provides you with the opportunity to extend your stay and experience a new place.

Many airlines offer stopover programs that allow passengers to stay at the connecting city for a few days without incurring extra costs for the flight. This can be a great way to make the most of your travel experience and add an extra destination to your itinerary.

Stopovers can be classified into two types: voluntary and involuntary. Voluntary stopovers are planned in advance, where the traveler intentionally chooses to spend time in the connecting city. On the other hand, involuntary stopovers occur when there is a delay or cancellation that forces the traveler to spend an unexpected amount of time in the connecting city.

When planning a stopover, it’s important to consider the duration of your stay. Some airlines have specific rules regarding the maximum length of a stopover, while others offer more flexibility. It’s also worth noting that depending on the length of your stopover, you may need to comply with visa requirements and make arrangements for accommodations.

Stopovers are not only a great way to break up a long journey, but they also give you the opportunity to explore a new city, experience its culture, and try local cuisine. You can use the time to visit popular attractions, take guided tours, or simply wander around and immerse yourself in the local atmosphere.

Furthermore, stopovers can be an excellent way to save money on airfare. Many airlines offer competitive rates for flights with stopovers, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious travelers. Depending on the airline and the specific stopover program, you may even be able to secure special hotel rates or additional perks during your stay.

Now that we have a better understanding of what a stopover is, let’s explore the benefits of booking a flight with a stopover.

Benefits of Booking a Flight with a Stopover

Booking a flight with a stopover offers a variety of benefits that can enhance your travel experience. Here are some of the advantages to consider:

• Explore a new city: A stopover gives you the opportunity to visit a destination that may not have been on your original travel itinerary. You can explore the city, visit popular landmarks, indulge in local cuisine, and immerse yourself in a new culture. It’s like adding an extra vacation within your main trip.
• Break up a long journey: Traveling for long hours can be exhausting. A stopover allows you to break up the journey, giving you the chance to rest, relax, and rejuvenate. Instead of spending extended hours on a plane, you can stretch your legs, explore the city, and recharge before continuing on to your final destination.
• Experience more for the same price: Booking a flight with a stopover can often be more cost-effective than a direct flight. Some airlines offer stopover programs that allow you to extend your stay in the connecting city without incurring additional fees. This means you get to experience two destinations for the price of one.
• Opportunity for sightseeing: If you have always dreamed of visiting a particular city but never had the chance, a stopover can fulfill that desire. Instead of just flying over a destination, you can actually touch down and explore it. Whether it’s visiting iconic landmarks, discovering hidden gems, or immersing yourself in local traditions, a stopover opens up a world of possibilities for sightseeing.
• Cultural immersion: One of the most enriching aspects of travel is immersing yourself in different cultures. A stopover allows you to experience the local culture, traditions, and way of life. You can interact with locals, try authentic cuisine, and gain a deeper understanding of the destination’s history and heritage.
• Flexibility in travel plans: Booking a flight with a stopover provides you with more flexibility in your travel plans. If you have a flexible schedule, you can choose to stay in the connecting city for a few days or even weeks to fully explore and enjoy the destination. This flexibility allows you to customize your trip according to your preferences and make the most of your travel experience.

These are just a few of the many benefits of booking a flight with a stopover. It adds depth and excitement to your journey, turning a simple transit into an opportunity for adventure and exploration. However, before you book a flight with a stopover, there are some important factors to consider. We will discuss these considerations in the next section.

Things to Consider Before Booking a Flight with a Stopover

Booking a flight with a stopover offers plenty of advantages, but it’s important to consider these factors before finalizing your travel plans:

• Visa requirements: Check if you need a visa to enter the connecting city during your stopover. Some countries require travelers to have a visa, even if they’re only staying for a short period of time. Make sure to research and comply with the visa regulations of the connecting city before booking your flight.
• Time constraints: Consider the duration of your stopover. Ensure you have enough time to leave the airport, explore the city, and return in time for your connecting flight. Take into account factors such as travel time to and from the airport, customs procedures, and possible delays. Plan accordingly to make the most of your time without feeling rushed.
• Luggage handling: Before booking a flight with a stopover, be aware of the airline’s baggage policy. Ensure that your luggage will be automatically transferred to the final destination, or if you need to collect and re-check your bags during the stopover. Understanding the baggage handling process will help you plan and pack accordingly.
• Flight schedules: When choosing a flight with a stopover, carefully examine the flight schedules. Make sure the layover time is long enough for you to comfortably explore the connecting city. Avoid excessively short layovers that leave little time for sightseeing or increase the risk of missing your connecting flight.
• Additional costs: While some airlines offer stopover programs with no additional cost, others may charge fees for extending your stay. Be aware of any additional expenses you may incur, such as airport transfer fees, accommodation costs during the stopover, or visa application fees. Consider these factors when calculating the overall cost and benefits of booking a flight with a stopover.
• Security considerations: Keep in mind that going through customs and security procedures twice during a journey with a stopover adds an extra layer of logistical challenges and potential stress. Ensure you are aware of security procedures at both the departure and connecting airports to minimize any disruptions or delays.

By taking these factors into account, you can make an informed decision when booking your flight with a stopover. Consider your preferences, travel needs, and budget to choose the most suitable option for your trip. Now that you have an idea of what to consider, let’s explore the steps to book a flight with a stopover.

Steps to Book a Flight with a Stopover

Booking a flight with a stopover requires some extra research and planning, but it’s fairly straightforward once you know the steps involved. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you book a flight with a stopover:

• Decide on your ideal stopover destination: Determine which city you would like to include as a stopover. Consider factors such as your interests, budget, and visa requirements. Choose a city that aligns with your travel preferences and offers exciting opportunities for exploration.
• Research airlines and stopover programs: Look for airlines that offer stopover programs and have routes that include your desired stopover destination. Research the terms and conditions of the stopover program, including the maximum length of stay and any associated costs.
• Check flight availability: Visit the airline’s official website or use online travel agencies to check flight availability. Enter your departure and final destination, making sure to select the “Multi-City” or “Multiple Destinations” option. Include your desired stopover city in the itinerary and select suitable dates for your travel.
• Compare prices and options: Compare the prices and options provided by different airlines. Pay attention to the total travel time, layover duration, and additional benefits offered during the stopover. Consider any additional fees, such as visa costs or extra charges for extending the layover.
• Book your flight: Once you have selected the best flight option for your stopover, proceed to book your flight. Follow the instructions provided on the airline’s website or the travel agency’s platform. Enter your personal details, payment information, and any necessary visa information.
• Plan your stopover itinerary: After booking your flight, start planning your activities and accommodations for the stopover. Research attractions, restaurants, and local experiences in the stopover city. Create a rough itinerary to make the most of your time and ensure a memorable stopover experience.
• Prepare necessary documentation: Make sure you have all the necessary travel documents, including your passport, any required visas, and proof of onward travel. Check the visa requirements for both your final destination and the stopover city, and arrange for any necessary visa applications well in advance.
• Arrive at the airport in time: On the day of your travel, arrive at the airport in time to complete the necessary check-in and security procedures. Be prepared with your documentation, including any boarding passes or e-tickets. Follow the instructions provided by the airline for connecting flights and ensure a smooth transition during the stopover.

Following these steps will enable you to successfully book a flight with a stopover and make the most of your travel experience. Don’t forget to consider any tips and tricks for finding the best stopover options, which we will explore in the next section.

Tips for Finding the Best Stopover Options

When it comes to finding the best stopover options for your travel plans, consider these tips to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience:

• Research stopover-friendly airlines: Look for airlines that offer dedicated stopover programs or are known for allowing long layovers. These airlines often provide special perks, discounts on accommodations, and additional benefits during the stopover.
• Consider multiple stopovers: If you have the time and flexibility, consider adding multiple stopovers to your itinerary. This allows you to explore multiple cities and experience different cultures during your journey.
• Check for free stopover programs: Some airlines and tourism boards offer free stopover programs, allowing passengers to enjoy a complimentary stay in the connecting city. Take advantage of these programs to save on accommodation costs and make the most of your stopover experience.
• Utilize flight search engines: Use flight search engines and comparison websites to find the best stopover options. These platforms often provide filters to specify your desired stopover city and duration, making it easier to find suitable flight options.
• Be flexible with travel dates: Flexibility with your travel dates can help you find better stopover options. Consider adjusting your departure or return dates to find flights with longer layovers or more favorable prices.
• Consider off-peak seasons: Traveling during off-peak seasons can lead to more affordable flights and better stopover options. Research the peak travel seasons for your desired destinations and plan accordingly to take advantage of lower prices and fewer crowds.
• Join airline loyalty programs: Become a member of airline loyalty programs to access exclusive offers and promotions. Loyalty program members often receive preferential treatment and additional benefits during stopovers, such as access to airport lounges or discounted accommodations.
• Combine stopovers with open-jaw flights: Consider booking an open-jaw flight, where you depart from one city and return to a different city. This allows you to include multiple stopovers in your itinerary, increasing your opportunities for exploration.
• Research visa requirements: Before finalizing your stopover plans, research the visa requirements for the connecting city. Ensure you have the necessary visas or visa-free access to explore the city during your stopover. If a visa is required, make sure to apply for it well in advance.
• Consult travel forums and blogs: Check online travel forums and blogs for firsthand experiences and recommendations on the best stopover options. Reading about the experiences of other travelers can provide valuable insights and help you make informed decisions.

By following these tips, you can find the best stopover options that suit your travel preferences, budget, and schedule. Remember, the key is to plan ahead, be flexible, and explore the possibilities that stopovers offer. With these considerations in mind, you can embark on a memorable journey that includes not just your final destination, but exciting stopover adventures as well.

Booking a flight with a stopover can truly enhance your travel experience by allowing you to explore new cities, break up long journeys, and save money on airfare. It offers a unique opportunity to add an extra adventure to your trip, immersing yourself in different cultures and creating unforgettable memories.

With careful planning and consideration, you can make the most of your stopover experience. Research airlines that offer stopover programs, compare prices and options, and take advantage of free stopover programs whenever possible. Be mindful of visa requirements, flight schedules, and additional costs associated with the stopover.

Throughout the booking process, keep in mind that flexibility is key. Be open to adjusting your travel dates, considering multiple stopovers, and exploring off-peak seasons to find the best options for your trip. Additionally, joining airline loyalty programs and consulting travel forums and blogs can provide valuable insight and recommendations.

Booking a flight with a stopover not only breaks up your journey but also allows you to experience and connect with new destinations, expanding your horizons and creating a more enriching travel experience. So, whether you’re a seasoned traveler seeking new adventures or a curious explorer looking to maximize your trip, consider incorporating a stopover into your travel plans.

In conclusion, the concept of booking a flight with a stopover offers numerous benefits, including the opportunity to explore new cities, break up long journeys, and potentially save money on airfare. By following the steps of research, compare, book, and plan, along with considering important factors and tips, you can successfully include a stopover in your itinerary and create a more memorable and fulfilling travel experience.

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Airlines that offer a Stopover - some are FREE!

What is a Stopover?

A stopover is when a flight lands at an interim destination for between twenty-four hours to as many as ten days before continuing to the final destination. Some airlines offer free stopovers, allowing passengers to explore the city where they are temporarily staying without any additional airfare charges. The flight number on the second part of the journey may stay the same, even though the second flight may be several days later. Stopovers are most common on longer flights and allow passengers to break up their journey with the bonus of longer stopovers for exploring the city where they are temporarily staying. 

Shorter journey delays are known as layovers, and passengers may be confined to an airport. However, this may allow them to use airport lounge facilities, rest in a daybed or take a refreshing shower when provided. 

Longer stopovers enable passengers to spend a day or more exploring the attractions and culture of their temporary home from a fabulous hotel base, sometimes offered by the airline for free or with significant discounts. Other perks to a stopover program include discounted prices for sightseeing tours, attractions or restaurants. Stopovers can genuinely enhance the experience of a long journey. Many airlines embrace collaborating with local tourism to offer tailor-made packages to showcase the region and create lifelong memories. Great examples of cities that you can discover in a day include Doha (Qatar Airlines), Lisbon (TAP Air Portugal) and Osaka (Japan Airlines).

Some airlines make the process easy and transparent, while others make finding the stopover information more of a challenge. 

The BusinessClass.com guide to the airlines with free stopover packages and others offering great discounts and perks:

TAP Air Portugal 

The Portuguese flag carrier offers a free stopover in capital city - Lisbon or Porto for between one and ten days on outbound and return trips. TAP Air Portugal has attractive incentives of 25 per cent off any domestic flight during the stopover period, along with a long list of  discounted hotels  within five regions, including Lisbon, Porto and the Azores.

Discounts on city cards give free entry to museums and places of cultural interest, while other offers include savings at restaurants, tourist attractions and transportation.  Read more about Portugal Stopover Read the BusinessClass.com review of TAP Air Portugal Business Class    Read the Businessclass.com Travel Guide to Lisbon

Etihad Airways  

 Abu Dhabi - the capital of the United Arab Emirates - is the ideal stopover destination between the East and West. With various stopover packages, including exclusive discounts of up to 40 per cent off the most exclusive hotels in Abu Dhabi and complimentary stays of up to two nights at select three- and four-star hotels. Abu Dhabi has a rich heritage of Arabian culture, art and iconic landmarks.

With exquisite dining and a vibrant nightlife to suit all tastes, fun-seekers will also find plenty to do at theme parks and sporting venues. An Etihad boarding pass acts as an Abu Dhabi pass to exclusive deals and discounts across a wide range of activities, experiences and dining venues.   Read more about Stopover in Abu Dhabi Read the BusinessClass.com review of Etihad Business Class   Read the BusinessClass.com review of Etihad First Class   Read the BusinessClass.com Abu Dhabi Travel Guide

Qatar Airways 

Discover Qatar with a free stopover from one to four nights. Passengers must pay extra for accommodation, but generously discounted hotel bundles vary and include heavy discounts on 4-star and luxury 5-star hotels from one to four nights. Also, book discounted tours and excursions, including a bespoke 48 Hours in Doha 2-day package, discovering the Qatari culture with visits to traditional souqs, museums and galleries.

Relax at one of the many beach clubs while enjoying the heat of the sunshine or visit impressive UNESCO World Heritage sites. Other tour attractions range from whale shark spotting to kitesurfing and private dessert tours.  Read more about Qatar Stopover Read the BuinessClass.com review of Qatar Airways Business Class  Read the BusinessClass.com review of Qatar Airways First Class  Read the BusinessClass.com review of The Best Luxury Hotels in Doha

Icelandair  

Spend up to seven days exploring Iceland with a transatlantic stopover at Reykjavik without additional airfare. Hotels are not complimentary or discounted, so passengers should factor these costs into any stopover. With  ready-made stopover itineraries  from one to five days, including dips in the world-famous Blue Lagoon or exploring the Golden Circle, Icelandair helps passengers make the most of limited time on this rugged and beautiful island.

Booking a stopover with Icelandair is as easy as clicking 'Stopover in Iceland' when booking the air ticket and selecting how many stopover days to stay.   Find out more about a Stopover in Iceland Read the BusinessClass.com review of Icelandair Business Class 

Iberia Airlines  

Stay in Spain's capital Madrid for one to six nights with a Stopover Hola Madrid package from Iberia Airlines at no additional cost to the airfare. Select when to stay on the outbound or return journey and unlock significant discounts through partner hotels.

Enjoy further discounts of up to 20 per cent on guided tour excursions, museums, gastronomy, leisure and cultural experiences. Hola Madrid also offers a free two-day travel card with Madrid public transport and exclusive luxury shopping benefits at El Corte Inglés.  Read more about Stopover Hola Madrid Read the BusinessClass.com review of Iberia Business Class  Read the BusinessClass.com review of the Iberia Premium Economy  Read the BusinessClass.com review of The Best Luxury Hotels in Madrid

Experience the luxuries of Dubai and the UAE with a free stopover with Emirates of up to 48 hours. Dubai is at the centre of a global network and the perfect location to experience the benefits of a stopover. Customise a unique Dubai stopover with numerous discounted activities, including culture and heritage, bespoke featured experiences, sports and adventure activities and entertainment.

Dubai is home to the world's largest building and the world's largest shopping mall. Further benefits of booking a stopover come from 24-hour hotel check-in and 10 per cent discounts on new flight bookings. Enter multi-city details when booking and contact Emirates to help design a tailor-made stopover package, including the finest hotels and excursions.  Read more about booking a Dubai Stopover Read the BusinessClass.com review of the Emirates Business Class  Read the BusinessClass.com review of the Emirates First Class  Read the BusinessClass.com Travel Guide to Dubai  

JAL Japan Airlines  

The Japan Airlines Stopover Program is an excellent way for passengers to take a break of longer than 24 hours and stay for up to six nights in Tokyo or Osaka at no extra cost to the airfare. By selecting the multi-city stopover and purchasing the JAL Japan Explorer Pass, Japan Airlines can connect customers to more than 30 cities across Japan.

Experience diverse cultures and the history of multi-city destinations with JAL discounts on hotels, transportation, tours and activities. The stopovers are simple to book by selecting  Multi-City/Stopover booking tool . Passengers requiring domestic stopover flights can arrange these through the JAL call centre.  Read more about JAL Stopover Flights Read the BusinessClass.com review of Japan Airlines Business Class  Read the Businessclass.com review of the Japan Airlines Premium Economy    Read the BusinessClass.com review of The Best Luxury Hotels in Tokyo

Oman Airways  

Start your free stopover at the country's capital city - Muscat – a welcoming city of Omani hospitality, old-world charm and contemporary style, for between one and three nights. Stopover privileges include discounted rates at three-, four- and five-star hotels with further discounts on food & soft beverages and spa facilities where available.

Explore Oman's scenic mountain ranges, desert escapes and striking coastlines with bespoke tours through Oman Airways. Booking is simple on the Omanair website – after choosing an airline ticket, select "Stopover" and choose the package that suits.  Read further details about Oman Airways stopover packages Read the BusinessClass.com review of Oman Air Business Class  Read the BusinessClass.com review of the Oman Air First Class  Read the Businessclass.com Muscat Travel Guide Read the BusinessClass.com review of The Best Luxury Hotels in Oman

Copa Airlines  

Explore Panama City with a stopover from one to seven days at no extra cost to the airfare. Discover the multi-cultural legacy of this Central American city with its cosmopolitan vibe, unique gastronomy, tropical biodiversity, serene white sand beaches and tranquil islands.

Booking a Panama Stopover is a simple process of selecting one stop in Panama on the outbound or return journey when booking airline tickets and choosing the number of nights stay. Copa Airlines has discounts on excellent  tour packages  to suit every duration and desire, with deals on  luxury hotels  and accommodations.  Read more about booking a Panama Stopover Read the BusinessClass.com review of Copa Airlines Business Class 

The Finnish airline offers 6, 12 and 24-hour 'layovers' for eligible passengers with no additional costs to the airfare, though accommodation is an added cost. When staying in Helsinki for a 24-hour stopover, Finnair provides a list of hotels to suit all budgets and tastes, with the added benefit of earning extra Finnair Points when booked directly through the airline.

The airline website also provides helpful guides so passengers can make the most of their stay in the beautiful capital city of Finland.  Find out more about Finnish Airlines Layover packages  Read the BusinessClass.com review of Finnair Business Class   

The Australian flag carrier offers attractive stopover packages at no extra cost to the airfare on eligible Qantas flights, including oneworld partner airlines. Include a stopover on route to the final destination or select several stops with a multi-city booking.

An example is a flight from Australia to New York via San Francisco, Los Angeles or Dallas. Hotel costs and tour excursions are at additional charges.  Read more about Qantas Stopovers Read the BusinessClass.com review of Qantas Business Class

Air Canada 

Experience Toronto - Canada's biggest city by population - with a 48-hour stopover in the vibrant metropolitan city when travelling to Canada, the US or South America. Visit the world-famous Niagara Falls, the CN Tower, and much more with a multi-city stopover booking. Another enticing stopover package is available to  Aeroplan loyalty program  customers.

Book a one-way or round trip using Aeroplan points with a stopover of up to 45 days in either or both directions for just 5,000 Aeroplan points each way. Though this isn't technically free, this is a great stopover incentive for Air Canada frequent fliers and offers a significant saving over competing airlines.  Read more about the Experience Toronto Stopover package Read the BusinessClass.com review of Air Canada Business Class

Air France / KLM  

The French and Dutch flag carriers have combined to offer passengers the opportunity to stay for 24 hours or more for free on flights operated by Air France, KLM or partner airlines and booked through their loyalty program – Flying Blue. The free stopover incentive will allow passengers to stay at a stopover location for up to twelve months at no extra cost to the airfare before taking the onward flight to the final destination.

Customers will have to find their own accommodation, but the flexibility of this package will be popular, especially in Paris and Amsterdam, being the main hubs. The airline's websites are challenging to navigate. However, call centres can make all appropriate arrangements.  Read more about Flying Blue complimentary stopovers Read the BusinessClass.com review of Air France Business Class Read the BusinessClass.com review of KLM Business Class Read the BusinessClass.com review of the Best Luxury Hotels in Paris Read the Emily in Paris guide to the City of Light Read the BusinessClass.com review of The Best Luxury Hotels in Amsterdam

Singapore Airlines  

Singapore is a popular stopover destination as the gateway to Southeast Asia. The airline has recently revised its stopover policy. Passengers can book from a selection of hotels at heavily discounted rates through the Singapore Stopover Holiday package, including airport transfer and complimentary access to over 20 attractions and offers.

Visit the multi-city booking page on the airline's website and select a stay longer than 24 hours and no more than 30 days.  Read more about Singapore Stopover Holidays Read the BusinessClass.com review of Singapore Airlines Business Class Read the BusinessClass.com Travel Guide to Singapore   

Best Airline Stopover Programs that are totally FREE! 

Turkish airlines  .

Stopover in the historical and cultural city of Istanbul for at least 20 hours and receive free accommodation at partner hotels. Business Class passengers will stay free of charge for up to two nights at a select five-star hotel, while economy class customers can stay one night in a four-star hotel. Stopover in Istanbul is only available to passengers departing or returning via Istanbul and is used only once during a round trip.

Applying for the Stopover in Istanbul is a little more complex than a simple click – passengers must email personal contact details, ticket numbers and a reservation code at least 72 hours before the first flight and request preferred room type and desired accommodation dates.  Read more about Stopover in Istanbul Read the BusinessClass.com review of Turkish Airlines Business Class  Read the BusinessClass.com review of The Best Luxury Hotels in Istanbul

Royal Jordanian Airlines  

Referred to as "RJ" by Jordanians, Royal Jordanian offers the Zuwar Stopover Program from its hub in Amman with a stopover at no additional cost to the airfare.  Various packages  are available to explore the region's top historical and religious sites, with transportation, entrance fees, and dining expenses covered within the attractive prices of the excursions. 

Find out more about Zuwar Stopover . Royal Jordanian also offers transiting passengers with less than 24 hours a  complimentary layover package , including free accommodation, meal service and transportation – subject to requirements.   

Read the BusinessClass.com review of Royal Jordanian Business Class

Air China  

One of the few airlines to offer stopover packages, including free partner hotel accommodation and complimentary airport/hotel transportation. Passengers receive accommodation for one night in eight cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, with breakfast included on international flights where the stopover is between 6 and 30 hours in duration.

Passengers flying in First and Business Class can book luxury transit hotels.  Read more about the Air China free transit package R ead the BusinessClass.com review of Air China Business Class Read the BusinessClass.com review of The Best Luxury Hotels in Beijing Read the BusinessClass.com review of The Best Luxury Hotels in Shanghai

Ethiopian Airlines 

Though technically more of a layover than a stopover due to the 24-hour time limit of eligibility, Ethiopian Airlines offer a complimentary hotel service for passengers in transit through Addis Ababa where no immediate connecting flight is available. The airline also provides transportation to and from the airport along with transit visas free of charge.

Strict conditions apply, and stays longer than 24 hours are not eligible. Passengers don't need to make arrangements in advance and can book via the Interline desk at Addis Ababa Airport.  Read more about Addis Ababa stopovers here Read the BusinessClass.com review of Ethiopian Airlines Business Class  

Next time you book a trip, why not enjoy a stopover and enjoy a new experience!

Search for your next flight here: 

How to book a free stopover flight? Most airlines make the process as easy as entering the stopover destination and duration at the time of booking with user-friendly booking pages.

Are there any restrictions on the duration of a free stopover? Each airline is different and stipulates the minimum (usually 24 hours) and the maximum number of days in the terms and conditions. 

Can I book a free stopover on a one-way flight? Yes – but not with all airlines. Check the individual airline's terms and conditions.  

Airlines with free stopovers in Europe TAP Air Portugal, Turkish Airlines, Finnair, Iberia, Air France, and KLM.

Are stopovers in Doha allowed for free with Qatar Airlines? Yes, but view the hotel packages for significantly discounted accommodation prices.

How much money can I save with a free stopover? There is no set equation; however, it is possible to save up to half the direct flight cost by selecting a stopover destination. Of course, you are also flying to the stopover destination at no extra cost.   

Are there any hidden fees associated with booking a free stopover? Look out for airport taxes and fuel surcharges—factor in hotel accommodation, food and entertainment when not offered on a stopover package.

What are the benefits of booking a free stopover with an airline? It is possible to make considerable savings over the costs of direct flights. Stopovers are a chance to visit exciting cities and break up long and tiresome journeys. They may also reduce the physical impact of travelling through multiple time zones in one hit.

Can I earn frequent flyer miles on a free stopover? Yes. And certain airlines allow passengers to earn miles with partner hotel bookings at the stopover destination. 

Can I visit multiple cities during a free stopover? Yes, you can visit multiple cities during a free stopover if the airline allows it. Some airlines allow passengers to visit up to three or more cities but check with the airline when booking.

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The Best Airlines for Free Stopovers

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Table of Contents

1. Japan Airlines

2. cathay pacific, 3. alaska airlines, 5. united airlines, 6. air canada, airlines with free stopovers, recapped.

A “stopover” is usually defined as a connection or stop that lasts for 24 hours or more for international travel and four hours or more for domestic travel (shorter connections are called layovers). Normally, passengers hate long layover flights that feel like huge time wasters. But with stopovers — and stopovers planned well — you don’t necessarily have to spend your time at the airport. You can use the downtime between transit to explore and add another adventure to your trip.

Airlines with free stopovers allow you to visit more places on the same flight ticket. Keep in mind, though, that you’ll sometimes have to pay more in airport taxes and fuel surcharges with this option.

Here are some of the best airlines for free stopovers for your next award or cash flight.

» Learn more: What are layover, stopover and open jaw flights?

Mileage Bank, the Japan Airlines frequent flyer program, has one of the best stopover policies, with very liberal rules. Flyers can take advantage of complimentary stopovers when booking a JMB Partner Airline Award or Oneworld award with Japan Airline miles.

JMB Partner Airline Award

The JMB Partner Airline Award allows you to fly on any single partner airline (except Jetstar Japan) with up to three complimentary stopovers.

For example, you could fly American Airlines between New York City and Tokyo, and have three stopovers along the way. Here’s how this could look:

New York City-Miami.

Miami-Orlando.

Orlando-Los Angeles.

Los Angeles-Tokyo.

Tokyo-New York City (with a layover in Dallas).

All for the same amount of points as a more direct round-trip flight between New York City and Tokyo.

Oneworld Award

Book travel on two or more Oneworld airlines with up to seven complimentary stopovers. That’s an incredible value if you have some time on your hands.

For example, you could book the following itinerary:

Miami-Milan (American Airlines).

Milan-London (British Airways).

London-Hong Kong (Cathay Pacific).

Hong Kong-Osaka (Cathay Pacific).

Osaka-Tokyo (Japan Airlines).

Tokyo-Miami (American via Dallas).

Image courtesy of Great Circle Mapper

Asia Miles allows up to five complimentary stopovers (your destination is also considered a stopover) on its Oneworld multi-carrier award . You can use three or more Oneworld airlines when one of your flights is on Cathay Pacific or two Oneworld airlines without Cathay Pacific.

In other words, you can fly and stop in up to five cities for the same number of miles it would cost you to visit Hong Kong.

Here's an example flight itinerary:

Dallas-Hong Kong (American Airlines).

Hong Kong-Bangkok (Cathay Pacific).

Bangkok-Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia Airlines).

Kuala Lumpur-Tokyo (Japan Airlines).

Tokyo-Dallas (American Airlines).

Alaska Mileage Plan has a great stopover policy: You can have one complimentary stopover on a one-way flight and up to two stopovers on a round-trip. That doesn’t include the destination, so you can visit three places for the price of one.

Alaska has some very generous award charts for some of its partners, so there are a number of excellent options to use stopovers on the way to or from your destinations. You can stop in Hong Kong on the way to the Middle East or South Africa (Cathay Pacific), explore Tokyo on the way to Bangkok, or enjoy Fiji on the way to Australia.

» Learn more: Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan reward optimization for beginners

You can book only a round-trip award flight with ANA, but it comes with a complimentary stopover along the way, whether you’re flying on ANA or its airline partners.

United does allow one-way award travel, but a complimentary stopover comes only with a round trip flight or a combination of three or more one-way flights. Dubbed Excursionist Perk , it has some restrictions , the most important is that its origin and destination must be within a single MileagePlus defined region .

Aeroplan doesn’t allow free stopovers anymore, but you can add up to two for 5,000 points each on a round-trip flight (or one on a one-way flight). Although it’s not free, it's more than reasonable. Even better, Aeroplan has eliminated fuel surcharges including surcharges it used to add to the partners (although it now charges a $39 fee for booking a partner’s flight).

» Learn more: Sweet spots of the new Aeroplan program

If you want to optimize your spending (and your schedule allows for it), use complimentary stopovers to see more amazing places for the same amount of miles. You’ll still have to pay more in airport taxes and carrier-imposed surcharges (if applicable), but in most cases, it will save you time, miles and money versus booking separate trips.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1.5%-6.5% Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

$300 Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

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The 9 Easiest Airlines for Booking Free Stopovers

See recent posts by Ricky Radka

When it comes to air travel nowadays, almost nothing is free. From checked baggage fees to prepaid seat assignments, airlines have found countless ways to get deeper into your wallet. However, on many international carriers, one freebie remains, and it's one of the most valuable airline perks out there – the free stopover.

Visit Two Destinations for the Price of One

Stopovers allow passengers the ability to explore two cities for the cost of one roundtrip airfare. So what exactly is a stopover? A stopover is a break in your journey that lasts over 24 hours; permitting an overnight or multi-day stay at the airline’s primary hub or connection city. (Anything less than the 24-hour mark is just considered a layover) .

Instead of having connecting passengers wait around the airport for hours on end, several airlines and tourism bureaus have gotten hip to the fact that if a passenger leaves the airport and spends a few days explore their home country before jetting off to their final destination, it boosts local tourism.

Unfortunately, not all airlines are on board complimentary stopovers, and while others do, they make the process such a hassle you'll give up before the search page loads. So, to take the trouble out of your planning, I’ve sussed out the top airlines that actively promote free stopovers and are the most flexible for booking mid-journey jaunts. Below is a list of nine airlines plus a little advice on how to schedule your free multi-day stopover to help you score a terrific twofer deal!

TAP Portugal

Stopover city: lisbon or porto.

The flag carrier of Portugal allows travelers up to a 5-night stopover in either Lisbon or Porto en route to their final destination at no extra cost. Aptly named the “Portugal Stopover” flyers can choose to stop on either end of the journey on medium and long-haul flights, even on flights ticketed as a one-ways! However, take note that a “Portugal Stopover” can only be used once per round-trip either outbound or inbound journey, not both. To sweeten the pot,  TAP Portugal has even linked up with local restaurants and hotels to give passengers exclusive rates and bonuses to enjoy en route.

Not only is Lisbon one of the more budget-friendly destination in Europe. It offers a wide range of activities like hiking, sailing, or just relaxing in a cafe listening to traditional Fado tunes to entertain you a multi-day stopover. Just make sure to try the Pasteis de Nata while visiting the Tower of Belem and Jeronimos Monastery on the outskirts of Lisbon, to consider your visit complete. For US-based fliers, TAP offers nonstop service to Boston (BOS) , New York (JFK) , Chicago (ORD) , Washington DC (IAD) , San Francisco (SFO) , and Miami (MIA) to Lisbon (LIS) . For those wanting to stopover in Porto (OPO) , the only option is to do so on the nonstop route that departs from Newark (EWR) . More information on TAP’s “Portugal Stopover” program can be found here .

See all our fare deals from TAP Portugal departing from the U.S. and Canada

Stopover City:  Reykjavik

Tourism to Iceland has exploded over the last few years, and Icelandair’s generous stopover policy has undoubtedly played a major role. Even though visitors outnumber the locals in Reykjavik (KEF) nowadays, you can use extended layover to escape the city and get in touch with the island's natural beauty. Iceland’s famous Golden Circle sightseeing route features the picturesque Gullfoss waterfall, and UNESCO listed Thingvellir National Park; making it a perfect side trip when spending extra days exploring en route.

When flying from North America to Europe, Icelandair allows travelers to stop midway across the Atlantic for up to seven nights (each way) at no additional cost. In 2016, Icelandair even launched a “Buddy” program to promote its stopover option, pairing travelers with an Icelandair employee to show them around Iceland for a day based on their interests. While that program has ended, the carrier has put together a handy adventure guide on how to make the most of your time on the island according to stopover length.

Icelandair services 15 U.S. cities and 4 airports in Canada, for more information on how to enjoy a stopover in Iceland click here .

See all our fare deals from Icelandair departing from the U.S. and Canada.

Related: These Two Airlines are Adding Free Stopover Options

Turkish airlines, stopover city:  istanbul.

Turkish Airlines doesn’t officially promote its stopover as being free , but it's relatively simple to build in a long layover in Istanbul by using the multi-city tool on the carrier’s website. International transit passenger that only have a layover of 6 to 24 hours are offered free city tours throughout the day by Touristanbul a service provided by Turkish Airlines. View the free tour schedule here .

If you plan a longer stopover, Turkish Airlines will even set you up with a hotel room for one night if your qualifying stopover lasts more than 20 hours free of charge. Turkish fly to the most international destinations of any other airline, making its newly crowned hub at Istanbul (IST) an excellent choice for travelers wishing to break up their trip. Turkish Airlines serves 12 destinations in North America with nonstops via Istanbul to over 120 countries worldwide. Find out more about building in your stopover by the Bosporus here .

See all our fare deals from Turkish Airlines departing from the U.S. and Canada.

Qatar Airways

Stopover city:  doha.

Qatar Airways has extended its Qatar Stopover program through the end of December 2019. Qualifying passengers traveling through Doha (DOH) are eligible to receive a visa-free entry into Qatar, and a hotel stay for as little as $23 per night. The new transit free visa is available to travelers from 80 countries that have between a five-and 96-hour layover in the Qatari capital. When I had an 8-hour layover in Doha back in 2016, the transit visa cost around 30 USD and definitely didn't include a discount accommodation option.

The easiest way to book your stopover is by visiting the dedicated Qatar Stopover site here and follow the guided instructions. Similar to other airlines mentioned, this stopover may occur on either the onward or returning flight portion of the roundtrip ticket. Qatar Airways provides nonstop service from 10 US airports.

See all our fare deals from Qatar departing from the U.S. and Canada.

Stopover City:  Dubai , Milan , and Athens

With over 89 million passengers passing through Dubai (DXB) last year, it's the world’s busiest airport regarding international transits. And many of those passengers missed out on Emirates two options for a short Dubai stopover to split up their voyage. The first is to book a roundtrip flight using the multi-city tool and manually add in a stop in Dubai for a few days. By doing this, you can choose which leg of the trip you wish to include the stopover on.

The second method is to book the Dubai Stopover package offered by Emirates . This package isn’t exactly free, but it provides travelers with a streamlined and easy way to indulge in the flashy Arabian city. After or while booking your flight, you'll need to contact your nearest Emirates office and request a Dubai Stopover. This may sound like a roundabout system, but it's required to process the necessary tourist visa at no extra charge. While doing so, the agent will give you information on hotel pricing and assist in setting up transfers to/from the airport. To book a stopover in Milan, you'll need a seat on the Emirates New York (JFK) to Milan (MXP) flight with onward service to Dubai. For travelers looking to climb the Acropolis in Athens (ATH) , then you'll need to be departing on the Newark (EWR) service as those two routes are fifth-freedom specific .

See all our fare deals from Emirates departing from the U.S. and Canada.

Etihad Airways

Stopover city:  abu dhabi.

Rounding out the ME3, this year Etihad Airways has launched a stopover program of its own to lure passengers into a break at its base in Abu Dhabi (AUH) . And it might be the most generous of them all.  To sweeten the deal the carrier is even throwing in two free nights accommodation at over 20 of its hotel partners throughout the city.

To take advantage of this outstanding offer, travelers will need to book their trip on Etihad's site using the multi-city tool. Then manually build in their desired stopover dates. Once booked, simply choose from the listed here and provide your flight details then Etihad will email over a voucher for your free two-day stay. If you’re looking for ideas on how to spend your 48-hours in the capital of the UAE, on its dedicated stopover site, Etihad has created a quick video to drum up some travel inspiration and has a list of itinerary ideas to keep you busy. If free hotels aren't already enough, complimentary bus service to/from the airport to top destinations like Yas Island and the Louvre Abu Dhabi are part of this phenomenal package. So if you're serious about scoring your free stay, you'll have to do so by March 31, 2020, as this deal is just too good to last. Etihad operates nonstop service from four U.S. airports, Washington DC (IAD) , New York (JFK) , Chicago (ORD) , and Los Angles (LAX) .

See all our fare deals from Etihad departing from the U.S. and Canada.

Stopover City:  Helsinki

Finnair flyers can book a stopover at the airline's hub in  Helsinki (HEL)  from 5 hours up to 5 days. With it's easy to follow steps on its stopover booking site , selecting your dates for your city break in Helsinki is a cinch. Like many other carriers featured on this list, Finnair gives you a choice on whether you'd like your stopover on the outbound or the return leg of your journey.

After deciding on your stopover length, Finnair provides a helpful list excursion booking benefits to best maximize your visit. From chasing the Northern Lights to culinary tours of downtown Helsinki, pick what best suits your interests all within the stopover site. Finnair runs a limited nonstop network to the U.S., serving only New York (JFK) and Los Angeles (LAX) with year-round operations and service to Chicago (ORD) , Miami (MIA) , and San Francisco (SFO) on a seasonal basis.

See all our fare deals from Finnair departing from the U.S. and Canada.

Related: What's in a Name? 15 Airline Acronyms Explained

Japan airlines jal, stopover city: tokyo or osaka.

Although not promoted on their website like other airlines on this list, Japan Airlines offers customers free stopovers at Tokyo (NRT ), Tokyo (HND) , and Osaka (KIX) airports. You have a couple options for booking your stop with JAL. First, you can use JAL’s multi-city/stopover booking page and manually select the travel dates in which you wish to stopover. By doing this, I could replicate the same roundtrip price but with a 3-day stop in Japan included on many of my flight searches.

However, if the price jumps during your search, contact the JAL reservation office by phone, and they will help you organize your stopover at no extra cost. Keep in mind that the stopover city must be where your flight connects through in Japan, most flights departing North America will allow the stopover at Tokyo-Narita airport. New York (JFK) and San Francisco (SFO) have nonstop flights to Tokyo-Haneda. If you're eyeing the Osaka option, you'll need to depart from either  Los Angeles (LAX) or Honolulu (HNL) .

See all our fare deals from JAL departing from the U.S. and Canada.

Singapore Airlines

Stopover city:  singapore.

Perennially top-rated Singapore Airlines provides free stopovers at its hub at Changi International Airport (SIN) in… surprise, you guessed it– Singapore. Like previously listed airlines, you'll need to navigate their multi-city/stopover booking page to select your stopover dates. But unlike JAL, the multi-city tool is relatively straightforward on the Singapore website, and the price displayed with stopover included should match the cost of the listed roundtrip flight. If you have any trouble matching prices, contact a representative at Singapore Airlines , and they'll assist you in securing the stopover.

For those wanting a turnkey experience, the carrier offers a Singapore Stopover Holiday package with discounted rates on hotels, attractions and free transfers to/from the airport. Departing the States, Singapore Airlines operates nonstop routes from Seattle (SEA) , San Francisco (SFO) , Los Angeles (LAX) . And for the ultra-long-haul road warriors, the world's longest flight linking up two Star Alliance mega-hubs Newark (EWR) and Singapore (SIN) at over 9,500 miles.

See all our fare deals from Singapore Airlines departing from the U.S. and Canada.

Related: 5 Airports That Offer Free City Tours During Long Layovers

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