SerpApi.Org
When looking for flights, many travelers end up paying more for a direct route. While it can come at a premium, flying direct also means you don't have to rush to make your connecting flight, and you get to spend more time at your destination with less time spent messing about in airports.
However, if you're flying long-haul, stopovers and layovers are usually unavoidable. Traditionally, the ideal layover duration has been between two and four hours, enough time to avoid feeling rushed, but not so much airport time that you get bored or spend a fortune duty-free.
Now, however, many savvy passengers are choosing longer layovers on purpose, taking advantage of stopover programs at the layover destination, creating two vacations in one trip. While there are several things you can do at the airport during a long layover, exploring a new city and everything it has to offer seems much more exciting.
Several airlines and hub airports offer complimentary stopover programs that can include 4-star hotel stays, city tours, and transfers from the airport to the city center, all for no extra cost. So, which airline offers these free stopover programs, why do they exist, and how can you access them?
Airport Stopover Programs Allow You To Have A Mini Vacation For Free
Around the world, many major airline hubs and their home airlines offer stopover programs that let passengers extend their layover by a day, a few days, or even up to a week in some cases, allowing you to explore the hub city, and add another destination to your vacation, either free of charge or for a tiny fee.
The inclusions and terms of stopover programs vary wildly from airline to airline. Some airlines provide complimentary stays. Turkish Airlines' stopover program offers a one to three-night complimentary hotel stay in Istanbul, or a free "TourIstanbul" excursion on shorter layovers, while Etihad Airways offers a two-night complimentary stay in Abu Dhabi. Others provide tours and cultural discounts, making stopover programs the perfect way to break up long travel days.
National airlines do this as they're often subsidized by local tourism boards. Qatar Airways' stopover program in Doha is partially paid for by the Qatari government to promote tourism, rather than people just seeing the airport. Qatar Airways offers complimentary packages for layovers between eight and 24 hours, and heavily discounted stopover packages for longer layovers, starting at $14 per night.
By offering these stopover programs, airlines and governments ensure that tourists are putting money back into the economy by eating at local restaurants and visiting attractions.
Icelandair has been offering its stopover program for nearly six decades. Thanks to its location between North America and Europe, many passengers pass through Iceland's capital, Reykjavík, on their way across the Atlantic. Rather than keeping people in the airport, Icelandair allows travelers to spend up to a week exploring the country without increasing airfare.
Michael Raucheisen, the Communications Manager for North America at Icelandair, told TheTravel:
“Icelandair has been offering travelers the ability to “stopover” in Iceland since the 60’s. In 2012, we put a more modern twist on it with our global #mystopover campaign, which allows passengers to stopover for up to 7 nights at no additional airfare, en route to their final destination. Our hope is always that once travelers spend a few days and get a taste of Iceland, experiencing the wonders and beauty it has to offer, they will want to return to explore the country more. It has definitely been working, since 2012, we have seen an increased number of tourists to Iceland, along with curious Stopover passengers!"
You don't necessarily have to stay overnight to make the most of a long layover either. Many travelers are opting for routes with connections of eight hours or more, since they are often cheaper, and it means they can go out into the city and explore for a few hours. Whether that's possible depends on how far the airport is from the city and any visa rules.
China offers travelers its Transit Without Visa (TWOV) program, allowing them to enter the country and stay for up to 240 hours as long as they can prove they have onward travel booked elsewhere. The fast transport between the main airports and the cities means it's possible to go out and explore Beijing before heading back for a late-evening flight.
How Do Stopover Programs Work?
Though stopover programs vary between airlines, the way they work is pretty straightforward. Often, you have to book with a national carrier directly through their website. When you search for flights, you'll see options with longer layovers that are specifically marked as a stopover option. Some providers, like Icelandair, will ask you if you would like a stopover in Iceland and how long you would like to stay.
When you select a stopover, you'll be able to see what it includes. If you opt to fly with Turkish Airlines, there are plenty of things you can do in Istanbul during layovers that aren't overnight. If your layover is 20 hours or more, you can have a complimentary hotel stay. However, this is contingent on your full journey being operated by Turkish Airlines, meaning a mixed-airline booking may not qualify.
Not every stopover program comes with free accommodation or perks. Some airlines simply allow you to delay your second leg for a couple of days without charging extra airfare. While this is great if you have the budget for extra accommodation, it's obviously not as much of a deal as the full complimentary stopover programs.
Depending on your destination and the length of your stopover, you may need to collect your checked bags and recheck them before your onward flight, even if your journey was booked on a single through ticket. Don't forget to do this; otherwise, your luggage might be relegated to the lost baggage station at the hub airport.
Are Stopover Programs Worth It?
While two trips in one sounds like a no-brainer, as do free hotel stays, are these programs actually worth it? Some stopover programs offer more perks than others, so it's worth looking at what you're getting.
For example, three days in Lisbon with TAP Air Portugal may sound great, offering discounted domestic flights which allow you to hop from Lisbon to other Portuguese destinations such as the Azores, often called the Hawaii of Europe for less. However, this stopover doesn't actually include free accommodation. The airline offers discounts through certain partners, but you will still need to pay.
You'll save around $180 on flights stopping in Lisbon rather than heading straight through to Italy, but you'll likely spend more than that on hotels, transport, and food. So, while it's cheaper than doing two separate transatlantic vacations, it's not exactly "free".
Which Airlines Have Stopover Programs And Which Airports Are Best For Long Layovers?
While many airlines have stopover programs, some are better than others. For example, Turkish Airlines and Etihad have been heralded as some of the best for putting passengers in great hotels for free and offering complimentary tours. On the other hand, Icelandair and Irish carrier Aer Lingus offer long stopovers for free, but you have to pay for hotels and excursions while you're there.
Stopover Programs By Airline
Even if an airline does not offer a stopover program, some hub airport cities are excellent places to build into your itinerary with a longer layover. Many major hubs offer visa-free entry options or transit schemes for U.S. citizens, allowing you to leave the airport and explore, as long as you have an onward ticket booked.
A good place to start is by looking at major airline hubs:
- London Heathrow: British Airways
- Amsterdam Airport Schiphol: KLM
- Paris Charles de Gaulle: Air France
- Dubai International: Emirates
- Frankfurt International: Lufthansa
- Helsinki International: Finnair
- Zurich International: SWISS
- Beijing-Capital (PEK): Air China, Hainan Airlines, China Eastern, and China Southern
If you're traveling long-haul, it can be worth breaking up your journey and selecting an often cheaper route with a longer layover. Then, you can leave the airport and explore for a bit before returning and traveling on to your final destination.
Important Fine Print About Airline Stopover Programs
Stopover programs are a great way to add an extra destination to your trip. However, you need to check the fine print with your specific airline. It might be that you need to collect your bags before leaving the airport, or let someone know you're on a stopover at the customs gate.
It's vital that you check the visa allowances for your stopover destination before you book hotels or anything else. As soon as you pass through customs, you need to either have a visa-free allowance, a valid visa, or be eligible for a TWOV program. Otherwise, customs will not let you out of the airport.
So, if you're looking for a way to save money and see more of the world, airline stopover programs are the perfect way to do so. Even if you're not traveling with an airline with a stopover program, if you're heading into a hub or a layover, see if there is a longer option so you can explore another great city before traveling to your final destination.
