A reader asked: “I was just reading about how people can book stopovers on long flights to stay in midpoint cities for hours or days. Sometimes the airlines even cover the cost of a hotel. Have you covered this before? It seems like they are not usually airlines based in the USA.”
Great question! The short answer is yes, this is absolutely a real thing and it’s one of the best long-haul travel hacks out there.
First, let’s clarify the terminology.
A layover is a short connection between flights, usually under 24 hours. A stopover is a planned break in your journey that lasts 24 hours or more, sometimes for several days, in a city along the way to your final destination.
Why does this matter? Because a stopover can let you visit an extra destination for little or no additional airfare. In some cases, airlines will even throw in a free or heavily discounted hotel if your connection is long enough.
You’re also right that U.S.-based airlines rarely promote stopovers the way international carriers do. The real stars of the stopover game tend to be airlines based in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
Below are some of the best airlines to know if you want to build a stopover into your trip.
Icelandair (Reykjavik, Iceland)
Icelandair is one of the pioneers of modern stopover programs. Travelers flying between North America and Europe can stop in Reykjavik for up to seven nights at no additional airfare. You simply select the stopover during booking. It’s an easy way to add waterfalls, glaciers, hot springs and Northern Lights to a Europe trip.
TAP Air Portugal (Lisbon or Porto, Portugal)
TAP allows stopovers in Lisbon or Porto on itineraries between the U.S., Europe, Africa, and South America. Their Stopover Program often includes discounted hotels and experiences, making Portugal a very affordable bonus destination.
Turkish Airlines (Istanbul, Turkey)
Turkish Airlines offers stopovers in Istanbul and, for long layovers, may provide a free hotel depending on ticket class and availability. Istanbul is ideal for a 1–3 day visit with incredible food, history, and shopping.
Emirates (Dubai, UAE)
Emirates promotes Dubai stopover packages that can include hotel discounts, airport transfers, and tours. If you’re flying between the U.S. and Europe, Africa, or Asia via Dubai, it’s often easy to add a short stay.
Qatar Airways (Doha, Qatar)
Qatar Airways runs frequent stopover promotions in Doha with attractive hotel packages, sometimes starting at very low nightly rates. Doha is compact, modern, and easy to explore in a short time.
Etihad Airways (Abu Dhabi, UAE)
Etihad offers stopover programs that can include complimentary hotel nights in Abu Dhabi for eligible itineraries. It’s a great way to experience the UAE beyond Dubai.
Finnair (Helsinki, Finland)
Finnair allows travelers to add stopovers in Helsinki when traveling between North America, Europe, and Asia. Helsinki is a pleasant, walkable city and works well for a 1–2 day stop.
Air Canada (Toronto or Montreal)
Air Canada permits stopovers on many international itineraries, and its Aeroplan loyalty program is particularly generous with allowing stopovers on award tickets. Toronto and Montreal are both excellent cities for short stays.
Copa Airlines (Panama)
Copa Airlines allows one stopover in Panama is permitted for no additional airfare only if the stopover is requested when the ticket is originally purchased and issued. You must pay the applicable taxes for entering and exiting Panama (FZ, AH, F3), which are approximately US$50.
Singapore Airlines (Singapore)
Singapore Airlines regularly promotes stopover options and packages, and Singapore is one of the easiest cities in the world to explore on a short visit thanks to great transit, safety, and English-speaking services.
How to Book a Stopover
The easiest way is to use the Multi-City search option on Google Flights, Expedia, or the airline’s website.
Instead of searching round-trip, enter:
City A → Stopover City
Stopover City → Final Destination
Final Destination → Home
Example:
Los Angeles → Reykjavik (stay 3 nights)
Reykjavik → Paris
Paris → Los Angeles
Then compare that price to a standard round-trip. Many times, it will be the same or only slightly more.
Another option is to visit the airline’s website and look for its stopover program page, which may offer bundled hotel deals.
If you’re using miles, some foreign frequent flyer programs allow stopovers on award tickets. Programs like Air Canada Aeroplan, ANA Mileage Club and Avianca LifeMiles are known for being more flexible than most U.S. programs.
Important Tips Before You Book
- Check visa requirements for the stopover country.
- Make sure your passport meets validity rules.
- Compare hotel prices independently.
- Build in buffer time in case of delays.
Stopovers are one of the easiest ways to turn one trip into two, see an extra destination, and sometimes even score a free hotel, without paying for another plane ticket. I’ve done it before and plan to do it again this summer.
