Booking international flights can be an expensive endeavor, but what if we told you there was a way to visit two cities for the price of one? A number of airlines offer “stopover programs,” in which you book a ticket from your home city to one destination, while stopping for a few days in another city along the way without added airfare cost. Find out how to take advantage of airline stopover programs and which airlines offer them below.
How Do Airline Stopover Programs Work?
Though many travelers prefer to travel nonstop to their destination, that isn’t always possible, whether due to flight schedules or price. If you aren’t flying nonstop, you’ll typically have a layover at a connecting airport for a few hours. A stopover, on the other hand, is a little longer — 24 hours or more — which allows you enough time to leave the airport. If you have a long trip ahead, booking a stopover is a great way to break up your itinerary and explore a new city without paying additional airfare.
Say, for instance, you scored a great deal on Icelandair from Denver to Paris with a connection in Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland. Instead of sitting in the airport for a couple of hours waiting for your next flight, you could take advantage of Icelandair’s stopover program instead. It allows travelers to explore the “Land of Fire and Ice” for up to seven days without additional airfare costs.
Though you will have to cover your own lodging with Icelandair’s program and many others, some airline stopover programs offer discounted or even free hotel stays — such as Etihad Airways’ stopover program in Abu Dhabi or Qatar Airways’ stopover in Doha.
If you don’t want to commit to an overnight stay at your connecting airport but still have a long layover, some airlines encourage travelers to use that time to explore the city. For example, Singapore Airlines offers a free 2.5-hour city tour to those with layovers in Singapore between 5.5 and 24 hours.
To book a stopover, you’ll have to consult airline websites individually, as the details of each program differ. With some airlines, like TAP Air Portugal, you can add a stopover while booking an eligible flight online. For others, you’ll have to book a stopover using the multicity search tool, adding a leg for your stopover destination. Some carriers, like Turkish Airlines, require you to email the airline directly to receive the benefit.
These programs are a win-win for travelers and airlines: Travelers essentially get two trips for the price of one, while the airlines can stimulate local tourism by drawing travelers who would otherwise be transiting through their base countries.
Which Airlines Offer Stopovers?
Below is a list of popular airlines which have stopover programs, as of early 2025:
• Aer Lingus: Stop over on the Emerald Isle for up to seven days (must call to book).
• Air France and KLM: For any award tickets booked with Flying Blue points, you can add a stopover of 24 hours or more at any destination.
• Air New Zealand: Break up the long journey to New Zealand with a free stop in cities such as Honolulu, San Francisco, or Tokyo.
• Azores Airlines: Spend up to seven days exploring the Azores, a stunning Portuguese archipelago, on your way to or from Europe.
• Copa Airlines: Enjoy up to seven days in Panama City for no additional airfare cost.
• Emirates: The Dubai Stopover offers hotel discounts and extra perks, while the Dubai Connect provides a free hotel stay for qualifying itineraries with layovers in Dubai between eight and 26 hours.
• Etihad Airways: Stay for up to two nights free in a hotel in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.
• Fiji Airways: Enjoy this South Pacific paradise for up to 48 hours at no extra cost.
• Iberia: With Stopover Hola Madrid, you can add up to nine nights in the Spanish capital to your itinerary, plus get discounts on local experiences.
• Icelandair: Search for the northern lights with up to seven days in Iceland on your transatlantic itinerary.
• Japan Airlines: Japan Airlines is currently offering free domestic flights on stopovers in Japan.
• Qatar Airways: The airline’s free stopover lets you explore Doha for up to four days and score a hotel for as little as $14 per night.
• TAP Air Portugal: Add up to 10 nights in Lisbon or Porto to your trip, along with 25% off domestic flights and discounts on hotels and tours.
• Turkish Airlines: Explore Istanbul with a free hotel night for economy class fares or two nights for business class tickets, with discounts available on additional hotel nights. (Must email to book.)
• Virgin Atlantic: If you have a long layover in London, you can score discounted lounge access and tickets for the Heathrow Express.
Featured image credit: amriphoto/ iStock via Getty Images Plus
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